Agenda and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9 9HD. View directions
Contact: Peter Goss, Democratic Services Manager 020 8937 1353, Email: peter.goss@brent.gov.uk
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Minutes of previous meetings PDF 81 KB Additional documents:
Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the minutes of the special meeting held on 16 May 2012 and the Annual meeting also held on 16 May 2012 be approved as accurate records of the meetings, subject to the following changes:
Special meeting Minute 2 - 4th paragraph to read: “Councillors Lorber and Colwill added ………..” Annual meeting Minute 8 - resolution (ii): Highways Committee – alternate to Councillor Beswick to be Councillor Hirani. |
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Declarations of personal and prejudicial interests Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, any relevant financial or other interest in the items on this agenda. Minutes: Councillor Cheese declared a non-prejudicial interest by virtue of his membership of the Kilburn Locality Advisory Board
Councillor Lorber declared a non-prejudicial interest by virtue of being a director and trustee of Friends of Barham Library. |
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Mayor's announcements (including any petitions received) Minutes: The Mayor welcomed everyone to his first full Council meeting as Mayor and asked for people to support his chosen charities during his Mayoral year.
The Mayor extended on behalf of the Council, best wishes to Councillor Shaw, who had recently suffered an accident which had resulted in a dislocated hip.
The Mayor announced with regret that Councillor Aslam Choudry’s brother and sister-in-law had been involved in a serious accident and were critically ill. On behalf of the Council, he would send best wishes to Councillor Choudry and his family.
In accordance with Standing Orders a list of current petitions showing progress on dealing with them had been circulated around the chamber. |
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Appointments to committees and outside bodies and appointment of chairs/vice chairs (if any) Minutes: RESOLVED:
that Councillor Daly be appointed to the Call-in Overview and Scrutiny Committee in place of Councillor Gladbaum and Councillor Gladbaum be appointed to the Health Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee in place of Councillor Daly. |
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Report from the Leader or members of the Executive PDF 56 KB To receive reports from the Leader or members of the Executive in accordance with Standing Order 42. Minutes: Councillor Butt (Leader of the Council) introduced the list of Executive items circulated and called on his colleagues to present their reports.
Funding for Alperton and Copland Schools Councillor Crane (Lead Member for Regeneration and Major Projects) reported on the welcome news received by the Council that a bid to the schools priority building programme for Alperton and Copland schools had been successful. Details of the exact funding were awaited. He referred to the previous government’s much larger Building Schools for the Future programme and the fact that work on both schools would have started by now if the programme had been retained. Councillor Crane stated that it was clear that pupils performed better in improved schools.
Carers’ Hub Councillor Hirani (Lead Member for Adults and Health) referred to the work undertaken by his predecessor, Councillor R Moher, and officers which had culminated in the Council tendering for the development of a carers’ hub to provide a single point of contact for carers through the coordination and delivery of a wide range of services including: Information and advice Access to health and wellbeing services Whole family support Money and benefits advice Access to work and training Caring support and training Emergency support.
This had been the subject of consultation and receiving valuable feedback and it was hoped to have the service up and running by February 2013.
Expansion of schools – Newfield, Brentfield and Preston Manor Lower School Councillor Arnold (Lead Member for Children and Families) reported on the official launches of three new school buildings as part of meeting the relentless demand for primary school places. The threat of not having capacity had been turned into the opportunity to provide new modern facilities. However there was continued demand with a need for a further sixteen reception classes. This was greater than demand in neighbouring boroughs and continual government lobbying had successfully attracted £80M funding for new school places provision. Councillor Arnold stated that a report on school places would be submitted to the Executive in August.
Recycling caddie liners Councillor Powney (Lead Member for Environment and Neighbourhoods) reported that, thanks to the new system introduced by the Council, recycling rates had increased from 28% to 44%. He now wanted to expand the scheme by tackling food waste. Therefore liners were now being supplied for food caddies. Waste food was a major cause of greenhouse emissions and so it was hoped this initiative would be good for the environment as well as save the Council money.
Council Tax support consultation Councillor R Moher (Lead Member for Corporate Resources) reported on the consultation the Council was due to carry out on the proposed transfer of Council Tax support from the Government to local government. She stated that it was not good news for Brent not least because the amount of money the Government was passing on to the Council was less than it cost to currently run the scheme. Members had already been briefed on the issues faced by the Council ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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Questions from the Opposition and other Non- Executive Members Questions will be put to the Executive Minutes: Councillor Brown stated that it appeared that the Leader of the Council was pursuing a different library policy to that of the Lead Member and asked if he would now seek the resignation of the Lead Member. Councillor Butt (Leader) replied that he and Councillor Powney (Lead Member for Environment and Neighbourhoods) were following the same policy which was to implement the library strategy. He added that Councillor Powney was doing a superb job and would continue to do so. Councillor Brown expressed disappointment with the reply and referred to what he saw as encouraging signs given by the Leader to the library groups. He stated that Councillor Butt could have stopped the libraries being cleared of books and the transfer of buildings and land. He felt it was time to turn words into actions.
Councillor Mashari asked what plans there were to ensure every child in Brent had a school place. Councillor Arnold (Lead Member for Children and Families) replied that 120 extra permanent places and 340 places in reception ‘bulge’ classes had been provided to meet the increased demand. A further 120 places were being created and a contingency plan was in place. Of the 3770 applications this year, all had been provided with a place with 79% receiving their first choice. However, no guarantee could be given that all children applying for a place this year would get one in September. Councillor Mashari felt the figures given by Councillor Arnold were encouraging and showed that the Council was doing all it could to meet the increased demand. She expressed the view that the Government appeared obsessed with the notion that the free market would address the problem but felt that funding was not being allocated to where it was most needed.
Councillor Colwill asked why only half the footway in Regal Way had been repaired. He referred to a petition on this matter that was to be received by the Highways Committee but expressed concern that from the recommendations in the report it appeared a final decision had already been made on the matter. Councillor J Moher (Lead Member for Highways and Transportation) replied that the proper place for discussion of the matter was at the Highways Committee. Councillor Colwill referred to the report to the Highways Committee which recommended rejecting the wishes of the petitioners and he re-iterated his view that the Council would be better off if it repaired the whole length of the footway.
Councillor Cheese asked why the money estimated to be spent on Kilburn Library had been allowed to increase from the £117,000 first reported to £650,000. Councillor Butt (Leader) replied that the lower figure had only covered the need for normal day to day repairs and the larger figure reflected the additional work to transform the library in accordance with the Library Transformation project which aimed to provide for six libraries to deliver a first class service to residents. Councillor Cheese responded that the answer was what he had expected and ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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Reports from the Chairs of Overview and Scrutiny Committees To receive reports from the Chairs of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees in accordance with Standing Order 41. Minutes: Councillor Van Kalwala (Chair of Partnership and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee) reported that all of the overview and scrutiny committees except for Budget and Finance had met at least once since the start of the new municipal year and each had discussed their work programmes for the year ahead.
The agenda for the Health Partnerships Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been dominated by two key issues – shaping a healthier future, the NHS’s plan for hospital and out of hospital services in North West London; and the merger between North West London Hospitals and Ealing Hospital Trust. Councillors Kabir and Harrison had been appointed to represent Brent on a North West London joint overview and scrutiny committee to scrutinise the proposals on shaping a healthier future. However, it was still intended that a Brent response to the plans, which would have a significant impact on Brent patients, would be submitted. A small working group was to be established to scrutinise the Brent out of Hospital Care Strategy, which is the local plan to enhance community based services in the borough. The full business case for the hospital merger would be on the committee’s agenda on 18 July. Despite the ongoing structural and strategic changes in the NHS, members of the committee were trying to focus on service issues. In June consideration was given to a serious incident at the Central Middlesex Hospital Urgent Care Centre relating to radiology services. The committee also followed up a report on waiting times for health services in the borough. On 18 July a report on IAPT (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) would be considered, as members sought to do more on mental health services in Brent.
Councillor Van Kalwala reported that the Partnership and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee had recently received the Ward Working Annual Report. The main areas of member’s discussions were: • consultation, particularly in relation to young people, • the key concerns of local residents, and • how partners and voluntary community and residents groups could be involved in finding solutions and additional funding.
The committee had challenged the ward working team and councillors to find ways of increasing youth participation for the next year. The Committee also received a report on progress in delivering the work programme of Partners for Brent. An update was provided on each of the projects which included the troubled families initiative, enabling supply chain opportunities and integrated offender management. Members asked questions around employment, housing and the interlocking themes that linked the projects together. The committee had agreed to hold a crime focussed meeting in July which would include a look in greater depth at the integrated offender management project and crime performance information.
The One Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee had received an update on the One Council Waste and Street Cleansing Review, in particular the performance of the waste collection and street cleansing services. Members focussed questions around meeting the Council’s and the Government’s recycling target, the operation of the ... view the full minutes text for item 7. |
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Motions To debate any motions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 45. |
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More democratic decision-making for Brent Council Minutes: Councillor Lorber moved the motion circulated in his and Councillors Beck, Cummins, Hunter and CJ Patel’s names which sought to bring forward proposals for a modernised committee system of governance to come into force following the 2013 Annual Council meeting. Councillor Lorber expressed the view that this was a proposal that had cross party support across the country. The choice was to have a centralised form of governance or a more democratic system. He felt the public was extremely confused on how decisions were taken by the Executive when there was little debate or challenge on the decisions being taken.
Councillor Kansagra welcomed the motion put forward. He felt public participation had declined since the introduction of the present system of governance. In the past, ideas had been put forward at meetings, discussed and voted on but now he felt the essence of democracy and transparency had been lost. Councillor Kansagra expressed the view that decisions on topics such as libraries, parking and festivals would not have been taken so quickly under a more democratic system.
Councillor Butt spoke against the motion, saying that at a time when the residents of Brent were suffering under a double dip recession and cuts in services, the opposition on the Council should be expected to come up with something better than suggesting local constitutional reform. He stated that people were concerned about the issues affecting their lives and were not concerned about the Council’s decision making structure or issues such as the House of Lords reform, currently being pursued nationally by the Liberal Democrats. Councillor Butt stated this was a matter of party politics and was not a priority for this time.
Following a vote the motion was declared LOST.
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Working in partnership with library groups Minutes: The motion circulated in the names of Councillors Beck, Cheese, Hopkins, Lorber and Shaw called on the Executive to work with local campaign groups to run libraries. It was put to the vote and declared LOST.
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Mental Health Minutes: An amendment to the motion circulated submitted by the Labour Group was accepted and the motion as amended was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.
RESOLVED:
(i) to note that: · one in four adults and one in ten children will at some stage in their lives have a diagnosable mental health problem. In Brent, this equates to over 65,000 local residents; · it is estimated that mental illness costs the UK economy £105 billion a year; · traditionally, mental health has often been the poor relation to physical health in terms of services; · often early intervention is much cheaper than providing more intensive therapy; · work is ongoing between Brent Council and Central and North West London Foundation Trust to bring mental health services together; · the Department of Health’s recent Mental Health Strategy places a key emphasis on early intervention as the key to tackling mental illness;
(ii) that the Mental Health Strategy’s aim to help people early in their lives in order to reduce the number of people needing more intensive treatment for mental illness be supported;
(iii) that it is believed that: · everyone has mental health: sometimes it is good, sometimes it is ok and sometimes it is poor; · encouraging better mental health can have a significant impact on tackling some of the Council’s other priorities such as the number of people in the criminal justice system, the number of people who smoke and are obese; · as well as promoting initiatives to make residents physically healthier the Council should look at promoting initiatives that make residents mentally healthy too; · the Council, NHS Foundation Trust and the Clinical Commissioning Groups should make early intervention a priority which will give benefits to local resident’s mental health and at the same time reduce the burden on more intensive therapy and in the long-term will save the Council money;
(iv) that Charles Walker and Kevan Jones who, amongst other MPs, spoke out recently in the House of Commons about their own mental health problems be applauded for their actions;
(v) that the clause in the Health and Social Care Bill that places a duty on the Secretary of State for Health to promote ‘parity of esteem’ between physical health and mental health be welcomed and that a similar sentiment be embraced by the Council;
(vi) that the approach taken by the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board in recognising that mental wellbeing begins early in life and in developing strategies to tackle this issue be welcomed;
(vii) that all Councillors be called upon to promote a positive atmosphere in the Council Chamber and beyond where those who have suffered with mental illness feel comfortable to speak out without fear of being stigmatised;
(viii) that the Council sign up to the Time to Change campaign which aims to end mental health discrimination.
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Titus Barham's legacy Minutes: An amendment to the motion circulated submitted by the Labour Group seeking to delete reference to allowing Friends of Barham Park to use the empty library building was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.
The motion, as amended, was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.
RESLOVED:
(i) that it be noted that Sunday 8 July 2012 was the 75th anniversary of the death of Wembley benefactor Titus Barham;
(ii) that the Council’s appreciation of Titus Barham’s legacy be recorded, which has benefitted Brent residents for generations and includes: • donating Barham Park to the people of Wembley, • providing the premises for Barham Park Library, • donating the collections which form the basis of the Brent Museum, • contributing to the setting up of Wembley Hospital, and • donating land to Wembley Tennis Club.
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Standards Committee Minutes: Councillor Kansagra moved the motion submitted in his name which sought to establish the membership of the new Standards Committee as being one councillor from each political group. He referred to having a Standards Committee for around 10 years during which it had considered some serious issues but also some frivolous ones reflecting the experience of such committees across the country. He supported the re-establishment of a Standards Committee but because it now had such limited powers he felt this added weight to his call for it to have an equal membership from each group. Councillor Kansagra acknowledged that the position of chair of the committee had been offered to the opposition but he felt this did not go far enough.
Councillor Beck expressed his disappointment that the old arrangements had been removed and that the new committee would have no powers. He felt the committee would become more political as a consequence, especially as the chair could no longer be an independent person. In light of this he felt that a membership of one from each group would not have a detrimental impact on its operation.
Councillor R Moher reminded members that legislation had removed the previous standards arrangements. She expressed the hope that all councillors would maintain standards and behave properly but could not support the motion.
The motion was put to the vote and declared LOST.
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Parking restrictions in Preston Road Minutes: The motion submitted in the name of Councillors Colwill and Kansagra sought to instruct the Executive to reconsider the parking restrictions in Preston Road.
The motion was put to the vote and declared LOST.
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Accident and Emergency services Minutes: Councillor Hirani moved the motion submitted in his name. He stated that if a health service was to be designed from scratch there would be A&E provision at Central Middlesex hospital and that it was only because Northwick Park hospital was being re-organised that the A&E facility was being taken away from Central Middlesex hospital. Local residents had recognised the improvements made at the hospital but the proposal was a result of the Government’s ruthless health reforms. Councillor Hirani submitted that although there were proposals to create urgent care centres these would not provide all the facilities of an A&E department. This would leave areas of the borough with a much longer journey time to the nearest A&E facility.
Councillor Lorber moved an amendment to the motion which sought to substantially add to it by referring back to the previous Labour government’s policies. He pointed out that the performance of different hospitals varied greatly and that studies had shown that to create specialised hospitals was the only option if standards were to be improved. It was not viable to spread resources so thinly that it became a lottery as to the level of service people received when visiting hospital. The NHS had embarked on a long consultation process which he felt all interested people should respond to. Councillor Lorber stated that the problem for A&E services was that the great majority of people that visited the service had been taken off the streets in a drunken state.
Councillor Colwill supported the points made by Councillor Lorber. He stated that in 2009/10 the then Labour government had plans to close local hospitals. He added that it was the Labour government that had started the health reforms and referred to some of the changes that had then been proposed which, he felt, had adversely impacted on elderly people.
The amendment to the motion was put to the vote and declared LOST.
The motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.
RESOLVED:
that the Tory and Liberal Democrat Government be condemned for the lack of consideration to Brent residents over the likely closure of Accident and Emergency (A&E) services at the Central Middlesex Hospital, which will lead to people in the poorest part of Brent having to travel longer distances to address life threatening imminent needs.
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By elections Minutes: Councillor Lorber moved an amendment to the motion submitted which sought to recognise the dedication of Brent’s Liberal Democrat councillors, which was put to the vote and declared LOST.
The motion submitted by Councillor Al Ebadi in the absence of Councillor A Choudry was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.
RESOLVED:
that Brent Liberal Democrats be condemned for their weak position and stance on councillors living outside of Brent and disappointment be expressed in the show of contempt to Brent residents by not holding by-elections when there was an opportunity to do so on the same day as the 2012 London Mayoral elections.
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To note the results of the by elections held on 22 March and 3 May 2012. Minutes: RESOLVED:
that the by election results be noted. |
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New standards regime under Localism Act PDF 95 KB Report attached on the implications of the Localism Act 2011 in relation to the Member’s Code of Conduct, the Standards arrangements and the regulations published on 8th June 2012 setting out pecuniary interests. Additional documents:
Minutes: Members had before them the report on the implications of the Localism Act 2011 in relation to the Member’s Code of Conduct, the Standards arrangements and the regulations published on 8 June 2012 setting out the pecuniary interests.
Councillor Jones drew attention to the criminal sanctions for breach of disclosable pecuniary interests. She also referred to the recommendation to re-establish a Standards Committee. Councillor Lorber stated that there was no barrier to establishing the Standards Committee on the basis of equal representation from each of the political groups if there was unanimous agreement and he felt it was wrong for one party to have a majority on the committee. Councillor Kansagra referred to his earlier motion and re-iterated his support for equal representation from each of the political groups.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the implications of the Localism Act 2011 and in particular that it places an obligation on the Council to promote and maintain high ethical standards by its members and co-opted members be noted;
(ii) that the Code of Conduct for Members as attached at Appendix 1 to the report submitted be adopted;
(iii) that the sanctions available to the Full Council in relation to members found to be in breach of the new Code of Conduct set out in paragraphs 12 and 16.7 of the report submitted be noted;
(iv) that a new Standards Committee be appointed with the terms of reference attached as Appendix 2 to the report submitted;
(v) that the allocation of seats on the new Standards Committee be:
(vi) that a non-voting co-opted member (and alternate) be appointed to the new Standards Committee;
(vii) that the Monitoring Officer be delegated the decision to refer a written complaint to Standards Committee and to take other action, including no action;
(viii) that two ‘independent persons’ be appointed to fulfil the role set out in paragraph 13 of the report submitted;
(ix) that the Monitoring Officer be delegated authority to take decisions in relation to dispensations, as set out in the Code of Conduct;
(x) that the Monitoring Officer be delegated authority to draw up and agree detailed procedures to support the Code of Conduct and the new standards regime, including detailed powers and duties and procedures for the new Standards Committee following consultation with the Constitutional Working Group;
(xi) to note that the new Standards Committee will review and refine the detailed procedures and operation of the new regime at a meeting during the 2012/13 municipal year;
(xii) that the advice note from the Monitoring Officer to all members in relation to the definition of pecuniary interests, attached as Appendix 3 to the report submitted, be noted;
(xiii) that the Constitution be amended in accordance with the tracked changes shown at Appendix 4 of the report submitted;
(xiv) that the following be appointed members of the new Standards Committee for the remainder of the municipal year:
Councillor Beck (Chair) Councillor Gladbaum Councillor Harrison Councillor ... view the full minutes text for item 10. |
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Urgent business At the discretion of the Mayor to consider any urgent business. Minutes: None. |