Agenda

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the previous Council Meeting held on Thursday 19 September 2024.

(Agenda republished to include the attached minutes on 16 November 2024)

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary or personal interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

To agree any appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies (if any) in accordance with Standing Order 30 (g).

(Agenda republished to include the list of appointments on 16 November 2024)

To hear any deputations requested by members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 32.

Members are asked to note that at the time of agenda publication there are no deputation(s) due to be presented at the meeting.

7.1   To receive and consider the question(s) submitted by the public for response by the relevant Cabinet Member, in accordance with Standing Order 33.

Members are asked to note that three public questions have been received, which have been attached to the agenda along with the written responses provided.

7.2   To receive question(s) submitted by the Brent Youth Parliament for response by the relevant Cabinet Member, in accordance with Standing Order 33(c).

Members are asked to note that one question has been received, which has been attached to the agenda along with the written response provided.

For Members to consider any petitions with more than 200 signatures on which a debate has been requested, in accordance with the Council’s petition rules and Standing Order 68.

Members are asked to note that at the time of agenda publication no petitions have been submitted for presentation at the meeting.

Following the change in procedure for dealing with Motions agreed as part of the changes to the Constitution at the Annual Council Meeting in May 2024, the debate on motions submitted to Full Council, in accordance with Standing Order 30(k) and 41 will now be undertaken at this stage of the meeting.

Members are asked to note:

·            The motions submitted for debate have been attached.

·            Where a motion concerns an executive function, nothing passed can be actioned until approved by the Executive or an officer with the relevant delegated power.

(Agenda republished to include the motions submitted for debate on 12 November 2024 along an amendment submitted by the Conservative Group on the 1^ST Labour Group motion - Item 9.3 on 16 November 2024)

To receive a report from the Leader of the Council in accordance with Standing Order 31 providing an update on any key or significant issues arising from any matter within the responsibility of the Cabinet.

For questions to be put to members of the Cabinet by Opposition and Non-Cabinet Members in accordance with Standing Order 35.

Five advance notice questions have been received under this item, which have been attached along with the written responses provided.

Members are asked to note that this session will also include an opportunity (within the time available) for other Non-Cabinet members and the Opposition to ask questions of Cabinet Members without the need for advance notice.

To receive reports from the Chairs of the Council’s Scrutiny Committees in accordance with Standing Order 36. The reports have been attached as follows:

12.1    Committee Community & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

12.2    Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny

(Agenda republished to include the update from the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee on 16 November 2024)

Members are asked to note that this session will include an opportunity (within the time available) for Non-Cabinet Members to ask questions of relevant Scrutiny Chair’s in relation to the remit of their Committees.

To receive a report from the Vice Chair of the Audit and Standards Advisory Committee updating Council on the work of the Committee, in accordance with Standing Order 37.

To enable Non-Cabinet Members to raise an issue of relevance to Brent for debate on which notice has been provided in accordance with Standing Order 34 and to receive updates from Cabinet members, as required, on any issues previously raised.

Members are asked to note that the subject identified for debate at this meeting is as follows:

Guaranteeing new builds are safe and free of dangerous defects

Please note: The motion submitted as the basis for this debate has been attached.

The council in its role as a Licensing Authority under the Licensing Act 2003 has a duty to determine, publish and keep under review its Statement of Licensing Policy (‘Policy’) which covers a five-year period but can be replaced at any time during that five-year period.  The current Policy is due to expire on the 5 January 2025 and this report therefore presents the outcome of the review and proposed new Licensing Policy for formal adoption.

Members are asked to note that the policy is also due to be considered by Cabinet on 12 November 2024 with any comments made as a result to be reported to Council as part of consideration of the final policy for adoption.

(Agenda republished on 16 November 2024to include an updated cover report including comments added following the Cabinet meeting on 12 November 2024)

Please note, this item also includes reference to the following two documents as background papers:

·        Licensing Policy Consultation responses

·        Equality Assessment

These documents have been published as a separate supplementary pack to accompany the main Council agenda.

The Gambling Act 2005 was fully implemented during 2007 creating a system of licensing and regulation for commercial gambling. It requires the council to prepare and publish a Statement of Principles for each successive period of three years, which outlines the principles to be applied in exercising our functions as the Licensing Authority under the Act. Statutory consultation must take place prior to the Statement of Principles being determined by Full Council.

The Statement of Principles was comprehensively reviewed last year, but to bring the policy in line with the Gambling Commission review timetable this report sets out the outcome of a further review and proposed amendments identified as a result for formal adoption with the current Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles due to expire on the 31 January 2025.

Members are asked to note that the Statement of Principles is also due to be considered by Cabinet on 12 November 2024 with any comments made as a result to be reported to Council as part of consideration of the final statement for adoption.

(Agenda republished on 16 November 2024to include an updated cover report including comments added following the Cabinet meeting on 12 November 2024)

Please note, this item also includes reference to the following two documents as background papers:

·        Statement of Gambling Principles Consultation responses

·        Equality Assessment

These documents have been published as a separate supplementary pack to accompany the main Council agenda.

This report provides an update in respect of the council’s 2024 Voluntary Redundancy Scheme (the “Scheme”) and seeks approval to make 10 severance payments, consisting predominantly of actuarial strain costs relating to the release of a pension, on the basis that the employees’ posts are redundant.   As the pension strain costs that the council must bear as part of the Pension scheme rules amount to over £100,000 in each case, Full Council is asked to approve the payments.

The following item is not for publication as it relates to the category of exempt information as specified under Paragraph 1, Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, namely: “Information relating to an Individual”.

Agenda Item 17:        Voluntary Redundancy Scheme 2024 (Appendix 1 – Voluntary Redundancy Scheme figures)

At the discretion of the Mayor to consider any urgent business, in accordance with Standing Order 37(s).