Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:-

that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 January 2013 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

The following LEA school governor and children centre positions were noted and treated as declared as a non prejudicial interest by those members indicated:

The following membership of the Board of Brent Housing Partnership were noted and treated as having declared a non prejudicial interest:

The following non-prejudicial interests were declared:

The Mayor stated that it was likely to be the last time he would chair the Council meeting.  He thanked fellow councillors for being kind and generous towards him during his Mayoral term.  He especially thanked Councillors Butt, Lorber and Kansagra and officers for their support.

The Mayor announced that in conjunction with Brent Music Service he would be holding a Music Concert in aid of his charity appeal on 20 March 2013 in the Paul Daisley Hall.  Tickets could be obtained from his office and the event would be a fantastic opportunity to showcase the Brent Music Service whilst supporting his charity appeal.

The Mayor announced that his ‘End of Year’ celebration would be held on 10 May 2013 and he hoped to see many councillors there.  Further details would be sent out nearer the time.

The Mayor drew attention to the list of current petitions showing progress on dealing with them which had been circulated around the chamber.

The Mayor informed members that the Lord Mayor of the City of London would be visiting the borough on 1 March for a tree planting ceremony in Queens Park.

None.

Report circulated separately.

The Council had before it a report seeking approval of the 2013/14 revenue and capital budgets and to the Council Tax to be levied. The report incorporated key information relating to the Council’s current financial position and future projections. It set out the key decisions members were being asked to make on:

- the 2013/14 General Fund revenue budget;

- the 2013/14 Schools Budget;

- the 2013/14 Housing Revenue Account;

- the Council’s capital programme for 2013/14 to 2016/17;

- the Council’s treasury management strategy; and

- prudential indicators aimed at ensuring the affordability of capital

spending and a secure approach to borrowing and investment.

The Leader of the Council addressed the meeting in support of the proposed budget.  He referred to what he saw as a divide in politics that saw one side believing that everyone could make a positive contribution to the economy and community and the other believing some people had to lose so that others could win.  He expressed the view that government should work for everyone and felt that local government had the ability to make things better which was what the proposed budget aimed to do.  Councillor Butt put forward an amendment to the recommendations which proposed an increase in the budget for parking.

Councillor Lorber submitted that much of what the budget aimed to achieve was in fact funded by the Government and was generally supported. He spoke against aspects of the proposed budget and moved an amendment which was circulated around the chamber, which proposed a number of alternatives to the proposed budget.  He also referred to the advanced planning for the difficult economic circumstances undertaken by the previous Administration which was now delivering the majority of the savings needed.

Councillor Kansagra spoke against aspects of the proposed budget and moved an amendment which proposed three alternatives to the proposed budget.  He voiced his support for freezing the Council Tax.  He stated that Government was helping to get more people into work and submitted that it made sense that those people in work should be better rewarded than those on benefits.  Councillor Kansagra also pointed to examples of where the Government was taking action to reduce the burden placed upon citizens.

Councillor Hopkins (Chair of the Budget and Finance Overview and Scrutiny Committee) thanked members of the Committee for their contributions to the work of her committee.  She reminded members that the role of the committee was to examine budgets and seek out any potential problems.  She also thanked the officers for their work in supporting the committee.  The key point in the committee's report was that it had established monthly reporting of up to date information so that any problem areas could be identified early. 

Councillor R Moher stated that the present Government's economic policies were affecting local people, with the younger generation facing difficult times through to at least 2015/16.  She referred to the unhelpful last minute announcements from Government on the local government settlement and praised officers for being  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Government legislative changes mean the Community Infrastructure Levy will replace S106 Planning Obligations as the vehicle for funding the infrastructure that supports growth and development.  After two rounds of public consultation and an examination in public, the Council is now in a position to adopt the Brent CIL Charging Schedule. Concurrently, S106 arrangements will be revised through the adoption of the S106 Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document. The Executive, at its meeting on 11 February 2013 agreed to submit the recommendations in the report to Full Council for approval.

Government legislative changes mean the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) would replace S106 Planning Obligations as the vehicle for funding the infrastructure that supports growth and development. Authorities would collect Community Infrastructure Levy contributions from developers to pay for the infrastructure requirements created by new development, with S106 Planning Obligations restricted in the main to site specific matters.  Members had before them the circulated report recommending the Brent CIL Charging Schedule.  Concurrently, revised S106 arrangements were proposed through the adoption of the S106 Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document

The Executive, at its meeting on 11 February 2013 had forwarded the recommendations in the report circulated to Full Council for approval.

A request was made for funds to be set aside for works at John Billam sports ground and it was agreed this matter would be looked into.  The Chair of the Budget and Finance Overview and Scrutiny Committee pointed out that her committee would be looking for CIL spend to be optimized and would be receiving a ward by ward breakdown of spend.  Councillor Crane (Lead Member for Regeneration and Major Projects) acknowledged the recent receipt of a letter from Schroder Property Investment Management Ltd but pointed out that there had been no representations received from the company during the two rounds of public consultation carried out.  He added that another major land holder in the Wembley area had made a number of comments and now broadly accepted the proposed policy.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the Brent CIL Charging Schedule be approved, with a CIL commencement date of 1 July 2013, subject to the procedures surrounding the settlement of such a date;

(ii)        that the S106 Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document, as agreed by the Executive on 13 February 2012, be adopted, to come into effect concurrently with the CIL commencement date of 1 July 2013;

(iii)       that CIL can be paid in instalments in line with the policy detailed in paragraphs 3.2.3 and 3.2.4 of the report circulated.

The purpose of this report is to inform members of the arrangements that have been put in place in Brent Council to meet the requirements of the Localism Act relating to the production of a pay policy statement.

Section 38(1) of the Localism Act 2011 requires England and Welsh local authorities to produce a pay policy statement for 2012/13 and subsequent financial years.  Members received the report circulated which informed them of the arrangements that had been put in place within the Council to meet the requirements of the Act.

In answer to a question seeking clarity over the pay multiple shown in the pay policy statement, it was explained that the salary figure shown for the Chief Executive was a maximum figure and that it was the Council’s intention to use a starting salary of less than this to bring it into line with the 1:9 ratio shown.

RESOLVED:

that the draft pay policy statement attached to the report circulated be approved as an accurate and factual representation of the Council’s pay arrangements for 2013/14 and to note that any updates required during the year would be brought back to a future meeting of Full Council for approval.

This report seeks to amend the Constitution in accordance with the statutory requirements to appoint a Director of Public Health and to provide for the new Public Health functions.

Members had before them a report proposing amendments to the Council's constitution in accordance with the statutory requirements to appoint a Director of Public Health and to provide for the new Public Health functions.

RESOLVED:

that the Constitutional changes resulting from the transfer of public health functions from the National Health Service to the Council as shown in Appendix A to the report submitted be agreed.

None.