Agenda and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9 9HD. View directions
Contact: Peter Goss, Democratic Services Manager, 020 8937 1351, Email: peter.goss@brent.gov.uk
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Minutes of the previous meeting Additional documents:
Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the minutes of the previous meetings held on 1 March (circulated separately), 24 May (Annual meeting) and 26 May 2010 be approved as accurate records of the meetings. |
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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: None declared. |
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Mayor's announcements Minutes: The Mayor spoke on behalf of the Council in expressing his pleasure at seeing Councillor Steel at the meeting after his recent illness.
The Mayor announced that past Mayor, Gwen Tookey was recovering from a fall and wished her well.
The Mayor drew attention to the list of current petitions showing progress on dealing with them circulated around the chamber in accordance with Standing Orders. |
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Appointments to committees and outside bodies and appointment of chairs/vice chairs (if any) Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the following appointments be made:
Planning Committee - Councillor Long to replace Councillor Hossain - Councillor Hossain to replace Councillor Long as first alternate to Councillor Adeyeye
Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Councillor Colwill as vice chair
Staff Appeals Sub-Committee (A) - Councillor Beck as first alternate to Councillor Castle - Councillor CJ Patel as second alternate to Councillor Castle
Staff Appeals Sub-Committee (B) - Councillor Beck as first alternate to Councillor Castle - Councillor CJ Patel as second alternate to Councillor Castle
School Admissions Forum - Councillor Ashraf - Councillor CJ Patel as first alternate to Councillor Ashraf - Councillor Hashmi as second alternate to Councillor Ashraf
Welsh Harp Joint Consultative Committee - Councillor Hashmi as first alternate to Councillor Ashraf - Councillor CJ Patel as second alternate to Councillor Ashraf |
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Changes to the Council's Financial Regulations PDF 62 KB This report sets out the proposed new interim financial regulations to cover the period April 2010 to September 2010. It also sets out the requirements for a further change to the Financial Regulations in the Autumn 2010. Additional documents: Minutes: Members had before them the report that set out the proposed new interim financial regulations to cover the period April to September 2010.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the proposed new Financial Regulations set out in appendix A be adopted to take effect immediately and that the Council's constitution be amended accordingly;
(ii) that it be noted that changes would be required in Autumn 2010. |
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In accordance with Standing Order 39, up to ten questions selected by the Leaders of the three main political groups will be followed with supplementary questions to the Executive.
A copy of the selected questions and the answers where possible will be separately circulated to all members. Minutes: The selected questions submitted under the provisions of standing order 38 had been circulated together with written responses from the respective Lead Members. The Members who had put the questions were invited to ask their supplementary questions.
The following three questions had been selected by the Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group.
Parking income
The question from Councillor Clues had asked about the level of income generated from motorists. He stated that the answer he had received did not answer the part of his question that asked what was proposed to reduce the level of income. As a supplementary question he asked that, given that in the Labour election leaflets it had implied that £11 million was too much income from parking in the borough and that it was claimed that Labour were "working with the motorists to get a fairer deal", what proposals would be brought forward to reduce the amount of income from motorists in Brent.
Councillor J Moher (Lead Member for Highways and Transportation) expressed surprise that the question of election leaflets had been raised and considered the example given as mild. He added that there was no commitment to reduce the level of income and reminded Council that the use of the surplus was governed by law. Councillor Moher stated that what he would not be doing would be to furtively raid the account but would instead spend the money in consultation with motorists.
Highways maintenance
The question from Councillor Beck had asked for confirmation of when the programme for spending the additional £1.5 million on repairs to potholes and roads would be published. He again referred to the Labour pre election pledge to use money saved on consultants to repair roads. As a supplementary question Councillor Beck asked how many consultants had been got rid of and how much money this had generated for investment in Brent's roads.
Councillor J Moher (Lead Member for Highways and Transport) referred to the written answer provided to Councillor Beck. He accused the previous Liberal Democrat led administration of front loading repairs to roads and pavements during the first two years and then reducing spend during the latter two years of the administration. Even on a reduced spend he accused the previous administration of failing to complete the programme and stated that the issue of maintaining Brent's roads and pavements would be tackled in a proper way.
CCTV enforcement policy
The question from Councillor Green had asked if the new CCTV enforcement policy was going to be a money making scheme. In the absence of Councillor Green, Councillor Ashraf asked a supplementary question on his behalf. He asked given that Labour now ran Brent and any decisions taken were of their choosing, and further given that the current income from parking was around £14 million - £3 million more than the £11 million thought to be too much - would warning tickets for drivers who breach the new CCTV enforcement policy be issued so that the traffic can ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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Reports from: |
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The report from the Leader or other members of the Executive:
(i) Brent Local Development Framework – adoption of the core strategy
(ii) Enforcement of moving traffic and parking contraventions by means of CCTV cameras
(iii) Building Schools for the Future
(iv) Voluntary sector grants
(v) Impact of the Chancellor’s budget
(vi) Decisions taken by the Executive under the Council’s urgency provisions Additional documents: Minutes: The Borough Solicitor advised that discussions at the Constitutional Working Group had resulted in agreement that the format of future Council meetings should change. Officers would be reporting to the September meeting of Full Council on the required changes to standing orders but in the meantime it had been agreed informally that this meeting of Council should allow for debate on the items reported by the Executive.
Brent Local Development Framework - adoption of the core strategy
Councillor Powney introduced the report circulated which summarised the key recommendations of the Planning Inspector following the submission of the core strategy to the Secretary of State in September 2009. He explained that the most significant views of the of the Inspector were outlined in (a) – (e) under paragraph 3.4 and expressed the hope that these would be accepted.
Enforcement of moving traffic and parking contraventions by means of CCTC cameras
Councillor J Moher introduced the report circulated which sought approval for the transfer of powers to the Council for moving traffic contraventions, as listed in appendix A of the report. He pointed out to members the effects of what was being proposed. He was pleased that there appeared to be cross party support for this. Councillor J Moher referred to press coverage that had suggested that the proposals were a money making exercise but he stated that the money raised by the scheme would be used to recover the costs and provide training. He stated that motorists had fair warning of the scheme and that it would deter anti social motorists and so commended it to the Council.
Building Schools for the Future
Councillor Arnold reported on the huge implications for the borough of the government decision to halt the Building Schools for the Future programme. The secondary schools affected by the announcement were the two Crest academies, Copeland, Alperton, Cardinal Hinsley and Queens Park. She added that this would also prevent the vision being realised of the schools affected becoming community hubs.
Voluntary sector grants
Councillor R Moher reported on decisions made on main programme grants which, following the recommendations of a task group, had been agreed for a three year period and tied to one of the main themes of the Council. This year the theme was crime and community safety and regeneration. Twenty organisations had had their grants agreed totalling £370,573 and of those that had not received a grant, two had lodged an appeal although other funding streams already existed for them.
Impact of the chancellor's budget
Councillor Butt reported that despite expecting a tough budget it had been worse than predicted with £7 million grants being withdrawn. The effect on the Council would be the need for up to a further £30 million savings required over the next 4 years on top of the savings already being achieved. The announcement regarding housing benefit rent levels would result in 2,000 residents being affected and a £9 million reduction affecting the most vulnerable in the borough. The schools ... view the full minutes text for item 7a |
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Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee Opportunity for the new Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee to report on activities since the local elections. Minutes: In the absence of the Chair there was no report from Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
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Urgent business At the discretion of the Mayor to consider any urgent business. Minutes: None. |