Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room 3, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9 9HD. View directions
Contact: Toby Howes, Senior Democratic Services Officer 020 8937 1307, Email: toby.howes@brent.gov.uk
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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 the agenda. Minutes: None declared. |
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Minutes of the last meeting held on 6 July 2011 PDF 131 KB The minutes are attached. Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 6 July 2011 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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Matters arising Minutes: None. |
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Waste and Street Cleansing Review - Waste Collection Implementation PDF 780 KB This report updates on progress with respect to the One Council Waste and Street Cleansing Review, in particular implementing and communicating the waste collection changes that are to be implemented as part of that project. Additional documents: Minutes: Chris Whyte (Head of Environment Management, Environment and Management Services) introduced this item and updated Members on the progress of implementing the new arrangements for the waste collection service. The committee heard that the issuing of new bins was now in its second week, with most households receiving larger 240 litre bins, although smaller ones were being issued where there was insufficient space. In addition, around 30,000 homes were being provided with food waste bins. The issuing of new bins was slightly ahead of schedule and was due for completion in two weeks. Four to five distribution crews were issuing on average around 1,000 new bins per crew each day. There was also a crew dedicated to providing bins to properties that had been missed and they were operating on a twice weekly basis. Chris Whyte confirmed that the new waste collection service would commence on 3 October. In the meantime, additional temporary staff had been recruited at the Call Centre to answer queries from residents about the new service and there was also an e-mail address they could send their questions or comments to. Overall, the feedback from residents received to date was largely positive and they understood what changes were being made and the reasons why. The main concern that had been raised was that some residents felt that the bin provided was too large and officers were visiting these properties to assess what bin size would be most appropriate.
David Pietropaoli (Waste Policy Manger, Environment and Neighbourhood Services) then provided details of the communications and community engagement plan to support the household waste collection strategy. He explained that that there were three phases to the plan, with the first phase being a ‘teaser campaign’ over the summer which sought to change residents’ expectations and to prepare them for the change in service on 3 October, whilst reassuring them the current arrangements would remain in the place up until then. Articles were appearing in the Brent Magazine and its Green Pages section and leaflets. Phase two of the plan involved the first stage of the aim communications campaign starting in September and would include information on the new waste collection arrangements in greater detail, again through articles in the Brent Magazine, its Green Pages section, and distribution of a 12 page explanatory leaflet and a colour-coded collection calendar. A Frequency Asked Questions section based on type of property was also available on the council’s website. David Pietropaoli added that there was also various intranet articles for staff and e-mails sent to councillors explaining the changes. Phase two of the main communications campaign would commence in June 2012.
During Members’ discussion, Councillor Beckman enquired whether clear sacks were provided in respect of battery recycling. Councillor Mitchell Murray suggested that the leaflets remind residents that the council offered a free bulky waste removal service, whilst the disused grey bins could be put to other useful means such as collecting rain water to use in the drier summer months. She also ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
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Performance and Finance Review, Quarter 4, 2010-11 PDF 194 KB The Council has refreshed its performance management framework and a series of complementary initiatives have been introduced to enable improved performance monitoring. A set of departmental performance scorecards have been introduced to strengthen internal monitoring and a more flexible service planning framework has also been rolled out.
Appendices to this report are attached separately. Minutes: Cathy Tyson (Assistant Director – Policy, Strategy, Partnerships and Improvement) introduced the report and advised that although the Local Area Agreement had been abolished, the report still included some partnership indicators as these were important measures by which the council’s performance with its partners and its objectives could be considered. The report’s format continued to evolve, however financial data now appeared alongside performance data and work continued with regard to how these would be presented. Cathy Tyson stressed that the council continued to face challenging circumstances with very large savings targets to be achieved. In addition, the council faced rising demand in many areas, such as benefits, children’s social care, school places and Special Educational Needs and these were all difficult to forecast demand for. Overall, the borough continued to face rising unemployment and low income levels, whilst the introductions of the Housing Benefit Cap and limit to Universal Credit would impact significantly. However, despite these considerable challenges, the council was committed to improving performance and efficiency.
Turning to the 2010/11 outturn, Cathy Tyson advised that the overall forecast had improved due to overspends in some areas being outweighed by underspends in the Central Services, leaving the council’s balance at £7.5m. This represented a considerable achievement in view that the council had lost around £6m of in year grants. With regard to performance, Members heard that 56% were on or just below target, 24% significantly below target and 20% having insufficient information which was attributable to some council partners reporting processes. Cathy Tyson advised that the council was taking a more robust approach to insufficient information.
Cathy Tyson then advised the committee of areas that were deemed high risk and this included Adult Social Care which had been caused in part by the quality of data and was being addressed in a One Council programme project. In Children and Families, the re-offending rate and number of 18 year olds subject to a Child Protection Plan and Child Adolescent Mental Health Services where there was insufficient information were also risk areas. Serious acquisitive crime and number of active library book borrowers remained risks, as did recycling rates, however a number of measures were already in place to address this. The number of households living in temporary accommodation was exacerbated by the number of people moving into Brent from Central London reducing the amount of suitable private accommodation available. The percentage of working age people on out of work benefits was rising especially amongst women, however Job Centre and other agencies were working with the council to address this.
Cathy Tyson then informed Members of indicators that were on target, and these included:-
· Creation of affordable homes · Teenage conception rate · Childhood obesity rate · Sports visits by young people · Reduction in first entrants to the crime system · Reduction in complaints to BHP, the Planning Service and Housing and Benefits
During discussion, Councillor Harrison enquired whether overspends in Children and Families could be addressed through more early years intervention activities and whether the transfer ... view the full minutes text for item 5. |
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The Localism Bill Members will be provided with a verbal update on changes made to the Localism Bill during its progression through Parliament and the implications for Brent. Minutes: Cathy Tyson updated Members on progress with the Localism Bill which was due a second reading in the House of Lords this week. There had been considerable debate over the Bill and the public committees stage had been completed. Members heard that some 300 amendments had been proposed since the Bill’s first draft. In particular much discussion had revolved around communities’ right to challenge, changes to housing provision and shadow mayors in city areas. Another topic of debate concerned neighbourhood planning provision and a number of amendments had been agreed in respect of this, whilst a business neighbourhood plan was also included which would allow business rate payers to vote on some planning issues and to make representations. Members heard that neighbourhood forums could be de-registered if they were not compliant and the shadow city mayor proposals had been dropped. Cathy Tyson advised that request for referendums could be declined if the costs involved were more than 5% of council tax income or if the matter had been considered in the last four years. The other provisions in the Bill had remained largely unchanged. The committee noted that a Public Services White Paper provided practical guidance on how the Localism Bill could be delivered with the intention to provide residents with greater choice and diversity. |
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Work Programme and Task Group Scope PDF 58 KB The One Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s work programme was discussed at the last meeting and the work programme is attached. In addition a scope for a proposed task group on Fairtrade Status for Brent is attached for members to discuss and agree. Additional documents: Minutes: Jacqueline Casson (Senior Policy Officer, Strategy, Partnerships and Improvement) advised that following the last meeting of the committee, there had been discussion on creating a task group on Fairtrade status for Brent and to develop its scope. The task group would look at ways of supporting the Brent Fairtrade Network to obtain Fairtrade status in Brent.
During discussion, Councillor Lorber sought further details on what the task group was seeking to achieve. He suggested that it was the responsibility of the Brent Fairtrade Network to obtain Fairtrade status and that the Network was aware that it needed to ensure that a greater number of faith groups and schools were involved as it had been informed that this was the reason it had not achieved Fairtrade status in previous attempts. He therefore suggested that the Network did not need a task group set up to support these efforts.
Councillor Chohan suggested that the task group could work with the Network and schools and other organisations to promote Fairtrade products. Although no funding was available, the council could play an important role in encouraging use of Fairtrade products throughout the borough.
The Chair invited Councillor Butt to comment, who stressed that a collective, holistic approach needed to taken to involve as many people as possible in promoting Fairtrade products, especially schools and the task group could act as the council’s representatives in providing this cause with more weight.
RESOLVED:-
that a task group on Fairtrade status for Brent be created. |
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Date of next meeting The next meeting of the One Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, 22 November 2011 at 7.30 pm. Minutes: It was noted that the next meeting of the One Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled for Tuesday, 22 November 2011 at 7.30 pm. |
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Any other urgent business Notice of items raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Democratic Services Manager or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 64. Minutes: None. |