Agenda and minutes
Venue: Committee Room 4, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9 9HD
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 previous meeting held on 12 October 2011 PDF 137 KB The minutes are attached. Minutes: RESOLVED:-
that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 October 2011 be approved as an accurate record, subject to the following amendment:-
Add ‘Councillor Naheerathan’ under ‘present’. |
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Matters arising Minutes: Tenancy Strategy
In reply to an update request from Councillor Hirani, Cathy Tyson (Assistant Director – Policy, Strategy, Partnerships and Improvement) advised that the Tenancy Strategy was presently in draft form and was going through the initial consultation stages. A revised draft strategy would be put to a fuller consultation in the New Year.
Anti-Social Behaviour in Brent
Councillor Hirani sought an update in respect of closure orders in the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 being used to close down khat houses in Brent. The Chair sought further information with regard to benchmarking with other local authorities, whether crime date per ward could be circulated to councillors and also whether information relating to racial hate crime was available.
Jacqueline Casson (Senior Policy Officer, Strategy, Partnerships and Improvement) confirmed that she would seek further information from Genny Renard (Head of Integrated Community Safety and Development, Strategy Partnerships and Improvement) on the issues raised. |
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Tackling employment issues in Brent PDF 406 KB Representatives from the three Department of Work and Pensions Work Programme providers, JobCentre Plus and the College of North West London will be attending the meeting to discuss issues relating to tackling employment issues in Brent.
Report to follow. Additional documents: Minutes: Andrea Lagos (Lead Language2work Personal Consultant, Strategy, Partnerships and Improvement) introduced the report and gave an overview of employment trends in Brent. She advised the committee that around 12,000 people, representing 9.3% of Brent’s total workforce, were presently unemployed, compared to 8.3% average in London and 7.7% average nationally. Harlesden, Stonebridge, Kilburn and Kensal Green wards had the highest number of working age people in receipt of out-of-work benefits, whilst it was noted that 34.1% of those 16 years and under lived in households with less than 60% of the median income, which classified them as living in poverty. The rise of young people claiming benefits since October 2010 was in line with the lack of job vacancies and lack of experience, as well as the impact on increased educational fees.
Andrea Lagos advised that the Government’s intention to “encourage responsibility and fairness in the welfare system” had also made a significant impact, which included replacing the welfare to work schemes with a single Work Programme, a re-assessment of people on Incapacity Benefits and reforming the welfare benefits system with a Universal Credit which was due to be introduced in 2013. Local housing allowance caps were to be introduced in January 2012 and was of particular concern to London boroughs, and in Brent, including in the most deprived areas where rents were comparatively expensive. The Work Programme was delivered through the council working with Jobcentre Plus and three Work Programme providers.
Terry Dackombe (Partnership Manager for Brent, Jobcentre Plus, Department for Work and Pensions) then addressed the committee. He explained that the majority of those receiving the Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) were first time claimants, many of whom were back in work within 13 weeks, whilst 90% of first time claimants returned to employment within 52 weeks. Members noted that participation on the Work Programme was mandatory for those on JSA aged 18 -24 years who had been claiming for nine months or more, and for those of 25 years plus who had been claiming for a year or more. Before claimants became eligible for the Work Programme, Jobcentre Plus would assist them in obtaining places on skills related courses run by the College of North West London (CNWL) and Brent Adult and Community Education Service (BACES). There was no eligibility criteria and claimants could apply to access the courses from the first day of their claim. Terry Dackombe emphasised that the courses provided skills certificates that were recognised by employers and not necessarily what customers would like to study. This was undertaken by assessing in what areas of employment there were most vacancies and what skills were in demand, which included office, administrative, hospitality, IT and care skills. CNWL had two employment advisers to assist in this area, whilst Jobcentre Plus had an employment adviser in Outreach. A minimum target of 50% of those who had completed their course to obtain sustained employment after 26 weeks was set and work placements, volunteering and post course provision was arranged for those ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
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Partnership and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee Work Programme PDF 64 KB The work programme is attached. Minutes: Jacqueline Casson advised that at the request of the Chair, the Borough Commander had been invited to attend the next meeting to discuss policing priorities in Brent. There was also be to be an item on the draft Crime Strategy. |
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Date of next meeting The next meeting of the Partnership and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 9 February 2012 at 7.30 pm. Minutes: It was noted that the next meeting of the Partnership and Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to take place on Thursday, 9 February 2012 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. |