Agenda, decisions and minutes

None made.

RESOLVED:

that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 September 2015 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

None.

This report details the outcomes of consultation with young people and other stakeholders on a proposed new model for youth services in Brent. Following consideration of consultation outcomes, the report recommends priorities for future investment and a preferred delivery model. It seeks Cabinet’s approval to invite tenders for the management and operation of the Roundwood myplace Centre and the delivery of a wider youth services offer, as required by contract standing orders 88 and 89.

Cabinet noted the outcomes of consultation on potential changes to the Council’s current Youth Services provision as detailed in section four of the report and Appendix One of the report.

Cabinet approved the future service priorities for Brent Council’s Youth Services set out in section five of the report.

Cabinet approved officers inviting tenders for the management and operation of the Roundwood myplace Centre and delivery of a wider youth offer in line with the approach detailed in section six of the report and on the basis of the pre-tender considerations set out in paragraph 6.6 of the report.

Cabinet approved officers evaluating tenders referred to in paragraph 2.3 above on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out in paragraph 6.6 of the report.

Cabinet authorised officers to include a draft lease in the invitation to tender documents on terms to be agreed by the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Growth in consultation with the Chief Legal Officer and Head of Procurement.

Cabinet noted that the Strategic Director, Children and Young People will approve the final specification for the service in consultation with the Lead Member for Children and Young People.

Cabinet noted that revised management arrangements for the Roundwood myplace Centre will require formal approval from the Cabinet Office and Education Funding Agency for the

reasons detailed in paragraph 7.8.

Cabinet  noted that staff consultation on changes to the Youth Service will commence in November 2015 in order to deliver achieve agreed savings.

Cabinet noted that organisations tendering will be expected to demonstrate that they will collaborate with local voluntary and community (VCS) sector youth service providers and the Young Brent Foundation to strengthen the borough’s overall youth offer.

Councillor Moher, Lead Member for Children and Young People, introduced the report. She stated that the report and appendices provided details of the outcomes of consultation with young people and other stakeholders on a proposed new model for youth services in Brent.

Councillor Moher outlined that, following consideration of consultation outcomes, the report recommended priorities for future investment and a preferred delivery model. It sought Cabinet’s approval to invite tenders for the management and operation of the Roundwood myplace Centre and the delivery of a wider youth services offer, as required by contract standing orders 88 and 89.

Councillor Pavey, Deputy Leader, expressed his support for the principle of the proposed new model welcoming the creative approach to ensure service delivery. Councillor Pavey stated that the children and young people of the Borough supported the provision at Poplar Grove, expressing his support for continued service provision at the centre.

In response to a question from Councillor Pavey, Councillor Moher responded that an in-house model proposal would be welcomed.

Councillor Mashari, Lead Member for Employment and Skills, stated that officers and lead members should be commended for identifying and pursuing a creative approach to new service delivery, and that the Council was faced with extremely difficult decisions given central government funding reductions.

Councillor Mashari raised the issue of ensuring continued support to LGBT youngsters.

In response to a question from a member of the public in the audience regarding the Council’s support from the Brent Youth Foundation, Gail Tolley, Strategic Director, Children and Young People, responded that the tender procedure would be an open or one stage process, helping to limit the time and cost for both bidders and the authority and reducing risks to the authority.

Cllr W Mitchell Murray expressed sadness at the possible loss of valued experience staff currently working in the youth service.

In response to the question from Councillor W Mitchell Murray, Councillor Butt, Leader of the Council, echoed the points raised by Councillor Mashari in that savings across council departments were required in response to reductions in central government funding.

Councillor Moher responded that the procurement process could give rise to a TUPE process and that any new provider could employ former council staff to continue.

Councillor Pavey expressed his support that funding of £64,000 would be retained within the Council’s Youth Support Services budget to cover the running costs of the Brent Youth Parliament (BYP).

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the outcomes of consultation on potential changes to the Council’s current Youth Services provision as detailed in section four of the report and Appendix One of the report be noted;

(ii)        that approval be given to the future service priorities for Brent Council’s Youth Services set out in section five of the report;

(iii)       that approval be given to the invite of tenders for the management and operation of the Roundwood myplace Centre and delivery of a wider youth offer in line with the approach detailed in section six of the report and on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

This report seeks approval of Cabinet to consult on proposed amendments to the oversubscription criteria for Brent primary community schools.  The changes proposed are: Introduction of a criterion prioritising children of staff; Introduction of criterion prioritising children of families who attract the pupil premium funding.

Cabinet agreed to statutory consultation period between 1 December 2015 and 12 January 2016 as required by the Admissions Code (December 2014).

Councillor Moher, Lead Member for Children and Young People, introduced the report which sought Cabinet approval to consult on proposed amendments to the oversubscription criteria for Brent primary community schools.

RESOLVED:

that agreement be given to statutory consultation period between 1 December 2015 and 12 January 2016 as required by the Admissions Code (December 2014).

In accordance with Contract Standing Order 88, this report seeks Cabinet authority to award a 2 + 1 year Direct Payment Services Contract to allow the Council to offer a Support and Advice (general, employment and ongoing), Managed Account and Personal Assistant Service to those Users in receipt of Direct Payments and/or Personal Health Budgets. The report provides further details on the Service, the procurement process and, following the completion of the evaluation of the tenders, recommends to whom the contract should be awarded

Cabinet awarded a contract to The Penderels Trust Limited for the provision of Direct Payments Services for an initial period of two (2) years with an option to extend the contract for a further one (1) year.

Councillor Hirani, Lead Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, introduced the report stating that, in accordance with Contract Standing Order 88, the report seeks Cabinet authority to award a 2 + 1 year Direct Payment Services Contract to allow the Council to offer a Support and Advice (general, employment and ongoing), Managed Account and Personal Assistant Service to those users in receipt of Direct Payments and/or Personal Health Budgets.

The Cabinet also had before them an appendix to the report which was not for publication as it contained the following category of exempt information as specified in Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1972: 

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED:

that approval be given to the award a contract to The Penderels Trust Limited for the provision of Direct Payments Services for an initial period of two (2) years with an option to extend the contract for a further one (1) year.

This report follows on from the three previous reports (see Background Papers) presented to the Cabinet and Executive in respect of the former Unisys office buildings site and Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre (BPCLC) as per the site plans at appendices 1 & 2.    This report seeks approval to commence the procurement process for an architect led multidisciplinary design team to bring forward the design of the proposed new community leisure centre.

Cabinet agreed the approach for the procurement of an architect led multidisciplinary design team and an employers agent / cost consultant to bring forward detailed proposals for the proposed new Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre as set out in paragraphs 3.9-3.17 of the report.

Cabinet approved inviting tenders for an architect led multidisciplinary design team for the proposed new Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre on the basis of the pretender considerations set out in paragraph 3.16 of this report.

Cabinet approved the evaluation criteria for this tender exercise as set out in paragraph 3.16 of the report.

Councillor McLennan, Lead Member for Housing and Development, introduced the report which sought Cabinet approval to commence the procurement process for an architect led multidisciplinary design team to bring forward the design of the proposed new community leisure centre.

Councillor Moher expressed her support for commencing the procurement process.

Councillor McLennan stated that the pre-tender estimate for the architect led multidisciplinary design team is £240,000 and would therefore require that the services were procured through a tender process, with the placing of a contract notice in the Official Journal of the European Union (“OJEU”).

Councillor Southwood, Lead Member for Environment, stated that the public consultation process needed to be as broad and as inclusive as possible.

Councillor W Mitchell Murray expressed her support stating that the area would benefit greatly from the proposals; she made a plea for employment opportunities to be targeted at local job seekers.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that approval be given to the approach for the procurement of an architect led multidisciplinary design team and an employers agent / cost consultant to bring forward detailed proposals for the proposed new Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre as set out in paragraphs 3.9-3.17 of the report;

(ii)        that approval be given to the invite of tenders for an architect led multidisciplinary design team for the proposed new Bridge Park Community Leisure Centre on the basis of the pretender considerations set out in paragraph 3.16 of this report;

(iii)       that approval be given to the evaluation criteria for this tender exercise as set out in paragraph 3.16 of the report.

Cabinet noted and approve the findings from the fundamental review of the Council Tax Support (“CTS”) Scheme undertaken.

Cabinet  approved the recommendation to retain the current CTS Scheme from 1st April 2016 and not to invite Full Council to revise the CTS Scheme for 2016/17.

Cabinet noted the potential matters for consideration affecting the CTS Scheme for 2016/17 and beyond.

Cabinet approve a further review of the CTS Scheme during 2016/17 with a view to introducing any changes agreed by Full Council from 1st April 2017.

Councillor Mashari, Lead Member for Employment and Skills, introduced the report, reminding Lead Members that at the Full Council meeting held in January 2015, a recommendation was agreed to fundamentally review the scheme during 2015 with a view to effecting any agreed changes to the scheme from 1 April 2016.

Councillor Mashari stated that a thorough review of the current scheme had now taken place, seeking to evaluate the scheme against its original objectives and principles; to identify any unanticipated impacts; to explore the relationship between scheme design and Council Tax collection; and to undertake a comparison with other councils’ schemes both across London and nationally.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the findings from the fundamental review of the Council Tax Support (“CTS”) Scheme undertaken be noted and approved;

(ii)        that approval be given to the recommendation to retain the current CTS Scheme from 1 April 2016 and not to invite Full Council to revise the CTS Scheme for 2016/17;

(iii)       that the potential matters for consideration affecting the CTS Scheme for 2016/17 and beyond be noted;

(iv)       that approval be given to a further review of the CTS Scheme during 2016/17 with a view to introducing any changes agreed by Full Council from 1 April 2017.

This report updates the position on the core estimates that drive the council’s budget position, to enable Members to assess the approach to the business planning and budgeting cycle.  It reminds Members of the budget proposals for 2016/17 and 2017/18 that were previously agreed at the Council meeting of 2 March 2015.

Cabinet noted the latest forecasts for the Council’s financial position from 2016/17 to 2019/20.

Cabinet noted the budget proposals for 2016/17 and 2017/18 that were previously agreed at the Council meeting of 2 March 2015, as set out in Appendix One of the report.

Councillor Pavey, Deputy Leader of the Council, introduced the report highlighting that the scale of funding reductions is likely to accelerate. He reminded the Cabinet that further detail will follow with the Spending Review, anticipated to be announced on 25 November 2015, followed by the provisional local government finance settlement, which is usually released shortly before Christmas.

He stated that the degree of uncertainty presents difficult issues for planning the budget strategy, and it is hard to be more precise about the potential savings required in 2017/18 and 2018/19, other than to express them in a broad range as being from £40m to £55m.

Councillor Hirani, Lead Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing, stated that in-year public health funding reductions had hit the most vulnerable sections of the community extremely hard.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the latest forecasts for the Council’s financial position from 2016/17 to 2019/20 be noted;

(ii)        that the budget proposals for 2016/17 and 2017/18 that were previously agreed at the Council meeting of 2 March 2015, as set out in Appendix One of the report be noted.

This report highlights the overall financial position of the Council as at August 2015. The report will cover the following topics:

·         Revenue Budget monitoring summary

·         2015/16 Savings

·         Council Tax & NNDR Collection Rates

·         Other debt analysis and collection

·         Capital Programme monitoring summary

·         Financial Control

Cabinet noted the financial position of the Council as at the end of August 2015, and the actions being taken to contain the forecast overspend.

Councillor Pavey, Deputy Leader of the Council, introduced the report highlighting the overall financial position of the Council as at August 2015.

Councillor Pavey stated that as at August 2015, the overall forecast was that the general fund revenue budget would be overspent by £2.5m by the year end, compared to £2.6m reported to Cabinet on 27 July 2015.

Councillor McLennan reported that the department was reporting a projected overspend of £1.2m, compared to the £0.65m overspend that had been forecast in the previous report to Cabinet in July. She stated that the significant contributing factors leading to the adverse position are the temporary accommodation budget. Councillor Mashari added that an overspend existed relating to the Brent START budget.

Councillor Moher reported that the Children and Young People’s department has forecast that it would overspend its budget by £1.3m. All of the significant financial issues were within Children’s Social Care.

RESOLVED:

that the financial position of the Council as at the end of August 2015, and the actions being taken to contain the forecast overspend be noted.

None.

Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 64.

None.