Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Muhammed Butt.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Muhammed Butt.

In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Memers are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, any relevant personal and prejudicial interests and discloseable pecuniary interests, and the nature of these, in any matter to be considered at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest from Members.

There were no declarations of interest from Members.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet on 24 July 2017.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting on 24 July 2017 be approved as an accurate record.

RESOLVED:-

that the minutes of the previous meeting on 24 July 2017 be approved as an accurate record.

There were no matters arising.

There were no matters arising.

There were no petitions to be discussed at the meeting.

There were no petitions to be discussed at the meeting.

This report provides an update on progress against the outcomes of the Brent Borough Plan 2015-19. Where available and relevant, this draws upon data from the council’s corporate suite of key performance indicators (KPIs) or from other indicators monitored locally or nationally.

It was RESOLVED that the progress of the Borough Plan 2016-2019 be noted.

Councillor Margaret McLennan, Deputy Leader, introduced the report by thanking Cabinet Members and officers for the work that has gone into this report and for the considerable amount of work and dedication that this report seeks to measure. 

She stated that there is much to do to meet our goals for delivering the services that our residents value and depend upon. She stated that the Council is working in a time of unprecedented national political and economic uncertainty.

She stated that Council services have seen and continue to see demand increasing by volume and complexity and at the same time, Council budgets, as well as those of partners’ across the public sector, have been slashed, causing a harmful cumulative impact.

Councillor McLennan stated that Government austerity agenda has placed all of these services under immense pressure. 

She stated that schools in Brent are getting better and better such that the vast majority are now judged to be either Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. She warned that progress is at risk if government insists on stripping back funding. The Cabinet is well aware, she stated, that our population is under-employed, but the challenge of helping secure employment is not made any easier by central Government forcing through the closure of local Job Centres.

She stated that the Council and its partners are encouraging more and more residents to take better care of themselves and to live healthier lives. But with the NHS so desperately underfunded, there’s only so much that the Council can do. Referring to community safety, she stated that fewer police may ultimately mean higher crime. She reminded Cabinet that the Council is funding the Met Patrol Plus scheme but that can’t and won’t make up for government failure.

Councillor McLennan stated that the Council is delivering new homes across all tenure but that the prospects of ownership will move further and further away for many of our residents. She stated the administration has clear and effective policies and strategies to ensure excellent progress in achieving our ambitions.

Cabinet agreed that there is no room for complacency.

Councillor McLennan stated that it is important to recognise and put on record how impressive an achievement it is to be where we are, especially considering the extreme financial hardship imposed upon the Council since 2010.

RESOLVED that:

6.1           Cabinet reviewed the progress against Borough Plan outcomes as at 2017.

The purpose of this report is to provide Cabinet with a corporate overview of performance information  for the first quarter of 2017/18 linked to the Brent 2020 and Borough Plan priorities, to support informed decision-making and to manage performance effectively. 

RESOLVED that:

7.1       The performance information contained in the report be noted;

7.2       The current and future strategic risks associated with the information provided be considered, and any remedial actions on strategic risks be agreed as appropriate; and

7.3       Responsible officers would be challenged on progress as necessary.

Councillor Margaret McLennan, Deputy Leader, introduced the report and the performance scorecard setting out the position on the Council’s performance in the first quarter of 2017/18. 

She stated that the content and format of the report and scorecard have been revised to focus primarily on the Brent 2020 priorities and then on the Borough Plan priorities.

Councillor Ellie Southwood, Cabinet Member for Environment, highlighted some of the challenges in the Environment portfolio – as detailed in the scorecard. She stated that reports of illegally dumped waste incidents is higher than planned and therefore this indicator has a Red RAG status.

Councillor Shama Tatler, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Growth, Employment and Skills, spoke to highlight issues around employment. She said that the percentage of care leavers in education, employment or training (EET) is below target and is Red rated. She also stated that the Living Room employment outcomes (Actual YTD – 6, Target – 10) and Brent Works apprenticeship outcomes (Actual YTD – 3, Target – 10) and are both currently significantly below target and have a Red rating.

RESOLVED that:

7.1 The performance information contained in the report be noted;

7.2 The current and future strategic risks associated with the information provided be considered, and any remedial actions on strategic risks be agreed as appropriate; and

7.3 Responsible officers would be challenged on progress as necessary.

RESOLVED that:

8.1       The preferred commissioning option as set out in Section 5 of the report, be approved;

8.2       Tenders be invited for the new Integrated Treatment Recovery and Wellbeing and Substance Misuse Service on the basis of the pre tender considerations set out in paragraph 5.6 of the report;

8.3       Approval to Council officers be given to evaluate the tenders referred to in resolution 8.2 above, on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out in paragraph 5.6 of the report; and

8.4       The Strategic Director, Community and Wellbeing be delegated the authority to award for the Integrated Treatment Recovery Wellbeing and Substance Misuse Service in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing following a compliant procurement process. 

Councillor Krupesh Hirani, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, introduced the report stating that the responsibility for commissioning substance misuse transferred from Primary Care Trusts to local authorities on 1st April 2013. 

He reminded Members that, on 1 March 2017 authority was given by Phil Porter, Strategic Director for Community and Wellbeing to extend the substance misuse contracts by one year commencing 1 April 2017 to allow for the service re-design, market consultation and retendering processes and to allow public health commissioning leads to develop a new integrated service. The extension of the substance misuse contracts enabled £215,000 savings to be made.

Councillor Hirani stated that there are currently 6 substance misuse contracts to be retendered into a single contract. He stated that this report is seeking approval to commence the procurement in accordance with Contract Standing Orders 88 and 89 of an Integrated Treatment Recovery and Wellbeing and Substance Misuse Service that continues to place a focus on treatment and recovery but also emphasises cost efficient attention to health and wellbeing particularly for those who are on long term secondary prescribing for opiate misuse.

RESOLVED that:

8.1 The preferred commissioning option as set out in Section 5 of the report, be approved;

8.2 Tenders be invited for the new Integrated Treatment Recovery and Wellbeing and Substance Misuse Service on the basis of the pre tender considerations set out in paragraph 5.6 of the report;

8.3  Approval to Council officers be given to evaluate the tenders referred to in resolution 8.2 above, on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out in paragraph 5.6 of the report; and

8.4  The Strategic Director, Community and Wellbeing be delegated the authority to award for the Integrated Treatment Recovery Wellbeing and Substance Misuse Service in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing following a compliant procurement process.

In accordance with Contract Standing Orders 88 and 89, this report seeks Cabinet authority to award 2 Accommodation plus contracts for a period of 4+1 years. These contracts will be for two Mental Health Supported Living Schemes at Park Avenue North and Forty Lane. This report summarises the process undertaken in tendering these contracts, and provides recommendations of the organisations the contracts should be awarded to as determined through the completion of the evaluation of the tenders.

RESOLVED that:

9.1       The contract for the Mental Health Supported Living Scheme at Park Avenue North be awarded to Equinox Care for a period of 4 years with an option to extend for a further 1 year. (4+1); and

9.2       The contract for the Mental Health Supported Living Scheme at Forty Lane be awarded to Look Ahead for a period of 4 years with an option to extend for a further 1 year. (4+1).

Councillor Krupesh Hirani, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, introduced the report stating that, in accordance with Contract Standing Orders 88 and 89, this report seeks Cabinet authority to award 2 Accommodation plus contracts for a period of 4+1 years.

These contracts will be for two Mental Health Supported Living Schemes at Park Avenue North and Forty Lane. There is also one more scheme at Prout Grove which does not meet the financial threshold to be heard at Cabinet.

Councillor Hirani stated that this report summarises the process undertaken in tendering these contracts, and provides recommendations of the organisations the contracts should be awarded to as determined through the completion of the evaluation of the tenders.

RESOLVED that:

9.1 The contract for the Mental Health Supported Living Scheme at Park Avenue North be awarded to Equinox Care for a period of 4 years with an option to extend for a further 1 year. (4+1); and

9.2 The contract for the Mental Health Supported Living Scheme at Forty Lane be awarded to Look Ahead for a period of 4 years with an option to extend for a further 1 year. (4+1).

10.1    The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment be authorised to develop a draft allocation policy for allocating replacement homes to secure tenants living within Neville House, 1-64 Winterleys, 113-128 Carlton House (being part of ‘Phase 4’) and 1-72 Blake Court (being part of ‘Phase 5’);

10.2    The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment be authorised to commence statutory consultation with secure tenants residing in blocks: Neville House, 1-64 Winterleys, 113-128 Carlton House (being part of ‘Phase 4’) and 1-72 Blake Court (being part of ‘Phase 5’) on three proposals (i) statutory consultation in connection with seeking approval of the Secretary of State for use of Ground 10A of the Housing Act 1985 (ii) consultation on the Council's proposal to make a CPO on properties in Neville House, 1-64 Winterleys, 113-128 Carlton House (being part of ‘Phase 4’) and 1-72 Blake Court (being part of ‘Phase 5’) that are currently occupied by secure tenants (iii) consultation in connection with the draft allocation policy for allocating homes to secure tenants living within Neville House, 1-64 Winterleys, 113-128 Carlton House (being part of ‘Phase 4’) and 1-72 Blake Court (being part of ‘Phase 5’); and

10.3    The intention to report to Cabinet on the outcome of the consultation and, if appropriate, to seek authority to proceed as set out in Paragraph 3.6 of the report, be noted.

Councillor Shama Tatler, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Growth, introduced the report stating that the regeneration of South Kilburn is a fifteen year programme that is approximately half way through. It aims to transform the area into a sustainable and mixed neighbourhood and create a real sense of place and belonging.

She stated that the programme will deliver around 2,400 new homes of which 1,200 will be made available for social rent for existing South Kilburn, secure council tenants. To date 1073 new homes have been delivered with 60% (639) new homes having been made available for existing secure tenants of South Kilburn.  Woodhouse Urban Park was opened to the public in May 2016 and South Kilburn residents are able to utilise St Augustine’s Sports Hall.

RESOLVED that:

10.1The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment be authorised to develop a draft allocation policy for allocating replacement homes to secure tenants living within Neville House, 1-64 Winterleys, 113-128 Carlton House (being part of ‘Phase 4’) and 1-72 Blake Court (being part of ‘Phase 5’);

10.2The Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment be authorised to commence statutory consultation with secure tenants residing in blocks: Neville House, 1-64 Winterleys, 113-128 Carlton House (being part of ‘Phase 4’) and 1-72 Blake Court (being part of ‘Phase 5’) on three proposals (i) statutory consultation in connection with seeking approval of the Secretary of State for use of Ground 10A of the Housing Act 1985 (ii) consultation on the Council's proposal to make a CPO on properties in Neville House, 1-64 Winterleys, 113-128 Carlton House (being part of ‘Phase 4’) and 1-72 Blake Court (being part of ‘Phase 5’) that are currently occupied by secure tenants (iii) consultation in connection with the draft allocation policy for allocating homes to secure tenants living within Neville House, 1-64 Winterleys, 113-128 Carlton House (being part of ‘Phase 4’) and 1-72 Blake Court (being part of ‘Phase 5’); and

10.3The intention to report to Cabinet on the outcome of the consultation and, if appropriate, to seek authority to proceed as set out in Paragraph 3.6 of the report, be noted.

None.

None.

The following item(s) is/are not for publication as it/they relate to the following category of exempt information as specified in the Local Government Act 1972 namely: Paragraph 3 “Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)".

·         Authority to Award, Care and Support Contract for Mental Health Supported Living Schemes – Appendix 1

None.

None.

Any decisions taken urgently under this heading must comply with the provisions outlined in Standing Order 16 (a) of the Council’s Constitution.

There was no other urgent business to transact.

None.