Agenda, decisions and minutes

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Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, conveyed apologies from Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive, Amar Dave, Strategic Director, Phil Porter, Strategic Director, and Conrad Hall, Chief Finance Officer.

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary, personal or prejudicial interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate.

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To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 March 2018 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 12 March 2018 be approved as an accurate record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 12 March 2018, be approved as an accurate record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

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To discuss any petitions from members of the public, in accordance with Standing Order 66.

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To consider any reference reports from any of the Council’s three Scrutiny Committees.

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This report requests that Cabinet  approve the Highways Capital Scheme Programme 2018-19. During 2018/19 it is proposed to allocate £3.5m of Brent capital to maintain the highway network, subject to approval of the Budget and Council Tax report.  This report sets out recommendations for how Brent’s £3.5m capital budget should be allocated during 2018/19 through a prioritised programme of:Major and minor pavement reconstruction; Major Road resurfacing;Preventative maintenance; Improvements to the public realm, and

Renewal of Road Markings.

It was RESOLVED:

7.1       That the proposed highways maintenance programme for 2018/19 as detailed in Appendix B, be approved; and

7.2       That any changes to this and future highways capital programmes, be approved by the Strategic Director of Regeneration & Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment.

Councillor Ellie Southwood, Cabinet Member for Environment, introduced the report, stating that in 2017/18 approximately £6.2m has been spent improving the condition of Brent’s highways, including resurfacing an estimated of 6.44 miles of road and reconstructing about 7.54 miles of pavement. Councillor Southwood stated that this equates to about 2% of the road network and 1.5% of the pavements. This investment includes £5.3m of Brent capital (carry forward of £0.45m from 16/17, a base 17/18 allocation of £3.5m and an additional £1.35m) and £0.90m of TfL capital funding for Principal (A road) maintenance.

Councillor Ellie Southwood stated that during 2018/19 it is proposed to allocate £3.5m of Brent capital to maintain the highway network, subject to approval of the Budget and Council Tax report. 

It was RESOLVED:

7.1       That the proposed highways maintenance programme for 2018/19 as detailed in Appendix B, be approved; and

7.2       That any changes to this and future highways capital programmes, be approved by the Strategic Director of Regeneration & Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment.

This report concerns the land assembly necessary to bring forward the Queens Park/Cullen House development project, which is a fundamental part of the South Kilburn Regeneration Programme sitting in Phase 3a/3b. This report seeks approval for the acquisition of the Network Rail owned strip of land which forms part of the redevelopment site.

It was RESOLVED:

8.1       That the purchase of a long leasehold interest in the Network Rail land delineated in red at Appendix 3, on the terms as set out in Appendix 2, and entry into a long lease with Network Rail be approved;

8.2       That it be noted that the acquisition of the Network Rail land is subject to Network Rail obtaining a full Licence Condition 7, which is part of Network Rail’s operating Licence and therefore completion is approximately six months from approval;

8.3       That the land acquired by the Council in order to facilitate the development, shall be acquired for planning purposes pursuant to section 227 Town and Country Planning act 1990; and

8.4       That the Council may use its powers in accordance with section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to override third party rights.

Councillor Shama Tatler, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Growth, Employment and Skills, 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. 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.

Councillor Tatler stated that this report concerns the land assembly necessary to bring forward the Queens Park/Cullen House development project, which is part of the South Kilburn Regeneration Programme sitting in Phase 3a/3b. The Site comprises of Keniston Press (now demolished), Premier House, Salusbury Road public car park, Cullen House and the Falcon Public House together defined as “Queens Park/Cullen House” and Network Rail Land.

It was RESOLVED:

8.1       That the purchase of a long leasehold interest in the Network Rail land delineated in red at Appendix 3, on the terms as set out in Appendix 2, and entry into a long lease with Network Rail be approved;

8.2       That it be noted that the acquisition of the Network Rail land is subject to Network Rail obtaining a full Licence Condition 7, which is part of Network Rail’s operating Licence and therefore completion is approximately six months from approval;

8.3       That the land acquired by the Council in order to facilitate the development, shall be acquired for planning purposes pursuant to section 227 Town and Country Planning act 1990; and

8.4       That the Council may use its powers in accordance with section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to override third party rights.

In accordance with Contract Standing Orders 88, this report seeks Cabinet authority to award a care and support contract for 3 of the Extra Care Schemes and notifies Cabinet of the proposal to re-procure the care and support contract for the other 3 of Extra Care Schemes. Additionally, delegated authority to award the re-procured contract is sought.

It was RESOLVED:

9.1.      That the contract to deliver care and support at Willow House, Newcroft House and Rosemary House (WNR) be awarded to London Care PLC for the period of 5 years with an option to extend by up to two further years, commencing in May 2018; 

9.2.      That the intention to cease the current procurement in relation to the contract to deliver care and support at Beechwood Court, Harrod Court and Tulsi House (BHT) and to re-procure this contract for the reasons detailed in Appendix 5, be noted; and

9.3.      That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Community Wellbeing in consultation with the Lead Member for Community Wellbeing to award a contract to deliver care and support at Beechwood Court, Harrod Court and Tulsi House for a period of five years with an option to extend by up to a further two years for the reasons detailed in paragraph 3.21 of the report.

Councillor Krupesh Hirani, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, introduced the item stating that this report updates Cabinet on the procurement of 6 Extra Care Schemes at:

·         Beechwood Court – Wembley

·         Rosemary House – Willesden

·         Harrod Court - Kingsbury

·         Tulsi House – Sudbury

·         Willow House – Wembley

·         Newcroft House – Wembley.

Councillor Hirani stated that, in accordance with Contract Standing Orders 88, this report seeks Cabinet authority to award a care and support contract for 3 of the Extra Care Schemes and notifies Cabinet of the proposal to re-procure the care and support contract for the other 3 of Extra Care Schemes. Additionally, delegated authority to award the re-procured contract is sought.

This report summarises the rationale for this request and the impact on the wider community as well as the financial implication on the London Borough of Brent.  The report also outlines the tendering process which was conducted through the Accommodation plus Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS).

It was RESOLVED:

9.1.      That the contract to deliver care and support at Willow House, Newcroft House and Rosemary House (WNR) be awarded to London Care PLC for the period of 5 years with an option to extend by up to two further years, commencing in May 2018; 

9.2.      That the intention to cease the current procurement in relation to the contract to deliver care and support at Beechwood Court, Harrod Court and Tulsi House (BHT) and to re-procure this contract for the reasons detailed in Appendix 5, be noted; and

9.3.      That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Community Wellbeing in consultation with the Lead Member for Community Wellbeing to award a contract to deliver care and support at Beechwood Court, Harrod Court and Tulsi House for a period of five years with an option to extend by up to a further two years for the reasons detailed in paragraph 3.21 of the report.

On 19 September 2017 members of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee agreed to set up an overview and scrutiny task group to review policy around the commissioning of home care in Brent. Cabinet are asked to note the contents of the report and the three recommendations which have been made by the task group.

It was RESOLVED:

10.1    That the contents of the report and the three recommendations made to the Cabinet, be noted.

Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, welcomed Councillor Ketan Sheth, Chair of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, to the meeting.

In his introduction, Councillor Sheth thanked Coucnillor Hirani and Phil Porter for their contribution to the work of the task group.

Councillor Sheth stated that on 19 September 2017, members of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee agreed to set up an overview and scrutiny task group to review policy around the commissioning of home care in Brent.

He stated that the task group had a focus on four areas: resources, health and wellbeing outcomes, partnerships and relationships, and the quality of home care. Members of the task group engaged with a number of stakeholders as part of their review.

Councillor Sheth stated that the scope of the enquiry by the scrutiny task group was limited to its terms of reference as set out in the scoping paper and report. In essence, the purpose of the scrutiny task group was to develop recommendations for the Cabinet based on what the task group thinks are the important priorities for a future home care commissioning model, how the challenges can be addressed, and how the local authority’s existing policies might need to be updated. 

Councillor Muhammed Butt thanked Councillor Sheth for his introduction and work leading the task group. Councillor Butt thanked the other task group members - Cllr Pat Harrison and Cllr Jean Hossain.

It was RESOLVED:

10.1    That the contents of the report and the three recommendations made to the Cabinet, be noted.

The following items are not for publication as they relate to the following category of exempt information as specified under Part 1, Schedule 12A of 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)”

·         Agenda Item 8

o   Report seeking approval to acquire a long leasehold from Network Rail. Land at Queens Park - South Kilburn Regeneration Programme – Appendix 2

·         Agenda Item 9

o   Authority to Award Contracts for Six Extra Care Schemes – Appendices 1, 2 and 5

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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. Any decisions taken urgently under this heading must comply with the provisions outlined in paragraph’s 12 and 39 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules (part 2 of the Constitution).

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Before closing the meeting Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, reminded Cabinet Members that this was the final Cabinet meeting before the May 2018 Local Elections. Councillor Butt thanked his Cabinet colleagues for their work on Cabinet and thanked the Chief Executive and Council Management Team colleagues for their support.

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