Agenda, decisions and minutes

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Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary or personal 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 Monday 14 October 2019 as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 14 October 2019 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

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 two Scrutiny Committees.

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The purpose of this report is to set out the Council’s budget proposals for 2020/21 and beyond.  It includes key activities in relation to setting the 2020/21 budget, including the consultation process, dealing with any surplus on the Council’s collection fund and the updating of technical budget assumptions since they were last presented to Cabinet in July 2019.  It also provides a general update on the overall financial position, including an assessment of the Government’s one-year spending review and other reforms to Local Government finances.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(1)      Note the overall financial position.

(2)     Agrees to consult on the budget proposals as set out in Appendices A, B and C.

(3)     That Cabinet agrees to consult on council tax increases of 3.99% in 2020/21, subject to the legislative uncertainty set out in section four of this report.

(4)     Endorses the approach to the statutory process of consultation, scrutiny and equalities between November 2019 and January 2020, as set out in section seven of the report.

(5)     Endorses the changes to the technical budget assumptions underpinning the budget as set out in section four of this report.

(6)     Agrees the estimated Collection Fund balance relating to Council Tax and Business Rates for 2020/21 as nil (no surplus or deficit) as set out in section six of the report.

(7)     Notes the position with regard to the School funding reform proposals, as set out in section eight.

(8)     Agrees to consult on a rent increase of 2.7% for the 2020/21 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget, as set out in section nine and Appendix D of the report.

(9)     Notes the key assumptions in the HRA business plan, as set out in Appendix D of the report.

(10)   Notes the position with regard to the Capital programme, as set out in section ten of the report.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(1)      Note the overall financial position.

(2)     Agrees to consult on the budget proposals as set out in Appendices A, B and C.

(3)     That Cabinet agrees to consult on council tax increases of 3.99% in 2020/21, subject to the legislative uncertainty set out in section four of this report.

(4)     Endorses the approach to the statutory process of consultation, scrutiny and equalities between November 2019 and January 2020, as set out in section seven of the report.

(5)     Endorses the changes to the technical budget assumptions underpinning the budget as set out in section four of this report.

(6)     Agrees the estimated Collection Fund balance relating to Council Tax and Business Rates for 2020/21 as nil (no surplus or deficit) as set out in section six of the report.

(7)     Notes the position with regard to the School funding reform proposals, as set out in section eight.

(8)     Agrees to consult on a rent increase of 2.7% for the 2020/21 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget, as set out in section nine and Appendix D of the report.

(9)     Notes the key assumptions in the HRA business plan, as set out in Appendix D of the report.

(10)   Notes the position with regard to the Capital programme, as set out in section ten of the report.

This report sets out the annual performance on complaints in Brent for the period April 2018 to March 2019 and focuses on the nature of complaints and the learning and improvements from complaints and Ombudsmen (Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman / Housing Ombudsman) cases.

RESOLVED that Cabinet note Brent’sperformance in managing and resolving complaints.

This report sets out proposals to create a town centre in Harlesden fit for the future, supported by an evidence base of need and delivered through excellent design, capital investment, and local capacity building designed to ensure a coordinated approach to investment and the development of the local offer for the community, businesses and visitors.  In addition, the report proposes new guidance setting out a decision making framework for property acquisitions in town centres that can support diversification of Brent’s high streets.

RESOLVED

(1)       To approve the release of council capital investment to deliver inclusive growth in Harlesden. Details of the total sum and the breakdown of the capital investment are contained within Appendix 1.

(2)       To approve £0.5m of revenue to take forward capacity building in Harlesden Town Centre with the local business community and stakeholders, having noted that the council had bid for an additional £0.5m from the GLA Good Growth Fund to increase this capacity building fund.

(3)       To support the Methodist Church to bid for £0.5m of Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL), having noted that the council had also bid for £0.5m from the GLA Good Growth Fund to increase the project fund to £1m to deliver the full scope of the proposed project for this asset.

(4)       To note that without the sources of funding identified above the proposed works to the Methodist Church cannot take place.  If part of the total required funding is not secured, then work will need to be undertaken by the Church to select which works are prioritised.

This report seeks to update on the provisional LIP allocation and the 2020/21 Corridors, Neighbourhoods and Supporting Measures LIP programme proposed to be submitted to TfL. Following approval by TfL, the schemes and initiatives within the approved LIP programme will be implemented subject to receiving the full funding allocation.

RESOLVED

(1)      To note the content of this report and Brent’s 2020/21 provisional allocation of £2,247,000.

(2)      To approve the proposed 2020/21 programme of LIP Corridors, Neighbourhoods and Supporting Measures schemes through application of the prioritisation matrix, as described in the report and, subject to TfL approval in December 2019, give approval to the Head of Highways & Infrastructure to deliver this programme of schemes and initiatives using the allocated budget and resources available.

(3)      To authorise the Head of Highways & Infrastructure to undertake any necessary statutory and non-statutory consultations in consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration, Property and Planning, and to consider any objections or representations regarding the proposed schemes.

(4)      To delegate authority to the Head of Highways & Infrastructure in consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration, Property and Planning to make the decision on whether to deliver the proposed schemes following consideration of the objections and representations in the consultation process. If, in the opinion of the Head of Highways & Infrastructure significant objections are raised, he is authorised to refer such objections to Cabinet for further consideration and make a decision on whether to deliver the proposed schemes.

(5)      To note that the scheme allocations are provisional and that schemes may be subject to change during development and following the consultation process.

(6)      To authorise the Head of Highways & Infrastructure, in consultation with the Lead Member for Regeneration, Property and Planning, to vire scheme allocations where necessary (e.g. pending the outcome of detailed design and consultation) within the overall LIP budget, and in accordance with the Council’s financial regulations.

(7)      To authorise the Head of Highways and Infrastructure to deliver schemes that receive any additional in-year funding as approved by Transport for London, subject to the outcome of consultation, and to brief the Lead Member for Regeneration, Property and Planning, as appropriate.

This report seeks Cabinet approval to make permanent arrangements to allow motorcycles (including all power two wheelers) to use the bus lanes on the A404 Harrow Road.

RESOLVED

(1)      To authorise the Head of Highways and Infrastructure to undertake the statutory consultation on the proposal to make a permanent order to allow motorcycles to use the bus lanes on the A404 in the borough of Brent.

(2)      To delegate authority to the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Lead Member for Environment, to consider any objections and representations to the proposal to allow motorcycles (including all power two wheelers) to use the bus lanes on the A404 in the borough of Brent, and to make the decision on whether to proceed with the proposed permanent traffic order and amend any traffic management orders, as appropriate.

(3)      To authorise the Head of Highways and Infrastructure to undertake the necessary consultation, including statutory consultation, on the proposal to allow motorcycles to use all bus lanes borough wide in Brent.

(4)      To delegate authority to the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Lead Member for Environment:- (i) to consider any objections and representations to the proposal to allow motorcycles (including all power two wheelers)  to use all bus lanes borough wide and thereafter, (ii) to make the decision on whether to proceed with the proposed permanent traffic order to allow motorcycles to use all bus lanes borough wide in Brent and amend any traffic management orders, as appropriate.

This paper details a proposal to cease the council funded Met Patrol Plus Partnership Tasking Team (PTT) and alternative spend options for the remaining 2019/2020 revenue funding allocated for the PTT, as well as options for spend going forward, utilising the ring fenced PTT budget from 2020/2021.

RESOLVED

(1)      To note the position with regard to resourcing the PTT beyond 30 September 2019 as set out in paragraph 3.4 of the report.

(2)      To note the intention to terminate the grant funding agreement with the Police from 30 September 2019, or as soon as possible thereafter.

(3)     To agree the allocated 2019/2020 PTT revenue funding should cease from 30 September 2019, or as soon as possible thereafter via Met Police Service (MPS) agreement and reallocate the remaining 2019/2020 budget to provide services for community safety and serious youth violence concerns and interventions.

(4)     To agree the allocated PTT revenue funding from 2020/2021 should provide continued services for community safety and serious youth violence concerns and interventions.

(5)     To agree the spend options within section 4.0 of the report, noting the recommendation within 4.3 of the report.

This report provides Cabinet with a refresh of the School Place Planning Strategy 2019-2023 which was approved by Cabinet in November 2018.

RESOLVED

(1)      To approve the refresh of the School Place Planning Strategy 2019-2023 provided as Appendix 1.

(2)     To note that following a reduction in demand, the demand for Reception places is expected to gradually increase over the next five years. This demand will be met by current school place capacity.

(3)     To note that demand for secondary places is increasing with a need for an additional 10 forms of entry by 2023/24 to meet forecast demand and ensure there is sufficient capacity to manage in-year admissions and unanticipated demand. Planning is underway to provide additional capacity through a combination of new schools and school expansions.

(4)     To note that demand for places that meet the needs of children and young people with SEND aged 0-25 is expected to increase and the planned strategies for addressing this need.

(5)     To note the strategies for developing Early Years provision.

This report seeks Cabinet approval to re-tender homecare services for Adult Social Care and Children and Young People with Disabilities, as required by Contract Standing Orders 88 and 89.

RESOLVED

(1)      To approve inviting tenders for a framework and contracts for homecare services for adults and children and young people with disabilities on the basis of the pre-tender considerations set out in paragraph 9.7 to the report.

(2)      To approve officers evaluating the tenders referred to in (1) above on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out in paragraph 9.7 to the report.

(3)      To approve the contractual period for homecare services as three years, with an option to extend for periods of up to a further two years.

(4)      To agree that funding is made available to pay homecare workers under the new homecare services arrangements at the London Living Wage from year 1 of the contract as set out in Section 6 of the report.

(5)      To delegate authority to award the framework and contracts for homecare services for adults to the Strategic Director, Community Wellbeing in consultation with the Lead Member for Adult Social Care and contracts for homecare services for children and young people with disabilities to the Strategic Director Children and Young People in consultation with the Lead Member for Children's Safeguarding, Early Help and Social Care.

(6)      To agree that reablement services are brought back in-house, and instruct officers to begin planning this transition.

The following items are not for publication as they relate to the following category of exempt information as specified under paragraph 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, namely: “Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)”.

Item 9: Inclusive Growth in Harlesden Town Centre: Appendix 1 - Breakdown of capital expenditure

The press and public were not excluded for any items on the agenda.

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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 in accordance with Standing Order 60.

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