Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Kim Wright (Chief Executive) with Phil Porter (Corporate Director Adult Social Care and Health) in attendance as her representative.

An apology for absence was received from Kim Wright (Chief Executive) with Phil Porter (Corporate Director, Adult Social Care and Health) in attendance as her representative.

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.

No declarations of interest were made at the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made at the meeting.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 22 May 2023 as a correct record.

Cabinet RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 22 May 2023 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 22 May 2023 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

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

None.

None.

To discuss any petitions from members of the public for which notice has been received, in accordance with Standing Order 66.

5.1      Upgrade of pavements in Logan Road

Cabinet NOTED the comments made by Frank Treviss speaking on behalf of the South Kenton & Preston Park Resident Association, in support of a previously submitted petition containing 52 signatures seeking an upgrade of the pavements in Logan Road.  In addressing Cabinet Mr Traviss, whilst welcoming the repair works undertaken under the small works programme following previous presentation of the petition to Cabinet in September 2021, highlighted concerns regarding the ongoing condition of the footpaths given their importance as a well-used route to the local school and lack of any subsequent complete upgrade and replacement.  He also reminded members that the road provided the main pedestrian and vehicle access to a bowling and social club, which was well used by a range of community organisations.  He was therefore keen to ensure consideration was given to what he felt was the necessary upgrade required as part of the Council’s footway maintenance and upgrade programme.

Having thanked Mr Treviss for presenting the petition, the Leader advised that he had also received written representations from Councillor Kennelly, as a local ward councillor, in support of the petition.  Whilst recognising the significant funding challenge faced by the Council in terms of the resources available to undertake pavement and highway repairs (based on the estimated £100m being required to address all existing issues across the borough) Councillor Kennelly was keen to highlight the importance of investment in footways as a means of further encouraging active travel, particularly in terms of the school run and as part of the efforts being made to tackle the climate emergency, reduce local emissions and improve air quality.  In welcoming the additional investment of £15m identified by the Council to tackle footway and highway repairs and attempts being made to attract alternative sources of funding, he felt the upgrade sought in relation to the footway in Logan Road would further support the local Primary School in terms of their environmental sustainability and in further encouraging more active modes of travel under the schools streets initiative.

In responding, Councillor Krupa Sheth, as Cabinet member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action, thanked Mr Treviss for his presentation. Whilst aware of the issues raised, the need was highlighted to recognise the ongoing imbalance between the level of demand identified across the borough in terms of footpath upgrades and maintenance and resources available which had required prioritisation in relation to both the planned and reactive footway maintenance programmes. As a result of the most recent footway inspection, it was reported that the overall condition of Logan Road had been assessed as “Fair” and on this basis it would not be considered a priority when compared to the condition of other footways for upgrade.  In concluding, however, it was pointed out that the Council was in the process of finalising its footway upgrade programme for 2023/24 – 2025/26 and this would provide a further opportunity for Logan Road to be considered for inclusion alongside other locations across the  ...  view the full decision text for item 5.

5.1     Improvements and Upgrades to the Pavements on Logan Road

Councillor Muhammed Butt (Leader of the Council) welcomed Mr Frank Treviss to the meeting, who had been invited to speak on behalf of South Kenton & Preston Park Resident Association regarding a previously submitted petition containing 52 signatures requesting an upgrade of the pavements in Logan Road.

In addressing Cabinet Mr Treviss, whilst welcoming the repair works undertaken under the small works programme following the previous presentation of the petition to Cabinet in September 2021, highlighted concerns regarding the ongoing condition of the footpaths given their importance as a well-used route to the local school and lack of any subsequent upgrade and replacement. He also reminded members that the road provided the main pedestrian and vehicle access to a bowling and social club, which was well used by a range of community organisations. He was therefore keen to ensure consideration was given to what he felt was the necessary upgrade required as part of the Council’s footway maintenance and upgrade programme.

Having thanked Mr Treviss for presenting the petition, Councillor Muhammed Butt advised that he had also received written representations from Councillor Kennelly, as a local ward councillor, in support of the petition. Whilst recognising the significant funding challenge faced by the Council in terms of the resources available to undertake pavement and highway repairs (based on the estimated £100m being required to address all existing issues across the borough) Councillor Kennelly was keen to highlight the importance of investment in footways as a means of further encouraging active travel, particularly in terms of the school run and as part of the efforts being made to tackle the climate emergency, reduce local emissions and improve air quality. In welcoming the additional investment of £15m identified by the Council to tackle footway and highway repairs and attempts being made to attract alternative sources of funding, he felt the upgrade sought in relation to the footway in Logan Road would further support the local Primary School in terms of their environmental sustainability and in further encouraging more active modes of travel under the school streets initiative.

In responding, Councillor Krupa Sheth, as Cabinet member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action, thanked Mr Treviss for his petition. Whilst aware of the issues raised, Councillor Krupa Sheth highlighted the need to recognise the ongoing imbalance between the level of demand identified across the borough regarding footpath upgrades and maintenance and resources available to the Council to address the issue. Due to this imbalance, prioritisation was required in relation to both the planned and reactive footway maintenance programmes. As a result of the most recent footway inspection, Cabinet was advised that the overall condition of Logan Road had been assessed as “Fair” and on this basis it would not be considered a priority when compared to the condition of other footways for upgrade. In concluding it was pointed out, however, that the Council was in the process of finalising its footway upgrade programme for 2023/24 –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider any reports referred by either the Community and Wellbeing or Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committees.

There were no references from the Community & Wellbeing or Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committees submitted for consideration at the meeting.

There were no references from either the Community & Wellbeing or Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee submitted for consideration at the meeting.

This report concerns the procurement of Integrated Community Equipment Services and seeks authority to award the relevant contracts.

Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1)    Approve the pre-tender considerations set out in paragraph 3.43 of the report.

(2)    Approve the council joining the London Consortium for Community Equipment.

(3)    Approve the appointment of Nottingham Rehab Services Limited (trading as NRS Healthcare) for the supply of community equipment services under a direct award from the single supplier Integrated Community Equipment Service framework for the term specified in (4) below.

(4)    Approve the contract term for the supply of community equipment services to be for an initial two years, up to 31^st July 2025, with the option to extend for a further two years eight months, to 31^st March 2028 and by a further two years to 31^st March 2030, subject to the conclusion of an options appraisal on community equipment services.

(5)    Delegate the option to extend the contract for an additional 2 years eight months to 31^st March 2028 and for a further 2 years to 31^st March 2030 to the Corporate Director for Adult Social Care and Health.

(6)    Approve the Council entering into an agreement pursuant to s75 National Health Service Act 2006 with North West London Integrated Care Partnership to collaborate in the provision of the integrated community equipment services until 31^st March 2030.

Councillor Neil Nerva (Cabinet Member for Public Health and Adult Social Care) introduced a report regarding the procurement of the Integrated Community Equipment Service. In introducing the report, Cabinet was advised of the background and importance of the community equipment service given the way in which the service supported residents to remain as independent as possible for as long as possible and was both a statutory requirement and important in delivering key strategic system priorities, for example hospital discharge and avoidance, reduction in the use of residential care and a reduced reliance on homecare provision with over 600 active prescribing practitioners in Brent using the service on a regular basis.

Recognising the importance in the timely provision of this equipment, Cabinet was advised of the issues experienced with performance of the current Community Equipment contract since it had gone live in July 2021 which had subsequently resulted in the existing provider, Millbrook Healthcare Ltd, withdrawing from the existing contract with effect from the end of July 2023.  As a result, the Council had been considering options to secure a new provider to ensure no gap in service provision. Having outlined the process undertaken (as detailed within section 3 of the report) Cabinet was therefore being asked to consider the direct award of the community equipment contract to Nottingham Rehab Ltd (NRS Healthcare) from the London Community Equipment Consortium Framework. Having noted the operational benefits identified under the proposed new provider in terms of service delivery and the access to existing infrastructure, Cabinet also noted the enhanced service specification developed in response to the previous contract performance issues along with migration of the proposed new service model from a five day/eight hours per day service to a six day/12 hours per day operating model that would operate from the start of the new contract period.  It was noted that the new contractual arrangements would also include a recycling target of 70% in terms of the equipment issued in order to reduce the impact of future equipment price rises and reduce waste alongside a commitment to develop the use of an electric fleet of vehicles and pledge to work with boroughs to implement a range of social value employment and community initiatives with the contract also being subject to the London Living Wage.

In supporting the approach identified, Cabinet welcomed the confirmation provided that the move to the new arrangements would be subject to an initial two year period enabling the completion of a full options appraisal process in relation to future delivery and procurement opportunities alongside the work being undertaken to address the current backlog in provision of equipment with the current provider in advance of the service moving to a new provider.

In thanking officers for their efforts in seeking to resolve the current contractual and performance issues and commending the approach identified to ensure the continuation and improvement in delivery of the community equipment service, Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1)            Approve the pre-tender considerations set out in paragraph 3.43 of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

This report and the performance scorecard set out the position on the Council’s performance in the fourth quarter of 2022/23. The content and format of the report and scorecard have been constructed to focus primarily on the Council’s Borough Plan: Building a Better Brent, and its priorities.

Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1)    Note the performance information contained in the updated report format.

(2)    Note the current and future strategic risks associated with the information provided and agree the remedial actions on strategic risks identified as appropriate alongside the challenge on progress being provided with responsible officers as necessary.

Councillor Mili Patel (Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources & Reform) introduced the report, which provided Cabinet with an overview of corporate performance information linked to the Borough Plan priorities for the fourth quarter 2022/23 (January – March 2023).

In presenting the report, Councillor Mili Patel highlighted the changes being made as part of the new performance management framework with a focus around the newly refreshed Borough Plan (Moving Brent Forward Together) and other key corporate strategies including the Black Community Action Plan, Equality Strategy, Poverty Commission, Climate Emergency Strategy and Joint Health & Wellbeing Strategy. Cabinet was advised the format of the current corporate performance update report would therefore be the final one under the framework of the previous Borough Plan (Building a Better Brent).  In relation to the Borough Plan indicators, members were advised that of the current 50 key indicators for Quarter 4 within the performance scorecard 23 had been rated Green (on or above target), 3 as just off target (Amber), 12 as off target (Red) with 12 included to provide contextual information.

In highlighting the performance improvements compared to the third quarter for 2022/23, Councillor Mili Patel commended Children and Young People for the efforts made to reduce the number of indicators where performance had been categorised as ‘red’.  Whilst the percentage of Looked After Children (LAC) in education, employment or training remained below target Cabinet noted and commended the strong partnership work and delivery programmes which had been implemented to support Post 16 Looked After Children not in education, employment or training designed to drive improvements in performance. Similarly, Cabinet noted the positive direction of travel identified in relation to performance against the target for percentage of new birth visits occurring within 14 days which whilst still rated as “red” had continued to improve over the current monitoring period.

Cabinet was also informed of the actions being undertaken to address current performance in relation to the average re-let time for major and minor voids, which continued to be rated as “red”. This included the establishment of a new task force to address and improve voids and letting performance the outcome of which would continue to be kept under review as part of ongoing performance updates.

Members were keen to recognise the efforts being made to ensure the continued delivery of services and work being undertaken jointly by Cabinet Members with their relevant Strategic Directors, in seeking to manage and mitigate against the strategic risks identified as part of the overall wider approach towards supporting local residents and in support of the priorities within the updated Borough Plan.

In welcoming the focus on development of a new suite of performance indicators under the newly refreshed Borough Plan Cabinet RESOLVED to:

(1)            Note the performance information contained in the current report format.

(2)            Note the current and future strategic risks associated with the information provided and agree the remedial actions on strategic risks identified as appropriate alongside the challenge on progress being provided with responsible officers  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

No items have been identified in advance of the meeting that will require the exclusion of the press or public.

There were no items that required the exclusion of the press or public.

There were no items that required the exclusion of the press or public.

Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or her representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60.

Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of Council) took the opportunity to formally thank Phil Porter for his support to the Cabinet and in the delivery of services to residents across the borough during his time as a Corporate Director and member of the Council Management Team, noting this would be his final Cabinet meeting in advance of leaving Brent to take up a new position as Chief Executive at Sefton Council.  Members took the opportunity to wish him well in the new role.

Councillor Muhammed Butt (Leader of Council) took the opportunity to formally thank Phil Porter for his support to the Cabinet and in the delivery of services to residents across the borough during his time as a Corporate Director and member of the Council Management Team, noting that this would be his final Cabinet meeting in advance of leaving Brent to take up a new position as Chief Executive at Sefton Council. Members took the opportunity to wish him well in the new role.