Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Grahl and Councillor Moeen, along with Nigel Chapman with Shirely Parks (Director of Education Partnerships & Safeguarding) attending as his representative, Rachel Crossley (Corporate Director Service Reform & Strategy) with Tom Shakespeare (Director Integrated Care Partnership) attending as her representative and Jehan Weerasinghe with Gerry Ansell (Director of Inclusive Regeneration & Climate Resilience) attending as his representative.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Grahl (Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education and Employment) and Councillor Moeen (Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Cohesion) along with Nigel Chapman (Corporate Director Children, Young People and Community Development, Brent Council) with Shirley Parks (Director of Education, Partnerships and Strategy, Brent Council) substituting, Jehan Weerasinghe (Corporate Director Neighbourhoods and Regeneration, Brent Council) with Gerry Ansell (Director of Inclusive Regeneration and Climate Resilience, Brent Council) substituting, and Rachel Crossley (Corporate Director Service Reform and Strategy, Brent Council) with Tom Shakespeare (Director of Brent Integrated Care Partnership) substituting.

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 during the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made during the meeting.

To approve the minutes of the previous Cabinet meeting held on Monday 9 March 2026 as a correct record.

(Agenda republished to include the attached minutes on 1 April 2026)

Cabinet RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 9 March 2026 be approved as a correct record of the meeting.

Cabinet RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 9 March 2026 be approved as a correct record of the meeting.

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

None identified.

None identified.

To receive and consider any petitions for which notice has been provided under Standing Order 66.

Members are asked to note that there are currently no petition(s) due to be presented at the meeting.

There were no petitions presented at the meeting.

There were no petitions presented at the meeting.

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

There were no items referred from either the Community Wellbeing or Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committees.

There were no items referred from either the Community Wellbeing or Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committees.

This report seeks Cabinet approval to adopt a strategic approach to increasing the supply of Temporary Accommodation through long-term leasing arrangements (10 years or more) with private sector housing providers delivering new and refurbished accommodation at affordable rental terms along with delegated authority for officers to negotiate and enter into individual lease agreements in support of the Council’s Temporary Accommodation strategy.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To approve the strategic approach to increasing the supply of Temporary Accommodation, in Brent and neighbouring areas, through long-term leasing arrangements (10 years or more) with accommodation providers delivering new and refurbished accommodation at affordable rental terms.

(2)    To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Regeneration, in consultation with the relevant Lead Member, the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources, and the Corporate Director of Residents and Housing Services, to:

(a)    Negotiate and agree on detailed Heads of Terms and enter into individual lease agreements with accommodation providers for Temporary Accommodation with terms of 10 years or more, in the best interests of the Council.

(b)    Delegate authority to approve the finances and budgetary adjustments to the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources.

(3)    Note the risks identified in paragraphs 3.2.18 to 3.2.22 of the report, including the potential impact on forecast savings or cost avoidance, and the steps proposed by officers to mitigate these risks.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Tuesday 14 April 2026

Councillor Donnelly-Jackson (Cabinet Member for Housing) introduced a report from the Corporate Director Residents and Housing Services seeking approval to adopt a strategic approach to increasing the supply of Temporary Accommodation through long-term leasing arrangements (10 years or more) with private sector housing providers delivering new and refurbished accommodation at affordable rental terms.

In introducing the report, Councillor Donnelly-Jackson began highlighting the clear and strategic approach to increasing the supply of Temporary Accommodation that the report set out in a particularly challenging context. In detailing those challenges, she advised that the demand for housing support had risen significantly over the past 2 years, with approximately 170 households approaching the Housing Need service each week, which she attributed to rising rents, shortages of affordable housing, and an increase in the number of residents facing complex and acute needs. In outlining the challenges, she recognised that Brent was not alone in facing pressures in relation to housing need demand given that London now accounted for over half of all homeless households in England and research suggesting that there was a significant Temporary Accommodation shortfall against a backdrop where the cost of accommodation in London had risen by 75% over the last 5 years. She emphasised that the current reliance on nightly accommodation was both costly and uncertain, exposing the Council to market volatility and placing considerable pressure on Council’s finances, whilst often failing to provide the stability households needed.

As a way forward, Councillor Donnelly-Jackson advised Cabinet of the proposed new approach, moving towards long-term leasing arrangements of 10-years or more, which would enable the Council to secure a reliable supply of high-quality accommodation in Brent and neighbouring areas and achieve better value for money through reduced costs over time, whilst also improving the standard and suitability of accommodation available to vulnerable households.

As well as the benefits to those in housing need, Councillor Donnelly-Jackson detailed the financial benefits of the 10-year leasing scheme, which allowed the Council to claim back greater housing subsidy, as set out in paragraph 6.4 of the report, and which provided the Council certainty of supply, certainty of costs, and protection from market fluctuation. Further benefits from the model were detailed in relation to the wraparound support available for those being placed in accommodation through Civic Nest and through the various standards required to support these residents, including for properties to meet the Decent Home Standard.

In summing up, Councillor Donnelly-Jackson felt that the approach outlined allowed the Council to ensure both fiscal responsibility and better outcomes for residents, which she saw as a practical and necessary step in responding to the housing pressures being faced by the Council.

In welcoming the report, members recognised Temporary Accommodation as one of the highest cost pressures currently faced by the Council and therefore expressed support for the approach outlined in relation to the stability and quality that would be provided for residents whilst also demonstrating the prudent way the Council was delivering its financial responsibilities. It was recognised that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

This report sets out proposals for working with the London Borough of Harrow for the provision of telecare services for vulnerable people and their carers and seeks approval to enter into an Inter Authority Agreement (Partnership) for provision of the service.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To approve an exemption from the usual tendering requirements set in the Contract Standing Orders 84 for good operational and financial reasons.

(2)    To approve the creation of an Inter Authority Agreement (“the IAA”) that implements co-operation for the provision of telecare for vulnerable people and their carers for three years with an option to extend for a further 1+1 years with Harrow Council.

(3)    To delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Services Reform and Strategy to finalise the terms of the IAA, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Leisure and Director of Law and Corporate Director Finance and Resources.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Tuesday 14 April 2026

Councillor Nerva (Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health & Leisure) introduced a report from the Corporate Director Service Reform & Strategy seeking approval to enter into an Inter Authority Agreement (Partnership) with Harrow Council for the provision of telecare services for vulnerable people and their carers.

In presenting the report, Councillor Nerva began by highlighting the importance of independence for residents, with many, including those with significant care needs, valuing the local authority and NHS services that enabled them to maximise their independence and control in a home setting. He emphasised that, with the improvements in technology being seen, the Council had an opportunity to support residents’ independence in a better and more responsive way, which the proposals outlined sought to do by maintaining and developing services that used vital assistive technology to help older people and people of younger working age with disabilities to live safely and independently in the home for as long as they could.

In outlining the service, Councillor Nerva advised that assistive technology was becoming a much wider and more flexible offer that could improve safety, provide reassurance, and help people stay well in the comfort of their own homes. He emphasised that by continuing to work in partnership with Harrow, the Council could build on existing arrangements, avoid disruption to residents who relied on these services, and benefit from a more joined up approach leading to greater reliability, better continuity of service and economies of scale achieved through working with an established partner.

In highlighting that the local authority saw telecare not only as a service available for people with funded care but as a first line offer to all residents who wished to take up the telecare offer, Councillor Nerva confirmed that the contract was being developed to enable the Council to get the best from new opportunities in assistive technology and would deliver a forward-looking service that supported independence and provided strong foundations for the future.

In welcoming the work being done in this area, which members felt utilised the opportunities arising from digital advancements in technology and reflected the Council’s commitments around prevention and working in neighbourhoods, Cabinet RESOLVED, having also noted the need to amend recommendation 2.3 the report to reflect the phrasing of the delegation to ‘in consultation with the Cabinet Member’:

(1)       To approve an exemption from the usual tendering requirements set out in the Contract Standing Orders 84 for good operational and financial reasons:

(2)       To approve the creation of an Inter Authority Agreement (“the IAA”) that implemented co-operation for the provision of telecare for vulnerable people and their carers for three years with an option to extend for a further 1 + 1 years with Harrow Council.

(3)    To delegate authority to the Corporate Director Service Reform and Strategy to finalise the terms of the IAA in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Leisure, the Director of Law and the Corporate Director Finance and Resources.

The following item(s)are not for publication as they relate to the category of exempt information set out below, as specified under Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972:

Agenda Item 7:        Approval to increase supply of Temporary Accommodation (Appendix 1 – Financial Appraisal)

This appendix has been classified as exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, namely: “Information relating to the financial or business affairs of and particular person (including the authority holding that information).

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 Deputy Director Democratic & Corporate Governance or their representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60.

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no items of urgent business. Councillor Muhammed Butt took the opportunity to thank Cabinet Members for the work they had done and Directors for the support they had provided to the Cabinet and Council, noting that this would be the last Cabinet meeting before the local elections in May.