Agenda, decisions and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Mili Patel.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Mili Patel.

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 9 December 2019 as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 9 December 2019 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9^th December 2020 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.

To present Cabinet with the report and recommendations from the Air Quality Scrutiny Task Group.

NOTED the deputation received from Mark Falcon (representing Clear Air for Brent) and additional comments made by Councillor Nerva in relation to the report.

Following its introduction by Councillor Stephens (as Chair of the Scrutiny Task Group) Cabinet RESOLVED that the Air Quality Scrutiny Report and recommendations be noted.

The Cabinet noted the deputation received from the representative of Clear Air for Brent, Mark Falcon and additional comments made by, Councillor Neil Nerva in relation to the report. Both commended the task group report and the work of the task group members. Councillor Neil Nerva highlighted the issue or air quality around Wembley Stadium, especially on event days.  He encouraged the relevant Cabinet Members to take the lead with the Football Association, Wembley Park and other stakeholders in tackling the issue of air quality on event days.

The Chair of the Air Quality Scrutiny Task Group, Councillor Tom Stephens, introduced the report and recommendations from the Air Quality Scrutiny Task Group.

Councillor Stephens stated that in July 2019, the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee established a task group to look into air quality in the borough.  He advised that after six months of work, it was a pleasure to present the results of the investigations along with recommendations on what more it was felt the Council needs to do to improve air quality in Brent.

Councillor Tom Stephens ended his introduction by expressing his thanks to all those who had devoted their time and energy to the work of the task group, including the many officers in Brent Council who had supported its work and the many witnesses who had gone out of their way to provide evidence to the inquiry. Councillor Stephens also thanked Clean Air for Brent and Brent Cycling Campaign, who had served on the task group.

Councillors Muhammed Butt, Krupa Sheth, Tom Miller, Margaret McLennan, Shama Tatler and Eleanor Southwood, also contributed to the discussion congratulating Councillor Stephens and task group members for the piece of work.

Councillor Butt (as Leader of the Council) ended by also thanking everyone who had contributed to the work of the task group and stated that a full response to the report’s recommendations from the Cabinet Member for Environment would follow.

RESOLVED that Cabinet note the Air Quality Scrutiny Report and recommendations.

This report presents Cabinet with the feedback gathered through the recent consultation on the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy (2020 – 2025) and seeks approval to an amended strategy following this feedback.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(1)      Note the consultation feedback and subsequent amendments to the draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy (2020 – 2025).

(2)      Approve the finalised version of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy (2020 – 2025) for publication.

The Cabinet Member for Housing & Welfare Reform, Councillor Eleanor Southwood, introduced the report. The report presented the feedback gathered through the recent consultation on the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy (2020/25) and included, an amended strategy draft following the feedback.

Councillor Southwood, thanked the Homelessness Forum for their work.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(1)      Note the consultation feedback and subsequent amendments to the draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy (2020 – 2025).

(2)      Approve the finalised version of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy (2020 – 2025) for publication.

This report seeks Cabinet agreement to the proposed admission arrangements for Brent community schools for 2021/22 in accordance with statutory requirements, with Admission authorities required to determine their admission arrangements by 28 February in the determination year.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the proposed admission arrangements for Brent community schools for the 2021/2022 academic year (Appendix 2).

The Cabinet Member for Schools, Employment and Skills, Councillor Amar Agha, introduced the report seeking Cabinet’s agreement to the proposed admission arrangements for Brent Community Schools, for 2021/22 in accordance with, statutory requirements. Cabinet noted that Admission authorities were required to determine their admission arrangements by 28 February in the determination year.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approve the proposed admission arrangements for Brent community schools for the 2021/2022 academic year (as detailed within Appendix 2 of the report).

This report seeks Cabinet approval to redevelop a site in Morland Gardens, Stonebridge in order to deliver a new education centre, council homes, affordable workspace, a public facing café and public realm improvements.  The report highlights the strong level of community engagement in the design of the scheme along with the high standards of environmental sustainability that the building will achieve.

NOTED the deputation received from by Errol Donald (representing the Morland Gardens Community Steering Group) and additional representations made by Councillor Ezajughi (as ward councillor) in relation to the scheme.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(1)       Approve the proposal to invest up to £43m to deliver a state of the art adult education centre, 65 new affordable homes, 675 sq metres affordable workspace for start-up businesses from the local community, and a public facing café at 1 Morland Gardens.

(2)       Note that the proposal to invest up to £43m at 1 Morland Gardens includes the cost of the 2 year service decant and encompasses £6.5m of the GLA affordable housing grant.

(3)       Note the risk that if the Stonebridge Primary School Annexe isn’t used for decant, as outlined in paragraphs 3.43-3.47 of the report, it may not be viable to deliver the project in accordance with the delivery timetable at paragraph 3.42 in the report, with there being various risks as detailed in paragraph 3.48 of the report, to include a risk that alternative capacity for classes could not be found, meaning a period of 2 years where Brent Start would have to close a significant portion of its provision. 

(4)       Delegate authority to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Schools, Employment and Skills, to carry out the consultation process with third parties prior to appropriation and thereafter to consider responses prior to appropriating 1 Morland Gardens.

(5)       Delegate authority to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment to appropriate 1 Morland Gardens for planning purposes and use its powers under section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to override third party rights.

(6)       Approve the procurement of a delivery partner to deliver the redevelopment of 1 Morland Gardens.

(7)       Delegate authority to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment to approve the pre-tender considerations for the procurement of the delivery partner and thereafter arrange for Officers to evaluate tenders on the basis of the approved evaluation criteria.

(8)       Delegate authority to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Schools, Employment and Skills, to award the contract for a developer partner.

Councillor Muhammed Butt welcomed Councillor Ernest Ezeajughi to the meeting. Councillor Ezeajughi, Stonebridge Ward Councillor, stated that he was speaking on behalf of all the Stonebridge Ward Councillors. He thanked the Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform, Councillor Eleanor Southwood, for addressing initial concerns expressed during the consultation period.

Councillor Muhammed Butt welcomed Errol Donald, Chief Creative Officer, BANG Edutainment Ltd, to the meeting. Mr Donald (representing the Morland Gardens Community Steering Group) spoke in support of the proposals welcoming the collaboration with the Council.

The Cabinet Member for Schools, Employment and Skills, Councillor Amar Agha, then introduced the report seeking approval to redevelop 1 Morland Gardens, Stonebridge, London, NW10 8DY to deliver a new education centre, new council homes, affordable workspace, a public facing café and realm improvements.

RESOLVED that having noted the deputation received from by Errol Donald and additional representations made by the Ward Councillor, Councillor Ezajughi in relation to the scheme, Cabinet:

(1)       Approve the proposal to invest up to £43m to deliver a state of the art adult education centre, 65 new affordable homes, 675sq metres affordable workspace for start-up businesses from the local community and a public facing café at 1 Morland Gardens.

(2)       Note that the proposal to invest up to £43m at 1 Morland Gardens includes, the cost of the 2-year service decant and encompasses £6.5m of the GLA affordable housing grant.

(3)       Note the risk that if the Stonebridge Primary School Annexe isn’t used for decant, as outlined in paragraphs 3.43-3.47 of the report, it may not be viable to deliver the project in accordance with the delivery timetable at paragraph 3.42 in the report, with there being various risks as detailed in paragraph 3.48 of the report, to include a risk that alternative capacity for classes could not be found meaning, a period of 2 years where Brent Start would have to close, a significant portion of its provision. 

(4)       Delegate authority to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Schools, Employment and Skills, to carry out the consultation process with third parties prior to appropriation and thereafter, to consider responses prior to appropriating 1 Morland Gardens.

(5)       Delegate authority to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment to appropriate 1 Morland Gardens for planning purposes and use its powers, under section 203 of the Housing and Planning Act 2016 to override, third party rights.

(6)       Approve the procurement of a delivery partner to deliver the redevelopment of 1 Morland Gardens.

(7)       Delegate authority to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment to approve the pre-tender considerations for the procurement of the delivery partner and thereafter, arrange for Officers to evaluate tenders on the basis of the approved evaluation criteria.

(8)       Delegate authority to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Schools, Employment and Skills, to award the contract for a developer partner.

10.         London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee – Governing Agreement Amendment for Electric Vehicle Charging

The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

This report informs Cabinet of proposals by London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee (LCTEC) to establish a partnership arrangement to take on the operational management as well as strategic oversight of a London-wide electric vehicle charging point network on behalf of London boroughs and the City of London, should this be required.  As part of this process, the report also seeks approval to amend the LCTEC Governing Agreement to give London Councils permission to actively participate in the delivery of the electric vehicle infrastructure coordination and delivery function.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(1)      Delegate authority to London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee to exercise the further functions under section 16 of the 2013 London Local Authorities and Transport Act 2013 as set out in the report in paragraph 3.13 and Appendices A and B.

(2)      Cabinet also authorised the Council’s Director of Legal, HR, Audit and Investigations to sign any necessary documents to give effect to the variation of the London Council’s Transport and Environment Committee Governing Agreement dated 13 December 2001 (as amended).

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Krupa Sheth, introduced the report that informed Cabinet of proposals by London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee (LCTEC) to establish a partnership arrangement and take on the operational management as well as, strategic oversight of a London-wide electric vehicle charging point network, on behalf of London boroughs and the City of London, should this be required.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(1)      Delegate authority to London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee to exercise the further functions under section 16 of the 2013 London Local Authorities and Transport Act 2013, as set out in the report in paragraph 3.13 and Appendices A and B.

(2)      Cabinet also authorised the Council’s Director of Legal, HR, Audit and Investigations to sign any necessary documents to give effect to the variation of the London Council’s Transport and Environment Committee Governing Agreement, dated 13 December 2001 (as amended).

This report provides Cabinet with an update on the current forecast of income and expenditure against the Council’s revenue budget for 2019/20 and other key financial data.

Cabinet noted the overall financial position and the actions being taken to manage the issues arising.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Councillor Margaret McLennan, introduced the report setting out the current forecast of income and expenditure against the revenue budget for 2019/20 and other key financial data.

RESOLVED that Cabinet note the overall financial position and the actions being taken to manage the issues identified within the report.

This report sets out the current forecasts of capital expenditure against the budget for 2019/20, highlights the key achievements of the programme, notes any budget changes since initial approval and sets out the various elements of financing.

Cabinet noted the overall capital financial position.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Councillor Margaret McLennan, introduced the report setting out the current forecasts of capital expenditure against the budget for 2019/20, highlighting the key achievements of the programme, notes any budget changes since initial approval and sets put the various elements of financing.

RESOLVED that Cabinet note the overall capital financial position.

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

There were no items requiring the exclusion of the press or public.

There were no items that require 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 his representative before the meeting. Any decisions taken urgently under this heading must comply with the provisions outlined in paragraph’s 12 and 38 of the Council’s Access to Information Rules (Part 2 of the Constitution).

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