Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were received from Thomas Cattermole (Corporate Director Resident & Housing Services) with Spencer Randolph (Director Housing Services) attending as his representative.

An apology for lateness was received from Jehan Weerasinghe (Corporate Director Neighbourhoods & Regeneration).

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.

Councillor Grahl declared a personal interest in relation to Agenda Item 10 (Rent Setting Policy Statement) and Agenda Item 11 (Housing Management Policies) as a Council leaseholder.

No other declarations of interest were made during the meeting.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 12 October 2026 as a correct record.

Cabinet RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 12 October 2026 be approved as a correct record of the meeting.

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

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.

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

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

The purpose of this report is to present the Brent Council Plan, Believe in Brent 2026 – 2030, to Cabinet in advance of its referral to Full Council on 16 November 2026 for final approval.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To endorse the Council Plan, Believe in Brent 2026 – 2030, to progress to Full Council on 16 November 2026 for final approval.

(2)    To note the Engagement and Evidence Report and Equality Impact Assessment, which accompanied the Council Plan.

Eligible for call-in: No (report and recommendations referred to Council)

This report provides an update on performance against the Borough Plan 2023–2027 key performance indicators for Quarter 1 of 2026/27, supported by the performance scorecard and commentary on specific areas of performance.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To note the Borough Plan 2026-27 performance report for Q1 as set out in section 3 and Appendix A of the report.

(2)    To note the development of a new suite of KPIs alongside the new Council Plan and the more streamlined approach to performance reporting during the transition.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 16 November 2026

This report provides Cabinet with a third refresh of the School Place Planning Strategy 2024-2028, approved by Cabinet in October 2023 with refreshes approved by Cabinet in November 2024 and November 2025.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To approve the third refresh of the School Place Planning Strategy 2024-2028, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

(2)    To note the continued focus on planning to ensure both the sufficiency of places and the sustainability of schools, based on varying demand patterns across school planning areas in Brent.

(3)    To note the early signs of a reversal of declining pupil numbers in some parts of the borough (resulting from a rising birth rate) and that a requirement to accommodate higher demand in some primary planning areas may be required in the future.

(4)    To note that there continued to be increasing demand for places that meet the needs of children and young people with SEND aged 0-25 and the intention to further develop the SEND estate capital investment programme as Brent’s strategy to address this need, as set out in section 4.3-4.5 of the report.

(5)    To note the school place planning actions completed in the first two years of the strategy and the actions planned for the coming academic year as set out in Section 4 of the report.

(6)    To note the update on the success measures set out in the original strategy as set out in section 3.2 of the report.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 16 November 2026

This report seeks Cabinet’s approval of Brent's Rent Setting Policy. The policy establishes the framework through which rents for Housing Revenue Account (HRA) properties will be set, reviewed and varied in accordance with the Regulator of Social Housing's Rent Standard 2026 and associated guidance.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To approve Brent Council’s new Rent Setting Policy attached as Appendix A to the report.

(2)    To approve all social rent properties being re-let at full formula rent, subject to compliance with the Rent Standard 2026 and any applicable rent caps or regulatory requirements.

(3)    To approve ending discounted London Affordable Rent levels on re-let, with eligible properties being let at the full London Affordable Rent applicable at the commencement of each new tenancy.

(4)    To note that proposals relating to rent flexibilities would be brought back for consideration as part of this financial year’s budget report, following consultation with residents.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 16 November 2026

This report seeks Cabinet approval for a set of Housing Management Policies. The policies covered by this report are the Anti-Social Behaviour Policy, Compliance (Asbestos, Fire, Gas, Mechanical Electrical Services and Water) Policies, Vulnerabilities and Reasonable Adjustments Policy and Housing Compensation and Remedies Policy.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To approve the following Housing Management Policies:

(a)      Anti-Social Behaviour Policy.

(b)      Compliance Policies (Asbestos, Fire, Gas Safety, Water Safety, Mechanical Electrical Services).

(c)      Vulnerabilities and Reasonable Adjustments Policy; and

(d)      Housing Compensation and Remedies Policy.

(2)      To note and endorse the status and next steps to deliver the policy commitments, as set out within the report.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 16 November 2026

This report sets out the Housing Management Service's annual complaints performance for the period 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. It provides an overview of complaint volumes, complaint outcomes, compensation awarded, the key themes and causes of complaints, and the learning and service improvements that have been implemented as a result.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To note Brent Housing Management's performance in managing and resolving complaints during 2025/26, as set out within the report.

(2)    To note the Council's latest self-assessment against the Housing Ombudsman's Complaint Handling Code, as set out within the report.

(3)    To approve the report for submission to the Housing Management Advisory Board and the relevant Scrutiny Committee(s).

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Monday 16 November 2026

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