Agenda and minutes
Venue: Virtual
Contact: Hannah O'Brien, Governance Officer Email: hannah.o'brien@brent.gov.uk
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Apologies for absence and clarification of alternate members Minutes: Apologies for absence were received as follows:
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Declarations of interests 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. Minutes: Interests were declared as follows:
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Deputations (if any) To hear any deputations received from members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 67. Minutes: There were no deputations received.
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Minutes of the previous meeting PDF 103 KB To approve the minutes of the previous meetings held on (i) 3 March 2020 and (ii) 16 March 2020 as a correct record.
Additional documents: Minutes: AGREED: That the minutes of the previous meetings held on 3 March 2020 and 16 March 2020 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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Matters arising (if any) Minutes: There were no matters arising.
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Brent Council and Covid 19 Service Response and Recovery PDF 241 KB To provide the Committee with an update of the public health response to the Covid-19 crisis, locally, regionally and nationally; and an overview of the impact of the emergency on a number of key services, including Adult Social Care, Children’s Services, Housing and Cultural services.
Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Mohammed Butt (Leader, Brent Council) introduced the report providing the Committee with an update of the public health response to the COVID-19 crisis locally, regionally and nationally; and an overview of the impact of the emergency on a number of key services. The Leader highlighted the impact the pandemic had on Brent residents and the number of people impacted by deaths in Brent. The Committee heard the Council had continued to provide almost all statutory services relied upon by residents throughout the pandemic, with the only exception being the library services due to Government guidance for them to close; however, outreach book deliveries were still done. A week prior to the Government’s national lockdown on 23 March 2020 the Council’s Gold Command was formed enabling important emergency decisions to be made. The Council had received money from Central Government for costs incurred from COVID-19, which were approximately £46m, and an update on the financial impact of COVID-19 had been presented at the Cabinet meeting that month. The Council were making the case to Government that any costs associated with the lockdown should be refunded. The Leader added that the process of considering what services to restore, retain, reinvent or remove as part of the recovery process had begun.
The Chair invited Councillor Margaret McLennan (Deputy Leader and Lead Member for Resources, Brent Council) to speak to the Committee. Councillor McLennan informed the Committee she would be chairing a London Finance Forum that evening with the Chair of Resources, the GLA and other regional members to look at how Councils could take forward recouping finances spent as a result of COVID-19. To date £3.4m had been returned through campaigning efforts.
The Chair thanked Councillors for their introduction and invited members of the Committee to ask questions. The following issues were raised:
In response to what went well, the Leader noted collaborative working and the sharing of information to be able to communicate with residents, understand their needs and keep them informed. A weekly email had been sent to residents and leaflets had been delivered to all homes in Brent to ensure all residents could access information and have a way to communicate with the Council in some way. Carolyn Downs (Chief Executive, Brent Council) added that the rapid response in care homes had been done well. The Council had not waited for Central Government and had ordered PPE for care homes immediately, before shortages, meaning they had a constant supply they could give to care homes and then to schools and then front line staff. A local walk-in testing centre had also been established in Harlesden. Brent was doing more testing than anywhere in London, and the Borough had a low infection rate at the time of the meeting.
Regarding what did not go well, the Leader expressed that there were lessons to learn. He highlighted that messages from Central Government impacted how the Council had interacted and communicated with residents at the start of the pandemic. Carolyn Downs added ... view the full minutes text for item 6. |
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Scrutiny committee work plan update 2019/2020 report PDF 92 KB The report updates Members on the Committee’s Work Programme for 2019/20 and captures scrutiny activity which has taken place outside of its formal meetings. Additional documents: Minutes: Noted. |
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Any other urgent business 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. Minutes: None. |