Agenda and minutes

• Councillor Matin
• Councillor Begum

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.

Personal interests were declared as follows:

Ø  Councillor Mistry – signatory of the call-in

Councillor Sheth highlighted that his register of interest could be found on the Brent website.

To consider a call-in in respect of the following decision taken by Cabinet on 15 January 2024:

·                Acquisition of a property in Wembley for the Brent Children’s Care Home Project.

In opening the item, the Chair advised that, in accordance with Standing Order 14, the meeting had been arranged to consider a call-in submitted by five members of the Council in relation to a decision made by Cabinet on 15 January 2024 to acquire a property in Wembley for the Brent Children’s Care Home Project.

In considering the call-in, the Chair reminded the Committee that the line of questioning must remain specifically within the remit of the call-in and that issues raised on anything wider would not be valid and ruled out for consideration.

Having clarified the basis of the call-in, the Chair then proceeded to invite Councillor Maurice to outline the reasons for the call-in as a representative of the members who had supported the call-in.

In presenting the call-in, Councillor Maurice highlighted the following key issues as the basis for which the decision had been called-in:

Councillor Maurice began by highlighting that, as councillors, members were corporate parents and had a duty to house and help looked after children and young people. He stated that the members who submitted the call-in did support the concept of care homes for looked after children but had been contacted by residents concerned about the impact this care home would have on those in neighbouring properties. He advised the Committee that the property was in a quiet road within the Barnhill Conservation Area, where houses were often double the average price of a property in Brent. As such, it was felt by the representatives of the call-in that money was being spent on an unsuitable and costly property, where there was existing and more economical Council stock available. There had previously been a care home in Woodcock Hill which residents stated had been the source of drug dealing and anti-social behaviour, which had been sold at a low price to an employee of the Council. The call-in representatives asked why this property was not considered for the care home instead by the Council. Another care home in Barn Way had been felt by residents to be poorly managed and the source of anti-social behaviour, with police attendance on numerous occasions. There had been several complaints made to the Council regarding the care home and it was only with the intervention of MP Barry Gardiner that the care home closed down. Because of this experience, it was felt by residents that the proposed new children’s care home would result in anti-social behaviour, affecting the wellbeing and harmony of the residents who lived in the area currently. There was also an already established care home within metres of the proposed new children’s care home. The members in support of the call-in had heard there had been no public consultation on the project with residents, although noted that there would be future consultation with neighbours if the purchase was to go ahead. Councillor Maurice highlighted that there had been no planning permission applied for, and those in support of the call-in queried the rationale for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

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

Agenda Item 3:         Appendix 2a – (Appendix to the Cabinet Report) – Purchase Cost

                                    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 any particular person (including the authority holding that information)”.

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 Chief Executive and Member Services or her representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60.

None.