Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Aden.

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.

In relation to agenda item 7, Councilllor Nerva declared that he was the Chair of the Active Travel Forum for Brent Council and a member of the steering group for Brent cyclists.

To hear any deputations received from members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 67.

None.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record.

Resolved

That the minutes of the last meeting held on 12 March 2020 be approved as a correct record.

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

None.

To receive a report from the Chair of the committee.

The Committee considered the Chair’s report, which set out details regarding the selection of topics for the current meeting, as well as work undertaken by the Committee outside of public meetings.

Resolved

That the Chair’s report be noted.

To consider the Council’s strategy for the public realm and the implications of the management of current public health concerns.

Councillor Sheth, Cabinet Member for Environment introduced a report on the public realm strategies for Brent, including Brent Council priorities, strategies and policies, planned strategy review and the impact of the COVID19 epidemic and public health restrictions. The Committee was then invited to raise questions on the report, which focused on a number of key areas as highlighted below:

·         In response to a question from the Committee, it was noted that a climate change strategy had not been included in the report because the Council had been undertaking a much larger piece of work encompassing all portfolios. The report was focused primarily on the emergency response to COVID19, and in particular the efforts to encourage active travel across the borough.

·         The Council had been successful in its bid for funding from Transport for London (TfL) and the Department for Transport (DfT) for 33 new school streets. In deciding where these would be, it would consider air quality as well as where it would be logistically possible. Officers were working directly with schools to develop an understanding of how school streets would be managed, and all 33 school streets would be in place by September.

·         The Council had been using air quality data and public health indicators to measure success in improving the use of active travel and reducing motor vehicle use. It would also take evidence from school surveys as these gathered information on how children travelled to school and the Common Place platform would provide the Council with information on residents’ current experiences. The Council would also continue to engage with community groups such as Clean Air for Brent and utilise the Air Quality Task Group’s findings. It did not expect habits to change immediately and as such this would be a medium term plan, which required a cultural shift. The next stage for the council would be to engage with stakeholders, such as the National Health Service (NHS) and schools, to ensure they can work together to realise the benefits of active travel for all parties.

·         It was noted that TfL was in a difficult financial position which had been exacerbated by the effects of COVID19. The Council had been directly bidding for funding from TfL which it felt took a surprising approach and did not consistently apply the criteria and timeframes the council had been working towards. There had been disquiet amongst many London councils about how TfL had distributed these funds and many would have liked to have seen a more strategic approach and recognition of the ambition of those councils which were in the infancy of their active travel plans. The Committee were reassured that the Council had worked tirelessly to put itself in the best position to receive this funding. Funding that had been received would go towards projects such as school streets and a strategic cycle route along Harrow Road. Engagement with residents would focus on what they want to see in their borough, gathered via the Common Place platform,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider the Council’s strategy for the Brent economy and the implications of the management of current public health concerns.

8.            The Brent Economy

Councillor Tatler, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Property & Planning introduced a report on the economic strategies for Brent, including Brent Council priorities, current strategies and policies, and the impact of the COVID19 epidemic and public health restrictions, specifically on business support, high streets, and employment. The Committee was then invited to raise questions on the report, which focused on a number of key areas as highlighted below:

·         The Committee noted the importance of procurement in supporting local businesses throughout COVID19. The Social and Ethical Value Procurement Policy set out the ways in which the council would approach procurement. It would prioritise supporting local businesses to bid for contracts confidently, making them aware of relevant opportunities and creating business alliances. Moreover, the Council was looking to promote local businesses, for example through the Shop Local campaign. Concerning high streets, it was working with local businesses to understand what they need to thrive and was individualising action plans with targeted investment. Agents were being put in place to help occupy vacant business spaces for a variety of uses.

·         In response to a question from the Committee, it was noted that the borough had no business improvement districts. It was, however, something the Council had carefully looked into and had most recently explored Wembley as a potential host of a bid. Local businesses would be asked to contribute through a levy, and an established grassroots business community would need to be in place beforehand. The Council would continue to explore the possibility of the bid, but at this time there were no immediate plans to put one together.

·         There was an expectation that Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) on the borough’s high streets would lead to an increase in footfall and encourage residents to use active travel. The Council needed to engage with local businesses to outline the benefits of such a policy and while CPZs were in place on many of the borough’s highstreets, a borough-wide policy was a consideration.

·         The Committee was reassured that the Black Community Action Plan had been integrated into the council’s post COVID19 recovery plan, with a particular focus on employment opportunities for black residents.

·         It was noted that the council was working with West London Business, the West London Prosperity Board, the Park Royal Business Group and the local and regional Federation of Small Business. The Chambers of Commerce did not have a particularly strong grouping, but the council would look to strengthen this as well as business associations across the borough. The West London Alliance, alongside Oxford Economics, had put together an economic recovery plan that revealed that the borough would be hard hit, especially those in the aviation industry, care sector and those workers that had been furloughed. Indeed, the borough had the highest number of furloughed employees in London. The Committee was reassured that the council would continue to support both employers and employees throughout the recovery phase.

·         The Council had not considered using powers under the Localism Act  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To consider the Council’s strategy for social welfare in Brent and the implications of the management of current public health concerns.

Councillor Southwood, Cabinet Member for Housing and Welfare Reform, introduced a report on the social welfare implications of the current COVID19 epidemic and the support available to Brent residents and proposals for additional support. The Committee was then invited to raise questions on the report, which focused on a number of key areas as highlighted below:

·         In response to a question from the Chair it was noted that the Council would seek to support as many people as it could through the interest-free loan proposal and those that it was unable to support financially would be signposted to other organisations that could. Loans would be given only to those that were in a position to pay them back, and potential recipients would be referred to the credit union to complete the assessment to ascertain this. Potential recipients would also get direct access to financial advice agencies should they struggle with repayments.

·         The Committee expressed concern about the cost of supporting the Council Tax Support Scheme as more residents become eligible. The council had already factored in a likely increase in those applying to the Hardship Fund and to the Council Tax Support Scheme. The Committee was reassured that the spend would be regularly monitored and it was unlikely the Council would find itself in a position where it would be unable to honour the Council Tax Support Scheme. Strong financial controls would be in place to ensure total expenditure does not exceed the grant amount.

·         Referrals for the interest-free loans proposal are expected to come from all avenues. Frontline staff, and in particular those at the borough’s hubs, the Housing team and the Customer Services team, were being trained to be able to make those assessments. Decision-making would be as far down the chain as possible to allow for quick decisions. The Council was working with over 50 voluntary organisations and advice agencies on this proposal. Councillors would receive training to enable them to identify and support those that may benefit from this additional support.

·         The Committee expressed concern about Local Housing Allowance and the possibility that these rates were reduced post COVID19, as well the reversal of the easing of landlord restrictions and notice periods. It was agreed that the council needed to take an integrated approach when responding to the impacts of COVID19 which would help identify vulnerable residents.

·         Residents needed to prove that they had been financially impacted by COVID19 to be eligible for funding. Those that had been unwell with symptoms of COVID19, but were never tested and as such had no medical proof of having had the virus, would still be covered should they be able to prove financial hardship.

·         The borough had seen many of its job centres closed in recent years. Some job centre staff had been relocating to hubs and, despite these closures, the council was working more closely with job centres than it had been in the past. The Council would also ensure the Department for Work and Pensions were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

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.

None.