Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Peter Gadsdon (Corporate Director of Resident Services) with Tom Cattermole (Director Customer Access) attending as a representative and Councillor Ketan Sheth (as a further member of the Budget Scrutiny Task Group)

The Chair took the opportunity to welcome Janet Latinwo to the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee in her new role as Head of Strategy and Partnerships and Statutory Scrutiny Officer for Brent and to thank Lorna Hughes (Director of Communities), , for the support she had provided to the Committee, as the previous Head of Service and Statutory Scrutiny Officer

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.

There were no declarations of interest shared.

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

None.

4.1     To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 December 2022 as a correct record.

4.2     To receive and confirm as approved the minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2022, following their initial consideration at the previous meeting in December 2022.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meetings held on 15 December 2022 and 8 November 2022 (which had been resubmitted for final approval following their initial consideration in December 2022) be approved as a correct record.

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

None.

This report presents the findings and recommendations of the Budget Scrutiny Task Group, following its review of the Council’s Draft budget proposals for 2023/24.

(Agenda republished to include the Task Group report on 20 January 23)

Councillor Conneely, as Chair introduced the final report and detailed findings from the Budget Scrutiny Task Group. The Task Group had been established in September 2022 to undertake a joint review, with members of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee of the Council’s draft budget proposals for 2023/24.  Having outlined the process for the review, she advised the Committee that the task group had now concluded, with a report and recommendations provided for adoption by the Committee ahead of the report going to Cabinet for consideration as part of the main budget report in February 2022.

As context to the review, it was noted that the Task Group had recognised the impact of the challenging financial environment in which the Council was operating given the long-term reduction in Government funding, level of savings already achieved, current economic challenges and increasing complexity of demand for Council services on development of the budget proposals that would continue to provide effective services for residents, protect the most vulnerable residents, and provide the necessary investment in Brent’s future . It was felt that the continued financial cuts had left Local Authorities having to provide more services with less funding which the Task Group had felt required recognition and a fairer funding settlement by central government

The Committee recognised the challenges in balancing the provision of effective services to residents against a reduced funding settlement especially when coupled with additional cost pressures due to the national financial instability and as such had made a number of recommendations for consideration as part of the budget setting process, which had been set out in the final Task Group report.  Inviting questions and comments on the main Task Group fundings and recommendations, the following key points were discussed:

·             The Committee felt that further consideration should take place in terms of regularising parking arrangements for motorbikes via permits, bringing Brent into line with other London boroughs. It was felt important to acknowledge that many bike users that used their motorbikes for employment purposes were employed in some of the lowest paid jobs in the borough and as such costs should be looked at carefully. Additionally, it was felt that at present the borough was not maximising income generation from parking charges as motorbikes were able to park in parking bays at no cost, taking a space away from a car that would be paying to park there. It was suggested that dedicated motorbike bays would support generating income from parking and should be considered. In response to the issues raised Councillor M Butt, Leader of the Council agreed that a wider conversation was required in terms of motorbike permits, looking at which locations in the borough would be most affected and bearing in mind the existing disparity in terms of Controlled Parking Zones (CPZ) locations across the the borough.  It was also felt additional consideration would need to be given to the types of housing provision in affected areas where some properties had access to private and street  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To provide an update on the changes to the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee’s work programme.

The Committee were then invited to consider and review the scrutiny work programme for the remainder of 2023-24.

The Chair confirmed that there had been some rescheduling of agenda items as listed in the report and it was NOTED that an additional item on the Cost of Living crisis was due to be heard at the April 2023 meeting.

This report updates the Committee on the Scrutiny Recommendations Tracker.

The Committee was then invited to consider the progress and updates provided in relation to the Resources & Public Realm scrutiny recommendation and information request tracker.

The Chair invited Committee members to ask officers questions relating to the progress of the previous recommendations, suggestions, and information requests made by the Committee as detailed in Appendix A of the report.

The following queries were raised by the Committee:

·             In relation to the Committee recommendation to “Use Council’s role and relationship with the NHS to lobby for more support for our residents to strengthen our efforts in helping them through the Cost of Living crisis” the Committee required assurances that this was being actively explored, particularly with regard to discharge care packages that included support for patients who required financial support to keep the cost of vital medical equipment running at home. Officers confirmed that a full response would be included ahead of the next Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee in February 2023.

·             In terms of the suggestion made to the Brent Council Grants Programme, to “Ensure monies distributed as part of the Carbon Offset Fund are targeted to communities/areas in most need” the Committee clarified that they felt it should state that the funding should be used in the areas of the highest emissions in order to maximise impact of the carbon offset fund in reducing emissions.

·             In relation to the point on the Draft Borough Plan 2023-27 to “Involve the worker community (i.e trade unions) in the consultation/engagement process”, the Committee welcomed the response that this had been undertaken, however it was felt that this had not been strongly reflected in the written report. In response the Committee were advised that when the report was finalised for adoption by Full Council details of the engagement undertaken with the Trade Unions would be clearly reflected.

·             In further discussion members considered the benefits of broadening the range of Trade Unions engaged as part of future consultation processes to align with the number of business consultees. The Committee were advised that any suggestions to significantly increase the range of Trade Unions would require consideration and review through the Council’s Executive arrangements.

·             In relation to the suggestion on the Safer Brent Annual Report 2021/22 to “Reinstate a health representative on the Safer Brent Partnership Board” it was confirmed that the Chief Executive would write to NHS partners to prompt increased attendance from health partners at meetings.

·             In relation to the recommendations made regarding the Redefining Local Services Integrated Street Cleansing, Waste Collections and Winter Maintenance Services Contract Procurement, agreed by Cabinet on 16 January 2023, the Committee felt that it was important to re-emphasise the recommendation that where possible recycling sacks were replaced with wheelie bins and sought some assurance that this was being actively looked in to.  Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive, confirmed that the cabinet report had been amended following the feedback from the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee with active discussions underway with Veolia to explore this further. As per  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or her representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60.

None.