Agenda item
the Executive
The report from the Leader or other members of the Executive:
(i) Brent Local Development Framework – adoption of the core
strategy
(ii) Enforcement of moving traffic and parking contraventions by means of CCTV cameras
(iii) Building Schools for the Future
(iv) Voluntary sector grants
(v) Impact of the Chancellor’s budget
(vi) Decisions taken by the Executive under the Council’s urgency provisions
Minutes:
The Borough Solicitor advised that discussions at the Constitutional Working Group had resulted in agreement that the format of future Council meetings should change. Officers would be reporting to the September meeting of Full Council on the required changes to standing orders but in the meantime it had been agreed informally that this meeting of Council should allow for debate on the items reported by the Executive.
Brent Local Development Framework - adoption of the core strategy
Councillor Powney introduced the report circulated which summarised the key recommendations of the Planning Inspector following the submission of the core strategy to the Secretary of State in September 2009. He explained that the most significant views of the of the Inspector were outlined in (a) – (e) under paragraph 3.4 and expressed the hope that these would be accepted.
Enforcement of moving traffic and parking contraventions by means of CCTC cameras
Councillor J Moher introduced the report circulated which sought approval for the transfer of powers to the Council for moving traffic contraventions, as listed in appendix A of the report. He pointed out to members the effects of what was being proposed. He was pleased that there appeared to be cross party support for this. Councillor J Moher referred to press coverage that had suggested that the proposals were a money making exercise but he stated that the money raised by the scheme would be used to recover the costs and provide training. He stated that motorists had fair warning of the scheme and that it would deter anti social motorists and so commended it to the Council.
Building Schools for the Future
Councillor Arnold reported on the huge implications for the borough of the government decision to halt the Building Schools for the Future programme. The secondary schools affected by the announcement were the two Crest academies, Copeland, Alperton, Cardinal Hinsley and Queens Park. She added that this would also prevent the vision being realised of the schools affected becoming community hubs.
Voluntary sector grants
Councillor R Moher reported on decisions made on main programme grants which, following the recommendations of a task group, had been agreed for a three year period and tied to one of the main themes of the Council. This year the theme was crime and community safety and regeneration. Twenty organisations had had their grants agreed totalling £370,573 and of those that had not received a grant, two had lodged an appeal although other funding streams already existed for them.
Impact of the chancellor's budget
Councillor Butt reported that despite expecting a tough budget it had been worse than predicted with £7 million grants being withdrawn. The effect on the Council would be the need for up to a further £30 million savings required over the next 4 years on top of the savings already being achieved. The announcement regarding housing benefit rent levels would result in 2,000 residents being affected and a £9 million reduction affecting the most vulnerable in the borough. The schools budget had been affected by the removal of £115 million. He stated that all those people who might expect assistance would be affected.
Commenting on the Executive's report, Councillor Lorber stated that he had a number of concerns about the enforcement of moving traffic and parking contraventions by means of CCTV and this was the very reason why the proposal had not been agreed beforehand. Concerns included the level of fines and London Councils was currently consulting on the scale of penalties to ensure they were proportionate to the incident. For this reason he suggested it was premature to introduce the proposals. Allied to this item was the amount of CCTV cameras in the borough which, Councillor Lorber suggested, once installed could be used for other purposes. If the Council invested in installing the cameras and the Government then decided they could not continue to be used it would be a waste of resources and this was another reason why now was not the right time to introduce these proposals. Councillor Lorber stated that for the reasons indicated he would oppose the recommendation before Council.
The view regarding the fairness and proportionality of the penalties imposed by the enforcement of traffic contraventions was echoed by Councillor HB Patel. He expressed the hope that the Council would use the new powers to make sure traffic was able to move freely and not use them as a money making scheme.
Support was expressed for the proposals put forward in the report on adopting the Local Development Framework core strategy. However, the Executive was urged to ensure that strategic objective 3 on enhancing the vitality and viability of town, district and local centres was translated into hard proposals that would benefit local people and traders.
In response to the comments made, Councillor J Moher pointed out that before the Council implemented the proposals for enforcement of moving traffic contraventions it would need the approval of London Councils and would therefore see the review being undertaken by London Councils on the level of fines. Many other Councils were making similar arrangements. As far as he was concerned any other purpose the CCTV cameras might be put to would be open for further consideration. Councillor Moher expressed the hope that all sides on the Council would support this important local safety scheme.
Councillor Powney responded to the observations made on the core strategy by explaining that the site specific aspects would follow but for this meeting the Council was only being asked to approve the core strategy.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the core strategy, as submitted to the Secretary of State and incorporating the changes recommended by the Inspector, set out in Appendix 1 to the report submitted, be adopted;
(ii) that the powers to enforce moving traffic contraventions be transferred from the Metropolitan Police to the Council pursuant to the London Local Authorities and Transport for London Act 2003 as from 1 January 2011.
(Councillor D Brown wished it recorded that he had voted against resolution (ii) above).
Supporting documents:
- Executive report, item 7a PDF 64 KB
- Core Strategy Adoption, item 7a PDF 439 KB
- MTC, item 7a PDF 2 MB