Agenda item

To debate the motions submitted in accordance with Standing Order 45.

(i)        Protect Brent’s Schools from Government Cuts

Councillor Patricia Harrison moved the motion circulated in her name by urging the Council to condemn the Government’s proposals for a National Schools’ Funding Formula and reject any effort to pay for the failure of an ideologically imposed programme of austerity by choking off essential and already insufficient funding for the education of children and young people in Brent.

                     The motion was put to the vote and was declared CARRIED.

(ii)       Health and Social Care Budget

Councillor Colwill moved the motion circulated in his name in that the Conservative Group calls on the Leader of the Council to ensure that enough money was placed in the health and social care budget locally to ensure that the services could adequately cope with residents who would have need to access the health services in the coming winter.

Councillor Warren moved as an amendment that this Council notes that Councillor Colwill'  group does have a "canny knack " of choosing subjects for motions that are popular with the Labour Group. The Council also notes that, like the Labour Group ,Councillor Colwill's Group did not support the additional £2.25m for social care included in the Brent Conservative Group budget for 2016/17.

Councillor Warren’s amendment was put to the vote and was declared LOST.

Councillor Hirani moved as an amendment that this Council unanimously The Conservative Group calls on the Government Leader of the Council to ensure that enough money is placed in the health and social care budget locally to ensure that the services can adequately cope with residents who will have need to access the health services for this winter and beyond. 

Councillor Hirani’s amendment was put to the vote and was declared CARRIED.

Councillor Colwill’s original motion, as amended, became the substantive motion, which was put to the vote and was declared CARRIED.

(iii)      Planning Shambles

Councillor Warren moved the motion circulated in his name that this Council notes the damning report by Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) into the workings of the Brent planning department......the report highlighted:

1.          "Significant weaknesses in the planning application review and assessment process."

2.          "The Council may not be able to demonstrate that it has taken steps to prevent bribery       resulting in non- compliance with the Bribery Act 2010."

3.          "Anti - bribery awareness training has not been provided to planning staff."

4.         "Audit trail is susceptible to manipulation .This could result in planning applications         being approved inappropriately due to fraud or error."

5.         "No code of conduct for officers. No requirement for officers to make formal declaration             of interest."

PWC concluded that it could only give the Brent planning service "limited assurance."

This Council believes that only "limited assurance” is simply unacceptable, and believes that it is essential that all our residents have confidence in the integrity of the planning process.

In the light of the PWC report, this Council instructs the Chief Executive to initiate an independent review into planning applications submitted in the report period - 01/01/16 to 31/07/16 - and to report back to Full Council with the results of her findings.”

In accordance with Standing Order 47(d) the motion was put to a recorded vote and a list of the votes cast produced as follows:

For                                 Against                                  Abstain

Carr                               Aden                                      Collier

Shaw                            Agha                                      Thomas

Warren                         Allie

                                       Bradley

                                       Butt

                                       Chan

                                       S Choudhary

                                       A Choudry

                                       Colacicco

                                       Colwill

                                       Conneely

                                       Crane

                                       Daly

                                       Davidson

                                       Denselow

                                       Dixon

                                       Duffy

                                       Eniola

                                       Ezeajughi

                                       Farah

                                       Harrison

                                       Hirani

                                       Hoda-Benn

                                       Hussain

                                       Kabir

                                       Kansagra

                                       Kelcher

                                       Long

                                       Mahmood

                                       Marquis

                                       Mashari

                                       Maurice

                                       McLeish

                                       McLennan

                                       Miller

                                       J Mitchell Murray

                                       Moher

                                       Naheerathan

                                       Nerva

                                       M Patel

                                       R S Patel

                                       Pavey

                                       Perrin

                                       Pitruzzella

                                       Shahzad

                                       Ketan Sheth

                                       Krupa Sheth

                                       Southwood

                                       Tatler

                                       Van Kalwala

Accordingly, Councillor Warren’s Motion was declared LOST.