Agenda item
Report from the Leader or members of the Executive
To receive reports from the Leader or members of the Executive in accordance with Standing Order 42.
Minutes:
Temporary accommodation and housing benefit changes
Councillor Long (Lead member for Housing) reported that the changes to housing benefit being introduced by the Government were already having an impact on the borough. The number of homeless applications had increased by 29% over the last year and whilst those in temporary accommodation had remained stable there had been a 70% increase in those in bed and breakfast. Councillor Long stated that in January 2012 the Housing Benefit transitional arrangements would end and it was expected that hundreds of families would be approaching the Council in need.
Joint commissioning, the customer journey and transitions
Councillor R Moher (Lead member for Adults and Health) was pleased to report that, following work carried out with health partners on adult social care, agreement had been reached to create a commissioning support team. She hoped final approval would be reached soon and it appeared that Ealing and Hammersmith and Fulham were keen to join the team. She hoped this would not only save money but result in the provision of a more efficient service and provide a better deal to the customer.
Councillor R Moher reported that eight months ago the customer journey project had started which was designed to look at ways of ensuring that people were dealt with at the first point of contact or passed to the appropriate agency. Early signs were that the new system was working well but it was too early to draw any final conclusions.
Councillor R Moher reported that agreement had been reached on the responsibility for young people with disabilities moving from children's services to adult social services at the age of 14 to enable the process of preparing for adulthood to begin sooner.
Road safety - national transport awards
Councillor J Moher (Lead member for Highways and Transportation) reported on the Council winning a prestigious national road safety award in recognition for the nearly 60% fall in the number of accidents in the borough achieved by a wide range of activities undertaken by past and present administrations. He congratulated the Transportation Unit on this achievement.
School places funding, A level results, fixed for the future award for young people's employability
Councillor Arnold (Lead member for Children and Families) reported that a good outcome had resulted from lobbying the Government and the Council had been allocated £25M to provide additional school places. This was the third highest sum allocated nationally. There was still a funding gap compared to what was needed but nevertheless provision could now start to be delivered.
Councillor Arnold reported that the ‘O’ level average points score was above the national average with more pupils taking and completing ‘O’ levels. Together with improved early years results the quality of Brent's schools continued to be high.
Councillor Arnold reported that she had received a cheque for £726,000 from the lottery fund to go towards improving the career prospects for looked after children and young offenders.
Waste and recycling strategy
Councillor Powney (Lead member for Environment and Neighbourhoods) reported that following the introduction of new waste collection arrangements on 3 October the rates of recycling had increased and he paid tribute to the Administration and the officers for what had already been achieved.
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