Agenda item

For questions to be put to members of the Cabinet by opposition and non-Cabinet Members in accordance with Standing Order 35.

Members are asked to note that four advance notice questions have been received under this item, which have been attached along with the written responses provided.

Council noted:

1.         The written and supplementary verbal response by the Lead Member for Schools, Employment & Skills to a question submitted by Councillor Sangani regarding the Council’s actions to ensure that no child went hungry over the October half-term, as well as its efforts to lobby central government to take action to avoid holiday hunger over the Christmas period.

2.         The written and supplementary verbal response by the Lead Member for Housing & Welfare Reform to a question submitted by Councillor Hassan regarding the Council’s work to enhance fire safety protections in council homes and its support of the ‘End our Cladding Scandal’ ten-step plan.

3.         The written and supplementary verbal response by the Lead Member for Regeneration, Property & Planning to a question submitted by Councillor Long regarding the roll-out of the Healthy Neighbourhoods scheme and the work undertaken to engage residents with the scheme.

4.         The written and supplementary verbal response by the Lead Member for Environment to a question submitted by Councillor Maurice regarding the Council’s plans to repair faulty paving along Kingsbury High Road.

Responses were also provided by the relevant Lead Members on the following additional questions raised during the open session of this part of the meeting:

·                Councillor Kelcher regarding the Council’s response to a recent fire and incidence of violent crime in Kensal Green.

·                Councillor Kennelly regarding central government’s recent decision to cut funding to organisations that deal with LGBT bullying in schools and the Council’s commitment to working with schools on anti-bullying measures.

·                Councillor Choudhary regarding the lessons learned by schools during the pandemic, particularly in relation to online learning.

·                Councillor Azfal regarding central government’s response to the pandemic.

·                Councillor Gbajumo regarding the Council’s plans to tackle gender poverty, particularly period poverty.

·                Councillor Daly regarding the Council’s Public Health department’s efforts to protect residents during the pandemic.

Before moving on to consider the questions submitted by non-Cabinet members, the Mayor reminded Members that a total of 30 minutes had been set aside for this item, which would begin with consideration of the written questions submitted in advance of the meeting along with any supplementary questions. Once these had been dealt with, the remaining time available would then be opened up for any other non-Cabinet members to question Lead Members (without the need for advance notice) on matters relating to their portfolio.

The Mayor advised that four written questions had been submitted in advance for response by the relevant Lead Member. The written responses supplied had been circulated within the agenda. The Mayor invited supplementary questions from the Members who had submitted the written questions.

11.1    Councillor Sangani thanked Councillor Stephens, as Lead Member for Schools, Skills and Employment, for his written response in relation the Council’s actions to ensure that no child went hungry over the October half-term.  Councillor Sangani then asked a supplementary question regarding the level of government funding being provided to support the actions taken by the Council and in order to address the longstanding inequalities identified.

In response, Councillor Stephens advised that since the original written response had been provided the government had reversed its position and announced a set of measures to tackle school child hunger over the Christmas school holiday break.  The Council had, however, needed to fund its own response during the October half-term and it looked unlikely these costs would be met.

11.2  Councillor Hassan thanked Councillor Southwood, as Lead Member for Housing and Welfare Reform, for her written response in relation to the Council’s work to enhance fire safety protection in council homes. Councillor Hassan in recognising the work undertaken to date, asked a supplementary question regarding the steps the Council would take to work with Housing Associations and other providers to enhance fire safety protections residents and support the ‘End our Cladding Scandal’ ten-step plan.

In response, Councillor Southwood outlined the work that the Council had already undertaken as a landlord and its responsibilities in relation to privately owned properties to enhance fire safety protections.  As part of this process the Council continued to support residents in liaising with private landlords and Housing Associations and, where required, with the Social Housing Regulator.  The issues highlighted in relation to cladding and approach taken over general fire safety protections continued to be raised regularly with the borough’s housing associations. Efforts were also being made to encourage the government to ensure that Housing Associations and other providers had access to the necessary funding available to support this response.

11.3   Councillor Long thanked Councillor Tatler, as Lead Member for Regeneration, Property and Planning, for her written response in relation to the rollout of the Healthy Neighbourhoods scheme. Councillor Long then asked a supplementary question regarding the Council’s plans to improve traffic flows along main routes across the borough.

In response, Councillor Tatler advised that the Council was looking to update its Parking Strategy to enable safe parking and reduce car ownership and usage. There was also the potential to increase the amount of Healthy Neighbourhoods across the borough and to ensure new developments were car free. Schemes on the borough’s main routes attracted funding from Transport for London (TfL), and as such the Council would continue to work closely with TfL in order to lobby government over the provision of adequate funding.

11.4   Councillor Maurice thanked Councillor Krupa Sheth, as Lead Member for Environment, for her written response in relation to the Council’s plans to repair faulty paving along Kingsbury High Road. Councillor Maurice then asked a supplementary question regarding the funding for these repairs.

Councillor Krupa Sheth assured members that appropriate action was being undertaken with the contractors in order to secure funding for the remedial works required, with the repairs to be carried out at no cost to local residents

The Mayor thanked members for their written questions and Lead Members for the response provide to the supplementary questions.  He then advised that the remainder of the time available would be used for an open question time session to the Cabinet.  The following questions were raised and responses provided:

(i)        Councillor Kelcher thanked local residents and emergency services for their response to a recent fire and incident of violent crime in Kensal Green and also sought assurances regarding the Council’s response to these incidents.

Councillor Knight, as Lead Member for Community Safety and Engagement, responded by paying tribute to local residents and emergency services for their response to these incidents.  In response to the question raised an assurance was provided that the Council continued to proactively work with community organisations, public partners and voluntary partners to target and respond to concerns regarding these type of incidents.

(ii)     Councillor Kennelly expressing concern over the government’s recent decision to cut funding to organisations that dealt with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transsexual (LGBT) bullying in schools, asked for an assurance about the Council’s commitment and plans to continue working with these organisations and schools on anti-bullying measures.

In response, Councillor Stephens, as Lead Member for Schools, Employment & Skills, confirmed that he would raise the issue of LGBT bullying with schools directly and highlighted the importance in the Council continuing to ensure their existing offer of support in relation to bullying was offered to schools across the borough.

(iii)    Councillor Choudhary sought details regarding the lessons learned by schools during the pandemic, particularly in relation to online learning

In response, Councillor Stephens, as Lead Member for Schools, Employment & Skills, confirmed that a majority of schools in the borough had stayed open during the pandemic and took the opportunity to pay tribute to the teachers and support staff who had made this possible.  In response to the question he outlined how the Council had worked with schools to ensure they received the necessary information, guidance and support in order to comply with the Covid-19 regulations.  This had also included support around online learning, with schools commended for the work undertaken to improve their online infrastructure and ensure blended learning was available.

(iv)    Councillor Afzal, referring to the comments made earlier in the meeting regarding the government’s response to the pandemic asked the Leader of the Council for his view as to whether the Council had anything to be thankful for terms of that response.

In response Councillor Muhammed Butt, as Leader of the Council, highlighted what he felt had been the government’s failure to tackle social issues such as homelessness and impact of the austerity measure in relation to emergency services, healthcare and education all of which had been exposed by the current pandemic.  The reduced level of funding available had led to local authorities and other public sector services having to make difficult choices in order to focus on supporting their most vulnerable residents.  Taken alongside the impact of the recently announced pay freeze on many of those at the forefront of the pandemic response he felt there was little to be thankful for in terms of the government’s overall response.

(v)     Councillor Gbajumo asked if further details could be provided regarding the Council’s plans to tackle gender poverty, particularly period poverty and asked whether any plans were being developed to introduce free sanitary products at the Civic Centre.

In response, Councillor Southwood, as Lead Member for Housing & Welfare Reform, advised of the plans being developed as part of the Council’s response to the Poverty Commission to address these issues, including period poverty.  As part of this process the Consultative Group tasked with implementing the recommendations of the Poverty Commission had specifically been asked to explore the issues and advised members that she would ensure they were kept updated on the specific actions arising from this work.

(vi)      Councillor Daly sought further details and assurances over the public health work the Council had been undertaking to protect and inform residents during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In response Councillor Nerva, as Lead Member for Public Health, Culture and Leisure, commended the work of the Public Health team in relation to operation of the local test and trace system and information being provided for local residents.  Urging residents to remain cautious and follow the guidance and restrictions in relation to social contact he also highlighted a need to ensure that the government was encouraged to provide the necessary financial support for those who could not afford to self-isolate when asked to.

At this stage in the proceedings, the Mayor advised that the time available for the open question session had expired. He therefore thanked all members for their contributions and advised that he would now move on to the next item.