Agenda item

To receive questions submitted by the public to Cabinet Members, in accordance with Standing Order 33.

Members are asked to note that the eight public questions received along with their written responses have now been republished with the agenda.

(Agenda republished to include Public Questions and responses on 13 September 2022)

NOTED

1.         The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security to a public question submitted by Pete Firmin regarding the maintenance of communal areas and housing blocks within the Alpha Place estate, Kilburn.

2.         The written response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action to a public question submitted by Amitabh Ghuwalewala regarding food waste collection and resident parking for a multi storey housing block on North End Road, Wembley Park. No supplementary question was received.

3.         The written response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action to a public question submitted by Neil Ireland regarding the introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. No supplementary question was received.

4.         The written response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action to a public question submitted by Peter Maguire regarding Wembley event day traffic management . No supplementary question was received.

5.         The written response provided by the Cabinet Member for Planning & Regeneration to a public question submitted by Rok Rajar regarding the planning obligation agreement and service charges for a block within the Wembley North West Lands development. No supplementary question was received.

6.         The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security to a public question submitted by Martin Francis regarding Building Fire Safety Regulations and issuing of Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs).

7.         The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security to a public question submitted by Marc Etukudo regarding the impact of a proposed housing development at Newland Court on neighbouring amenity and local residents health and wellbeing.

8.         The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action to a public question submitted by John Poole regarding the action being taken to tackle pollution and flooding within Wealdstone Brook.

The Mayor advised that the following eight questions had been received from members of the public:

Question 1 from Pete Firmin to Councillor Knight, Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security regarding the maintenance of communal areas and housing blocks within the Alpha Place estate, Kilburn.

Question 2 from Amitabh Ghuwalewala to Councillor Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action, regarding food waste collection and resident parking for a multi storey housing block on North End Road, Wembley Park.

Question 3 from Neil Ireland to Councillor Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action, regarding the introduction of Low Traffic Neighbourhoods.

Question 4 from Peter Maguire to Councillor Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action, regarding Wembley event day traffic management.

Question 5 from Rok Rajar to Councillor Tatler, Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Planning, regarding the planning obligation agreement and service charges for a block within the Wembley North West Lands development.

Question 6 from Martin Francis to Councillor Knight, Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security, regarding Building Fire Safety Regulations and issuing of Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPs).

Question 7 from Marc Etukudo to Councillor Knight, Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security regarding the impact of a proposed housing development at Newland Court on neighbouring amenity and local residents health and wellbeing.

Question 8 from John Poole to Councillors Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action, and Nerva, Cabinet Member for Public Health & Adult Social Care regarding the action being taken to tackle pollution and flooding within Wealdstone Brook.

Members noted the written responses provided on each of the questions, which had been circulated with the agenda.  The Mayor advised that each member of the public had been invited to attend the meeting.  Whilst Amitabh Ghuwalewala, Neil Ireland, Peter Maguire and Rok Rajar had been unable to attend, members were advised that Pete Firmin, Martin Francis, Marc Etukudo and John Poole were all present in order to ask a supplementary question following the written responses provided to their questions.

The Mayor welcomed them all to the meeting and the following supplementary questions were asked of the relevant Cabinet Member(s).

Question 1: Supplementary Question from Pete Firmin to Councillor Knight, Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security

Having noted the written response provided, Mr Firmin highlighted ongoing concerns regarding the maintenance of communal areas and housing blocks within the Alpha Place estate, Kilburn.  Despite a plan of action having been developed he outlined issues still needing to be addressed in relation to communal bins, litter, broken paving slabs, steps and damage to footpaths and the highway as a result of flooding.  In addition, concerns were raised in relation to changes affecting access to green areas on the estate and outstanding faults reported in relation to footpath lighting, which were still to be addressed.  As a supplementary question he therefore asked the Cabinet Member for her views on the efficiency of the Housing Estate repairs and maintenance process.

In taking the opportunity to thank Mr Firmin for his question, Councillor Knight advised that a number of the concerns raised had now been addressed although the extended timescales involved were acknowledged.  Highlighting her commitment as Cabinet Member to improve services where standards were not being met Councillor Knight also outlined her focus in seeking to support development of the area, which had included the allocation of funding to redesign and improve the waste management provision in the area.  This had included the introduction of new bins and a second weekly collection, as an interim measure, along with the provision of a dedicated Housing Officer assigned as a single point of contact for Housing Management issues.  In recognising the concerns raised, Councillor Knight assured Mr Firmin of the Council’s commitment to addressing the general upkeep of the area albeit recognising the constraints on financial resources available.

Question 6 from Martin Francis to Councillor Knight, Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security

Having noted the written response provided, Mr Francis referred to the final part of his original question regarding Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPS) for tenants.  Highlighting evidence provided as part of the Grenfell inquiry he outlined the development of national guidelines for evacuation of high-rise buildings, which included the need for a secondary plan of action so that residents could evacuate to a place of safety if stay put was not a viable option.  Attention was also drawn to a statement made by the Mayor of London supporting the development of PEEPS for vulnerable tenants and as a supplementary question he therefore asked the Cabinet Member if she could advise whether any PEEPS had been issued for tenants in Brent and, if so, how many.

Highlighting what she felt to be the comprehensive nature of the response provided to the original question, Councillor Knight responded by advising that the Council continued to work to the timescales for implementation contained within the Building Safety Act 2022 taking account of any further information published by the Government.  Reiterating the Council’s commitment to the provision of a specific timetable with Brent, once implementation dates had been confirmed, she advised that residents would continue to be updated accordingly.

Question 7 from Marc Etukudo to Councillor Knight, Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security

In referring to the written response provided, Mr Etukudo highlighted the emphasis provided in relation to the Council’s priority in addressing the shortage of affordable housing across the borough but felt this approach could be challenged in relation to the mix of tenure and way in which larger scale developments, such as the former Copeland School site were being taken forward.  In terms of the development at Newland Court, he pointed out that whilst officers had met with local residents as part of the pre planning stage of the development, in order to feed into the design of the scheme, the proposed developed had still involved the loss of a number of trees as well as a reduction in resident parking provision.  Given the objections raised in relation to the development along with other concerns relating to waste and litter and the resulting impact on health and wellbeing, he asked (as a supplementary question) whether it was felt the Council had residents best interests at heart.

In responding, Councillor Knight took the opportunity to thank Mr Etukudo for his question and highlighted how much she had welcomed meeting local residents in Newland Court to review and discuss the development proposals.  Whilst assuring residents that their welfare remained a top priority, she also felt it important to recognise the current challenges faced by the Council, including the need to address the demand for and shortage of affordable social housing across the borough.  Increasing the supply of affordable social housing therefore remained a key priority for the Council, although this would be supported by the need to work with local residents to ensure any new developments worked as far as possible for everyone.  She therefore encouraged residents to ensure that their views and objections were submitted for formal consideration as part of the planning process.  Councillor Knight ended by thanking Mr Etukudo for his attendance and community leadership in raising the issue.

Question 8 from John Poole to Councillor Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action

Mr Poole began by congratulating the Council and all those involved in the success achieved earlier in the day by Brent at the London in Bloom awards.  In terms of a supplementary question he then asked the Cabinet Member what responsibilities it was felt Brent Council had with regards to the maintenance of the Wealdstone Brook as it flowed through six wards in the Borough and what actions, if any, the Council would be taking to ensure that flooding arising from the Wealdstone Brook during severe weather events was addressed in order to prevent properties and business being damaged from flooding.

In response, Councillor Krupa Sheth thanked Mr Poole for his congratulations on the London in Bloom awards and advised, in relation to his supplementary question on flooding, that the Council had published a Flood Risk Management Strategy.  This outlined the coordinated approach with key partner agencies such as Thames Water and the Environment Agency in working together to prevent and tackle any issues arising from flooding and clearly set out the key responsibilities of each agency.  Councillor Sheth ended by advising she would be willing to provide Mr Poole with further details on the Strategy outside of the meeting, if required.

Having noted the responses provided, the Mayor thanked the members of the public in attendance for their supplementary questions and Cabinet Members for their response before advising that this now concluded the public question session.