Agenda item

To receive an annual report from the Leader of the Council, in accordance with Standing Order 38.

NOTED the annual report provided by the Leader of the Council on the work of the Council and state of the borough.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Muhammed Butt, as Leader of the Council, to present his Annual Report on the work of the Council and State of the Borough.

Councillor Muhammed Butt opened his annual report by reflecting on the passing of the Queen, which he felt marked the end of a long “Elizabethan” era for the country, which had demonstrated all the required values in terms of public service, including dignity and loyalty, as a benchmark for all in public life to follow.  Whilst recognising that not every member in the Council Chamber was a natural monarchist, he felt it important to recognise and respect the late Queens sense of duty to the crown and people across the United Kingdom and Commonwealth she represented.

In recognising the succession as a period of renewal, Councillor Butt then moved on to focus on what he regarded to be the ongoing crisis in terms of public services presided over by the Conservative Government following their 12 years in power.  Referring to the challenges in terms of Adult Social Care, the housing market, NHS, water pollution, energy supplies and the current economic climate he felt these reflected a broken and failed approach by the Government and lack of ideas and leadership at a time when these were most needed, given the ongoing impact on local residents of the cost-of-living crisis and failures in terms of Brexit.

In summing up, Councillor Muhammed Butt looked ahead to the Governments upcoming fiscal statement and hoped this was used as an opportunity to address the challenges identified by providing investment in public services rather than tax cuts for the wealthiest in society and to see a return to the values and qualities displayed by the late queen in relation to public duty, service and honesty in order to deliver what he felt was a much needed sense of renewal within the country.

The Mayor thanked the Leader for his Annual Report and then advised that he would open up the debate for contributions from other members, starting with a response from the Conservative and Liberal Democrats Group.

In responding to the Annual Report Councillor Kansagra, as Leader of the Conservative Group, felt it was important to recognise the poor financial state of the country inherited from the previous Labour Government in 2010 and nature of the challenges faced since then in relation to the fiscal deficit which had need to be addressed, delivery of Brexit and the Covid pandemic.  Despite these challenges he felt there was need to recognise and commend the Government for the way in which they had implemented the roll out of the covid vaccine programme and dealt with the pandemic as well as the rise in energy prices and cost-of-living crisis arising as a result of the war in Ukraine.  In highlighting the significant package of financial support provided for businesses and individuals to assist in managing the increase in energy bills, ongoing impact of the pandemic and cost-of-living crisis by the Government he concluded by questioning what funding, other than that provided by Government, the Labour Administration in Brent had specifically provided to assist local residents in tackling these issues.

As no members of the Liberal Democrat Group indicated they wished to speak in response to the Annual Report, the Mayor then moved on to open up the debate and invite contributions from other members.

In support of the issues highlighted by the Leader, within his Annual Report, Councillor Kelcher felt it was important to recognise the significant challenges and difficulties created as a result of the Governments fiscal policy and its impact on the economy.  In challenging the stance taken by the Leader of the Conservative Group, he outlined the effect this was having both now and in the future on the average standard of living for local residents across the borough which were now falling behind those of many other countries across Europe.

Councillor Miller also sought to challenge the stance taken by the Leader of the Conservative Group in relation to the Government’s handling of the pandemic given the UKs high covid mortality rate when compared to the rest of Europe.  He felt this reflected a failure of Government policy to lockdown, to introduce appropriate measures for social distancing and provide the necessary support for the local economy at the right time.  Reflecting on the disproportionate impact of covid on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities he welcomed the current enquiry into the handling of the pandemic, which he felt would also highlight the Government’s significant shortcomings.  He also challenged the fairness of the Government’s approach in not seeking to impose a windfall tax on energy companies to assist in supporting households in mitigating against the rise in energy costs, which he pointed out would instead now fall on taxpayers to fund.

As no further members indicated they wished to speak, the Mayor then invited the Leader to sum up and close the debate on his Annual State of the Borough Report.

Councillor Muhammed Butt began his response by outlining concern regarding the potential impact of the new Chancellor and Prime Ministers upcoming mini budget, given their shift in political alignment and impact of previous austerity measures.  In contrast, he took the opportunity to highlight and commend the work undertaken by the Council in continuing to ensure necessary support was provided for local residents, especially those more vulnerable members of society.  As specific examples, he highlighted ongoing delivery of the Council’s affordable home building and regeneration programmes, the support being provided for schools to continue delivering excellent performance and in tackling the cost-of-living crisis and impact of the pandemic through the Resident Support Fund and Council Tax Support Scheme, which he felt would continue to ensure the best possible outcomes for local residents.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Muhammed Butt for his response and advised that this concluded the debate.  As a result, it was therefore RESOLVED to formally note the Annual State of the Borough Report.