Agenda item

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

Five advance notice questions have been received under this item, which have been attached along with the written responses provided.

Members are asked to note that this session will also include an opportunity (within the time available) for other Non-Cabinet members and the Opposition to ask questions of Cabinet Members.

NOTED

1.     The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Public Health & Adult Social Care to a question submitted by Councillor Fraser regarding the recognition, impact and support available for residents and staff experiencing the impact of long covid.

2.     The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Schools to a question submitted by Councillor Gbajumo in relation to the support available for Looked After Children and impact of the cost-of-living crisis as part of the Council’s Corporate Parent role.

3.     The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources & Reform to a question submitted by Councillor Akram regarding the impact of the current economic position on the Council’s budget and provision of services and in highlighting the need for reform of the current system for funding local government.

4.     The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action to a question submitted by Councillor Mistry regarding the need to ensure more vigorous parking enforcement in cycle lanes along Kingsbury Road.

5.     The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action to a question submitted by Councillor Lorber regarding the consultation undertaken on introduction of a new trial recycling scheme and concerns raised in relation to implementation of new street cleaning arrangements.

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

·             Councillor Kansagra regarding current levels of crime recorded across the borough and specific measures in place to tackle ongoing concerns regarding knife crime.

·             Councillor Afzal regarding the positive action being taken by the Council working with the Multi-Faith Forum to recognise and welcome the diverse nature of communities across the borough and in seeking to support ongoing delivery of the recommendations made by the Poverty Commission and within the Black Community Action Plan.

·             Councillor Lorber relating to the local environmental impact of the targets within the Local Plan for the delivery of new homes across the borough.

·             Councillor Kelcher regarding the plans to ensure local residents were aware of the changes due to be implemented in relation to voter identification as a means of seeking to avoid those impacted being disenfranchised at future elections.

·             Councillor Georgiou regarding the appropriateness of Shared Ownership being included as a genuinely Affordable Housing option in the development of housing schemes across Brent.

·             Councillor Kennelly in seeking confirmation of the Council’s ongoing support for the LGBTQ+ community across the borough, particularly given its location as the home of the Football Association (FA) and national football team and in view of the stance taken by Qatar as the host nation of the FIFA World Cup.

·             Councillor Long highlighting concerns about the use of rental e-bikes on pavements across the borough.

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 Cabinet Members (without the need for advance notice) on matters relating to their portfolio.

The Mayor advised that five written questions had been submitted in advance of the meeting for response by the relevant Cabinet Member and the written responses circulated within the agenda were noted. The Mayor then invited supplementary questions on the responses which had been provided:

11.1  Councillor Fraser thanked Councillor Nerva, as Cabinet Member for Public Health and Adult Social Care, for the written response in relation to her question regarding the recognition, impact and support available for residents and staff experiencing the impact of long covid. As a supplementary question, she asked whether Councillor Nerva agreed that central government should recognise long-covid in legislation and require that employers make reasonable adjustments for those experiencing symptoms.

In response, Councillor Nerva expressed concern at the current waiting time of 6-8 weeks in being able to access support in relation to long-covid and agreed with the need for a national approach to be developed in addressing the issues identified supported through legislation, where necessary.  Whilst recognising the new service established by the NHS to address post-covid syndrome he also felt it important to recognise the disproportionate impact of covid within Brent meaning that the number of people requiring support was also likely to be higher.  In order to reflect this position and recognise the associated strain being placed on health services, Councillor Nerva was also keen to encourage the NHS across North-West London to continue seeking long-term funding from central government to support the ongoing provision of support.  Recognising not only the health but also social, emotional and financial legacy of long covid, Councillor Nerva also praised the support being provided through initiatives such as the Brent Health Matters programme, in order to assist residents seeking access to NHS and community support, and the Resident Support Fund.  Given the importance of the issue, Councillor Nerva ended by advising members that he would also be seeking to continue monitoring the impact of long-covid on residents and the health service in Brent through the Health and Wellbeing Board.

11.2  Councillor Gbajumo thanked Councillor Grahl, as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, for the written response in relation to her question on support available for Looked After Children (LAC) and the impact of the cost-of-living crisis as part of the Council’s Corporate Parent role. In welcoming the support outlined within the response, Councillor Gbajumo, as a supplementary question, sought clarification on the extent to which it was felt the cost-of-living crisis had been connected to the increase in number of Looked After Children within Brent.

In response, Councillor Grahl thanked Councillor Gbajumo for the question and felt it important to recognise and highlight the impact that the cost-of-living crisis was having on the borough’s most vulnerable children as more families began to struggle with poverty.  As an example, she highlighted the link between the increase in poverty and concerns relating to child abuse and neglect, with increased deprivation also making it harder for women to flee domestic violence.  Whilst the demand in relation to children’s social care had increased pressure on already stretched resources, Councillor Grahl assured members of the measures being taken by the Council to ensure support was available for those families most in need making specific reference (as examples) to the Resident Support Fund, Family Wellbeing Centre’s and adoption of the Council’s Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy.  In outlining the additional pressures created as a result of the Government’s funding restrictions on local government she ended by assuring members of the current work being undertaken by the Council in an effort to ensure that no child would be left behind.

11.3  Councillor Akram thanked Councillor Mili Patel, as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Reform, for the written response to his question regarding the impact of the current economic uncertainty on the Council’s budget and ongoing provision of services, and the need for reform of the current system for funding local government. In commending the work being undertaken to manage the Council’s finances in such challenging circumstances, Councillor Akram (as a supplementary question) asked whether the Deputy Leader would also able to confirm what work was being undertaken with other finance leads across London to lobby central government on the reform of local government finance and Council Tax.

In response, Councillor Mili Patel thanked Councillor Akram for recognising the hard work being undertaken to manage the Council’s budget whilst also seeking to continue the delivery of vital services and for highlighting the major problems with the current system of local government funding and Council Tax.  Rather than addressing the need to ensure local authorities were properly funded with clarity on future funding settlements, Councillor Mili Patel highlighted the Government’s current solution involved lifting the cap on Council Tax increases, which it was felt would not provide the long-term solution required.  This view was also supported by cross party LGA commissioned research, which had revealed that the proposed increase in the cap on Council Tax would not be sufficient to meet current pressures or address the significant gaps already identified in relation local government funding.  Councillor Mili Patel also took the opportunity to highlight what she advised had been widely recognised as the regressive and unfair nature of Council Tax, particularly as it related to areas with higher levels of deprivation and low incomes. Highlighting the funding issues and challenges being experienced by many local authorities and difficulties being experienced as a result, she advised that she would be continuing to work with other finance leads to actively lobby the Government on the need for local government finance and Council Tax reform.

11.4  Councillor Mistry thanked Councillor Krupa Sheth, as Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action, for the written response to her question on the need for parking enforcement in cycle lanes along Kingsbury Road.  As a supplementary question she sought details on what further measures could be taken to ensure more vigorous and visible enforcement of the current restrictions and use of the cycle lane by the Council’s parking enforcement contractor.

In response, Councillor Krupa Sheth thanked Councillor Mistry for highlighting the issues being experienced in terms of the vehicles blocking the cycle lane and pavement along Kingsbury Road and reiterated that the Council would continue to work with Serco to ensure a fair and more visible enforcement presence in order to address the issues identified.

11.5  Having noted the response to his question by Councillor Krupa Sheth, as Cabinet member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action regarding the consultation and proposed changes to the recycling and street cleaning arrangements across the borough Councillor Lorber, in highlighting his concern at the impact of the proposals, sought further details as a supplementary question as to when the results of the public consultation used to support the procurement process and trial arrangements would be published.

In response, Councillor Krupa Sheth assured Councillor Lorber that the results of the public consultation were due to be published, however it would not be possible to provide further detail at this stage on the detailed contractual arrangements as the procurement process was still to be concluded.  Councillor Krupa Sheth also felt it important to highlight the challenging financial position which had needed to be addressed as part of the procurement process and proposed reconfiguration of services but ended by outlining how the Council was focussed on ensuring that Brent remained a clean and green borough that everyone was proud to live and work in.

The Mayor thanked members for their written questions and Cabinet Members for the responses provided 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. Questions relating to the following issues were raised and responses were provided, as set out below:

(i)     Councillor Kansagra seeking reassurance on the measures the Council was taking to tackle and reduce knife crime in the borough.

In responding Councillor Farah, as Cabinet Member for Safer Communities and Public Protection, felt it important to highlight the overall reduction in crime rates across the borough.  Knife crime had, however, been recognised as a continuing area of concern and whilst not complacent, he assured Councillor Kansagra of the Council’s ongoing efforts working in partnership with relevant stakeholders to address the issue with a particularly focus on prevention and early intervention.

(ii)    Councillor Afzal expressing concern at what he felt to be the discriminatory tone and approach being taken by the Government in their response to issues such as Windrush, Grenfell, refuge and asylum seekers.  In comparing this to the positive approach being taken by the Council in terms of the ongoing delivery of recommendations made by the Poverty Commission and within the Black Community Action Plan (BCAP) and through the Multi-Faith Forum in relation to community cohesion, he was keen to seek views on how this difference in approach reflected on the borough.

In response Councillor Donnelly-Jackson, as Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Equalities and Culture, supported the positive recognition of the approach adopted within Brent towards championing the borough’s diversity working in partnership with the Multi Faith Forum.  As an example she referred to the recent programme of activities delivered as part of Inter Faith week designed to bring communities together as well as the Council’s ongoing support working with the local community to deliver the recommendations within the Black Community Action Plan and other cultural activities including (as a further example) the recent public artwork installed in Gladstone Park designed to uncover and acknowledge the hidden truths regarding the transatlantic slave trade.

(iii)    Councillor Lorber raising concerns at what he felt to be the detrimental environmental impacts arising from the Local Plan in terms of the approach being taken towards achieving delivery of the new homes target across the borough and how this compared to the priorities within the emerging Borough Plan relating to a cleaner and greener borough.

In response Councillor Butt, as Leader of the Council, felt it important to recognise the key objectives within the emerging Borough Plan and Local Plan which had been focussed on delivering the necessary infrastructure (including housing and employment) needed to ensure all residents had the opportunity to succeed.  Whilst the Local Plan had been ambitious in its approach, he was keen to stress this was in an attempt to ensure no one was left behind with the Council seeking to encourage a positive rather than negative approach towards the potential for new development, where this was considered appropriate.

(iv)   Councillor Kelcher seeking clarification regarding the plans to ensure residents were aware of the changes due to be implemented in relation to voter identification (ID), in order to avoid anyone being disenfranchised.

In response Councillor Donnelly-Jackson, as Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Equalities and Culture, recognised and supported concerns regarding the potential risk of individuals being disenfranchised as a result of the recent introduction of the voter ID requirements by the Government.  In order to raise awareness of the change, a comprehensive communications campaign was being designed to ensure voters were fully aware of the new requirements, with those unable to access the permitted forms of photographic identification also able to apply for a free local voter ID card via the Governments dedicated online portal.

(v)    Councillor Georgiou seeking clarification on the Council’s position regarding Shared Ownership and whether this should be classed as a genuinely Affordable Housing option in the development of housing schemes within Brent.

In response Councillor Tatler, as Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, advised that whilst its use was not a priority option within Brent Shared Ownership could be classified as an intermediary affordable housing product available for use, where appropriate to support the delivery of new homes.

In response to an additional comment made by Councillor Georgiou in relation to ward members representing their constituents at Planning Committee meetings Councillor Butt, as Leader of the Council, highlighted the comprehensive nature of the assessments made by members of the Committee in considering applications before them.  Whilst aware of the pressures in relation to housing demand, he felt it important to recognise that these assessments would be based on an objective consideration of relevant planning considerations rather than any more negative, ideological based approach.

(vi)   Councillor Kennelly, who in highlighting his personal experience, sought confirmation of the Council’s ongoing support for the LGBTQ+ community across the borough, particularly given its location as the home of the Football Association (FA) and national football team and stance taken by Qatar as the host nation of the FIFA World Cup.

In response Councillor Muhammed Butt, as Leader of the Council, reassured Councillor Kennelly of the Council’s unwavering commitment to support and represent all residents within the borough regardless of their beliefs or sexual orientation in order to tackle all forms of discrimination and ensure no one felt vulnerable or without support.

(vii)   Councillor Long sought reassurance on the measures in place to prevent the use of rental e-bikes on pavements across the borough.

In response, Councillor Krupa Sheth, as Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action, advised of the work being undertaken with the suppliers and users of e-bikes within the borough to address the issues highlighted on which progress continued to be monitored.

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.