Agenda item

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

Members are asked to note that three public questions have been received, which have been attached along with their written response.

7.2     To receive questions submitted by the Brent Youth Parliament to Cabinet Members, in accordance with Standing Order 33(c).

Members are asked to note that three questions have been received, which have been attached along with their written response.

Republished on 5 July 23 to include the final response to question 7.2(3)

NOTED

1.          The written response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action to a public question submitted by Diane Richard regarding traffic safety in Wrottesley Road.  No supplementary question was received.

2.          The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Customers, Communities & Culture to a public question submitted by Fitzroy Lee on the extent of community engagement undertaken in relation to the renaming of Gladstone Park and Leopold.

3.          The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Customers, Communities & Culture to a public question submitted by Noreen Scott regarding the use of Gladstone Park to host a Windrush 75^th anniversary celebration event given previous concerns raised in relation to the naming of the Park.

4.          The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Growth to a question submitted by Brent Youth Parliament regarding access to employment services, financial information and guidance by young people and use of information available through the Flourishing Futures research project to focus on the barriers to employment being experienced by young people to support this process.

5.          The written response provided by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools to a question submitted by Brent Youth Parliament regarding the financial support available for young people to assist in meeting the costs of college and higher education.  No supplementary question was received.

6.          The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Public Health & Adult Social Care to a question submitted by Brent Youth Parliament regarding the range of access to mental health support for young people and ability of the Youth Parliament to support future development and design of services.

8.1     Questions from the Public

The Mayor advised that the following three questions had been received from members of the public.

Question 1 from Diane Richard to Councillor Krupa Sheth (Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action) regarding the introduction of additional signage, traffic calming measures and enforcement of the vehicle weight restriction on Wrottesley Road, NW10.

Question 2 from Fitzroy Lee to Councillor Donnelly-Jackson (Cabinet Member for Customers, Communities and Culture) concerning the renaming of Gladstone Park and Leopold Primary School under the Mayor of London’s Diversity in the Public Realm initiative.

Question 3 from Noreen Scott to Councillor Donnelly-Jackson (Cabinet Member for Customers, Communities and Culture) regarding the use of Gladstone Park to host a Windrush 75^th anniversary celebration event given previous concerns raised in relation to the naming of the Park.

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 the meeting in order to ask any supplementary question and whilst Diane Richard had been unable to attend, she was pleased to be able to welcome Fitzroy Lee and Noreen Scott to the meeting in order to ask a supplementary question.

The following supplementary questions were asked of the relevant Cabinet Member(s).

Question 2 Supplementary Question from Fitzroy Lee to Councillor Donnelly-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Customers, Communities and Culture.

In noting the written response to his original question Fitzroy Lee sought further clarification on the extent of community engagement undertaken in relation to the renaming of Gladstone Park and Leopold School given what he felt had been the lack of reference to this within the original response.

In taking the opportunity to thank Fitzroy Lee for his question and attendance at the meeting, Councillor Donnelly-Jackson by way of further explanation confirmed that a series of drop in consultations had been conducted between December 2021 and January 2022.  These had led to the creation of the artwork in Gladstone Park that acknowledged the Gladstone family’s role in the slave trade and celebrated the considerable contribution and influence of African heritage to the cultural landscape of Brent.  Whilst recognising that the consultation process had taken place during the pandemic the efforts made by the Council to work with local community groups in order to promote the consultation events were highlighted, which it was pointed out had been open for all to attend.

Question 3 Supplementary Question from Noreen Scott to Councillor Donnelly-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Customers, Communities and Culture.

In highlighting her disappointment at the response provided and use of Gladstone Park to host a Windrush 75^th anniversary celebration event Noreen Scott sought clarification on the basis of the decision to use the park for the event as opposed to Roundwood Park, which it was felt would have been more appropriate and inclusive as a venue.

In thanking Noreen Scott for the question, Councillor Donnelly-Jackson apologised if it was felt the original response had not provided the clarification being sought.  In reiterating the Council’s duty to mark Windrush Day, further detail was provided on the decision to host the event in Gladstone Park, which it was pointed out had followed on from installation of the land art and Heritage Trail installed in the park curated by a local artist designed to highlight untold histories, and to recognise and celebrate the hugely valued contribution made to Brent by Black African Heritage residents and to further the conversation that the art exhibition and accompanying heritage trail had generated in relation to the history of the park.  Whilst recognising the concerns expressed, Councillor Donnelly-Jackson felt it was important to reflect that the event had been warmly received, with many Windrush elders in attendance.

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 and then moved on to deal with the questions submitted by Brent Youth Parliament.

8.2     Questions from Brent Youth Parliament

The Mayor advised that the following questions had been received from Brent Youth Parliament:

Question 1 from Brent Youth Parliament to Councillor Tatler, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Growth regarding the improvement of employment services and the accessibility of financial education for young people.

Question 2 from Brent Youth Parliament to Councillor Grahl, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools concerning the availability of financial aid to support students with the cost of college and higher education courses.

Question 3 from Brent Youth Parliament to Councillor Nerva, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Adult Social Care, regarding the range of access to mental health support for young people.

The Mayor thanked Brent Youth Parliament for their questions, with members noting the written responses provided.  Members were advised that a representative of Brent Youth Parliament had been invited to attend the meeting with AyanAbdi present to ask supplementary questions on the written responses provided.  Having been welcomed to the meeting, the following supplementary questions were asked of the relevant Cabinet Member(s).

Question 1 Supplementary Question from the Brent Youth Parliament to Councillor Tatler, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Growth.

Having thanked the Cabinet Member for the written response provided, further details were sought on how it was felt the Flourishing Futures project would specifically be able to support young people in the borough.  In highlighting the project’s focus on research and data, details were sought on the potential benefits and what the Council was expecting to achieve as a result of the research.

In thanking Brent Youth Parliament for their question, Councillor Tatler advised that it was anticipated the data and research would help develop the support available for young people in terms of enhancing the training and skills on offer and improving employment opportunities with a more detailed response available, if required, after the meeting in terms of the full benefits that the project would bring.

Question 3 Supplementary Question from Brent Youth Parliament to Councillor Nerva, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Adult Social Care.

In referring to the written response, in which it was stated that the Council would co-produce and co-design a local approach to mental health services in response to feedback from young people, further details were sought on the co-design process and how Brent Youth Parliament could be involved.

In thanking Brent Youth Parliament for their question and before providing a response, Councillor Nerva outlined the operational responsibility for development of the process outlined which was being led through the Brent Integrated Care Partnership (ICP).  In seeking to co-produce and design the local approach and service outlined it was explained that focus would not only be on waiting lists but also on the way in which children’s mental health and wellbeing services were integrated and co-ordinated across partners to improve access and provide a more person-centred and needs-led approach to delivering mental health support for young people.  As part of this work, Councillor Nerva advised he would be willing to facilitate a meeting to consider how best Brent Youth Parliament could be involved and engaged in the process in order to ensure the offer was able to respond to what young people had identified was needed.

With no further questions to be considered, the Mayor advised that this now concluded the public question session and moved on to the next item.