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 and Opposition members to ask questions of Cabinet Members.

NOTED

1.     The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Schools to a question submitted by Councillor Gbajumo regarding the examination results achieved by young people across Brent and wider steps being taken to maintain and support levels of educational attainment across the borough.

2.     The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Public Health & Adult Social Care to a question submitted by Councillor Long expressing concerns regarding the impact of the recent decision by a private sector provider to seek a buyer for the GP practices they currently operated, including within Brent, both in terms of patients and the wider primary care sector across Brent and North West London.

3.     The written response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action to a question submitted by Councillor Dixon seeking details on the measures taken to address concerns relating to the introduction of the new Resident Parking Permit contract and transition to the new permit system.  As a result of the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action having submitted her apologies for absence at the meeting no direct supplementary question was asked but in recognising the work undertaken to address the concerns identified the opportunity was also taken to highlight the need to ensure that lessons learnt, particularly in relation to engagement with local residents, were recognised.

4.     The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security to a question submitted by Councillor Maurice regarding the measures taken to deal with rough sleepers in Woodcock Park and what was felt to be a delay in appropriate action being taken to address the concerns identified by local residents and other stakeholders neighbouring the park.

5.     The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security to a question submitted by Councillor Georgiou seeking clarification on the Council’s position regarding the use of Shared Ownership and its appropriateness in being classified as a genuinely Affordable Housing option in the development of housing schemes across Brent, particularly given the difference in approach between schemes such as Grand Union, Alperton and Watling Gardens.

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 Kennelly regarding the recent change in approach announced by the Metropolitan Police in no longer attending calls to a majority of mental health related incidents introduced under the Right Care Right Person scheme and the wider impact it was anticipated this would have in terms of health services and professionals across Brent along with the action being taken to address the concerns identified.

·             Councillor Hirani supporting the concerns raised in relation to the delay in identifying a solution to tackle the rough sleepers in Woodcock Park and seeking details on visits undertaken by the Leader and Cabinet Member(s) and engagement with local ward councillors on any lessons learnt as a result.

·             Councillor Lorber highlighting concern at the way in which the Barham Park Trust Committee held on 5 September 23 had been conducted in relation to the opportunity provided for tenant organisations and representatives of the local community to speak at the meeting and the specific treatment of the representative from Barham community Library.

·             Councillor Mistry highlighting concerns regarding the problems being caused by the use of paan along Kingsbury Road and requesting the introduction of a similar approach towards prevention, education and enforcement as that implemented along Ealing Road in order to tackle the issue.  Given the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action had submitted her apologies for absence, the Mayor advised that a written response would be provided on the issue raised following the meeting.

·             Councillor J.Patel seeking further detail on the action being taken by the Council against Utility Companies undertaking works without the necessary permission or who were found not to have completed highway repairs to the necessary standard following the conclusion of their work, with reference as specific examples to works along Stag Lane and Kingsbury Road.  Given the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action had submitted her apologies for absence, the Mayor once again advised that a written response would be provided on the issue raised following the meeting.

·             Councillor Georgiou seeking details as to when the next scheduled update in relation progress on theNew Council Homes Programme would be available.

Eligible for Call-In: No

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:

12.1   Councillor Gbajumo thanked Councillor Grahl, as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools, for the written response to her question regarding the examination results achieved by young people across Brent.  In commending the work being undertaken by the Council to support schools, further detail was sought as a supplementary question on the wider measures being taken to maintain and support levels of educational attainment across the borough and potential challenges identified.

In response, Councillor Grahl (as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools) began by taking the opportunity to recognise and celebrate the educational attainment and success achieved by young people across the borough.  This had, she pointed out, been achieved against the background of a national trend in lower grades driven in part by a change to pre pandemic grading protocols, with Councillor Grahl supporting the calls being made for the return to a fairer grading system.  Focussing on the positive results achieved across Brent which had exceeded the national average, Councillor Grahl was keen to ensure the results achieved by young people supported by their families, schools and teachers was formally recognised given the difficult circumstances and significant hardship posed by wider challenges such as the cost-of-living crisis. Councillor Grahl also commended the role of the Setting and School Effectiveness Service along with the measures put in place by the Council to support families through initiatives such as the Holiday Activities and Food Programme and Resident Support Fund. Furthermore, Councillor Grahl highlighted the importance of the Council’s investment in Special Education Needs and early needs provision in terms of the wider impact on young people’s future life chances and ended by once again congratulating and praising the efforts of Brent’s young people which had resulted in such positive exam results in such challenging circumstances.

12.2   Having thanked Councillor Nerva, as Cabinet Member for Public Health and Adult Social Care, for the written response provided to her question regarding the impact of the recent decision by a private sector provider to seek a buyer for the GP practices they currently operated, including those within Brent, Councillor Long highlighted the impact and confusion being created amongst local resident given the uncertain future of the affected practices and the threat of further GP privatisation.  As a supplementary question Councillor Long, having outlined her concern at the proposals, sought further detail on their potential impact both in terms of patients and the wider primary care sector across Brent and North West London.

Having thanked Councillor Long for highlighting the concerns raised, Councillor Nerva advised he would ensure these were relayed to the Integrated Care Partnership.  Whilst not responsible for managing the provision of NHS and Primary Care Services across the Borough, Councillor Nerva outlined the close partnership working between the Council and health providers and reiterated the Council’s aspiration for everyone to be able to access quality primary healthcare, which it was not felt the proposals would support.  The issue raised had already been identified as a potential risk and would continue to be with health partners in terms of both their impact locally and across the wider North West London region with Councillor Nerva concluding his response by highlighting Labour’s commitment towards maintaining and supporting the NHS including a move away from GP contracts.

12.3   Having noted the apologies for absence submitted by Councillor Krupa Sheth and thanking her, as Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action, for the written response on the measures taken to address concerns relating to the introduction of the new Resident Parking Permit contract and transition to the new permit system Councillor Dixon advised she had no specific supplementary question.  In recognising the work undertaken to address the concerns identified by local residents in relation to the transition the opportunity was, however, taken to highlight the need to ensure that lessons learnt, particularly in relation to engagement with local residents, were recognised.

12.4   Councillor Maurice began by expressing disappointment at the written response provided by Councillor Knight, as Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security, regarding the measures taken to deal with rough sleepers in Woodcock Park.  In expressing concern at what was felt to be a delay in appropriate action being taken to address the concerns identified by local residents and other stakeholders neighbouring the park, further details were sought as a supplementary question at the reasons for the delay in appropriate and permanent action being taken to address the initial concerns when first raised.

In response, Councillor Knight began by highlighting as additional context the concerning increase in homelessness and number of rough sleepers across London.  The pressures created as a result had been made worse as a result of the cost-of-living crisis and limited supply of suitable alternative temporary accommodation both across London and within Brent.  In highlighting the need for care in the language used around homelessness and to describe rough sleepers, Councillor Knight outlined the specific measures which had been taken in response to the concerns identified relating to the two rough sleepers in Woodcock Park.  Given the immigration status of both individuals members were advised that the main issue had related to neither currently having EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status meaning they were not currently eligible for housing support and with no recourse to public funds.  The Rough Sleeper Outreach Team (commissioned through St Mungo’s) had ascertained that one of the individuals was planning to return to their country of origin whilst the second was now engaged with the immigration service in seeking to resolve his current status under the EUSS.  Pending the completion of that process, the individual had been offered one of the two bed spaces available for non eligible rough sleepers.  In highlighting the difficulties and challenges created by the current immigration system, Councillor Knight ended by reassuring members that the Rough Sleeper Outreach Team would continue to engage with individuals until a more effective solution was achieved in order to ensure the necessary support could be provided for those most in need.

12.5   Councillor Georgiou, in in noting the written response to the question submitted regarding the use of Shared Ownership housing by Councillor Knight as Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security, felt the details provided appeared to contradict the Council’s position on different housing schemes.  In highlighting concerns regarding use of shared ownership he therefore sought further clarification, as a supplementary question, as to the Council’s position on the appropriateness of Shared Ownership being classified as a genuinely Affordable Housing option in the development of housing schemes across Brent, particularly given the difference in approach between schemes such as Grand Union, Alperton and Watling Gardens.

Whilst recognising the context in which the question had been raised, Councillor Knight felt it important to highlight that Shared Ownership was included as a permitted model of affordable housing by the Greater London Authority under their Affordable Homes delivery programme with Brent as one of the delivery partners.  Although aware of the concerns highlighted, Councillor Knight advised that the model had been able to deliver benefits for different groups of Brent residents but again outlined how decisions on individual sites had needed to be taken on a case-by-case basis.  This was in order to reflect the state of the market, housing demand and viability challenges impacting each site and development scheme and to ensure that the delivery of the Council’s wider social housing programme was safeguarded.  For these reasons, she advised, it was difficult to compare the status and approach adopted towards the inclusion of Shared Ownership schemes at Grand Union and Watling Gardens or on other sites.  In highlighting the difficult nature of decisions needing to be taken given the increasing challenge in being able to meet housing need, Councillor Knight concluded her response by outlining how different schemes would need to include a range of tenures that provided affordability as well as a good standard of homes across Brent.

Having thanked members for their written questions and Cabinet Members for the responses provided to the supplementary questions, the Mayor then advised that the remainder of time available would be used for an open question time session to the Cabinet. Questions relating to the following issues were raised and responses provided, as set out below:

(i)       Councillor Kennelly, seeking further details on the recent change in approach announced by the Metropolitan Police in no longer attending calls to a majority of mental health related incidents introduced under the Right Care Right Person scheme and the wider impact it was anticipated this would have in terms of health services and professionals across Brent along with the action being taken to address the concerns identified.

In response Councillor Nerva, as Cabinet Member for Public Health and Adult Social Care, recognised the concerns raised explaining that the Police had decided to implement the policy based on a trial in a non-urban area outside of London which had led mental health practitioners to also express concerns regarding its appropriateness and impact across more urban areas.  Members were reassured that concerns regarding the practical operation and impact of the policy had been raised by the health service with the police and assured members the Council also remained committed to working with health care partners and the police across the North West London region to monitor any impact arising from implementation of the policy and in order to ensure that individuals affected and mental health practitioners were kept safe.

(ii)      Councillor Hirani, supporting the concerns highlighted by Councillor Maurice in his written question relating to the delay in identifying a solution to tackle the rough sleepers in Woodcock Park with a request for further details on visits undertaken by the Leader and Cabinet Member(s) to the Park in order to explore the concerns being raised and engagement with local ward councillors on any lessons learnt as a result.

In response Councillor Muhammed Butt, as Leader of the Council, highlighted the importance in ensuring that the individuals involved received the support and care needed and assured Councillor Hirani that relevant lead members had visited the Park to ensure the necessary action was being taken and support provided.

(iii)      Councillor Lorber highlighting concern and seeking an apology for the way he felt the Barham Park Trust Committee held on 5 September 23 had been conducted in relation to the opportunity provided for tenant organisations and representatives of the local community to speak at the meeting and the specific treatment of the representative from Barham Community Library.

In response, Councillor Muhammed Butt, as Chair of the Trust Committee, clarified that representatives from tenant organisations in the Barham Park building had all been invited to attend the Trust meeting in order to make representations and update Trust members on the activity their organisations had been involved in delivering over the previous year.  Whilst representatives of the other organisations who had addressed the meeting had accepted the remit, the representative from the Friends of Barham Library had sought to raise a number of other issues, which had led to the subsequent exchange during the meeting and the representative having to be reminded of the scope agreed for any representations. 

In responding to an issue raised by Councillor Lorber as a subsequent point of clarification in relation to the response and rights of the public to speak at meetings, Debra Norman (as Corporate Director of Governance) advised that as the concerns highlighted had also been formally raised in written correspondence by Councillor Lorber they would be subject to a separate written response.

(iv)       Councillor Mistry highlighting concerns regarding the problems being caused by the use of paan along Kingsbury Road and requesting the introduction of a similar approach towards prevention, education and enforcement as that implemented along Ealing Road in order to tackle the issue.

Given the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action had submitted her apologies for absence at the meeting, the Mayor advised that a written response would be provided on the issue raised following the meeting.

(v)      Councillor Jayanti Patel seeking further detail on the action being taken by the Council against Utility Companies undertaking works without the necessary permission or who were found not to have completed highway repairs to the necessary standard following the conclusion of their work, with reference as specific examples to works along Stag Lane,Dryburgh Gardens and Kingsbury Road.

Given the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action had submitted her apologies for absence, the Mayor once again advised that a written response would be provided on the issue raised following the meeting.

(vi)     Councillor Georgiou seeking details as to when the next scheduled update in relation progress on the New Council Homes Programme would be available.

In responding, Councillor Knight, as Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security, advised that the update was now expected to be presented to Cabinet before the end of the year.  Whilst recognising the delay it was explained this had been caused as a result of the current economic challenges which had resulted in the need to undertake further assessment of the funding position on individual schemes to ensure their ongoing viability.  Despite the delay in the update, Councillor Knight reassured members that the Council remained on track to deliver against its targets in relation the provision of affordable social housing across the borough.

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