Agenda item
Petitions (if any)
To consider any petitions for which notice has been provided, in accordance with Standing Order 66.
Members are asked to note that the following petition(s) are due to be presented at the meeting:
· Planting of additional trees along Bathurst Gardens
· Special Educational Needs and Disability School Transport
Decision:
5.1 Planting of Additional Trees Along Bathurst Gardens
Cabinet NOTED the comments made by Naeema Hasan in support of a petition containing 58 signatures from local residents seeking the planting of additional trees along Bathurst Gardens. In addressing Cabinet, Naeema Hasan outlined what were felt to be the significant benefits provided for those living amongst trees, which included improved air quality, improved energy conservation and most importantly improving the mental health and wellbeing of local residents.
In emphasising the disparity of tree coverage between Bathurst Gardens and neighbouring streets Naeema Hasan advised that, whilst being one of the longest street in the local area, Bathurst Gardens was an outlier in terms of the number of trees containing only 12. This number compared to the 48 trees on Clifford Gardens, 43 on Leigh Gardens, 37 on Buchanan Gardens, 51 on Palermo Road and 17 on College Road (between Mortimer Road and Purves Road). As an additional contribution in support of the comments raised, a further local resident (Arun Kumar) also spoke to highlight the number of mature trees which had been lost over the years without being replaced as a further contributory factor with the petitioners, as a result, calling on the Council to consider the planting of more tress along Bathurst Gardens.
In responding, Councillor Krupa Sheth (as Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action) began by thanking Naeema Hasan for attending the meeting in order to present the petition on behalf of local residents. In highlighting the challenging nature of the financial position faced by the Council she advised that whilst unable to commit any core budget for the provision of new trees she would be willing, in response to the petition, to facilitate a meeting between local residents, ward councillors and the Council’s Principal Landscape Architect in order to explore the options available. This was in view of the need, given the resource pressures identified, for tree planting projects of the type being sought to be supported through external funding with the officer identified having already indicated he would be willing to meet with residents from Bathurst Gardens in order to consider the potential options available to seek funding for such a scheme. In concluding her response, Councillor Krupa Sheth reiterated her willingness to facilitate such a meeting in order to explore all available options.
5.2 Special Educational Needs and Disability School Transport
Cabinet NOTED the comments made by Zaynab Alfadhi in support of a petition containing 123 signatures regarding the arrangements for the provision of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) school transport within Brent. In addressing Cabinet, Zaynab Alfadhi began by explaining that she was a resident of Brent and the parent of a child with special educational needs attending a special school in Brent and in presenting the petition was also representing the families of other children with SEND from across the borough in order to raise concerns, which had been ongoing for a number of years, regarding the provision of SEND transport given the service was not felt to be meeting the needs of children and young people with SEND or their families.
In highlighting the reliance of both her and many other families on the service it was felt that the Council needed to take action in order to address the level of concern being raised, especially in relation to the impact of extended journey times, recognising the Council’s duty of care and need to safeguard the wellbeing of the children currently impacted by the quality of service. In providing specific examples about the type of issues being experienced and distress being caused as a result of the current standard of service and length of journey times, concerns were also raised about the lack of special educational needs provision in the borough and extended journey times for those having to travel outside of Brent to access suitable specialist educational provision, which meant they were often outside of the recommended travel time for primary and secondary school aged children. It was pointed out that these issues had been compounded by the increased number of children included on each route as well as other external factors such as traffic delays and roadworks.
In outlining further concerns regarding the increase in journey times being experienced by many service users, Zaynab Alfadhi also highlighted the impact from an educational and family perspective not only in terms of time being lost at school and at home, but also as a result of the associated behavioural impact on the children and young people created by the anxiety and stress due to the lack of routine and stability. In concluding, members were therefore urged to review the current level of SEND transport service provision, in light of the concerns and issues highlighted, in order to ensure that sufficient and better managed routes were provided with additional transport and less children on each route that would not only assist to reduce journey times but also better reflect the level of service required by vulnerable children and young people with SEND and their families.
In responding, Councillor Krupa Sheth (Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action) thanked Zaynab Alfadhi for attending the meeting in order to highlight the issues raised and began by outlining how seriously the Council took its responsibility in safeguarding the wellbeing of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. In highlighting the process undertaken to plan each route, which involved the use of specialist software as well as local knowledge, Councillor Krupa Sheth outlined how these measures were designed to ensure sufficient capacity that not only met the needs of the children using the service but also the necessary obligations in relation to journey times within the constraints of the resources available.
In highlighting the range of external factors outside the direct influence of the service that also needed to be taken into account in terms of journey times, such as traffic congestion and delays in children being ready to board a vehicle on time, the number of pick-ups on any specific route was also recognised as a factor influencing total journey times with the planning and implementation of routes being monitored to ensure that, where identified as necessary, adjustments could be made taking account of the need to ensure the most efficient use of resources. Whilst often a difficult balance to achieve, Councillor Krupa Sheth ended by seeking to reassure the petitioners of the Council’s commitment to continue monitoring provision of SEND school transport in order to ensure the delivery of a good quality service and journey times were kept to a minimum as a key priority for those relying on the service.
In commenting further, Councillor Grahl (as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools) also recognised the wider concerns raised regarding the provision of SEND places within Brent, highlighting the investment which had been provided as a result by the Council to provide over 400 new SEND school places in the borough. Whilst recognising that this would not necessarily improve the situation for all families who had supported the petition, Councillor Grahl felt that this would be an important measure to assist in extending the support available for children with SEND in accessing more local provision with both her and Councillor Krupa Sheth advising they would also be willing to meet with the petitioners separately in order to discuss any further concerns or support required.
In concluding consideration of the petition, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) advised that Cabinet had recognised the importance of the issues and concerns raised which would continue to be kept under review in order to identify any further actions or improvements that could be made as part of the Council’s commitment to the welfare of every child in Brent.
Eligible for Call-In: No
Minutes:
5.1 Planting of Additional Trees Along Bathurst Gardens
Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) welcomed Naeema Hasan to the meeting, who had been invited to speak in support of a petition containing 58 signatures from local residents requesting the planting of additional trees along Bathurst Gardens. In welcoming the opportunity to speak on behalf of local residents, Naeema Hasan began by outlining what were felt to be the significant benefits provided by trees located within residential areas, which included improved air quality, improved energy conservation and most importantly improving the mental health and wellbeing of local residents.
In emphasising the disparity of tree coverage between Bathurst Gardens and neighbouring streets Naeema Hasan advised that, whilst being one of the longest streets in the local area, Bathurst Gardens was an outlier in terms of the number of trees containing only 12. This number compared to 48 trees on Clifford Gardens, 43 on Leigh Gardens, 37 on Buchanan Gardens, 51 on Palermo Road and 17 on College Road (between Mortimer Road and Purves Road). As an additional contribution in support of the comments raised, a further local resident (Arun Kumar) also spoke to highlight the number of mature trees which had been lost and not replaced over the years as a further contributory factor with the petitioners, as a result, calling on the Council to consider the planting of more tress along Bathurst Gardens.
In responding, Councillor Krupa Sheth (as Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action) began by thanking Naeema Hasan for attending the meeting to present the petition on behalf of local residents. In highlighting the challenging nature of the financial position faced by the Council she advised that whilst unable to commit any core budget for the provision of new trees she would be willing, in response to the petition, to facilitate a meeting between local residents, ward councillors and the Council’s Principal Landscape Architect in order to explore the alternative options available. This was in view of the need, given the resource pressures identified, for tree planting projects of the type being sought to be supported through external funding with the officer identified having already indicated he would be willing to meet with residents from Bathurst Gardens in order to consider the potential options available to seek funding for such a scheme. In concluding her response, Councillor Krupa Sheth reiterated her willingness to facilitate such a meeting in order to explore all available options.
5.2 Special Educational Needs and Disability School Transport
Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) then moved on to welcome Zaynab Alfadhi to the meeting, who had been invited to speak in support of a separate petition containing 123 signatures regarding the arrangements for the provision of Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) school transport within Brent. In addressing Cabinet, Zaynab Alfadhi began by explaining that she was a resident of Brent and the parent of a child with special educational needs attending a special school in Brent. In presenting the petition she confirmed she would also be representing the families of other children with SEND across the borough in seeking to raise concerns, which had been ongoing for a number of years, regarding the provision of SEND transport as the service was not felt to be meeting the needs of children and young people or their families.
In highlighting the reliance of both her and many other families on the service, it was felt that the Council needed to take action in order to address the level of concern being raised, especially in relation to the impact of extended journey times, recognising the Council’s duty of care and need to safeguard the wellbeing of the children currently impacted by the quality of service. Specific examples were provided about the type of issues being experienced and distress being caused as a result of the current standard of service and length of journey times, with concerns also raised about the lack of special educational needs provision in the borough and extended journey times for those having to travel outside of Brent to access suitable specialist educational provision, which meant they were often outside of the recommended travel time for primary and secondary school aged children. It was pointed out that these issues had been compounded by the increased number of children included on each route as well as other external factors such as traffic delays and roadworks.
In outlining concerns regarding the increase in journey times being experienced by many service users, Zaynab Alfadhi also highlighted the impact from an educational and family perspective not only in terms of time being lost at school and at home, but also as a result of the associated behavioural impact on the children and young people created by the anxiety and stress due to the lack of routine and stability. In concluding, members were therefore urged to review the current level of SEND transport service provision, in light of the concerns highlighted, in order to ensure that sufficient and better managed routes were provided with additional transport and less children on each route that would not only assist to reduce journey times but also better reflect the level of service required by vulnerable children and young people with SEND and their families in Brent.
In responding, Councillor Krupa Sheth (Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action) thanked Zaynab Alfadhi for attending the meeting in order to highlight the issues raised and began by outlining how seriously the Council took its responsibility in safeguarding the wellbeing of children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities. In highlighting the process undertaken to plan each route, which involved the use of specialist software as well as local knowledge, Councillor Krupa Sheth outlined how these measures were designed to ensure sufficient capacity that not only met the needs of the children using the service but also the necessary obligations in relation to journey times within the constraints of the resources available.
In highlighting the range of external factors outside the direct influence of the service that also needed to be taken into account in terms of journey times, such as traffic congestion and delays in children being ready to board a vehicle on time, the number of pick-ups on any specific route was also recognised as a factor influencing total journey times with the planning and implementation of routes being monitored to ensure that, where identified as necessary, adjustments could be made taking account of the need to ensure the most efficient use of resources. Whilst often a difficult balance to achieve, Councillor Krupa Sheth ended by seeking to reassure the petitioners of the Council’s commitment to continue monitoring provision of SEND school transport in order to ensure the delivery of a good quality service and journey times were kept to a minimum as a key priority for those relying on the service.
In commenting further, Councillor Grahl (as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools) also recognised the wider concerns raised regarding the provision of SEND places within Brent, highlighting the investment which had been provided as a result by the Council to provide over 400 new SEND school places in the borough. Whilst recognising that this would not necessarily improve the situation for all families who had supported the petition, Councillor Grahl felt that this would be an important measure to assist in extending the support available for children with SEND in accessing more local provision with both her and Councillor Krupa Sheth advising they would also be willing to meet with the petitioners separately in order to discuss any further concerns or support required.
In concluding consideration of the petition, Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) advised that Cabinet had recognised the importance of the issues raised which would continue to be kept under review in order to identify any further actions or improvements that could be made as part of the Council’s commitment to the welfare of every child in Brent.