Agenda item

7.1   To receive and consider the question(s) submitted by the public for response by the relevant Cabinet Member, in accordance with Standing Order 33.

Members are asked to note that two public questions have been received, which have been attached to the agenda along with the written responses provided.

7.2   To receive question(s) submitted by the Brent Youth Parliament for response by the relevant Cabinet Member, in accordance with Standing Order 33(c).

Members are asked to note that one question has been received, which has been attached to the agenda along with the written response provided.

8.1     Questions from the Public

The Mayor advised that two questions had been received from members of the public, which were as follows:

Question 1 from James Walerych regarding use of funding generated by the award of the advertising lease for Bobby More Bridge.

Question 2 from Daniela Stuppia regarding the Restrictions it was possible to place on Gambling Shops

Members noted the written responses provided to the questions, which had been circulated with the agenda.  The Mayor advised that whilst both members of the public had been invited to the meeting in order to ask any supplementary question both had unfortunately been unable to attend.  Members were advised that whilst unable to attend a written supplementary question had subsequently been received from James Walerych, on which a response would be provided outside of the meeting.

Having noted the written responses provided, the Mayor thanked James Walerych & Daniela Stuppia for submitting their questions and then moved on to deal with the question submitted by Brent Youth Parliament.

8.2   Questions from Brent Youth Parliament

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

Question 1 from Brent Youth Parliament to Councillor Farah, Cabinet Member for Public Safety & Partnerships, relating to the support available for Brent Youth Parliaments local crime and safety campaign.

The Mayor thanked Brent Youth Parliament (BYP) for their question, with members noting the written response provided, and advised that representatives from the Youth Parliament had also been invited to attend the meeting in order to ask a supplementary question.  As a result, the Mayor welcomed Kenechi Ezeajughi (BYP Deputy Chair), Reem Mustafa (BYP Deputy Media & Communications Lead) and George Main Sin (Youth Parliament member for Brent) to the meeting who asked the following supplementary question.

Question 1 Supplementary Question from George Main Sin & Kenechi Ezeajughito Councillor Farah, Cabinet Member for Public Safety & Partnerships regarding practical measures in support of the Youth Parliament campaign.

Having thanked Councillor Farah for his written response and advising that they welcomed the support highlighted for BYPs local crime and safety campaign, further details were sought on progress with implementation of the practical measures being developed to reflect the overall strategic objectives included as part of the Safer Brent Community Safety Strategy.  Amongst the specific measures on which details were sought were the introduction of safe spaces for young people along with the reestablishment of a boroughwide youth service, with the Youth Parliament highlighting how keen they were to continue working with the Council on the campaign and development of these measures.

In response, Councillor Farah thanked Brent Youth Parliament for the question and work they were undertaking to represent young people across the borough.  In commending the Youth Parliaments local crime and safety campaign he reiterated the Council’s commitment to continue supporting and engaging with young people in relation to the campaign, which included identifying key activities aligned with the wider community strategy.  This included the development of safe spaces for young people in Brent on which the Council was continuing to work with key stakeholders and would be keen to engage with the Youth Parliament, prior to sharing the proposals once finalised.

Councillor Farah ended his response be confirming that both he and the Community Safety Team would also be happy to meet with the Youth Parliament to discuss how they could ensure their ongoing engagement in the development of these measures.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Farah for his response and with no further questions to be considered, advised that this now concluded the public question session.