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 without the need for advance notice.

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 provided:

13.1      Councillor Long thanked Councillor Nerva as the Cabinet Member for Community Health & Wellbeing, for the written response to her on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) Inspection Improvement Plan and as a supplementary question sought details on how useful the Council had found the CQC inspection and how unregulated services in Brent were also monitored and assessed.

In response, Councillor Nerva felt that the CQC inspection had been a valuable process, with Brent having been assessed on their ability to ensure the safety of adults and to provide effective leadership at both a political and officer level.  Recognising the review of the CQC inspection and decision already made to remove one-word judgements in relation to the Ofsted inspection process, he felt it was essential that any inspection process was focussed on a wider assessment of the service being delivered rather than based on one-word judgments.  As a result of the current inspection the Council had developed an improvement plan, which covered not only adult social care but also the work being undertaken in partnership with health partners and the voluntary and community sector to supporting adults across the borough which had included launch of the carers strategy.  In relation to unregulated services, members were advised these include a range of commissioned care services which the Council would have responsibility for regularly monitoring.

13.2    Councillor Hylton thanked Councillor Rubin, as Cabinet Member for Employment, Innovation and Climate Action, for the written response to her question on the outcome and plans for future Job Fairs.  As a supplementary question, details were sought regarding any plans to extend the “Back to Work" events on a wider basis across the borough, including within Preston ward.

In response, Councillor Muhammed Butt (who, following his apologies for absence, advised he was replying on behalf of Councillor Rubin) took the opportunity to highlight and welcome the success of the recent Jobs Fair event and advised that officers were currently exploring what other events could be held across the borough to further support residents, including within Preston Ward.

13.3      Having thanked Councillor Krupa Sheth, as Cabinet Member for Environment & Enforcement, for her written response on the success of the Don’t Mess with Brent campaign Councillor Mahmood, in recognising the positive impact and progress being achieved advised he was keen to explore (as a supplementary question) the potential to invest the revenue being generated through enforcement action towards increasing the number of enforcement officers available to tackle fly tipping and promote stronger enforcement within the Borough.

In thanking Councillor Mahmood for the question and comments in relation to progress being made, Councillor Krupa Sheth confirmed that officers were currently reviewing potential options to secure additional investment for the recruitment of new enforcement officers in the coming months.

13.4    Whilst noting the written response provided by Councillor Krupa Sheth, as Cabinet Member for Environment & Enforcement, to his question regarding the enforcement and prosecution of fly-tipping, Councillor Jayanti Patel, was keen to focus on the potential to extend the deployment of mobile CCTV cameras as a means of supporting enforcement activity.  As a supplementary question he therefore sought further details on the expansion of this activity particularly in recognised “hotspots” (including a number across Queensbury ward) with the use of publicity to identify those individuals subject to prosecution also supported as a further initiative to reinforce enforcement efforts and discourage individuals engaged in dumping rubbish and fly tipping.

In response, Councillor Krupa Sheth highlighted that the launch of the “Don’t Mess with Brent” had included a range of enhanced enforcement activity with the proposal to publicise those prosecuted currently being developed as a further campaign in support by officers. As the “Don’t Mess with Brent” campaign progressed she assured members of the ongoing focus on wider enforcement activity to ensure those responsible for dumping litter and fly-tipping were identified and caught in order to ensure Brent remained green and clean.

13.5      Following on from the written response provided by Councillor Muhammed Butt, as Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing, regarding the turnaround of a void housing property in Sudbury Councillor Lorber (highlighting that the property still remained vacant) sought further clarification as a supplementary question on why (given the costs) the Council would have considered purchasing the property in the dilapidated state or repair it was acquired in.  Given the fact it had now taken over 15 months to bring the property back in use, he also queried how decisions over the acquisition of these type of street properties were being taken and scrutinised, given the wider impact on costs and the ability to address the supply of accommodation to meet current levels of housing demand.

In response, Councillor Muhammed Butt referred to the detail provided within the original response which had clarified the reasons for delay in being able to bring that specific property back into use, with the Council actively working with the utility companies involved to secure installation of the individual and communal electric meters that would enable the property to be bought back into use.  As further context, the opportunity was also taken to remind members of Brent’s record as one of the most proactive councils in the delivery of housing development schemes, despite objections often received, with the Planning Committee ensuring that developers were held to account and required to deliver the maximum level of affordable and social housing in seeking to address ongoing challenges in relation to their supply across the borough. Wherever opportunities arose to deliver more housing development, the Council would continue to pursue them whilst also working with property owners to encourage vacant or underused properties to be bought back into use highlighting, he pointed out in summing up, the Council’s ongoing commitment to building homes that people needed.

Prior to moving on, Councillor Lorber queried the nature of the response provided on his supplementary question, which he felt had not addressed the specific issue raised.

Having thanked members for their written questions and Cabinet Members for the responses provided to the supplementary questions, the Mayor advised that he intended to move on with the remainder of time available being 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 Georgiou, in referring to the outcome of the review undertaken on the Council’s financial forecast and Medium Term Financial Strategy at the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee on 17 July 2024 highlighted that this had included a discussion on the potential to seek greater flexibility in the use of Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding as a means of supporting the Council in addressing the financial pressures identified.  Whilst this had initially been identified as too simplistic an approach, with it suggested that focus should instead be aimed at lobbying for a longer-term funding solution and reform of the local government finance system, it was noted that the Leader had subsequently written to the Government asking them to consider easing current restrictions on the use of SCIL to allow a more flexible approach, with details therefore being sought on the rationale behind the change in approach, any response received as a result and further plans to lobby for the relaxation in SCIL restrictions.

In response, Councillor Muhammed Butt, as Leader of the Council, advised that the initial response had been designed to reflect the reliance on the generation of CIL receipts around deliver of future development schemes, which had also been impacted by current economic uncertainty.  In taking pride at the efforts being made to continue delivery of regeneration schemes and increase the supply of Affordable Housing across the borough this was supported by the ability to collaborate with developers in seeking to ensure these schemes were accompanied by the maximum contribution towards supporting infrastructure with the Council one of the most successful in generating and collecting SCIL contributions.  Taking the opportunity to highlight the importance in use of CIL to support wider community initiatives the Leader outlined how these contributions had been used to fund key infrastructure provision including school, GP, community and health facilities with the Council therefore supportive of measures being sought to maximise the ability to utilise SCIL more flexibly.

In response to a Point of Order raised by Councillor Georgiou in relation to the extent of the response provided on his question Debra Norman (Corporate Director Law & Governance) advised that as the Leader had provided a response the Mayor should move to the next question.

(ii)        Councillor Long regarding the action being taken with Lime as the dockless e-bike provided within Brent to address the technology required to prevent the hacking of their bikes, which it was noted accounted for a significant proportion of complaints regarding their use.

In response, Councillor Krupa Sheth as Cabinet Member for Environment & Enforcement, advised of discussions recently held between the Council and Lime in an effort to address the concerns raised (including technology) in relation to their operation across the borough.  This had included a warning that if not addressed and a suitable plan provided to ensure performance was improved moving forward the operator would be required to cease operating and remove their bikes from the borough by the end of October 2024 with details now awaited on their response.

(iii)       Councillor Maurice regarding the possibility of securing access to the Harrow Recycling Centre in Wealdstone for residents across the northern part of the borough rather than them having to make longer journeys across the borough in order to access the Abbey Road Recycling Centre.

In response, Councillor Krupa Sheth, as Cabinet Member for Environment & Enforcement, advised that despite the Council having been involved in ongoing negotiations with Harrow Council it had not yet been possible to secure the necessary agreement that would allow local residents in the northern part of the Borough to use the facility.

(iv)      Referring to the recent decision made by Cabinet to approve the Council’s new Property Strategy Councillor Lorber highlighted a number of concerns relating to the impact on community organisations (many operating as charities) as tenants given the notices now being issued relating to market rent reviews and significant increase in rents proposed as a result.  As a result, further details were sought on the approach taken by the Council as freeholder towards those organisations to whom premises had initially been leased at a peppercorn rent and whether this would also involve a shift to market based rents.

Councillor Mili Patel, as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, responded by reminding members that the draft Property Strategy had been subject to detailed pre decision scrutiny by the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee earlier in 2024 where the challenges faced by the Council in relation to supporting tenants in their recovery following the pandemic had been acknowledged around the approach involving lease renewal and rent reviews.  In recognising the balance needing to be achieved in relation to income generation required to maintain a sustainable property portfolio and social value, particularly for voluntary and community sector tenants, the Committee had felt the proposed change in approach to be justified with the new strategy now designed to move away from the provision of highly subsidised rents and leases, as they came up for renewal, reviewed to ensure the use continued to align with social value criteria and priorities within the Borough Plan.

(v)        As an additional question, permitted by the Mayor, Councillor Georgiou sought further details on the action taken by the Council since signing the Memorandum of Understanding with Lime to address the significant level of issues regarding their operation across the borough including the increasing level of obstruction being caused by the abandonment and improper parking of their e-bikes and also to increase the number of designated parking bays that were felt to be urgently needed.

In response, Councillor Krupa Sheth, as Cabinet Member for Environment & Enforcement, advised that whilst supportive of the benefits arising from the use of dockless e-bikes she had also understood the increasing level of frustration regarding the way in which the scheme was currently being operated and managed across the borough.  This had been why the Council had met with Lime in seeking to hold then to account and deliver a comprehensive plan designed to address the various concerns highlighted the deadline for delivery of was the end of October 2024.

(vi)      Councillor Mistry regarding the increase in level of fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour across Queensbury Ward and action being taken as a result to address the concerns as a priority moving forward to ensure the solutions were sustainable and effective over the long term.

In response, Councillor Farah, as Cabinet Member for Public Safety & Partnerships, highlighted the opportunity available to focus on these issues at the local Safer Neighbourhood Panel meetings.  Emphasising the importance of partnership working and participation in discussions to address community safety concerns he also advised he would be willing to visit the area with local ward councillors as an opportunity to focus these discussions and review any action required.

(vii)     Councillor Hirani regarding measures being taken to address the misuse of Lime bikes including their use in criminal related activities and subsequent abandoning in parks, on highways and waterways across the borough given concern being raised by local residents.

In response, Councillor Krupa Sheth, as Cabinet Member for Environment & Enforcement, reiterated that the Council was actively seeking to hold Lime to account for their performance to date, with the Council having imposed a strict deadline for delivery of their comprehensive action plan in response at the end of October 2024.  In support of the need identified to avoid classifying all users of the scheme as potential criminals Councillor Krupa Sheth advised that she had not been made aware of specific reports regarding the use of Lime bikes for criminal activity but advised that should this be identified Councillor Farah (as Cabinet Member for Public Safety & Partnerships) would seek to coordinate the necessary action with the local police to ensure the issues were effectively addressed.

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.