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 three 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 members of the Public

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

Question 1 from Martin Francis regarding progress on the development and delivery of various educational development sites.

Question 2 from Joy Field regarding the delivery of grounds maintenance services on housing estates.

Question 3 from Madeleine Shea regarding the availability of on-street parking provision across Alperton.

The Mayor advised that those members of the public who had submitted questions had all been given the opportunity to the attend the meeting in order to ask a supplementary question.  Whilst he was pleased to welcome Martin Francis to the meeting, members were advised that Joy Field and Madeleine Shea had not been able to attend with the written responses provided in relation to their questions therefore noted.

Following the Mayors introduction, the following supplementary question was then raised:

Question 1 supplementary Question from Martin Francis to Councillor Gwen Grahl, Cabinet Member for Children Young People & Schools.

In thanking Councillor Grahl for her written response, Martin Francis began by welcoming the approach outlined to increase local SEND provision within the borough.  Concerns were, however, highlighted regarding the ongoing uncertainty over the future of Islamia Primary School, with the outcome of an informal consultation undertaken in November 2022 (which had been the only consultation to date) having revealed that 141 parents opposed the proposed move to the Strathcona site and only 19 were in favour.  It was also pointed out that the local Resident Association had also opposed the proposal.  As a result, further details were sought on whether the Islamia Primary School had put forward any plans for a statutory consultation process to be conducted with the assistance of Brent Council; what  expenditure had been incurred by Brent Council on the Strathcona site to date and whether (following the Leopold Primary School Brentfield Road site having been earmarked for closure) any discussions had taken place with the Islamia Governing Body or the Yusuf Islam Foundation regarding the use of that location as an alternative site for Islamia Primary School.

In thanking Martin Francis for his question, Councillor Grahl responded by advising that there were currently no plans for a formal consultation regarding the Strathcona site.  Confirmation was also provided that the Council remained committed to collaborating with Islamia Primary School to secure a site within the Borough with no specific expenditure incurred to date in relation to the Strathcona site for this potential purpose.

The Mayor thanked Martin Francis for his attendance and supplementary question along with Councillor Grahl for her response and with no further questions to be considered, 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 Grahl, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Schools, relating to the provision of budget support for Brent Youth Parliament in seeking to expand their reach.

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) and a fellow representative of Brent Youth Parliament to the meeting who asked the following supplementary question.

Question 1 Supplementary Question from Kenechi Ezeajughi and fellow member of Brent Youth Parliament to Councillor Grahl, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Schools

Whilst thanking Councillor Grahl for her response and the commitment provided to making a budget available for use by the Youth Parliament Steering Group in determining their spending priorities (supported by wider membership of the Youth Parliament) further details were sought on the timescale for the budget allocation process and whether this would be available during the current financial year.  In addition, details were sought on plans being developed, as part of the National Youth Strategy, to enhance and restore youth service provision (including youth clubs) in Brent and to involve young people in any associated decision making process.

In response, Councillor Grahl advised that whilst the aim was to provide a budget allocation during the current financial year this would be subject to the necessary consultation and process being agreed with officers in advance.  In terms of the National Youth Strategy, Councillor Grahl confirmed that the Council would welcome and encourage input from the Youth Parliament and ended her response by advising she would be happy to meet with them separately outside of the Council meeting to engage further.

The Mayor thanked the representatives from Brent Youth Parliament for attending the meeting and Councillor Grahl for her response to the supplementary question raised and with no further questions to be considered, advised that this now concluded the public question session