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 circulated as part of 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 circulated as part of the agenda along with the written response provided.

10.1    Questions from the Public

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

Question 1 from Giulia Karkhoff regarding anti-social behaviour along Harlesden Hight Street.

Question 2 from John Poole reading progress being made in tackling climate change and reducing emissions as part of the Council’s Climate and Emergency Strategy

Question 3 from Marc Harris regarding the provision of step free access at Alperton and Queens Park Station

The Mayor advised that those members of the public who had submitted questions had been given the opportunity to the attend the meeting in order to ask a supplementary question.  Whilst he was pleased to welcome John Poole and Marc Harris to the meeting, members were advised that Giulia Karkhoff had not been able to attend with the written responses provided in relation to that question therefore noted.

Following the Mayors introduction, the following supplementary questions were then raised:

Question 2 Supplementary question from John Poole to Councillor Rubin (Cabinet Member for Climate Action & Community Power)

In thanking Councillor Rubin (as Cabinet Member for Climate Action & Community Power) and Councillor Krupa Sheth (as Cabinet Member for Public Realm & Enforcement) for their response to his original question, John Poole sought further details on how the Council believed work to enhance Brent's Waterways working with voluntary environmental groups in Brent, would also be able to help in achieving the objectives within the Council's Climate and Ecological Strategy as well as tackling pollution, highlighting the improvements already delivered working with the Mayor of London in terms of reducing nitrogen dioxide levels across London.

In response, Councillor Rubin thanked John Poole for the question and his ongoing efforts in supporting the local community across Kenton.  Referring to the Big River Watch, led by the Rivers Trust and supported by thousands of citizen scientists including many in Brent, he began by highlighting their work in identifying the level of pollution unfortunately present in nearly every waterway across the UK which he felt was a national shame and had arisen as a direct result of the political choices made by previous Conservative governments.  On a more positive level, he was pleased to be able to acknowledge and thank the many volunteers, community groups and environmental champions for the time and energy they devoted to caring for waterways across Brent, with specific thanks extended to the Friends of Wealdstone Brook for their continued work with the Environment Agency, Thames Water, and the highway service to reduce misconnections causing so many of the pollution incidents in the brook.  The combined efforts of all involved were felt to embody the spirit of the Climate and Emergency Strategy in terms of partnership, stewardship and pride in the borough although the work still required in addressing the issue was also recognised with the Council continuing to work closely with the Mayor of London to strengthen environmental protection and seek greater accountability in terms of the responsibilities of the water companies (including Thames Water) and the Environment Agency.  In ending his response, Councillor Rubin confirmed that the Council would continue to back and promote national and regional initiatives such as the Big River Watch along with other citizen science projects recognising their value in supporting the continued monitoring, protection and celebration of local waterways.

The Mayor thanked John Poole for his attendance and supplementary question along with Councillor Rubin for his response and then moved on to deal with the next question.

Question 3 Supplementary Question from Marc Harris to Councillor Benea (Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property)

In thanking Councillor Benea (as Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property) for her response to his original question Marc Harris, in noting the progress which had been made in terms of the provision of step free access at Alperton Station and constructive discussions continuing around the same provision at Queens Park Station, sought confirmation that the Council would continue to advocate strongly for the provision of step-free access at both stations and would continue working with Transport for London, Network Rail, and the Department for Transport to explore all available funding options to deliver these improvements as soon as possible.

In response, Councillor Benea took the opportunity to confirm the Council’s intention to continue working closely with Transport for London on this matter.  In noting the progress achieved in relation to Alperton Station, she felt this reflected the value of work being undertaken in partnership with TfL and assured residents that the Council would continue to adopt the same approach in relation to Queens Park Station.

The Mayor thanked Marc Harris for his attendance and supplementary question along with Councillor Benea for her response and, with no further questions to be considered, then moved on to deal with the question submitted by Brent Youth Parliament.

10.2    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 engagement of young people in shaping how Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) investment allocated for youth facilities and spaces would be designed and used.

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 and Tajari McLeod from BYP to the meeting who asked the following supplementary question.

Question 1 Supplementary Question from Kenechi Ezeajughi and Tajari McLeod to Councillor Grahl, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Schools regarding the way in which the outcomes being achieved in relation to wider priorities identified by young people would be measured and assessed as part of the investment allocated.

Having thanked Councillor Grahl for her written response andwelcoming the level of collaboration with a wide range of young people across the borough, details were sought as to how the Council was planning to measure success (beyond the physical infrastructure upgrades being delivered as a result of the investment identified) in meeting young people’s wider priorities such as mental health support, employment opportunities, careers services and community safety and whether this would include funding for the day to day delivery of these services.

In response, Councillor Grahl thanked Brent Youth Parliament for the question and work they were continuing to undertake to represent young people across the borough, including their recent attendance to address MPs at the House of Commons representing the children and young people of Brent.  In terms of the question raised, Councillor Grahl felt it important to start by highlighting the impact of the previous Conservative government’s programme of austerity on the provision of youth services including the loss of almost 75% of youth worker positions.  In contrast, she therefore felt the recent decision taken by the Council to target SCIL funding in local youth service provision and infrastructure presented an exciting opportunity to once again be able to invest in the type of provision so valued by young people.  In terms of the measurement of success and outcomes being achieved, Councillor Grahl advised this would be assessed against a number of key performance indicators focussed on young people's health and wellbeing, working in collaboration with schools and the NHS in seeking to improve the experience of children and young people. The offer was also extended to attend a future meeting of Brent Youth Parliament in order to provide further details on the range of different indicators and seek feedback on how further improvements could be made.

The Mayor also took the opportunity to acknowledge and commend BYP for the work undertaken in seeking to represent young people across the borough and, in outlining his support for the contribution made, thanked Councillor Grahl for her response and Kenechi Ezeajughi and Tajari McLeodfor attending the meeting to ask their supplementary question.  With no further questions to be considered, the Mayor advised that concluded the public question session.