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:

12.1  Councillor S. Butt thanked Councillor Grahl (as Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Schools) for the written response to his question seeking further detail on the £4m investment in youth facilities and how young people had helped shape the projects being funded.  As a supplementary question, further details were sought on the plans being developed to maximise use of what was felt to be the landmark investment provided by the Government in early years funding to ensure children in Brent continued to receive the best possible start in life.

In response, Councillor Grahl began by commending the Government’s Best Start in Life Strategy which it was noted included funding for family services and the wider early years sector, as well as the expansion of childcare entitlements for children from working families with the final funding allocations for both early years entitlements and the Best Start family services elements anticipated shortly.  In the meantime, an overarching Brent early years strategy was being developed to deliver a universal and targeted framework of support from pre-birth to age five, which was identified as crucial for reducing inequalities and improving outcomes for children and families with the local multi-agency strategy also providing the framework for meeting the statutory targets set for Brent in the Best Start for Life strategy.

In terms of the investment already provided directly by the Council in youth facilities, it was pointed out these allocations had been based around a commitment to co-production with young people with Councillor Grahl expressing her pride at the investment made and core involvement of young people in the process with funding being provided for facilities and organisations delivering key priorities for young people in terms of access to mental health support, employment & skills opportunities and safe spaces to address youth crime and safety.  As such the organisations who were benefitting from the investment had included the Church End Anchor Project focussed on establishing a new youth facility delivering skill building workshops, mentoring sessions, tutoring, and other such activities; Cricklewood Boxing Club to support the continued development and delivery of physical and mental wellbeing activities across Brent; Jason Roberts Foundation in seeking to support their continued provision of holistic youth support through sport, mentoring, life skills, and education; The OK Club in South Kilburn as a longstanding youth project aiming to increase participation and empower young people from all backgrounds in a range of work programmes and Roundwood School and Community Centre as an accessible youth dedicated space that would be receiving funding aimed at developing sustainable, inclusive and engaging recreation.  In conclusion, Councillor Grahl felt the investment and approach highlighted demonstrated the Council’s commitment in seeking to nurture and support children and young people in providing them with the best start in life including provision of the necessary facilities to reflect the priorities outlined.

12.2  Councillor Hylton thanked Councillor Donnelly Jackson (as Cabinet member for Housing) for the response to her original question on how the renewal of Brent's borough-wide HMO licensing scheme would improve living standards for renters and strengthen protection against rogue landlords.  As a supplementary question further details were sought on how the Council was preparing for the Government's forthcoming Renters Reform Bill to ensure local tenants were able to fully benefit fully from the change.

In response, Councillor Donnelly Jackson firstly took the opportunity to welcome and support the decision taken by Cabinet to introduce an additional Landlord HMO Licensing Scheme which had been specifically developed to drive up standards and protect tenants in smaller HMOs.  In her view, introduction of the new Additional Licensing Scheme from February 2026 together with implementation of the new Renters’ Rights Bill, would deliver even stronger protections for renters and fairer rules for responsible landlords recognising that HMO properties often presented higher risk challenges around safety and management.  With this in mind, the Licensing Scheme had been introduced to help raise and deliver clear, consistent standards in a way that not only created a level playing field for landlords, but would also provide the Council with the powers needed to act decisively when standards fell short supported by a process of engagement with landlords to promote good practice and ensure collaboration across the Private Rented Sector.  In terms of the Renters Reform Bill, Councillor Donnelly Jackson advised that the Council was already preparing for the Bill’s implementation, which was expected sometime between April and June 2026 with dedicated projects underway across both the Council’s Private Housing Services and Housing Needs teams to ensure tenants in Brent were able to benefit from the changes which it would felt would not only provide greater security but also a fairer balance between renters and landlords.  Teams were also engaging closely in pan-London and subregional forums in order to share learning, and identify further opportunities to improve the quality of private rented housing and continued to work closely with the DWP and Housing Benefits colleagues to anticipate changes in income, affordability pressures, and Universal Credit delays, to ensure that Brent was able to support residents through the transition.  In recognising the importance of the Bill in terms of the opportunity provided to deliver stronger protection for tenants and fairer more consistent rules of landlords, Councillor Donnelly Jackson ended her response by also welcoming the level of engagement provided with tenants through the annual Renters Fair, including Brent Renters Union, to ensure tenants received all the support they needed as well as with landlords through the landlord forum as a further means of promoting good practice and collaboration.

12.3  No supplementary question was raised by Councillor Choudry with the written response provided by Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) on the intended use of funding allocated for Brent through the Pride in Place Impact Fund noted, as circulated with the agenda.

12.4  In noting the written response provided to his question regarding the enforcement of planning conditions relating to the planting of trees as part of the Callier House development, Burnt Oak Broadway Councillor Jayanti Patel, as a supplementary question, asked Councillor Benea (as Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property) for a further update following advice from the Resident Association covering Callier House that they had not been made aware of the presence of any underground services beneath the footway at the designated planting location, based on recent utility works in the same area.  In highlighting that this had been raised with the Planning Enforcement team, the request was made for a further survey to be undertaken in order to establish the feasibility of planting at the original location.  Whilst noting that the building owners had agreed to make a financial contribution in order to cover the cost of planting the trees elsewhere in the local area, it was felt that should the condition be feasible to enforce the owners should be required to do so in order to allow the community to benefit from the greening and environmental improvements originally intended at that location.

In response, Councillor Benea advised that she would be willing to facilitate a further meeting with the planning team to review the position, as set out in her written response, and additional information provided although it was noted that the matter had already been subject to active discussions with the building owner with a financial contribution for the trees secured in order to ensure the original commitment was honoured.

12.5  In noting the response provided by Councillor Krupa Sheth (as Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Enforcement) to his written response regarding the disruption being created by what was felt to be poor coordination and planning of road works taking place across the borough, Councillor Lorber as a supplementary question queried the basis of the response provided in relation the action being taken to ensure Council led highway upgrade schemes were being planned to align with other utility works in an effort to minimise disruption.  As an example he highlighted what he felt was the unnecessary disruption and costs incurred as a result of sections of the footway and highway along Carline Road in Alperton having to be reinstated following gas utility works in advance of their subsequent planned upgrade and replacement by the Council, with details therefore sought as to when the Council would begin to coordinate more effectively with utility companies to minimise disruption for residents and take advantage of economies of scale to deliver the improvements local people needed.

In response, Councillor Krupa Sheth took the opportunity to confirm the coordination mechanisms already in place between the Council and utility companies in order to ensure unnecessary disruption and duplication would not occur.

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 Johnson seeking an update from Councillor Nerva (as Cabinet Member for Adult Social care, Public Health and Leisure) on the measures being put in place by the Council to provide for the boroughs increasing elderly population.

In thanking Councillor Johnson for his question, Councillor Nerva advised he was pleased to highlight the upcoming launch of Age Friendly Brent reflecting work undertaken between the Council, Brent Pensioner Forum and a range of other organisations and community partners including, Age UK, Elders Voice and Ashford Place with the initiative aimed at fostering a secure, and accessible community for older people by focusing on social participation, public spaces, and health.  It was hoped as many members as possible would be able to attend the launch being hosted at Brent Civic Centre which would provide an opportunity to outline the work being undertaken in partnership to support Brent as an age-friendly borough.  The opportunity was also taken to recognise and thank Councillor Lorber for his work in advocating for the elderly community, with the Council also committed to supporting partners coming together in seeking to make life better for older people across the borough focussed around the principles of equity, accessibility and inclusiveness, creating environments that supported healthy, active and connected living.  Issues to be featured during the launch event included transport and infrastructure improvements, including access to public toilet facilities on which the importance of ongoing work to advertise the location of facilities available for public use had been recognised.

(ii)        Councillor Matin, seeking support from Councillor Nerva (as Cabinet Member for Adult Social care, Public Health and Leisure) to secure funding for the provision of additional health facilities including a GP surgery as part of the St. George's development in Alperton.  In raising the issue, Councillor Matin highlighted the significant level of development across Alperton which whilst generating almost £40m worth of Community Infrastructure Levy funding had also increased the local population and strain being placed on access to local health services within the area.

In response, Councillor Nerva felt it was important to recognise Brents strong record in working with the NHS to secure investment for the provision of services in the borough which had already included areas such as Alperton, South Kilburn and Wembley.  Tribute was also paid to the current and previous Lead Members for Regeneration for their record in securing the use of CIL investment to support local health provision.  Councillor Nerva advised, however, that he would be willing to meet with Councillor Matin in order to review the concerns identified and, if necessary, follow up to demonstrate what it had already been possible to deliver through the use of CIL investment in terms of local health provision.

(iii)       Councillor Long seeking further details from Councillor Krupa Sheth (as Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Enforcement) on the potential through the Local Plan review to consider the planning position and requirements in relation to the opening hours for retail premises where this was not regulated through the licensing process, given the potential for those premises to still cause nuisance for local residents (especially those living above or adjacent to the premises) in relation to noise, waste and their hours of operation.

In response, Councillor Kuppa Sheth advised that she would be willing (working in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property) to liaise with the relevant planning and licensing officers to explore what action could be taken to review the issues raised including whether this was an issue that could be considered as part of the Local Plan review.

(iv)      Councillor Lorber, highlighting concerns and seeking an update from Councillor Benea (as Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property) on the status of works relating to the Afrex House housing development in Beresford Avenue, Alperton which despite building works having commenced had subsequently paused close to completion with no apparent progress made since and the units within the block remaining empty.  The development had included a promotional sign highlighting the support being provided by the Mayor for London to deliver new homes with the associated financial impact and costs incurred as a result of the development not being completed also queried.  Given the concerns highlighted, details were sought on whether the reasons for the delay were known and when it was anticipated the development would be completed given current pressures on the demand for housing across the borough.

In response, Councillor Benea advised that she would need to seek an update from officers and the Mayor for London’s office prior to being able to provide a more detailed response, which would be undertaken following the meeting.

(v)        As a final question, Councillor Kelcher sought details from Councillor Knight (as Cabinet Member Customer Experience, Resident Support and Culture) on whether any plans had been considered to formal recognise the success and achievement in delivering the redevelopment and refurbishment of Harlesden Library, including the potential inclusion of a commemorative plaque recognising the importance of the improvements delivered in terms of the facilities and community hub space available, libraries Victorian heritage and patience of residents during the redevelopment works.  In support, Councillor Kelcher felt that the recent development was as significant as any previous works during the library’s history (which had also been commemorated) and had opened up the library and given more opportunities for local community access and use.  As such it was felt the Council needed to celebrate its achievements and commitment to renovating and opening up access to the library.

In response, Councillor Knight thanked Councillor Kelcher for highlighting and celebrating the success achieved through the refurbishment and redevelopment of the library which had been funded through a significant £500k investment by the Council.  As a result, Councillor Knight supported the value in seeking to celebrate the library's Victorian heritage, and continued legacy in the modern era which had been reflected within the redevelopment delivered and advised she would therefore take the proposal away for further consideration with officers in terms of what it would be appropriate and possible to deliver.

At this stage in proceedings, the Mayor advised that the time available for the open question session had expired. He therefore thanked all members for their contributions and advised that the meeting would move on to the next item.