Agenda item
Report from the Leader or members of the Executive
To receive reports from the Leader or members of the Executive in accordance with Standing Order 42.
Minutes:
Councillor Butt thanked all members for their unequivocal support in bestowing the Freedom of the Borough on Nelson Mandela. He asked his fellow Executive members to submit their reports.
Gangs strategy
Councillor Choudry referred to the report of the Partnership and Place Overview and Scrutiny task group investigation into gangs and services for prevention, intervention and exiting, which had been submitted to the Executive on 20 May 2013. He thanked members of the task group for their work and explained that each of the recommendations was now being considered with a view to making progress towards dealing with the problem of gang culture. He stated it was a difficult issue and involved partner agencies but that it was important to work towards protecting the citizens of the borough.
Civic Centre
Councillor Crane reported that the building of the civic centre had been completed and staff were now moving in. He referred to the excellent work by staff in the IT section who would be on hand throughout the moving in process to help with any problems. He thanked Aktar Choudry for his work in managing the building project and Caroline Raihern for making the arrangements for staff to move into the new building. He bid farewell to the Town Hall and the Council Chamber and urged members to make sure they booked themselves on to the civic centre induction courses being run.
Willesden Green Cultural Centre
Councillor Crane reported that, following the approval of the final design and cost, work was soon to start on constructing the Willesden Green Cultural centre. This would provide fantastic community space serving the south of the borough. The old library building was being retained and local children would be creating murals on the site hoardings.
South Kilburn regeneration
Councillor Crane referred back to May 2010 when plans for the South Kilburn area appeared to have failed and contrasted that with the clear vision and viable plans that were now in place to tackle the worst homes and provide a new school, health facility and park. The new South Kilburn Neighbourhood Trust had been created and phase 1 of the project was complete. He stated that two further phases to be completed by May 2014 would transform the area.
Vale Farm – award of contract
Councillor Mashari reported on the award of a contract to Sports and Leisure Services Management Ltd for the provision of facilities at Vale Farm. This was a cross borough contract with Ealing and Harrow. She stated that it would provide affordable facilities which would encourage more local people to use them. Councillor Mashari explained that the Council had negotiated for concessionary pricing and free swims for certain categories of people in an effort to increase participation. She stated that the contract represented value for money for the Council and she encouraged people to use it.
Gladstone Park School
Councillor Pavey submitted that Gladstone Park School was a good school that had suffered a temporary drop in performance. He therefore felt it was a shame that the school was being forced into becoming an Academy. He applauded local people for the support they had shown for their local school and stated that it was now time for all campaigners concerned with the future of the school to work together.
Copland School
Councillor Pavey reported on the Department for Education sending in an interim board to Copeland Community School to meet the huge challenge posed to provide a comprehensive education and address the terrible situation reported on by OFSTED. The school would ultimately become an Academy but in the meantime he urged all those involved to work together to provide a better education for local children.
Tenders for speech and language therapy contracts
Councillor Pavey reported that the Council had tendered for a new contract for the provision of speech and language therapy to continue the excellent work provided by the service.
Supporting documents: