Decisions
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08/12/2022 - Application for a New Premises Licence by Burger Bitez Ltd for the premises known as 455 Kingsbury Road, NW9 9DY, pursuant to the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 ref: 6343 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee
Made at meeting: 08/12/2022 - Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee
Decision published: 08/12/2022
Effective from: 08/12/2022
Decision:
GRANTED
Conditions added to the licence
15/11/2022 - Approval to extend a joint commissioning Section 75 partner agreement with NHS England (London Region) for Oral health promotion services in the borough of Brent (Recordable Officer Decision) ref: 6269 Recommendations Approved
In accordance with Contract Standing Order 112 this decision regards the extension of an Agreement entered into pursuant to Section 75 of the National Health Service Act 2006 with NHS England (London Region) for joint commissioning of Oral Health Promotion services for another 5 years.
Decision Maker: Director of Public Health
Decision published: 05/12/2022
Effective from: 15/11/2022
Decision:
To confirm approval of the extension of an agreement entered into pursuant to Section 75 of the National Health Service Act 2006 with NHS England (London Region) for joint commissioning of Oral Health Promotion services in Brent for a period of 5 years
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Dr Melanie Smith
24/11/2022 - Approval for Direct Award for 10 step down beds (Officer Recordable Decision) ref: 6266 Recommendations Approved
To request approval for a direct award for 6 step down beds at Willesden Court Care Home and 4 step down beds at Dawpool Road.
Decision Maker: Director of Brent Integrated Care Partnership
Decision published: 02/12/2022
Effective from: 24/11/2022
Decision:
That the Director of Integrated Care Partnership:
i) Notes that the Corporate Director Finance and Resources has granted an exemption from the requirement to obtain 3 written quotes for 2 Low Value Contracts.
ii) Notes the pre-tender considerations.
iii) Approves the direct award of contracts for:
a. MHA Care to provide 6 step-down beds at Willesden Court Care Home, Brent for a period of 5 months until 31 March 2023. The total cost of the contract will be £177,000.
b. Roof Services will provide the remaining 4 step down beds at Dawpool Road, Dollis Hill, Brent, for a period of 4 months until 31 March 2023. The total cost of the contract will be £100,000.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Lorraine Regan
25/11/2022 - Application to Green Heating Network Funding Round 3 for External Grant Funding (non-key Cabinet member decision) ref: 6268 Recommendations Approved
To request authority to submit the application for grant funding from the Green Heat Network Fund for the procurement of a contractor which will design build operate and maintain the low carbon district heating network in South Kilburn.
Decision Maker: Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Reform
Decision published: 02/12/2022
Effective from: 25/11/2022
Decision:
That the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources & Reform, in consultation with the Leader:
i) Agrees to the submission of this application for grant funding from the Green Heat Network Fund for the procurement of a contractor which will design, build, operate and maintain the low carbon district heating network in South Kilburn.
Lead officer: Catherine Arotsky
22/03/2022 - Award for Dual Diagnosis Contract ref: 6267 Recommendations Approved
To award the dual diagnosis contract following
procurement exercise.
Decision Maker: Strategic Director Community Wellbeing
Decision published: 01/12/2022
Effective from: 09/12/2022
Decision:
That the then Strategic Director Community Wellbeing, in consultation with the then Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care:
i) Approves the award of a contract for the provision of a Dual Diagnosis Service to Hestia Housing and Support for a period of 3 years with an option to extend for a further 2 years, on a 1+1 (one plus one) year basis.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Martin Crick
29/11/2022 - Authority to Award Contract for Independent Advice and Guidance Service ref: 6265 Recommendations Approved
To request authority to award contract for Independent Advice and Guidance Service.
Decision Maker: Chief Executive
Decision published: 29/11/2022
Effective from: 07/12/2022
Decision:
That the Chief Executive:
i) Approves the award of contract for the provision of Independent Advice and Guidance Services to Brent Citizens Advice Bureau trading as Citizens Advice Brent.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Lorna Hughes
29/11/2022 - Authority to extend Contract for the Delivery of a Rapid Assessment Hub and a Housing First Service for Rough Sleepers ref: 6264 Recommendations Approved
To approve the extension of the contract for
the delivery of a Rapid Assessment Hub and a Housing First Service
for Rough Sleepers with St Mungo’s Community Housing
Association for a period of 12 months from 1 April 2023 to 31 March
2024.
Decision Maker: Corporate Director of Partnerships, Housing & Residents Services
Decision published: 29/11/2022
Effective from: 07/12/2022
Decision:
That the Corporate Director Resident Services:
i) Approves the extension of contract for the delivery of a Rapid Assessment Hub and a Housing First Service for Rough Sleepers with St Mungo’s Community Housing Association for a period of 12 months from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Saleema Nuraney
21/11/2022 - Changes to the Constitution ref: 6258 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
Council RESOLVED:
(1) To approve the amendments to the Constitution as set out in Appendix A of the report relating to the Planning Code of Practice.
(2) To authorise the Corporate Director, Governance to amend the Constitution accordingly, including making any necessary incidental or consequential changes.
21/11/2022 - Brent Licensing Cumulative Impact Assessment Review ref: 6257 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
Council RESOLVED to:
(1) Approve the retention of the Cumulative Impact Assessment in the current 10 areas.
(2) Approve the creation two new Cumulative Impact Zones (CIZs) in Wembley Park and Cricklewood Broadway.
(3) To approve the updates to Policy 9 and Appendix 6 of the Licensing Policy to reflect the agreed changes proposed in Appendix C of the report.
(4) To note that the Policy including the Cumulative Impact Assessments will have to be reviewed within 2 years.
21/11/2022 - Apologies for Absence ref: 6247 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Begum, Hirani & J.Patel.
21/11/2022 - Urgent Business ref: 6263 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
No urgent items of business were raised at the meeting.
21/11/2022 - Motions ref: 6259 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
(1) The following Motion submitted by the Conservative Group, was declared LOST and not approved:
“Measures to tackle Flooding in Brent
In the past few years, flooding in Brent and other areas is getting more frequent and severe. Whilst this is partly due to climate change and global warming, it also reflects the massive level of regeneration, development and building on green and brown fields sites which is detrimental to the drainage of rainwater and it is felt future planning policy must reflect.
We are losing more green and open spaces which used to soak up the rain water. The Council’s policy of tarmacking footpaths also does not allow water to permeate in the ground. Just a little rain and we observe streams of water flowing on the roads and pavements.
We notice that flood water collects in low lying areas and does not recede for a few days after it rains which means that in the current situation more frequent and severe flooding will take place.
We appreciate that Brent alone cannot stop global warming and climate change and recognise that the borough has a Flood Risk management Strategy in place, however we can take further steps to mitigate the consequences and protect our residents’ lives and property.
As a result this Council calls on Cabinet to:
1) Reverse the policy of tarmacking the footways and replace with paving slabs and bricks which allows more water to soak in the ground, especially in known flood risk areas;
2) Reverse the policy of large scale developments which are reducing the green open spaces and making Brent a concrete jungle;
3) Implement a regular gully cleaning and leaf collection program, especially in the flood prone areas;
4) Implement a regular program of inspecting all drains and gullies in areas identified as flood risk and repair as necessary and the Council’s responsibility, including Brent’s brooks and rivers;
5) Introduce a policy that makes it’s illegal to concrete over the whole of a rear garden as this also impedes the draining of rainwater. We suggest a maximum of 20% of the rear garden can be paved or concreted over.
If Brent is serious about global warming and climate change and wants to protect its citizens now and for future, it's the least it can do.”
(2) The following Motion submitted by the Liberal Democrats Group was unanimously AGREED:
“Holding Housing Associations to Account
The Council notes:
Many Brent residents live in properties managed by Housing Associations. They may be Housing Association tenants, leaseholders or shared owners.
The number of residents who will live in properties managed by Housing Associations will continue to grow in the coming years, as more large tower blocks and Housing Association managed units are approved and built in our borough.
Housing Associations were originally set up as charitable, non-profit making organisations, with the aim to provide low cost housing for people.
In recent times, as Housing Associations have grown in number and as their stock has vastly increased, their original focus seems to have been lost as they now seem to be driven by profit and the desire to continuously increase their stock.
As Elected Members we are often made aware of issues within buildings managed by Housing Associations, whether in individual properties or in communal areas.
The communication between tenants and Housing Associations is poor, resulting in long periods of time passing before issues are identified and resolved.
There is a distinct lack of accountability when it comes to Housing Associations, and leaseholders, tenants, shared owners, often feel their concerns are ignored.
Ever increasing Service Charges continue to cause financial misery to many in our borough.
Frequently, Service Charge bills are not explained in detail to residents, as should be the case and scrutinising huge increases in bills is often complicated, meaning many experience financial hardship without fully understanding where their money is going.
Building repairs identified in individual homes and communal areas often take unacceptably long to rectify, despite residents paying vast Service Charges and most Housing Associations having considerable amounts in reserves, to deal with building defects and similar issues.
Essential building repairs are not prioritised, comprising the health and safety of residents, or causing real obstacles for people with disabilities or impairments.
Housing Associations rarely review the work of their contractors, resulting in issues reoccurring for no reason. In the long run this costs tenants more.
This Council believes:
1. Housing Associations must be held accountable and deliver for their tenants, some of whom are vulnerable and have specific housing and care needs.
2. That Housing Associations have both a legal and moral duty to ensure that their tenants’ needs are met and all issues are addressed in a timely manner.
3. There is often a distinct lack of communication between Housing Associations and their tenants, which fuels the frustration many feel.
4. It is difficult for tenants to make complaints when issues persist and are left unresolved as it is hard to know who within these bureaucratic organisations is responsible for different issues that arise.
This Council resolves to:
1. Exert our influence to demand better for residents who are currently experiencing issues with their Housing Association
2. Collate a directory of useful contact information of all Housing Associations who have stock in our borough, in order for Elected Members and Officers to be able to better support residents who have ongoing problems with their Housing Association.
3. Help signpost residents to their specific Housing Association officer who would be best placed to help resolve ongoing issues in their homes or communal spaces in their building.
4. Organise a roundtable with all Housing Associations who have stock in Brent in order for a frank and open conversation to take place between Elected Members and representatives from Housing Associations about ongoing issues within their stock.
5. Review our relationship with Housing Associations who have significant issues, particularly those who do not address buildingdefects withintheirexistingstock.
6. Support local people in holding their Housing Association to account by seeking to democratise the relationship between tenant and Housing Association through setting up Resident Associations where in public meetings issues can be raised and actions determined.”
(3) The following Motion submitted by the Labour Group was AGREED:
“Our Home Our Vote
The Council notes:
§ The Elections Bill has passed Royal Assent. The Bill when enabled will introduce a number of measures which will impact electors and local authorities including mandatory photographic voter ID, overseas voting, and voting and candidacy rights of EU citizens.
§ Election officials say they have not had enough time to prepare for voter ID and are worried that thousands of people will be turned away from polling stations. Labour Party MPs have raised concerns regarding voter suppression, since six of the Government-accepted IDs are specifically targeted at older people, while almost none are aimed at younger people.
§ In Brent, 169,000 residents were born abroad, and across London over 12% of residents are from the European Union.
§ They live, work, study, make use of public services, and call London their home. Many of our foreign-born residents from EU and Commonwealth countries can vote in our local elections. However, approximately 377,000 Londoners that were born in non-EU and non-Commonwealth countries cannot vote in our elections.
§ Scotland and Wales implemented residence-based voting rights where all residents with lawful immigration status have the right to vote in local and devolved national elections.
§ A poll conducted by Number Cruncher showed that 63% of people agree that all residents with lawful status in the UK should have the right to vote in local elections in England and Northern Ireland.
The Council welcomes:
§ That 37% of Londoners are born outside of the UK and that the voting and candidacy rights of EU citizens with pre-settled and settled status who entered the UK before 2021 will be maintained.
§ That the London Assembly passed a motion in support of residence-based voting rights on the 11th of November 2021 and that various organisations in the democracy and immigration sector have signed a joint statement in support of the “Our Home Our Vote” campaign for residence-based voting rights.
The Council expresses concern that:
§ EU citizens who enter the UK from 2021 and are not covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, or by ‘bilateral treaties’ covering voting rights, will not have voting and candidacy rights in local elections from 2022. This will create an unequal situation where some EU citizens will have the right to vote where others will not.
§ Brent Council also expresses concerns that the democratic rights to vote in local or national elections will impact many minority groups once voter ID is implemented through the Election Act;
§ We fear this complexity in voting eligibility will cause confusion and will reduce voter turnout in London elections, undermining the effectiveness of projects such as London Voter Registration Week working to improve voter registration.
The Council will commit to:
§ Increasing its efforts to encourage eligible voters to register to vote in advance of future elections. For instance, but not limited to, including information about voter registration and eligibility in council tax letters, council social media communications and the Brent Magazine.
§ Brent Council will work closely with organisations and charities operating across our borough to ensure that the information about local election voting rights reaches as many EU citizens as possible that call Brent home.
§ Ask that the Leader of the Council write to Andrew Stephenson, Minister of State for Local Government, Faith and Communities requesting that the right to vote be extended to all residents in local elections in England and Northern Ireland.”
(4) The following Motion submitted by the Labour Group was AGREED:
“Backlog Britain: Waiting for Care
This Council notes:
All across the United Kingdom the country is facing backlogs across public services. In the past few weeks, we have seen that these delays can have tragic consequences – with a bottleneck in processing asylum applications, leading to deplorable conditions at Manston in Kent.
However, right now across the health sector, with staff leaving the industry in their droves and nurses balloting for a strike for the first time ever; we are seeing even greater delays to accessing healthcare:
§ There are some 6.7 million people waiting for routine hospital treatment the highest level since records began 15 years ago. Hospitals, meanwhile, are full of patients who cannot be discharged owing to a lack of care-home beds or community services to support them. This in turn means that nationally almost 700,000 people have waited more than 12 hours in A&E in the first seven months of 2022, with ambulances queuing outside hospital doors for hours.
§ The NHS is the Labour Party’s proudest achievement – a gift from Nye Bevan to the country which has lasted 74 years. The NHS is a source of national pride, but this year it is facing another balancing act, with spiralling demands for care; while thousands of positions are vacant. As a result, there are now 1 in 9 people in England on hospital waiting lists, with people dying while waiting for care.
§ The Health and Social Care Levy was put forward as a means to “fix” social care by providing sustainable funding to the sector. There have been no new announcements from government on what will replace the £13 billion it would have offered.
§ Figures from the NHS reveal that last month 7,953 people had to wait more than four hours for emergency care at A&Es in London North West University Healthcare NHS Trust. In North West London, there are now 247,296 residents on the waiting list for care, up from 175,291 just a year ago and the highest number in London. There are 6,225 residents waiting over a year for routine operations.
§ At the same time many NHS trusts are supporting their staff through the cost of living crisis by food banks on site, providing salary advances and free school uniforms to the children of NHS staff.
§ The NHS Confederation has made an unprecedented intervention, highlighting in an open letter the link between fuel poverty and demand on NHS services, stating that Britain “is facing a humanitarian crisis. Many people could face the awful choice between skipping meals to heat their homes and having to live in cold, damp and very unpleasant conditions.”
§ Further on 9th November 2002 NHS Confederation stated that “ If social care reforms are delayed by another year, this will only serve to exacerbate the bottlenecks across local services and harm patients “
§ Around 1 in every 10 dentists in England quit last year, leaving 4 million people unable to access an NHS dentist with some parts of the country now described as ‘dentistry deserts’, because remaining NHS dentists aren’t taking on new patients. The British Dentistry Association, emergency teeth extractions are now the most common reason for children to go to hospital.
§ Data from the NHS reveals that in the past year, 23,434 GP appointments in the North West London Integrated Care System were held over a month late, as patients struggle to see a GP when they need one.
§ That there is a six to eight week wait to access the local Long Covid service based at Central Middlesex Hospital.
§ Public satisfaction with GP services has fallen from 77 per cent in 2010, to just 38 per cent now, the lowest level since the survey began in 1983. A BBC Panorama investigation in June found that unqualified staff at Operose Health practices, the UK’s largest GP chain, are seeing patients without the required clinical supervision and support.
This Council believes:
§ That Brent owes a huge debt of gratitude to health and social care staff that continue to tirelessly work for a health service that keeps us healthy and has saved lives across the pandemic. However, it also clear that successive governments over the last decade have presided over the deterioration of services, creating some of the backlogs we see today.
§ Public services are a public right, but residents in Brent are facing huge delays for the most basic care. The NHS and universal public services need a new deal, if the social contract that bonds citizens and governments, can continue.
§ We need a real plan to get waiting lists in hospitals, primary care and dentistry under control. At present there is a golden thread of delay, decay and dither leading back to the Conservatives. Previous governments have reduced waiting times in hospitals from 18 months to 18 weeks.
§ That if Brent residents cannot afford to heat their homes and cannot afford nutritious food, we will face a new public health emergency; increasing the strain on our local hospital admissions further.
§ Local government has shown that with the right funding, it has a part to play in promoting and protecting the health and well-being of the public, and supporting the NHS in alleviating the demand for services.
§ In Brent we are proud to have our own Brent Health Matters programme which has:
o Established a public health prevention team, recruited from our community with lived experiences of what makes Brent, Brent.
o Worked hand in glove with our multi-faith groups to reach a wide range of stakeholders across Brent, to address entrenched health inequalities.
o Been at the heart of a public health outreach campaign: coordinating diabetes screenings, organising pop-up Covid-19 vaccination sites; and working now with our community groups to increase vaccination uptake.
This Council resolves:
§ As part of the campaign to ensure that healthcare for Brent residents is properly funded, working alongside patient voice groups, to press the case for equitable NHS funding across the new North West London Integrated Care System (ICS).
§ To reinforce the Brent Health Matters programme, taking forward transformational projects to reverse the health inequalities the pandemic exposed. We will facilitate more outreach sessions across Brent’s communities, such as our diabetes prevention events and our mobile dentistry sessions.
§ To bolster our communications campaign across all channels, with a new multi-language information booklet setting out what support is available is available to residents struggling with the cost of living, energy and food poverty.
§ To provide ‘Warm Places’ a network of spaces where Brent residents can come together to stay warm and receive additional support and advice to alleviate poverty – helping to ease pressures on the NHS.
§ To support a national campaign as outlined by the NHS Confederation in support of the action that is so desperately required to address the dearth of adequate social care provision, including introducing a minimum wage for social care staff. Social care is about so much more than alleviating pressure on the NHS, but without action to address the lack of capacity in social care, the NHS will continue to experience huge delays in discharging medically fit patients from hospitals.
§ Request that the Leader of the Council write to our local MPs requesting that the backlog in healthcare services and health inequalities in Brent is raised in Parliament; and for those MPs to meet with interested councillors in facilitating discussions.”
21/11/2022 - Report from the Vice-Chair of the Audit Advisory Committee ref: 6255 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
NOTED the update report provided by the Vice Chair of the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee.
21/11/2022 - Report from Chairs of Scrutiny Committees ref: 6254 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
NOTED the update reports provided by the Chair of the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee and Chair of the Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee.
21/11/2022 - Questions from the Opposition and other Non-Cabinet Members ref: 6262 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
NOTED
1. The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Public Health & Adult Social Care to a question submitted by Councillor Fraser regarding the recognition, impact and support available for residents and staff experiencing the impact of long covid.
2. The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Schools to a question submitted by Councillor Gbajumo in relation to the support available for Looked After Children and impact of the cost-of-living crisis as part of the Council’s Corporate Parent role.
3. The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources & Reform to a question submitted by Councillor Akram regarding the impact of the current economic position on the Council’s budget and provision of services and in highlighting the need for reform of the current system for funding local government.
4. The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action to a question submitted by Councillor Mistry regarding the need to ensure more vigorous parking enforcement in cycle lanes along Kingsbury Road.
5. The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action to a question submitted by Councillor Lorber regarding the consultation undertaken on introduction of a new trial recycling scheme and concerns raised in relation to implementation of new street cleaning arrangements.
Responses were also provided by the relevant Cabinet Members on the following additional questions raised during the open session of this part of the meeting:
· Councillor Kansagra regarding current levels of crime recorded across the borough and specific measures in place to tackle ongoing concerns regarding knife crime.
· Councillor Afzal regarding the positive action being taken by the Council working with the Multi-Faith Forum to recognise and welcome the diverse nature of communities across the borough and in seeking to support ongoing delivery of the recommendations made by the Poverty Commission and within the Black Community Action Plan.
· Councillor Lorber relating to the local environmental impact of the targets within the Local Plan for the delivery of new homes across the borough.
· Councillor Kelcher regarding the plans to ensure local residents were aware of the changes due to be implemented in relation to voter identification as a means of seeking to avoid those impacted being disenfranchised at future elections.
· Councillor Georgiou regarding the appropriateness of Shared Ownership being included as a genuinely Affordable Housing option in the development of housing schemes across Brent.
· Councillor Kennelly in seeking confirmation of the Council’s ongoing support for the LGBTQ+ community across the borough, particularly given its location as the home of the Football Association (FA) and national football team and in view of the stance taken by Qatar as the host nation of the FIFA World Cup.
· Councillor Long highlighting concerns about the use of rental e-bikes on pavements across the borough.
21/11/2022 - Non Cabinet Members' Debate ref: 6256 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
The following substantive motion (as amended) was AGREED as the outcome of the non-cabinet member debate:
“Building the Homes our Community Needs
This Council notes:
The pressures on Council Housing stock are immense and in the absence of Government investment, will not ease in the coming months and years, rather they will grow even more. For example, in Brent there are currently 25,853 households on our housing waiting list, containing 53,644 individuals. Even at a record-breaking pace of building, without a renaissance in Government investment in the social housing sector, many of these families will regrettably wait many years for a home.
The Cost of Living Crisis, compounded by a Government that has created a disastrous macroeconomic situation in the UK, has seen more local residents turn to the council for support with their housing needs, with a 33% increase in approaches in the last year. As an authority we are working around the clock to provide support to households effected by the Cost of Living Crisis, with a Resident Support Fund that has distributed £8.46 million to 4,045 households, aiding hundreds of families with Rent Arrears and Mortgage payments; and those in need of food and fuel support.
We are proud that Brent has made progress in seeking to supply Council Homes, with a record of consistently being one of the leading boroughs in providing social homes in London. There is still more to do and we need to see greater, more urgent resolve from all political parties to deliver more Council Homes for our tenants. There have been 20 ministers for housing in the past 25 years and four housing secretaries in just over a year. We desperately need action from our new Minister, on waiting lists for council housing, supporting private tenants that are made homeless, aiding cladding victims that remain trapped in unsellable flats and homeowners living in fear of their next mortgage bill. Finally, without the abolition of Right to Buy London will continue to see more council homes sold and private-let with 54,000 and counting across the capital.
The latest report to Cabinet, entitled, ‘Update on the supply of New Affordable Homes’, sets out where Brent is when it comes to the delivery of the New Council Homes Programme (NCHP), our programme to develop 1,000 new council homes by 2025. To date, the Council has developed and let 684 new homes to Brent households and there are 616 homes on site and on track to be completed before 2025. This programme has been made possible through a grant in excess of £100m from the Mayor of London, Labour’s Sadiq Khan, and an investment of more than £200m of the council’s own money.
Spiralling inflation, exacerbated by a botched mini-budget has not only impacted Brent residents, but has also put our council house building programme at risk. As such, on the 14th November, the Cabinet was asked to formalise a change of approach that would allow Brent Council to deliver much needed housing, within the challenging social and economic climate, providing 50% of new stock at Council Rent and London Affordable Rent level in its own developments. This approach will deliver Social Housing on Council owned land and will achieve our overriding ambition to reduce the ever-growing housing waiting list in a meaningful way. Where appropriate, council owned land will be used to build the next generation of council homes and play our part in addressing the housing crisis.
There are also a growing number of local people in Brent and in our city, who have been life-long residents of Brent and who are now being priced out of the borough, because of a shortfall in the supply of housing, while demand continues to drive prices higher.
There are no quick fixes to resolve the housing crisis and developers that are granted consent for their private schemes are only part of the larger answer, if we are to provide our area with the type of housing our community desperately needs.
This Council believes:
1. The Government needs to provide greater clarity on terminology around housing, particularly what constitutes being ‘genuinely affordable housing’. The Government must explore how more affordable housing can be secured through Land Value Capture and reforming viability assessments.
2. Targets and policy around house building, must be focused on seeking to reduce the housing waiting list and reduce the number of local people currently in temporary accommodation and deliver family sized housing units, most keenly needed.
3. Shared Ownership schemes are not a top priority for Brent Council, but do form a valuable part of an overall housing mix, as they allow some people to get onto the housing ladder when they otherwise would not be able to afford a full deposit.
4. We should never make the perfect enemy of the good in housing policy whilst holding developers accountable and ensuring that a greater proportion of new stock built in our borough is genuinely affordable for local people.
This Council resolves to:
1. Lobby the government to simplify its terminology on affordable housing in order to give greater clarity across council communications.
2. Call on the Government to address Land Value Capture and viability assessments to enable Brent to secure at least our Local Plan targets for Social Rents, London Affordable Rent, London Living Rent and Affordable Rent.
3. Continue to work with the GLA and DLUHC to secure the funding needed to ensure all new developments must seek to provide as much social housing as is financially viable.
4. Continue to push Brent’s Local Plan target of 50% affordable housing, with a split of 70% low cost rent and 30% intermediate housing, in order to ensure we are building the homes our community really needs.
5. Play our part in addressing the housing crisis across London, by driving up the supply of housing in every ward in Brent.”
21/11/2022 - Petitions (if any) ref: 6253 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
No petitions were presented at the meeting.
21/11/2022 - Questions from Members of the Public & Brent Youth Parliament ref: 6260 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
NOTED
1. The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action to a public question submitted by Nichola Rogers regarding the implementation of a plant based food policy within schools and at Council and Civic events.
2. The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Homelessness and Renters Security to a public question submitted by Jeanette Audrey about the impact of the Windmill Court Infill housing development on local residents, the surrounding local environment and adjacent properties.
3. The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Planning to a public question submitted by Siobhan Culhane regarding the Transport Planning Assessment relating to the Windmill Court Infill housing development and its impact, from a fire safety perspective.
4. The written response provided by the Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Schools to a question submitted by Brent Youth Parliament regarding support for the Education for Life Campaign. No supplementary question was received.
21/11/2022 - Deputations (if any) ref: 6252 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
No deputations were received at the meeting.
21/11/2022 - Reports from the Leader and Cabinet ref: 6261 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
NOTED the report and update provided at the meeting by Councillor Muhammed Butt, as Leader of the Council, highlighting the work being undertaken across each Cabinet portfolio in order to provide ongoing support and services to residents within the borough. As part of the update the Leader took the opportunity to outline the work being undertaken to manage the Council’s finances as efficiently as possible within the current economic climate reflecting the Government’s recent fiscal statement and developing priorities within the Borough Plan; to deliver the Councils new council housing programme alongside its wider estate and regeneration programme and to focus on the protection of housing tenants and those living within the private rental sector. As part of the ongoing process in seeking to engage and support local residents, particularly in tackling the cost-of-living crisis, he also took the opportunity to highlight the Council’s upcoming budget consultation process which he was keen to ensure as many residents were able to engage with as possible.
21/11/2022 - Appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies ref: 6251 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
21/11/2022 - Mayor's Announcements (including any petitions received) ref: 6250 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
Announcements from the Mayor were noted in relation to:
· Thanks being expressed for the attendance of the Deputy Mayor at recent Mayoral events.
· Remembrance Sunday
· Black History Month
· Islamophobia Awareness Month
· Petitions
21/11/2022 - Declarations of Interest ref: 6249 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
No declarations of interest were made at the meeting.
21/11/2022 - Minutes of the Previous Meeting ref: 6248 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 21/11/2022 - Council
Decision published: 28/11/2022
Effective from: 21/11/2022
Decision:
AGREED that the minutes of the Council meeting held on Wednesday 21 September 2022 be approved as a correct record, subject to clarification within Min 12 – Questions from the Opposition and other Non-Cabinet Members that the question raised during the open session by Councillor Kansagra (vii) related to the installation of cladding rather than cavity wall insulation.