Decisions

To request authority to extend a contract in respect of Independent Advice and Guidance Services with Brent Citizens Advice Bureau t/a Citizens Advice Advice Brent as required by Contract Standing Order 112.

That the Director of Strategic Commissioning, Capacity Building and Engagement:

i)               Approves an extension of the contract for Independent Advice and Guidance Services with Brent Citizens Advice Bureau t/a Citizens Advice Brent for a period of 8 months and 11 days from 1 April 2026 until 11 December 2026.

To request authority to enter a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) and the Council; to facilitate implementation of the delivery of up to 80 homes for temporary accommodation and refugee resettlement and relocation schemes through Round 4 of the Local Authority Housing Fund.

That the Corporate Director Finance and Resources:

i)               Authorises the Council to enter into the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and associated grant agreement with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for a period of four years, from 2026/27 – 2029/30 to facilitate implementation of the delivery of up to 80 homes for temporary accommodation and refugee resettlement and relocation schemes through Round 4 of the Local Authority Housing Fund.

ii)              Notes that the proposed acquisition of up to 80 properties using the allocated Local Authority Housing Fund and prudential borrowing was approved by Cabinet and Full Council as part of the annual budget in February 2026.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To approve an exemption from the usual tendering requirements set in the Contract Standing Orders 84 for good operational and financial reasons.

(2)    To approve the creation of an Inter Authority Agreement (“the IAA”) that implements co-operation for the provision of telecare for vulnerable people and their carers for three years with an option to extend for a further 1+1 years with Harrow Council.

(3)    To delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Services Reform and Strategy to finalise the terms of the IAA, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Leisure and Director of Law and Corporate Director Finance and Resources.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Tuesday 14 April 2026

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no items that required the exclusion of the press or public.

There were no items referred from either the Community Wellbeing or Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committees.

There were no petitions presented at the meeting.

None identified.

Cabinet RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 9 March 2026 be approved as a correct record of the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made during the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Grahl and Councillor Moeen, along with Nigel Chapman with Shirely Parks (Director of Education Partnerships & Safeguarding) attending as his representative, Rachel Crossley (Corporate Director Service Reform & Strategy) with Tom Shakespeare (Director Integrated Care Partnership) attending as her representative and Jehan Weerasinghe with Gerry Ansell (Director of Inclusive Regeneration & Climate Resilience) attending as his representative.

To agree to increase supply of temporary accommodation through leasing schemes and delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Regeneration, in consultation with the Director of Housing Needs and Support and the Lead Member, to enter into leasing/contract arrangements for to increase the supply of temporary accommodation.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)    To approve the strategic approach to increasing the supply of Temporary Accommodation, in Brent and neighbouring areas, through long-term leasing arrangements (10 years or more) with accommodation providers delivering new and refurbished accommodation at affordable rental terms.

(2)    To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Regeneration, in consultation with the relevant Lead Member, the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources, and the Corporate Director of Residents and Housing Services, to:

(a)    Negotiate and agree on detailed Heads of Terms and enter into individual lease agreements with accommodation providers for Temporary Accommodation with terms of 10 years or more, in the best interests of the Council.

(b)    Delegate authority to approve the finances and budgetary adjustments to the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources.

(3)    Note the risks identified in paragraphs 3.2.18 to 3.2.22 of the report, including the potential impact on forecast savings or cost avoidance, and the steps proposed by officers to mitigate these risks.

Eligible for call-in: Yes

Deadline for submission of call-in: 6pm on Tuesday 14 April 2026

To request approval to use the Procure Public Stock Condition Surveyors Framework to procure Stock Condition and Energy Survey services.

That the Director of Housing Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing:

i)               Approves Brent Council’s participation in a call-off procedure under the Procure Public Stock Condition Surveyors Framework Agreement for a call off in respect of Stock Condition Survey and Energy Survey services.

ii)              Confirms there is sufficient budgetary provision for the proposed call-off contract.

iii)            Approves inviting bids under the framework agreement on the basis of the pre-tender considerations.

iv)            Approves officers evaluating bids on the basis of the evaluation criteria.

To award the Design, Build, Operate and Maintain (DBOM) contract for the South Kilburn District Heat Network following the completion of the preferred bidder stage.

That the Corporate Director Neighbourhoods and Regeneration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Community Power:

i)               Approves the award of the design, build, operate and maintain (DBOM) contract for the delivery of the South Kilburn District Heat Network (SK DHN) to Vital Energi Utilities Limited for a total sum of £37,768,947.

Authority to extend contract for Supported Living Services for People with Learning Disabilities at 7 Kinch Grove and 16 Oxgate Gardens.

That the Corporate Director Service Reform and Strategy:

i)               Approves the extension of the contract for the provision of Supported Living Services for people with disabilities at 7 Kinch Grove and 16 Oxgate Gardens with Voyage 1 Limited for a period of 12 months.

ii)              Approves the variation of the contract as set out in paragraph 3.8, to list the available extension periods available under the contract.

To seek approval to a change in a polling place location within Northwick Park ward.

To approve the following change to the polling places in the ward of Northwick Park:

To relocate voters from the designated polling station, Northwick Park Sports Pavillion in the Northwick Park ward (Polling District WNP1) to the polling station within St Cuthberts Church. St Cuthberts Church, which already serves as a polling location for polling district WNP4.

To seek authority to vary and extend a contract for the provision of Software Associated Services for Microsoft Azure with Bytes Software Services Limited

To approve the variation and extension of the contract for the provision of Software Associated Services for Microsoft Azure with Bytes Software Services Limited for a  period of two (2) months in the sum of £250,000.