Decisions
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25/07/2022 - Application for a Temporary Event Notice by Mr James McDowell for the premises known as Lodge In Queens Park, Kingswood Avenue, NW6 6SG, pursuant to the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 ref: 6334 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee
Made at meeting: 25/07/2022 - Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Sub-Committee
Decision published: 25/07/2022
Effective from: 25/07/2022
Decision:
Granted
it was accepted that there had been a long history of the event being held with no issues with regards to crime and disorder.
Committee having given full regard to the objections raised and the need to uphold the licensing objectives, decided to grant the application.
18/07/2022 - Authority to Invite Tenders for Adult Social Care Reablement Contracts ref: 6080 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 26/07/2022
Decision:
Cabinet RESOLVED:
(1) To approve inviting tenders for a reablement services for adults with disabilities on the basis of the pre-tender considerations set out in paragraph 3.24 of the report.
(2) To approve Officers evaluating the tenders referred to in (1) above on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out in paragraph 3.24 of the report.
(3) To approve the contractual period for reablement services as three years, with an option to extend for a period of up to a further two years.
(4) To agree that funding is made available to pay reablement workers under the reablement contracts at the London Living Wage from year 1 of the contract.
(5) To delegate authority to award the reablement contracts to the Strategic Director, Community Wellbeing in consultation with the Lead Member for Adult Social Care.
18/07/2022 - Any other urgent business ref: 6082 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 18/07/2022
Decision:
None.
18/07/2022 - Exclusion of Press and Public ref: 6081 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 18/07/2022
Decision:
There were no items that required the exclusion of the press or public.
18/07/2022 - Reference of item considered by Scrutiny Committees (if any) ref: 6071 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 18/07/2022
Decision:
There were no references from either scrutiny committee submitted for consideration at the meeting.
18/07/2022 - Petitions (if any) ref: 6070 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 18/07/2022
Decision:
There were no petitions submitted for consideration at the meeting.
18/07/2022 - Matters Arising (if any) ref: 6069 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 18/07/2022
Decision:
None.
18/07/2022 - Minutes of the Previous Meeting ref: 6068 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 18/07/2022
Decision:
Cabinet RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 20 June 2022 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.
18/07/2022 - Declarations of Interest ref: 6067 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 18/07/2022
Decision:
There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting.
18/07/2022 - Apologies for Absence ref: 6066 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 18/07/2022
Decision:
None received.
18/07/2022 - Authority to Invite Tenders for an Adult Social Care Homecare Framework ref: 6079 Recommendations Approved
To give
permission to tender for Home Care implementation Framework
This framework will include Home Care providers who will support
the current Home Care model in Brent to add capacity.
The report will
also request authority to tender for Reablement Services. This framework will cover
short term reablement care, currently
being delivered by spot purchased providers.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 26/07/2022
Decision:
Cabinet RESOLVED:
(1) To approve inviting tenders for a homecare framework for services for adults with disabilities on the basis of the pre-tender considerations set out in paragraph 3.22 of the report.
(2) To approve Officers evaluating the tenders referred to in (1) above on the basis of the evaluation criteria set out in paragraph 3.22 of the report.
(3) To approve the contractual period for homecare framework as two years, with an option to extend for periods of up to a further two years.
(4) To agree that funding is made available to pay homecare workers under the homecare framework at the London Living Wage from year 1 of the contract.
(5) To delegate authority to award the homecare framework to the Strategic Director, Community Wellbeing in consultation with the Lead Member for Adult Social Care.
(6) As an additional recommendation, to consider how user feedback could be incorporated as part of the quality standards and annual review process for the framework set out within section 3.14 of the report.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Andrew Davies
18/07/2022 - Medium Term Financial Outlook ref: 6074 Recommendations Approved
This report sets out the overall financial position facing the Council and highlights the significant risks, issues and uncertainties.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 26/07/2022
Decision:
Cabinet noted the comments made by Councillor Lorber who had requested to speak at the meeting in respect of the item. In addressing Cabinet, Councillor Lorber referred to section 6.9 of the report and sought further details on the status of the additional scheme which it was reported had been added to the Capital Programme pipeline relating to the redevelopment of the Alperton Community Centre. Having noted the figure included in relation to the scheme (£0.8m), details were sought on any discussions with other interested parties along with any internal project work undertaken and the estimates and assumptions on which the pipeline figure within the report had been based. In addition, concerns were highlighted (following on from the question raised at the Full Council meeting on 11 July 22) regarding the engagement of ward councillors and the local community in the process and development of proposals relating to the site.
In responding to the comments raised, Minesh Patel (Director of Finance) advised that the addition of the Alperton Community Centre to the Capital Pipeline was only as a placeholder. No business case had been prepared, with the figure provided based on an initial assumption of indicative values. Councillor Muhammed Butt (as Leader of the Council) confirmed he would be willing to arrange for local ward councillors to be updated, should this be requested, with the Council keen to consider options for the site based on available resources.
Having considered the comments made Cabinet RESOLVED:
(1) To note the contents of the report and the potential financial impact on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy.
(2) To agree the budget setting process for 2023/24, including the approach to consultation and scrutiny, as set out in section five of the report.
(3) To note and agree the proposed 2021/22 capital budget carry forwards and capital virements as set out in section six of the report.
(4) To note the financial position with regards to the Housing Revenue Account, as set out in section seven of the report.
(5) To note the financial position with regards to Schools and the Dedicated Schools Grant, as set out in section eight of the report.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Ravinder Jassar
18/07/2022 - Q1 Financial Report 2022/23 ref: 6075 Recommendations Approved
To note the quarter 1 financial report 2022/22.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 26/07/2022
Decision:
Cabinet RESOLVED:
(1) To note the overall financial position and the actions being taken to manage the issues arising.
(2) To delegate to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, authority to revise the terms of the loan agreement between the Council and i4B Holdings Ltd and First Wave Housing to allow borrowing within all tenures provided by the Public Works Loan Board for the reasons detailed in paragraphs 4.10 to 4.12 of the report.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Ravinder Jassar
18/07/2022 - Financial Outturn Report 2021/22 ref: 6073 Recommendations Approved
To note the overall financial outturn for 2021/22
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 26/07/2022
Decision:
Cabinet RESOLVED to note the Council’s overall financial outturn position for 2021/22.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Benjamin Ainsworth
18/07/2022 - Treasury Management Outturn Report 2021/21 ref: 6072 Recommendations Approved
To note the 2021/22 Treasury Management Outturn report and send to Full Council for approval, in compliance with CIPFA’s Code of Practice on Treasure Management (the Code).
To note that for 2021/22 the Council had complied with its Prudential Indicators which were approved by Full Council on 22 February 2021 as part of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Capital Strategy Statement.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 26/07/2022
Decision:
Cabinet RESOLVED:
(1) To note the 2021/22 Treasury Management Outturn report and approve it being referred on to Full Council for final consideration and approval, in compliance with CIPFA’s Code of Practice on Treasury Management (the Code).
(2) To note that for 2021/22 the Council had complied with its Prudential Indicators which were approved by Full Council on 22 February 2021 as part of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Capital Strategy Statement.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Amanda Healy
18/07/2022 - Corporate Performance - Q4 2021/22 Performance Report ref: 6076 Recommendations Approved
To note the Q4 2021/22 performance.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 26/07/2022
Decision:
Cabinet RESOLVED:
(1) To note the performance information contained in the updated report format.
(2) To note the current and future strategic risks associated with the information provided and agree the remedial actions on strategic risks identified as appropriate alongside the challenge on progress being provided with responsible officers as necessary.
Lead officer: Lorna Hughes, Chatan Popat
18/07/2022 - Draft Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document ref: 6078 Recommendations Approved
To issue the draft Houses in Multiple Occupation Supplementary Planning Document for consultation. To delegate authority to the Strategic Director Regeneration and Environment in association with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning to consider consultation responses, along with any necessary changes, and the decision on whether to adopt the Supplementary Planning Document.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 26/07/2022
Decision:
Cabinet RESOLVED:
(1) To approve the Draft Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) as set out in Appendix A of the report, to be issued for consultation.
(2) To delegate authority to the Strategic Director for Regeneration and Environment in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning to consider consultation responses, along with any necessary changes, and the decision on whether to adopt the HMO SPD.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Paul Lewin
18/07/2022 - Renewal of the Special Needs Passenger Transport inter-authority service provision agreement with Harrow Council ref: 6077 Recommendations Approved
Authorisation to award a 12 month contract based on the terms and conditions of the current contract.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 18/07/2022 - Cabinet
Decision published: 18/07/2022
Effective from: 26/07/2022
Decision:
Cabinet RESOLVED:
(1) To approve an exemption from the usual tendering requirements set out in the Contract Standing Orders 84 for good operational financial reasons in relation to entry into an inter authority agreement for Special Needs Transport.
(2) To approve entering into a new 12 month inter authority agreement for the provision of Special Needs Transport services by Harrow Council on behalf of Brent Council from 1 August 2022 reflecting current contractual arrangements.
(3) To note the collaborative review of Special Needs Transport as set out in paragraph 3.1.3 of the report that would assist the Council in determining its longer term options.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Simon Finney
11/07/2022 - General Dispensations under the Code of Conduct ref: 6057 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
Council RESOLVED to the dispensations contained in paragraphs 3.3 and 3.4 of the report in respect of participation in discussion and voting at meetings, with effect until the annual meeting following the next full local elections.
11/07/2022 - Changes to the Constitution in relation to the Members' Allowance Scheme (Dependants' Carers' Allowance) ref: 6056 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
Council RESOLVED to approve, with effect from the start of the current financial year, the changes to the Members’ Allowance Scheme proposed in Appendix 1 of the report which update and clarify the Council’s support for councillors with caring responsibilities in relation to dependants’ carers’ allowance.
11/07/2022 - Apologies for Absence ref: 6037 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Begum, Dar, Miller, Mistry, Southwood & Tatler.
11/07/2022 - Urgent Business ref: 6059 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
No urgent items of business were raised at the meeting.
11/07/2022 - Motions ref: 6058 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
(1) Following the approval of an amendment moved by the Labour Group in relation to the original Motion submitted by the Conservative Group, the following Motion (as amended) was AGREED:
“Pollution of the Wealdstone Brook
The Wealdstone Brook, which runs in open water, starts in Harrow, runs through Woodcock Park in Kenton and then into Wembley past all the new developments around the stadium before reaching the River Brent, has been heavily polluted with untreated human sewage and toxic chemicals for some considerable time.
The Wealdstone Brook has nothing living in it – it is effectively a dead river. The toxic smells which have come from liquids evaporating at low temperatures from the Brook water are nauseating and residents who live close to the Brook or have been walking close to the Brook in Woodcock Park, have been feeling physically sick as a result of these noxious odours.
Thames Water, who have been investigating the sources of the pollution, have admitted liability for cleaning up the pollution. They have agreed that the pollution of the Wealdstone Brook is one of the worst they have come across but as a result of the shared responsibility for the maintenance of the Brook as it passes through Brent, Brent Council and the Environment Agency must also share some of the responsibility.
As a result the residents living nearby have expressed their disgust at the state of the Brook and this council considers that Thames Water should have acted with greater urgency once it had reports of untreated human sewage, toxic gases and smells vaporising from the water of the Wealdstone Brook.
This council notes that almost £19bn was paid out in dividends to shareholders in the nine major water companies operating in England between 2010 and 2021.
This Council therefore resolves:
To do whatever is necessary and within the Council’s power to ensure that the water in Wealdstone Brook is cleaned up.
To ask the Leader of the Council and the Leaders of the Opposition Groups to write to the Secretary of State for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Chief Executive of the Environment Agency, to call for additional support for Brent Council to respond to the pollution in Wealdstone Brook and enforce the principle of the ‘polluter pays’.
To support the Labour Party pledge of common ownership of water services to unlock the desperately needed investment in water infrastructure and create services that are run on behalf of consumers, not shareholders profit.
To do what the Council can toensure that the agencies concerned take the necessary steps to detect and rectify all wrongly connected foul sewers which run into the Brook and to put them right at no cost to Council tax payers, in Brent.
To seek legal opinion as to whether legal action can be taken against the agencies that have responsibility for ensuring that the Wealdstone Brook is free of pollution if there is no immediate rectification of the problem.
To ensure in light of a serious risk to public health and as a matter of urgency the necessary actions are taken as soon as possible to put the foregoing into practice.”
(2) Following the approval of an amendment moved by the Labour Group in relation to the original Motion submitted by the Liberal Democrats Group, the following Motion (as amended) was AGREED:
“Support for Refugees and Asylum Seekers
This Council notes:
That refugees and asylum seekers are human beings who deserve our full respect and support.
The way in which Boris Johnson’s government talks about and presents refugees, who face their plight through no fault of their own, is deeply un-British, offensive and shameful.
Our own borough is home to people from all corners of the world and all wish to make a valuable contribution to our international community.
Brent is welcoming of refugees and asylum seekers. The collective leadership of every councillor is essential in ensuring that refugees who arrive in our community have access to needed support and are given the basic opportunities afforded to all in order that they can contribute to society.
Organisations like Care 4 Calais, English for Action, Salusbury World, Young Roots, amongst others, are doing crucial work in our community to help settle refugees and offer basic support, whether through English classes that they run or by seeking to address the immense mental trauma many refugees have and are experiencing.
The Brent Labour Manifesto promised that under Labour leadership, Brent Council will stand “ready to support refugees fleeing war in any way we can”. With the help of our outstanding voluntary sector and local residents, Brent has already given sanctuary to 154 people under the Homes for Ukrainians Scheme.
This Council believes:
In the UN Refugee Convention statutes that give right to any individuals seeking asylum. We believe that Brent has a moral duty to help those fleeing war and persecution. We continue to support the Alf Dubs amendment to the 2016 Immigration Act to allow unaccompanied child refugees in Europe to reunite with family members here in the UK after Brexit.
This Council therefore calls on the government to:
1. Drop its shameful, un-British Rwanda policy. The Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has set out the Labour Party position that “it is not a long term plan; it is a short term stunt and government gimmick.”
2. End the hostile environment pursued by successive Conservative Governments that seeks to criminalise people who have been forced to flee their homelands through no fault of their own.
3. Reverse the cuts to legal aid that have disproportionately affected those on lower incomes, BAME groups and women as well as refugees. The legal aid and family reunion system requires urgent reassessment and significant reform, with refugees denied justice due to drastic legal aid cuts.
4. Acknowledge asylum seekers are making dangerous, tragically, all too often, fatal journeys across Europe to seek sanctuary and safety and therefore must allow asylum seekers the legal right of passage into the UK.
5. Give refugees and asylum seekers the ability to play a full part in our society and economy by giving those who arrive in the UK a right to work quickly under defined and reasonable terms.
This Council also resolves to:
1. Immediately establish and publish a directory of ESOL provision within our borough on the Council website and also provide easy access benefit and other advice to those who need it.
2. Continue the award winning work of Brent Start which provides affordable training, including ESOL and English Language courses to over 8,000 learners a year. This Council continues its commitment to investing £43m into creating a new state of the art adult education centre at Morland Gardens – enabling many more ESOL learners to benefit from the Brent Start service.
3. Make representations to London Council as the body responsible for the Freedom Pass, to consider extending free bus travel to asylum seekers through the existing payment card system.
3. Organise a Brent Refugee Summit by the end of this year (2022), bringing together organisations, mainly in the voluntary sector, who are currently working to support refugees and asylum seekers locally. This will show a united and concerted effort from this Council that people who arrive locally are welcome here and that Brent will play our part in helping to settle people who given the tools will make hugely valuable contributions to our borough - as those who came before them always have.”
(3) The following Motion submitted by the Labour Group was AGREED:
“A Food Justice Strategy for Brent
Full Council notes that:
We are seeing a national food poverty emergency borne out of political choices and systemic failings from successive governments since austerity began in 2010. Recent Food Foundation data has recorded 7.3 million adults and 2.6 million children in UK households going without food or physically unable to get food in the past month
a) Food poverty should never be seen as inevitable: from 1997 to 2010 poverty reduced significantly,[1] showing that with sufficient political willpower these issues can be tackled.
b) The UK is in the midst of an economic recession, compounded by a cost-of-living crisis as energy bills soar, and the end of the £20 uplift to benefit payments. Food aid organisations are already far busier than before the pandemic, and they are braced for a steep rise in demand in the months ahead.
c) The result is an increasingly institutionalised food aid infrastructure, effectively now part of the welfare system. This system is subsidised by the public to the tune of hundreds of thousands of pounds in Brent alone. Food aid organisations act as a critical safety net for anyone unable to make ends meet – including those receiving all the benefits they are entitled to and many who are in work and still experiencing crisis.
d) The long-delayed Government Food Strategy was lauded as the plan to help address this growing crisis. It was supposed to lay out a vision for how we create, enhance, and protect sustainable food supplies. However, even the government’s own lead advisor Henry Dimbleby, whose review of Britain’s food system formed the basis for the document, said the White Paper did not amount to a strategy and could mean even more children going hungry.
e) The pandemic disproportionately impacted Black and racially minoritised communities in Brent. It underscored the injustice of food poverty for thousands of residents across the borough who were dependent on food banks and other forms of charitable food aid (including food parcels and vouchers from the council) for their day-to-day survival. As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a mushrooming of newly established food banks, and other forms of food support for vulnerable people provided by mutual aid groups, businesses and faith groups many of which still remain active.
f) Brent Labour stood on a local election manifesto to develop a ‘Right to Food’ pledge to confront spiralling food poverty by bringing together existing food aid organisations, growers, and other stakeholders to address rampant inequalities in accessing affordable, culturally appropriate, nutritious food in Brent.
g) A Brent Right to Food Summit was held in March 2022 at Cardinal Newman Catholic College with the participation of multiple Borough stakeholders, including Sufra NW London, Granville Community Kitchen, Brent Growers and Brent CVS. The Summit clearly reflected widespread concern over the urgency of tackling the ongoing food emergency, both nationally and locally in Brent.
Full Council also notes the work that is already being done to address food insecurity across Bent, including:
a) The appointment of Brent Council’s Food Justice Cabinet Champion.
b) The commitment in Brent Council’s recent Health and Wellbeing Strategy to ‘work with partners on a food strategy’ for our Borough.
c) The identification in the Health and Wellbeing Strategy of potentially positive food-related initiatives, ranging from healthier catering commitment to rolling out Incredible Edible schemes; diabetes prevention programmes, and guaranteeing a fair job for a fair wage across the food sector.
d) The publication in July 2020 of the Brent Poverty Commission’s Report which included sections on food poverty, recommending that the Council ‘supports the future sustainability of food aid agencies in the borough including by further developing community garden schemes’.
e) The continuing efforts by local mutual aid groups, the Brent Food Aid Network, Growing Brent, among countless others to mitigate food insecurity across our Borough.
f) The celebration in March 2022 of a Brent Food Summit aimed at identifying the various solutions and coordinating effective responses to the food injustices in the Borough.
Full Council therefore resolves to:
a) Declare Brent a Right to Food Borough, joining other local authorities across the country calling for the Right to Food to be enshrined into national law.
b) Request the inclusion within a Cabinet Member portfolio of responsibilityfor co-developing a Brent Food Justice Strategy with representatives of local food security stakeholders, aimed at addressing the structural causes of food poverty and inequality in Brent.
c) Strive toward a Brent without food banks, where food aid is drastically reduced to an emergency response to crises through ‘cash first’ solutions such as the scaling up of welfare advice services across the borough, as well as improved access to welfare assistance grants, school meals and supermarket vouchers for anyone in need. We want an end to normalising emergency food aid as a routine form of addressing food insecurity.
d) Support existing food aid providers through the allocation of land and suitable premises to establish or improve access to urban agriculture, community food gardens, social supermarkets and community kitchens among other initiatives; and ensure market space is available – especially in or near areas of deprivation – to distribute nutritious, affordable and culturally-appropriate food to local residents
e) Work towards a ‘Right to Food’ dimension when formulating policy so that food becomes part of the Council’sdecision-making equation.”
(4) The following Motion submitted by the Labour Group was AGREED:
“Zero Hours Justice Campaign
Full Council notes:
1. The use of zero-hour contracts has risen over the last decade, meaning there are an increasing number of workers who do not have a guaranteed number of working hours each week.
2. In Brent, it is estimated that of our residents in employment, nearly 30% are in roles which are low-paying and earn less than a living wage.
3. There are very few roles in which zero hours contracts suit the worker. For the majority, such contracts nearly always provide one-sided flexibility in favour of the employer.
4. Workers on zero-hour contracts face financial insecurity as a result of:
a. the insecurity of not knowing how many hours they are working from week-to-week and, sometimes, from day-to-day;
b. getting too few hours to financially make ends meet;
c. spending money to be able to work and then being out-of-pocket when hours are cancelled (travel costs, childcare costs etc.);
d. getting hours at the last minute and having to make urgent arrangements for childcare or other caring responsibilities, or cancel social plans; and
e. the fear of refusing hours lest it results in fewer hours being offered, or bullying and harassment from the employer.
5. Brent Labour stood on an election manifesto pledge to campaign for a new deal for workers’ rights, including the cessation of fire and rehire and the right to regular hours of work.
6. Brent Council uses the commissioning process to ensure that providers never need to make use of exploitative zero hour contracts. Like most local authorities though we make use of time limited contracts to bring in specialists or agency workers with specific skills when we need to boost our workforce.
Full Council believes:
That despite the government promising on numerous occasion new legislation to provide better security for workers on zero-hour contracts, it has failed to do so. At present, the council is unable to legally enforce against such working practises.
That good work should equal good pay and the right to regular hours of work. As an anchor institution Brent Council is proud to be a local employer that does not and will not use zero-hour contracts.
That this Council should support the work of Zero Hours Justice, an organisation which seeks to end exploitative zero-hours contracts by providing help for workers on such contracts, and supporting businesses and other organisations that either do not use zero-hours contracts or only do so in accordance to minimal criteria.
Full Council therefore resolves:
(1) To lead by example, reaffirming our commitment to our workforce to provide security, prosperity and respect in our employment; and work towards a zero-hours Justice Accreditation.
(2) Never to unilaterally impose any zero-hour contracts on our directly employed staff.
(3) To continue working with our suppliers and providers to ensure employment rights are followed; and discourage any indirect zero-hour contracts via agency or third-party contractor.”
[1] (for instance the Institute for Fiscal Studies notes that the number of children in relative poverty fell by over 1.1 million from 1997-2010)
11/07/2022 - Report from the Vice-Chair of the Audit Advisory Committee ref: 6054 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
NOTED the update report provided by the Vice Chair of the Audit & Standards Advisory Committee.
11/07/2022 - Report from Chairs of Scrutiny Committees ref: 6053 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
NOTED the update reports provided by the Chairs of the Community and Wellbeing and Resources & Public Realm and Scrutiny Committees.
Responses were also provided by the relevant Scrutiny Chair on the following additional question raised during the open session of this part of the meeting:
· Councillor Kansagra seeking an assurance regarding the opportunities that would be made available to opposition group members on each Scrutiny Committee to contribute towards the scrutiny process.
11/07/2022 - Questions from the Opposition and other Non-Cabinet Members ref: 6052 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
NOTED
1. The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action to a question submitted by Councillor Long regarding the criteria and investment being made available to improve the condition of yellow lines, parking bays and pedestrian crossings particularly where they had been worn or were in need of replacement.
2. The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action to a question submitted by Councillor Mitchell in relation to the work being undertaken in partnership with other agencies, such as the NHS, to promote more active modes of travel and ensure that families and schools were engaged to support the healthy and school streets initiative.
3. The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet Member for Public Health and Adult Social Care to a question submitted by Councillor Choudry regarding the additional support and work being undertaken by the Council with multi-faith organisations, charities and other community organisations in seeking to tackle the level of health inequalities identified across the borough, with a particularly focus on Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic communities.
4. The written response provided by the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action to a question submitted by Councillor Mistry regarding the repair and replacement of footways and highways within the Kingsbury High Road, Preston Road and Wembley area. No supplementary question was received.
5. The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Leader of the Council (on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Planning) to a question submitted by Councillor Georgiou regarding the fire safety of tall buildings, their suitability in relation to providing family accommodation and Council’s policy in relation to the placing of families (particularly with young children) in properties above the 5th floor level in tall buildings.
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 Chan seeking to recognise the success of the local community campaign in Harlesden and Kensal Green to oppose an application for an Adult Gaming Centre in the area and to reaffirm the Council’s opposition to these type of centres within the borough.
· Councillor Kansagra regarding the decision made, as part of the changes to the Constitution approved at the Annual Council meeting, to remove the requirement for the Vice-Chair position on each of the Council’s Scrutiny Committee’s to be allocated to the opposition group(s).
· Councillor Kelcher seeking to recognise and congratulate the young people who had participated in the wayfinding competition run in Harlesden and Kensal Green for the posters they had produced for display to raise awareness around air quality and climate change and regarding the potential to extend the initiative in order to further engage young people across the borough.
· Councillor Afzal regarding the different between the Council’s and Governments approach towards tackling the pandemic, cost of living crisis and policy in respect of refugees and asylum seekers and stance being taken by the Council in welcoming and supporting diversity across Brent and providing opportunities for everyone, regardless of their background, to succeed.
· Councillor Mahmood regarding the provision of enhanced public realm cleansing services and update on the consultation regarding the Redefining Local Services procurement arrangements.
· Councillor Kennelly regarding the action being taken to address concerns raised in relation to repair and maintenance works on a local housing estate within Preston ward.
· Councillor Lorber seeking further clarification on consultation being undertaken in relation to the future use of Alperton Community Centre and engagement with local community representatives and ward councillors.
11/07/2022 - Non Cabinet Members' Debate ref: 6055 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
Having declared the following amendment moved by on behalf of the Liberal Democrats Group LOST:
To add as additional actions under the following section:
“This Council therefore resolves:
· To reinstate the upgrading of the Personal Tax Allowance and the basic rate tax band with inflation to avoid lower paid people falling into the tax net.
· To reinstate the £20 pw Universal Credit payment to those on low incomes.
· To introduce a Windfall Tax on Supermarkets making exceptional profits as a result of rising prices.
· To resolve the issue of Fair Funding for London Transport to avoid further cuts in public transport and above inflation rises in fares.”
To add as additional actions at the end of the motion:
“As part of the Review into what the Council can do specifically:
· To consider the use of Reserves (such as the £5.2 million no longer required for meeting past London wide Pension liabilities) to mitigate a 2023/24 Council Tax Rise.
· To look at all Council Charges such Parking Permits, Toobig for the bin, Green bin collections and others with a view to reducing any which are generating income beyond the economic cost of providing the service.
· To provide additional resources to those Advice agencies which provide direct advice and support to residents in managing their debts, which assist residents in claiming additional benefits such as pension Credit and those which advise on how to reduce the use of their cars through more walking, cycling and use of public transport and reduce their domestic energy costs by switching of unnecessary appliances and gadgets.
Finally:
The Council also agrees to suspend free parking for Councillors (except those registered as disabled) using the Civic Centre Car Park and allocates all additional income generated from freeing up paid for parking spaces to a fund to assist local residents in most need.”
The following substantive motion was AGREED as the outcome of the non-cabinet member debate:
Leaving No One Behind: Declaring a Cost-of-Living Emergency
This Council notes:
That Brent and its residents are struggling due to the cost-of-living crisis. For many residents this will have been the most difficult decade they have ever experienced.
In April 2022, the Government increased National Insurance by 1.25%; this is projected to cost the average Brent resident an additional £295 per year.
On 1 April 2022 Ofgem increased the energy price cap by 54 per cent, with the average standard tariff energy bill set to increase by up to £693 per year.
Inflation is now confirmed at 9% with the fastest rate of increase for 40 years. Inflation has been higher in London than the national average.
In the meantime, at least 25% of the people who work in Brent earn less than the real Living Wage for London.
The LGA estimates that without adequate long-term funding the collective increase in inflationary costs faced by English councils this year will be £2.4bn, growing to £3bn in 2023-24 and £3.6bn in 2024-25.
Local councils up and down the country are the last line of defence in supporting residents during the cost of living crisis.
Figures show that over 5,000 residents presented at Brent Hubs in need of food aid between April 2019 to January 2022.
Between December 2020 and March 2022, the Council distributed £5.5m through grants to Brent residents, supporting the families of approximately 12,000 eligible children and young people with supermarket vouchers during each of the school holidays.
The Brent Resident Support Fund (RSF), has been in place since August 2020: it has supported 2,658 applicants with a total of £5.2 million in cash grants.
This Council believes:
Many of the services we all rely on are in a state of managed decline, starved of sustainable funding.
Inflation is not going to come down overnight and the impact on our local services could be disastrous. In Brent, our council has already cut nearly £200m from our budget, severely curtailing the services offered to residents.
In our local NHS Trust there are over 50k residents on the waiting list for care.
Residents are seeing tax hikes, energy bills soaring and petrol and food prices rising drastically.
Beneath the cost of living crisis, there is a mounting mental health crisis and a housing crisis that never went away.
The average home in Brent costs more than 16 times the average annual salary in the area, 9 times above the English average.
Given the seriousness of the situation this council believes it should speak with one voice to those in power and raise the alarm on behalf of residents across each and every one of our 22 wards and declare a “Cost of Living Emergency”.
This Council therefore resolves:
To declare a “Cost of Living Emergency”.
As part of this, to call on the Government to take the following practical steps in order to help our resident’s incomes stretch further.
· To stabilise the foundations of our economy by providing emergency support for business, reducing their costs and limiting the price rises they pass on to consumers.
· To reverse the planned increases to National Insurance, protect our residents by reducing the burden of VAT on everyday goods; and increase welfare support in-line with the rate of inflation.
· To immediately use revenue from a windfall tax on oil and gas producers to help Brent families with their energy bills.
· To provide security for the winter and beyond by providing the financial support necessary to retrofit and insulate homes, while looking to the future with commitments to utilise more renewable sources of energy in the National Grid.
· To put in place a longer-term approach to economic growth and security, under-pinned by an industrial strategy. “This Council notes:
To conduct a full review into what the council can offer Brent families struggling with the cost of living emergency and ensure that the voice of local people is at the centre of its response.”
11/07/2022 - Petitions (if any) ref: 6047 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
No petitions were presented at the meeting.
11/07/2022 - Questions from Members of the Public & Brent Youth Parliament ref: 6046 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
NOTED
1. The written response provided by the Cabinet Member for Community Engagement, Equalities and Culture to a public question submitted by M. Whiteley regarding the Council’s membership of the Stonewall Diversity Champions Scheme. No supplementary question was received.
2. The written and supplementary verbal response provided by the Cabinet for Children, Young People and Schools to a question submitted by Brent Youth Parliament regarding the support and funding available to assist in development of the Brent Youth Strategy and youth engagement forums.
11/07/2022 - Deputations (if any) ref: 6060 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
NOTED the deputation received from Mr John Poole regarding pollution in Wealdstone Brook and support residents were seeking to address the issues identified. Having reminded members about the course of the brook running through Harrow & Brent, he highlighted the detrimental impact on residents as a result of the current levels of pollution, including untreated sewage, within the brook. Concerns were expressed at what he regarded as a lack of co-ordination between relevant agencies in seeking to tackle the issues and also that the Council had not sought to declare the current levels of pollution as a major incident, given what he felt to be the impact on public health, with examples provided at the meeting. As a result he urged the Council to ensure those agencies responsible took the necessary steps to clean up the pollution within the brook and also rectify the cause of the problems.
In responding to the deputation, Councillor Krupa Sheth, as Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action advised that she recognised the frustrations and concerns expressed regarding current levels of contamination within the brook. As a result she highlighted the work being undertaken with Thames Water and the Environment Agency (as the main regulatory bodies with shared responsibility for maintenance of the brook) in seeking to ensure the necessary action was taken to not only clear the pollution but also to detect and rectify the source, which it was understood had been linked to wrongly connected foul sewers and the unlawful discharge of toxic substances. In explaining the reasons for not seeking to declare a major incident, members were also advised of the work being undertaken with Public Health to monitor the impact on the local population with no evidence of any specific associated health issues being highlighted to date. In summing up and thanking Mr Poole for his deputation, an assurance was provided that work would continue with the relevant partner agencies to ensure the necessary action was taken to address and respond to the pollution within the brook.
11/07/2022 - Reports from the Leader and Cabinet ref: 6048 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
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 thank the representatives from Brent Youth Parliament for their attendance and contribution at the meeting and to confirm the Council’s commitment to continue supporting the work they were undertaking on behalf of young people across the borough. In addition, he highlighted the success and welcomed the level of local community engagement in the recent participatory budget process and work being undertaken by the Council in terms of supporting those most in need with tackling the cost of living crisis and in order to ensure everyone had the opportunity to succeed. Members also noted the list of urgent Executive decisions taken since the last Council meeting, as tabled at the meeting.
11/07/2022 - Appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies and of an Independent Person ref: 6062 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
AGREED
(1) the following change in appointments to Outside Bodies:
(b) Old Oak & Park Royal Development Corporation (OPDC) Planning Committee – to appoint Councillor S.Butt as Deputy.
(c) London Housing Consortium – to appoint Councillor Knight as Full Council representative and Councillor Farah as Deputy up to disbandment of the existing governance arrangements in December 2022.
(d) Capital Letters – to appoint Councillor Knight as the Council representative.
(e) London Councils Greater London Employment Forum – Councillor Muhammed Butt to replace Councillor Eleanor Southwood as the Council’s full representative.
(f) Edward Harvist Trust – to confirm the appointment of Councillor Afzal as the Council’s nominated Trustee having noted the clarification provided that the Council was only entitled to nominate one Trustee with no provision for substitute/reserve Members.
(2) To confirm the appointment of Julie Byrom to fill the vacant position as an Independent Person until 2026.
(3) To note that the two existing Independent Persons - William Goh and Kier Hopley, will continue in post until 2025.
11/07/2022 - Mayor's Announcements (including any petitions received) ref: 6040 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
Announcements from the Mayor were noted in relation to:
· Recent events attended by the Mayor – including Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations, LGBTQ+ Flag Raising ceremony, Brent Refugee Week celebrations, Brent Looked After Children celebration, presentation of bronze bust Rolling Stones Fan Club, Srebrenica Memorial Event and Pride of Brent Awards.
· Death of former Councillor Angela Sheppard.
· Queen’s Birthday Honours.
· 100th birthday celebrations.
· Changes to Council Management Team and tributes to Gail Tolley, Shazia Hussain and Alan Lunt.
· Petitions
11/07/2022 - Declarations of Interest ref: 6039 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
No declarations of interest were made at the meeting.
11/07/2022 - Minutes of the Previous Meeting ref: 6038 For Determination
Decision Maker: Council
Made at meeting: 11/07/2022 - Council
Decision published: 15/07/2022
Effective from: 11/07/2022
Decision:
AGREED that the minutes of the Annual Council meeting held on Wednesday 18 May 2022 be approved as a correct record.