Brent Renters' Rights Event next week

Philip Grant's victory at Scrutiny Committee a positive sign for the future?

Brent's new Scrutiny Committee got off to a promising start yesterday evening when it approved an amendment to the minutes of the last Commiteee Meeting that has been requested by Philip Grant. Philip had been denied the opportunity to speak at that meeting, the last of the old Committee, because he would not agree to the condition that he should not mention the findings of the Employment Tribunal which found Brent Council and Cara Davani had racially discrimination against an employee, victimised her and constructively dismissed her.

Despite officer advice from Peter Goss that the amendment would unbalance the Minutes, being a paragraph long, the Committee voted to accept the amendment:

Minutes of Scrutiny Committee on 30 April 2015 – a proposed amendment to item 2.

a) The minute as it appears in the draft minutes published on the Brent Council website on 8 June 2015:-

2. Deputations (if any) Minutes:  The Chair advised that a request to speak had been received from Mr Grant with respect to the Equalities and HR Policies and Practices Review and draft Action Plan. The committee was informed that in line with advice provided by Brent’s Chief Legal Officer, it would not be appropriate to discuss an ongoing legal case. Mr Grant advised that he would not be able to make his deputation under these terms. The committee subsequently agreed not to receive the deputation. Councillor Allie expressed the view that the deputation should be heard.  RESOLVED: That permission to address the committee be not granted, in accordance with legal advice provided.

b) Amendment requested by Philip Grant, the Brent resident who had given valid notice to speak as Deputation at that meeting:- 

Delete the sentence:

‘Mr Grant advised that he would not be able to make his deputation under these terms.’ ... and replace it with: 

‘Mr Grant advised that he could not accept the restriction which the Chief Legal Officer wished to impose, and went on to explain why. He said that Cllr. Pavey’s review had been set up to learn the lessons from that Employment Tribunal case, and one of the points he wished to make in his deputation was that an important lesson from it had not been learned. Reference to the case was also necessary to explain what he wished to say about the draft Action Plan, which Scrutiny Committee was being asked to give its views on. The case was relevant to the committee’s consideration of item 9 on its agenda, and could not be ignored. The Council lawyer present advised that the case was not fully concluded, so should not be referred to. Mr Grant responded that he would only be referring to findings of fact in the Tribunal’s Judgment of September 2014, which was not under appeal. Those findings were final, so he could not see how any reference to them would prejudice the position of any party to the remaining “remedy” hearing.’

It is good to see the Committee acting independently as well as Philip Grant's persistence paying off.

Join the Green Bloc on End Austerity NOW! Demonstration June 20th

Saturday 20th June

Green Bloc Assemble: 11:30 am
St Paul's Cathedral (in front of the steps)
Tube: St Paul's
Green Party Stall: 11 am
Bank of England (Queen Victoria Street) 
Tube: Bank 

March to Parliament Square
Route map

Join the facebook event

Health and Childcare on Agenda for Brent Scrutiny Committee next week

The revamped Scrutiny Committee meets on Tuesday June 16th at the Brent Civic Centre.  As it takes quite a bit of navigation to find the agenda on the Brent Council website here are the main items:

Paediatric Services in Brent PDF 200 KB This joint report produced on behalf of Brent Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and London North West Healthcare NHS Trust (LNWHT) provides an overview and summary of Paediatric Services provided to Brent residents.  The report summarises current paediatric provision in Brent and sets out the potential impact on Northwick Park Hospital of the changes to paediatric services at Ealing Hospital taking place on 30 June 2016.

Access to Extended GP Services and Primary Care in Brent - Interim Report PDF 400 KB

This report provides interim feedback on the work of the Scrutiny Task Group focused on Access to Extended GP Services and Primary Care in Brent.  The report outlines the task group scope and methodology and provides an overview of emerging findings and recommendations. 

Public Health - priorities and progress PDF 171 KB

As a result of the Health and Social Care Act 2012, local authorities have new responsibilities for public health. This report outlines these responsibilities and how the Council is discharging these.

Access to affordable childcare PDF 1 MB This report looks at the challenge of providing access to affordable, quality childcare.

In a report LINK  to the June 22nd Cabinet Scrutiny Chair Dan Filson writes:

In May 2015 the Council selected five new members to serve on the Scrutiny Committee. Scrutiny training was arranged for committee members and this took place on 9 June, with two substitute members taking part. The first scheduled Scrutiny Committee was scheduled for 16 June. The Chair of the Committee can add an oral report on any issues arising. 

The Chair of the Committee has held initial meetings with officers to discuss the process for developing a 2015-16 programme of work and will meet with the full Scrutiny Committee over the coming days to develop further the forward plan. It is unlikely the Committee will map out fully how the forthcoming year will be used as the Committee will want to retain some flexibility as to its programme, not least so it can respond to issues as they may arise and to ensure room for issues that members of the wider public may suggest.

The Chair has invited all members of the Council, not just members of theCommittee, to make proposals for items for inclusion in the work programmeand these will be reviewed by the Committee, as will ideas submitted by the public. Scrutiny Committee will also review the Cabinet Forward Plan andconsider reports from such task groups as are created. The Committee will make greater use of time-limited task groups involving a small group of councillors and others, usually led by a member of Scrutiny Committee.