The Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee met on Wednesday 29 July 2026 to discuss the council's highways maintenance, budget update, and the emerging High Streets Strategy. Key discussions included the performance of highways maintenance services, the council's financial position and medium-term outlook, and plans for revitalising town centres.

Highways Maintenance Report

The committee discussed Brent Council's highways maintenance service, noting a significant increase in investment in planned maintenance in recent years. The council's approach to managing its highway network, including roads, footways, bridges, and street lighting, was explained, distinguishing between reactive and planned maintenance. The strategy prioritises planned maintenance, aligning with national best practice for long-term value. Investment in planned highway maintenance has increased, supported by a multi-year programme and the use of digital survey technology and artificial intelligence. Challenges such as inflationary pressures, increasing traffic volumes, and the impact of climate change were acknowledged. Opportunities for improvement, including strengthening customer communication, enhancing performance reporting, and further developing the Highway Asset Management Plan, were identified.

Budget Update & Medium-Term Financial Strategy

The committee received an update on Brent's financial position, examining the outturn for 2025/26, the Quarter 1 forecast for 2026/27, and the medium-term financial outlook.

Financial Outturn 2025/26: The General Fund recorded an overspend of £18.3 million, with the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) overspending by £6.6 million. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) reported a break-even position. The capital programme delivered £209.8 million in expenditure against a revised budget of £328.9 million. Significant pressures were noted in social care and homelessness services, with Adult Social Care overspending by £8.3 million and Residents and Housing Services reporting an £11.7 million overspend. The DSG deficit increased to £20.2 million.

Quarter 1 Forecast 2026/27: The General Fund is forecasting an overspend of £9.5 million, with significant pressures within Housing Needs and Support. The DSG is forecasting an in-year overspend of £18.2 million, increasing the cumulative deficit to £38.4 million. The Capital Programme is forecasting an outturn of £326.6 million against a revised budget of £348.0 million. The council is implementing spending controls and seeking further in-year savings.

Medium Term Financial Outlook: The MTFS forecasts a cumulative budget gap of approximately £50 million by 2031/32, driven by increasing costs for statutory services due to inflation, demographic change, and growing complexity of need. The council has delivered significant savings since 2010, and future sustainability will rely on transformation, service redesign, digital innovation, and income generation. The capital programme is projected to exceed £1.25 billion over five years.

Revitalising High Streets and Town Centres

The committee discussed the council's approach to revitalising high streets and town centres and provided feedback on the emerging High Streets Strategy. Brent's town centres play a crucial role in supporting the Borough Plan's priorities. The council's approach is informed by the Brent Local Plan and the Town Centres Strategy, focusing on supporting local economies, improving the public realm, and promoting town centres as unique cultural destinations. Brent's town centres generally perform well with vacancy rates below London and national averages, though performance varies between centres. Accessibility to town centres is generally good, with 77.5% of Brent's population living within a 15-minute walk. Town centres contribute significantly to employment in Brent. Challenges include the intensification of online shopping, pressures on the hospitality sector, and the cost-of-living crisis. The council's town centre team relies heavily on external grants. The emerging High Streets Strategy aims to create Destination Brent by coordinating partners and developing specific visions for individual town centres, considering contemporary evidence and promoting community engagement.

Work Programme 2026/27

The committee reviewed its work programme for the municipal year 2026/27, which includes items such as the budget update, highways maintenance, and the revitalisation of high streets and town centres, alongside other topics aligned with the Borough Plan's strategic priorities. The work programme is a flexible document that can be adapted throughout the year.

Other Matters

The committee also noted the report on the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee Work Programme for 2026/27.

The meeting was held on Wednesday 29 July 2026.