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Summary
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The Cabinet of Brent Council met on Monday 07 April 2025, approving recommendations on community-led housing, a local flood risk management strategy, and a new approach to community cohesion events. Key discussions also included updates on building safety at Lynton Close travellers' site, the amalgamation of Malorees Infant and Junior Schools, and a funding contribution towards the West London Orbital rail scheme.
Community Led Housing in Brent - Extension to Brentfield Road Site Agreement
The Cabinet confirmed that the Brentfield Road site will continue to be ring-fenced for community-led housing development by Brent Community Land Trust (BCLT) until March 2026. Authority was delegated to the Corporate Director of Neighbourhoods and Regeneration to certify whether BCLT has met specific criteria for gifting the site for a period of 250 years. Upon meeting these criteria, the Council will enter into a lease agreement with BCLT. The Cabinet also agreed in principle to consider the use of appropriation for planning purposes to support the development and prevent legal injunctions from frustrating the scheme.
Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
The Cabinet approved the updated Flood Risk Management Strategy for Brent. This strategy details actions the Council and other key stakeholders will take to manage flood risk in the borough, aiming to improve understanding of flood risks, reduce the risk of flooding for people and businesses, provide clear information on roles and responsibilities, ensure effective emergency plans, and take a sustainable approach to flood management. The strategy has been revised following consultation with stakeholders, including local residents, businesses, neighbouring boroughs, Thames Water, and the Environment Agency.
New Approach to Marking and Celebrating Community Cohesion and Inclusion Events
The Cabinet endorsed a new approach to marking and celebrating community cohesion and inclusion events, replacing the existing strategy agreed in 2011. This new Enabler Approach
aims to provide clarity and consistency for all stakeholders, enabling the Council to focus resources on quality events and empower communities to lead initiatives that matter to them. The approach includes a dedicated grant funding pot of £30,000 per year for three years to support community-led events, with a maximum award of £1,000 per event, or £5,000 for collaboratively organised events. A minimum offer of annually organised events was also agreed, including Holocaust Memorial Day, Race Equality Week (internal), Refugee Week, Disability Pride Month, National Inclusion Week (internal), Black History Month, and Islamophobia Awareness Month. Religious and faith events will not be part of the core offer but can be supported through the grant funding.
Housing Management - Building Safety Update, New Building Safety Policy and Update on Fire Safety at Lynton Close
The Cabinet noted the performance update on building safety compliance streams within housing management property services. They also noted the update on fire safety at the Lynton Close Travellers site, where an FRA had deemed the site to be at 'Intolerable Risk' due to overcrowding and associated fire safety risks. The Cabinet endorsed the new Building Safety Policy for the Housing Management Service, which aims to ensure residents' homes are kept safe and outlines expectations for both the service and residents.
Outcome of Informal Consultation on Amalgamation of Malorees Infant School and Malorees Junior School
The Cabinet approved a period of formal consultation on proposals to amalgamate Malorees Infant School and Malorees Junior School into a single primary school. This will involve the closure of Malorees Junior School, the expansion of Malorees Infant School's age range to include children aged 3-11, and the renaming of Malorees Infant School to Malorees Primary School. The amalgamation is proposed for the long-term benefit of children, staff, and the school community, aiming to provide a stronger school identity, unified culture, and more efficient use of resources. The informal consultation revealed significant opposition from parents and staff, primarily due to concerns about funding reductions and potential impacts on education quality. However, the Governing Board and Council officers believe these concerns can be mitigated.
LGA Corporate Peer Challenge - Feedback Report and Action Plan
The Cabinet noted the feedback report from the Local Government Association's Corporate Peer Challenge and approved the associated Action Plan. The review identified Brent as a well-performing council with a positive culture and a good track record, particularly in housing development. However, it also highlighted areas for improvement, including breaking down siloed working, addressing the temporary accommodation crisis, strengthening financial management, and improving social housing performance. The Action Plan outlines steps to address these recommendations, with a focus on collaboration, strategic planning, and service transformation.
Funding Contribution Towards Next Stage Development Costs for West London Orbital Scheme
The Cabinet agreed to contribute £465,516, plus a £150,000 contingency, funded from Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL), towards the next stage of development for the West London Orbital (WLO) rail scheme. This funding is for the Option Selection stage (GRIP 3) of the project. The WLO scheme is supported by the Council's Local Plan and Long-Term Transport Strategy, and is considered crucial infrastructure to support development and growth in the borough, offering significant economic, social, and environmental benefits.
Authority to Participate in Collaborative Procurement in Respect of a New London Sexual Health and Contraception E-Service
The Cabinet approved Brent Council's participation in a collaborative procurement process with 30 other London boroughs for a new London Sexual Health and Contraception E-Service. This initiative, led by the City of London Corporation, aims to provide free and discrete STI testing and treatment online for less complex needs, alongside access to contraception. The e-service is seen as a way to improve patient choice, manage demand, and free up clinical resources for more complex cases, aligning with the Council's A Healthier Brent
strategic priority.
Other Decisions
The Cabinet also approved the 2025-26 i4B Holdings Ltd Business Plan and Service Level Agreement, and the 2025-26 First Wave Housing Ltd Business Plan and Service Level Agreement. They also approved changes to Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rates for 2025-26, including discretionary rate relief schemes and premiums on empty properties and second homes. The Council Tax Discretionary Reduction Policy and the allocation of the Household Support Fund extension were also approved. The Q3 Corporate Performance update for 2024-25 was noted, as was the refreshed Brent Youth Strategy 2025-2028. The 2024-26 Carriageway Maintenance Programme and associated budget allocations were approved, as was the authority to tender for a Day Opportunities Framework for community-based activities for adults.
The minutes of the previous meeting held on 10 March 2025 were approved, and no declarations of interest were made. There were no items of urgent business or items requiring the exclusion of the press and public.
Delegated decisions linked to this meeting
Decision summaries below are AI-generated from the council’s published record. Check the council source or the full decision page before relying on them.
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Community Led Housing in Brent - Extension to Brentfield Road site agreement
Recommendations Approved...to support community-led housing, the Cabinet agreed to ring-fence the Brentfield Road site for Brent Community Land Trust until March 2026, delegated authority for key decisions regarding the project's progression, and agreed in principle to consider using appropriation for planning purposes.
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Petitions (if any)
Recommendations Approved...to note the petition regarding fire safety risks and future provision at Lynton Close Travellers site, acknowledge concerns raised by residents, and reaffirm the council's commitment to addressing safety issues while seeking alternative sites and supporting the community, including progressing a Waking Watch scheme.
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Matters Arising (if any)
Recommendations Approved...to approve the recommendations, as no matters arising were identified.
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Local Flood Risk Management Strategy
Recommendations Approved... to approve the Flood Risk Strategy for Brent as detailed in Section 3 and appended to the report.
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New approach to marking and celebrating community cohesion and inclusion events
Recommendations Approved...to endorse a new "Enabler Approach" to community cohesion and inclusion events, replacing the 2011 approach with a focus on empowering communities through funding and support, while establishing a minimum events offer and clarifying the council's role.
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LGA Corporate Peer Challenge - Feedback Report and Action Plan
Recommendations Approved...to note and approve the Corporate Peer Challenge feedback report from the LGA and the Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan, which includes establishing a strategic culture approach by engaging a specialist consultant to map Brent's cultural and creative landscape.
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Brent Local Development Scheme
Recommendations Approved...to approve the Brent Local Development Scheme as set out in Appendix A, which outlines the Council's planning policy project plan and identifies the current development plan documents for the borough, as well as the local development documents that will be progressed to update and supplement the borough's Local Plan for the next three years.
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Housing Management - Building safety update, new Building Safety Policy and update on fire safety at Lynton Close
Recommendations Approved...to note the performance update against key compliance streams, the update on fire safety at Lynton Close, and to endorse the Building Safety Policy.
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Any other urgent business
Recommendations Approved...to approve the recommendations, noting there were no items of urgent business to discuss.
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Exclusion of Press and Public
Recommendations Approved...that no items on the agenda required the exclusion of the press or public.
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Reference of item considered by Scrutiny Committees (if any)
Recommendations Approved...to approve the recommendations, as no items were referred from the Community Wellbeing or Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committees.
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Minutes of the Previous Meeting
Recommendations Approved...to approve the minutes of the previous Cabinet meeting held on March 10, 2025, as an accurate record.
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Declarations of Interest
Recommendations Approved...that no declarations of interest were made during the meeting of the Cabinet of Brent Council on Monday 07 April 2025.
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Apologies for Absence
Recommendations Approved...to note the apologies for absence from Councillor Grahl, Councillor Krupa Sheth, and Alice Lester, with Gerry Ansell attending as Alice Lester's representative, and to approve the recommendations.
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Outcome of Informal Consultation on Amalgamation of Malorees Infant School and Malorees Junior School
Recommendations Approved...to proceed with a formal consultation, through publication of a statutory notice, on proposals to close Malorees Junior School, expand the age range of Malorees Infant School to admit children aged between 3 – 11, and change the name of Malorees Infant School to Malorees Primary School.
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Authority to Participate in Collaborative Procurement in respect of a new London Sexual Health and Contraception E-service
Recommendations Approved...to participate in a collaborative procurement with 30 other London boroughs for a new London Sexual Health and Contraception E-service, exempting the procurement from usual tendering requirements and delegating authority for contract award and inter-authority agreements to the Director of Public Health in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Leisure.
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Funding contribution towards next stage development costs for West London Orbital scheme
Recommendations Approved...to contribute £465,516, with a £150,000 contingency, from the Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy towards the next stage of development for the West London Orbital rail scheme, delegating authority for final contingency approval to the Corporate Director Neighbourhoods and Regeneration in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning and Property.
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