The Brent Council Cabinet met to discuss budget proposals for 2026-27, approve a health and wellbeing hub in Gladstone Park, and address school place planning. Councillors also approved adopting the socio-economic duty to reduce inequality and backed a collaborative procurement for sexual health services.

Experimental Traffic Order Scheme

Sanjay Azeem Nazarali, lead petitioner, spoke against the experimental traffic order (ETO) scheme between Kingswood Avenue and Salusbury Road, stating that it had created division in the community. He said that a report stated that 1,400 petitioners welcomed the scheme, which he claimed was untrue, and that the officer investigating the complaint about the report was the same officer who wrote it. He also said that local councillors had been silent on the issue. He asked the council to cancel the ETO and develop more holistic solutions.

Councillor Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Enforcement, responded that the council welcomed all feedback and that officers would consider it alongside traffic surveys, air quality results, and other data.

Councillor Neil Nerva, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Leisure, highlighted the challenge of managing traffic in inner-city areas and said he hoped the council could come up with clear recommendations soon. He also welcomed the traffic study for the west side of Chamberlayne Road.

Willesden Green Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub

The cabinet approved the allocation of £2.97m Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) funding to support the redevelopment of the Gladstone Park Youth and Community Centre site into the Willesden Green Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub. The hub will provide modern health services, community amenities, and wellbeing spaces.

Dr Mohamed Najim, lead GP at Wallsdon Green Surgery and NHS Brent's Clinical Director for Health Inequalities, outlined the proposal, stating that his practice had outgrown its current premises and that the new hub would be a state-of-the-art, flagship integrated health and wellbeing hub. Tom Shakespeare, the Managing Director of Brent's ICP, said the proposal was in line with the overall strategy and direction of travel around the development of neighbourhood hubs.

Councillor Teo Benea, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning & Property, said the current building was beyond economic repair and that the proposal would replace it with a modern hub that reflects the needs and aspiration of the local community.

Councillor Grahl, as the Ward Councillor for Cricklewood and Matesbury, said she was excited about the proposals and that there would be a new community hall incorporated into the premises at the behest of local residents. She requested that the future naming of the site acknowledge that it is situated in Cricklewood and Matesbury, not in Wilson Green.

Councillor Mili Patel, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources, thanked Dr Najim for listening to the council and coming back with something that aligns with what the council wants to achieve.

Councillor Nerva said the combination of funding sources was very good news and that the hub would include a whole range of community facilities, including a paddle court and a pharmacy.

School Place Planning Strategy

The cabinet approved the second refresh of the School Place Planning Strategy 2024-2028, which aims to provide sufficient, sustainable, and high-quality school places for every child in Brent.

Councillor Daniel Keneally spoke in support of the strategy, specifically those relating to the Strathcona sites, and the expansion of local SEND provision.

Councillor Grahl said a key priority was the expansion of local SEM provision and that the council was committed to reducing its reliance on costly out-of-borough placements.

Draft Budget 2026-27

The cabinet agreed to consult on the draft budget proposals for 2026-27, which includes a council tax increase of 4.99%. The budget aims to address a £30 million budget gap over the next three years.

Councillor Mili Patel said that the Labour Party were in office in Brent, in London and in nationally and this is a huge privilege. She said that the government had introduced the Renters' Rights Act to private tenants and is passing the biggest uplift of workers' rights in a generation. She said that the mayor is cleaning up London's toxic air and providing free school meals so our children are fuelled up and ready to learn. She said that the council is investing record sums of neighbourhood community infrastructure levy in our public spaces and building the homes that the next generation deserves.

She said that the proposal of 4.99% of council tax rise in 2026-27 is not a decision that we take lightly but we will raise £9.1 million to protect those vital frontline services. She said that through our council tax support scheme and the hardship funds we'll continue to shield households from the sharpest pressures of the cost of living crisis.

Councillor Promise Knight said the budget reflects a commitment to improving customer service and resident support by streamlining processes, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens and ensuring quicker access to the help that residents need.

Councillor Grahl said that within her own department, which is children and young people, we're continuing to see some really sharp financial challenges, particularly associated with the high cost of children's residential placements.

Councillor Krupa Sheth said that despite the financial pressures, Brent continues to deliver on the things that matter most to our residents, and that is something to celebrate. She said that the council is investing over $14 million into our public realm, improvements, repairing roads and pavements, upgrading street lighting, enhancing parks and play areas, and expanding our CCTV network to keep neighbourhoods safe.

Councillor Teo Benea said that despite wider market pressures, Brent is still building the homes our residents need. He said that just last week, the Planning Committee approved our Genta House scheme delivering 180 affordable homes, including 88 at social rent with 40 family-sized social rent homes.

Councillor Jake Rubin said that officers have been quietly working away following review of our commissioning and procurement function to see the ways in which we can improve that service and it's really reaping some serious rewards now.

Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson said that we've assessed almost 9,000 homelessness applications, and homelessness, the crisis still continues. However, I do welcome the news that Section 21 evictions will end on the 1st of May 2026, which we hope will assist in reducing some of that pressure, at least from next year.

Councillor Nerva said that the authority is seeking budget proposals which are cross-cutting and not the famous salami cuts in which we just go and ask services to lose impossible sums of 5, 10, 20%.

Alternative Heat Supply for Willesden Green Library

The cabinet approved a total capital budget of £917,628 for the installation of an alternative, low carbon heating solution at Willesden Green Library and Willesden New Cemetery. The budget includes a grant from Salix and funding from the carbon offset fund.

Councillor Rubin said it's a really good example of using the carbon offset fund to improve public infrastructure.

Councillor Promise Knight said this is a flagship initiative and welcome the much needed improvements to Wilson Green and also Wilson New Cemetery.

Adopting the Socio-Economic Duty

The cabinet formally adopted the socio-economic duty as part of its commitment to EDI, ensuring that policy and program decisions give due regard to the potential impacts on people experiencing socio-economic disadvantage.

Councillor Mili Patel said that this sets out a significant step forward in Brent Council's commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion, as we formally adopt the socioeconomic socioeconomic duty as part of our decision-making process.

Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson said she was incredibly proud to have advocated for the socio economic duty. She said that poverty affects a third of Brent residents, and we have some of the highest proportions of children growing up in poverty, after the costs of housing are factored in.

Councillor Grahl said that treating people equally isn't enough and that you have to acknowledge the barriers that people face in their lives.

Sexual Health Service Contract

The cabinet approved the council's participation in a collaborative procurement with Ealing and Harrow councils for a new genitourinary medicine (GUM) sexual health services contract.

Councillor Nerva said that sexual health services are a critical component for our public health responsibilities and that by agreeing to this procurement, we will ensure that residents have access to high-quality and confidential sexual health care.

Other Business

Councillor Muhammed Butt advised of the recent death of former Mayor and Councillor Mr Harbahjan Singh.