Here is a summary of the topics that were listed for discussion at the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee meeting. The agenda included updates on emergency planning, the Casey Review, and efforts to tackle poverty in Brent. Also listed for discussion were the committee's work programme for 2025-26 and a review of the recommendations tracker.

Petition to Review Proposals for Central Middlesex Urgent Treatment Centre

The committee was scheduled to receive and consider a petition requesting a meeting to discuss proposals to reduce the opening hours of the Central Middlesex Urgent Treatment Centre. The petition stated that the proposed reduction of three hours per day would negatively impact Brent residents, especially given the borough's growing population and ongoing developments at locations such as Grand Union, Alperton, Wembley Central and Neasden stations. The petition noted that a similar proposal in 2019 was previously considered by the committee.

Emergency Planning and Update on Casey Review

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the council's emergency planning, licensing enforcement, and multi-agency coordination for major events at Wembley Stadium. This was a follow-up to scrutiny work undertaken in 2021 after the UEFA Euro 2020 Final and the subsequent Casey Review¹.

The report pack stated that since 2021, the council had worked with the Football Association (FA), Metropolitan Police, emergency services, and other partners to implement the Casey Review recommendations. This included introducing a sterile Zone Ex, enhancing Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) enforcement, clarifying command and control arrangements, improving licensing controls, and implementing more robust planning, briefing, and debriefing processes.

The report pack listed several groups involved in the planning of events at Wembley Stadium:

• Wembley Safety Advisory Group (WSAG)
• Brent Debrief
• Zone Ex
• Wembley Stadium Transport Operations Group (WSTOG)
• Wembley Partners
• HVM Working Group
• Wembley Business Partners

The report pack stated that there are three levels of risk determined for each event, namely the event itself, staffing levels, parking and lastly the supply of alcohol. The level of resource required for each event is based on pre-agreed risk tiers for each event which are based on the likely risk of traffic, pedestrians, undesirable or antisocial behaviour, criminal activity linked to certain event types and demand due to number of attendees or the event profile.

The report pack stated that the council's PSPO regulates street drinking, urination, the use of flares, littering, spitting and street trading. The PSPO is currently being reviewed and will be updated from February 2026.

The report pack stated that Corporate Gold and Silver² are now more fully incorporated into Wembley Stadium event arrangements. Their details are included within event Operational Plans and, on event days, they are in direct contact with the Event Management team via a dedicated WhatsApp group.

Tackling Poverty in Brent

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on Brent's progress and challenges in implementing commitments related to poverty reduction, cost-of-living support, housing, and child poverty alleviation.

The report pack stated that Brent has a poverty rate of 33%, the seventh highest rate in London. It also noted that Brent is relatively more deprived in 2025 than in 2019, according to the latest Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) analysis.

The report pack summarised some key statistics relating to poverty in Brent:

• Around 3,680 Universal Credit households in Brent are adversely impacted by the two-child limit, affecting 13,620 children.
• 12% of households in Brent are experiencing fuel poverty.
• 18.2% of Brent residents are on out-of-work benefits, the 5th highest rate in London.
• Temporary accommodation tenancies have increased by 55% since 2021.

The report pack stated that the council has worked on initiatives to improve employment opportunities for residents, including the launch of the Brent Good Work Standard to improve employment opportunities and workplace standards.

The report pack stated that for the financial year 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, the DWP allocated £4.9 million in Household Support Funding to Brent.

The report pack stated that Brent Hubs provide support to residents who face barriers in accessing mainstream services. Between 1 April 2025 and December 2025, 1,137 residents have been supported with food and fuel needs through referrals to food banks.

The report pack stated that the New Horizon Centre, through joint working with Sufra³, launched in January 2025, providing integrated food aid, advice, and wellbeing services to support Brent residents facing hardship.

The report pack stated that Brent's Council Tax Support Scheme provides financial assistance to eligible residents on a low income to help them pay their Council Tax bills. In 2025/26, total support for 2025/26 is £26.4m, supporting 23,293 residents.

The report pack stated that the Council Tax Hardship Fund is a short-term, one-off award to help residents who have tried to access all other forms of help and financial support to pay their Council Tax bill.

The report pack stated that with social enterprise Hey Girls, the council has been piloting a new Period Dignity approach since November 2024, providing free disposable pads, tampons and reusable period cups across 17 council owned sites.

The report pack stated that Brent faces unprecedented housing pressures, with demand for homelessness services far outweighing supply. The Preventing Homelessness Improvement Programme has now been established with agreed objectives and key results (OKRs). This focuses on preventing people from becoming homeless, aligning with Radical Place Leadership work and improving the service provided by our Housing Needs and Support department.

The report pack stated that the council has a commitment to deliver 5,000 affordable homes in Brent by 2028, of which 1,700 will need to be delivered directly by the council.

The report pack stated that Brent Council's Cabinet approved the borough‑wide Additional Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing scheme in October 2025. This new scheme applies to HMOs with 3-4 occupants in multiple households and comes into force on 2 February 2026, running until 2 February 2031.

The report pack stated that the council launched the 'Find a Place You Can Afford' campaign to highlight current housing pressures, the limited availability of Council social housing, and steps residents can take to secure and/or retain their own stable and affordable accommodation.

The report pack stated that Brent's child poverty rates sit at 41% compared to the London average of 35% after considering housing costs. According to government data as of May 2025, 25.1% of Brent pupils are eligible for benefits-related Free School Meals (FSM) during term time.

The report pack stated that the Holiday Activities and Food programme (also known as HAF), that is funded by the Department for Education, is aimed at ensuring children and young people who are eligible for benefits-related FSMs can access free activities and healthy meals in the Easter, summer and Christmas school holidays.

The report pack stated that Brent's Family Wellbeing Centre (FWC) approach is centred around a universal 'front door' for families to access a wide range of early help and preventative services, including some targeted support.

Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025-26

The committee was scheduled to agree its work programme for 2025/26. The Work Programme 2025-26 included the following items:

• Brent Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2024/25
• Brent Safeguarding Children Partnership Report 2024/25
• Children's Oral Health
• Period Dignity
• The Impact of Youth Justice Service Delivery in Brent
• Response to Housing regulator findings and Brent graded at C3
• Update from the Housing Improvement Board
• Housing Management: Tenant Satisfaction Measures and Brent Housing Management (BHM) performance
• Area Tenancy Management Model
• Temporary Accommodation, Supported Exempt Accommodation and Homelessness Prevention
• Annual Setting and School Standards Achievement Report
• Year 1 update on The Brent Youth Strategy
• Leisure and Physical Activity

Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee Recommendations Tracker

The committee was scheduled to note the progress of previous recommendations, suggestions for improvement, and information requests. The Recommendations Tracker Report January 2026 included updates on recommendations made in the 2024-25 and 2025-26 municipal years.