The Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee of Brent Council met on 4 November 2025 to discuss the council's financial forecast, social value policy, procurement strategy, support for the voluntary sector, and kerbside management. The committee was also scheduled to review its work programme and track the progress of previous recommendations.

Quarter 2 Financial Forecast 2025/26

The committee was scheduled to discuss the council's financial forecast for the 2025/26 financial year. The Quarter 2 Financial Forecast 202526 Report set out the financial forecast for the General Fund revenue budget, the Housing Revenue Account, the Dedicated Schools Grant and the Capital Programme as of Quarter 2.

According to the report, the council's revised General Fund revenue budget for 2025/26 was £431.4 million. The forecast at Quarter 2 was an overall overspend of £9.2 million against the revenue budget, £2.7 million overspend against the Dedicated Schools Grant, and £2.6 million overspend on the Housing Revenue Account. The current budget also reflected £8.9 million of savings, the status of which were set out in Appendix A - Savings Delivery Tracker.

The report stated that local government was facing the most challenging financial environment for many decades, and that despite the council's efforts to manage its position, the operating environment and wider economic context continued to be volatile. It noted that since the Quarter 1 forecast report, the financial position had worsened, with a forecast overspend of £5 million in the Housing service, and growing pressures in Children's and Adult social care.

The report recommended that the committee note the overall financial position, the actions being taken to manage the issues arising, the savings delivery tracker, the prudential indicators for treasury management in Appendix B - Prudential Indicators, the virements set out in section 9.21 of the report, the discretionary Business Rates reliefs to be awarded as set out in Section 9.18, and the amendments to the capital budget as set out in paragraph 12.2, and the delegation of authority to the Corporate Director for Finance and Resources to agree the terms of the £40 million loan facility to i4B as set out in paragraph 12.2.

Social Value: Draft Policy and Whole-Council Approach

The committee was scheduled to discuss a new approach to social value, as detailed in the Social Value Report. The report set out the case for a shift from a narrow, procurement-only focus to a whole-council, place-based model that embeds social value in all areas of the council's work.

The report stated that this refreshed approach built on what the council had learned and responded to new opportunities under the Procurement Act 2023¹, as well as feedback from the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee. It proposed a more flexible, outcomes-focused model that reflects the diversity of Brent's communities and the different ways value can be created locally.

The report included a Draft Social Value Policy and proposed that the committee consider and comment on the proposed direction for social value, testing whether it reflects the right level of ambition and alignment with Brent's priorities, and provide feedback on the draft policy, particularly the emerging priorities and guiding principles, to inform its final version.

Procurement Improvement Programme and Emerging Procurement Strategy

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the developments following the Procurement Peer Review and the established Procurement Improvement Programme, emerging Procurement Strategy and opportunities arising from adopting a new definition of local suppliers and engagement of Brent businesses, as detailed in the Procurement Improvement Programme and Procurement Strategy Report.

The report stated that the Council commissioned a review of Procurement in the context of significant external changes such as the implementation of the Procurement Act 2023, the Council's Embrace Change Portfolio and in response to audit findings, including those set out in Grant Thornton's Audit Finding's Report dated February 2025.

The report recommended that the committee note the contents of the report and progress on the Procurement Improvement Programme, consider and comment on the emerging approach for a new Procurement Strategy, and consider and comment on the options for defining 'local'.

Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector in Brent

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the development and support of the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector in Brent. The Voluntary Community and Social Enterprise VCSE sector in Brent Report provided information on the sector, current VCSE and community grant funding and capacity building support.

Kerbside Management Scrutiny Task Group Findings

The committee was scheduled to hear the findings and recommendations of the Kerbside Management Scrutiny Task Group, following its review of how kerbside space in Brent could be more effectively utilised to support sustainable and inclusive travel, enhance public spaces, and deliver equitable community benefits and environmental outcomes.

Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025/26

The committee was scheduled to receive an update on the changes to the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee's work programme. The Work Programme Report 2025-26 stated that the following amendments had been made:

• The name of the Corporate Director, Neighbourhoods and Regeneration has been updated to reflect the appointment of Jehan Weerasinghe.
• The agenda item titled Safer Brent Partnership Report 2025/26 has been rescheduled from the meeting on 21 January 2026 to the later meeting on 2 April 2026.
• The agenda item titled Approach to Tackling ASB Across Brent has been rescheduled from the meeting on 2 April 2026 to the earlier meeting on 21 January 2026.

The report recommended that committee members note the report and the changes to the work programme within.

Scrutiny Progress Update - Recommendations Tracker

The committee was scheduled to review the scrutiny recommendations tracker, as detailed in the Scrutiny Recommendations Tracker Report.

The report recommended that the committee members note the progress of any previous recommendations, suggestions for improvement, and information requests of the committee, as detailed in Appendix A - Scrutiny Recommendations Tracker.