The Brent Council Cabinet is scheduled to meet on 8 December 2025 to discuss a range of issues, including housing performance, homelessness, corporate performance, substance misuse services, and cycle parking. The Cabinet will also consider the Q2 corporate performance and reporting.

Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy

The cabinet is scheduled to discuss and agree to adopt the final version of the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026 – 2030. The draft strategy has been subject to public consultation, and the final version incorporates feedback received. The key commitments outlined in the strategy are:

• Understanding homelessness
• Preventing homelessness
• Affordable supply of housing
• Good quality, affordable temporary accommodation for short spells
• Partnership working

The report pack includes the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, the Homelessness Review, the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026 2031 Phase 2 Engagement Outcome report, and the Equalities Assessment.

The report pack notes that Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Housing, states that homelessness is one of the most significant challenges affecting local authorities in the UK, including Brent. Every week, over 170 households approach the council as homeless, and there are currently 2,400 households and 3,500 children in temporary accommodation.

The report pack states that the Homelessness Act 2002 requires all local authorities to have a Homelessness Strategy. The strategy must set out how the local authority will prevent homelessness, secure sufficient accommodation for people who are or may become homeless and provide satisfactory support for people who are or may become homeless, or who need support to prevent them becoming homeless again.

Housing Performance

The cabinet is scheduled to note the Housing Performance Update Report against core areas of housing management property services. The report provides a performance update against core areas of housing management property services that fall under the Regulator of Social Housing's Safety & Quality Standard¹. The report also provides an update on the progress being made following the council's self-referral to the Regulator of Social Housing².

The report pack states that Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Housing, notes that the introduction of refreshed consumer standards under the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 has set a higher bar for all social landlords, and Brent is no exception. The report sets out the council's compliance position across core areas including building safety, repairs and maintenance, stock condition, data assurance and governance arrangements.

The report pack states that in April 2025 it was identified within the Housing Service that True Compliance, which is the compliance software utilised by the council, had been updated incorrectly. Further investigations established that up to 12,500 fire actions had been wrongly updated to indicate that works had been completed but were missing the required supporting evidence. In response to the situation, the council appointed independent health and safety advisors that specialise in building safety and assisting landlords in meeting the requirements and outcomes set out in the Social Housing (Regulations) Act 2023, in particular The Quality and Safety Standard.

Corporate Performance

The cabinet is scheduled to note and discuss the progress in developing and embedding enhanced arrangements for corporate performance reporting along with the Borough Plan 2025/2026 performance reporting for Q2. The Q2 Corporate Performance Borough Plan Q2 Update report details the council's performance in Q2 2025-26, through the Borough Plan performance scorecard and updates against key activities for delivering its priorities and outcomes.

The report pack states that Councillor Jake Rubin, Cabinet Member for Climate Action and Community Power, notes that the report includes detailed reporting against the full suite of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) developed to monitor delivery of the desired outcomes set out in the Borough Plan 2023-2027: Moving Brent Forward Together.

The Borough Plan Dashboard Q2 2025-26 includes a total of 60 key indicators from the Borough Plan. Each KPI is assigned a Red, Amber, or Green rating based on its performance against the quarterly targets.

Integrated Treatment Recovery Wellbeing & Substance Misuse Service

The cabinet is scheduled to consider a report seeking approval for the re-procurement of a contract to deliver the Integrated Treatment Recovery Wellbeing & Substance Misuse Service using the Provider Selection Regime. The Integrated Treatment Substance Misuse Service Contract award report notes that the Brent Integrated Treatment Recovery Wellbeing and Substance Misuse Service is currently provided to the council by VIA Community Ltd³.

The report pack states that Councillor Neil Nerva, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Leisure, notes that the contract for the Integrated Treatment Recovery Wellbeing and Substance Misuse Service detailed in this report supports the Brent Borough Plan 2023 – 2027 priorities of 'Thriving Communities', 'A Healthier Brent' and 'Prosperity and Stability in Brent'.

The report pack states that the new arrangements for the spend on Drug and Alcohol treatment and recovery services within the Public Health Grant are currently being developed by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparity (OHID). Clarification is expected in early to mid-November 2025.

Secure Cycle Parking

The cabinet is scheduled to consider a report seeking approval for the proposed 2025-26 programme for the delivery of secure cycle parking (Bike Nests/Bike Hangars) across the borough and to proceed with tendering a new five-year contract, extendable for a further two years, for the supply, installation, management, and maintenance of all bike nests/hangars. The Procurement of Secure Cycle Parking Provision report notes that the programme responds directly to community-identified priorities and aligns with the borough's strategic objectives, representing an important investment in improving local transport options and neighbourhood infrastructure.

The report pack states that Councillor Krupa Sheth, Cabinet Member for Public Realm and Enforcement, notes that the NCIL funding provides a significant opportunity to expand the number of high-quality, secure cycle parking across the borough. Investment in Bike Nests/ Bike Hangars will enhance the public realm, support sustainable travel, and improve local infrastructure by offering safe, accessible storage for residents who do not have space to store bicycles at home.

The report pack notes that there are currently over 150 bike hangars/nests installed across Brent, managed under contract by Lock It Safe Ltd since April 2023. Demand significantly exceeds supply, with over 1,200 live requests received by the council from residents awaiting a space.