The Cabinet of Brent Council met on Monday 08 December 2025, approving the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026-2031 and the direct award of a contract for the Integrated Treatment Recovery Wellbeing and Substance Misuse Service. The meeting also saw the approval of a new five-year contract for the procurement of secure cycle parking provision and a detailed update on the Council's corporate performance for the second quarter of the financial year.

Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026-2031

Cabinet approved the adoption of the final Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2026-2031. This strategy, developed following public consultation, outlines five key commitments: understanding homelessness, preventing homelessness, increasing the supply of affordable housing, ensuring good quality temporary accommodation, and strengthening partnership working. The strategy aims to address the escalating homelessness emergency in Brent, which sees over 170 households approach the council as homeless each week, with significant numbers of children in temporary accommodation. The strategy acknowledges the national context of rising homelessness, driven by factors such as increased rental costs and the cost of living crisis, and outlines the council's commitment to tackling these issues through a person-centred and preventative approach. The strategy's development involved extensive engagement with residents with lived experience of homelessness, partners, and council officers, with feedback integrated into the final document.

Procurement of Integrated Treatment Recovery Wellbeing & Substance Misuse Service

Cabinet approved the direct award of a three-year contract for the Integrated Treatment Recovery Wellbeing and Substance Misuse Service to VIA Community Ltd. This decision was made under the Provider Selection Regime, recognising VIA Community Ltd's current provision of the service and their strong performance, including exceeding national targets for residents engaged in structured treatment. The contract, valued at approximately £12.6 million over three years, will incorporate an increase in funding to cover smoking cessation and the prescribing of Buvidal, a long-acting substitute for opioids. The service plays a crucial role in supporting vulnerable residents, reducing drug and alcohol-related harm, and aligning with national and local health and wellbeing strategies.

Procurement of Secure Cycle Parking Provision

A new five-year contract, with a two-year extension option, for the supply, installation, management, maintenance, and cleaning of secure cycle parking (bike hangars/nests) was approved. The estimated total value of the contract is £1.5 million. This initiative is significantly boosted by £650,000 of Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) funding for 2025/26, which will support the installation of at least 100 new units and replace ageing infrastructure. The programme aims to address substantial demand for on-street secure cycle parking, with over 1,200 residents currently on a waiting list. This expansion aligns with the Council's commitment to promoting sustainable travel, improving local infrastructure, and contributing to climate and environmental goals.

Corporate Performance Update and Q2 Reporting

Cabinet received a comprehensive update on the Council's performance for the second quarter of the financial year (Q2 2025/26), measured against the Borough Plan 2023-2027. The report detailed performance across five priority areas: Prosperity and Stability in Brent, A Cleaner, Greener Future, Thriving Communities, The Best Start in Life, and A Healthier Brent. Overall, 52% of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were rated as green (meeting or exceeding targets), with 18% rated as red (significantly off target). Key areas of concern included the number of households in temporary accommodation, which exceeded targets, and processing times for benefit claims. However, positive performance was noted in areas such as resident visits to Community Hubs, the percentage of jobs secured paying the London Living Wage, and the number of local apprenticeships created. The report also highlighted progress in environmental initiatives, including the clearance of fly-tips and the installation of electric vehicle chargers and bike hangars.

Housing Management Property Services Performance Report Q1 & Q2 2025

Cabinet noted the performance update against core areas of housing management property services, which fall under the Regulator of Social Housing's Safety & Quality Standard. The report detailed the Council's compliance position and progress following its self-referral to the Regulator. It highlighted ongoing work to address systemic issues in data management, governance, and policy implementation, with a focus on improving building safety, repairs, and resident engagement. The report detailed efforts to rebuild confidence in data, validate property compliance, and accelerate the stock condition survey programme. Cabinet was also updated on the significant financial pressures facing the Housing Revenue Account, including projected overspends due to increased demand for repairs and maintenance and the costs associated with remediation programmes.

Willesden Green Health and Wellbeing Integrated Hub

Cabinet approved the allocation of up to £2.97m of 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. This flagship development will co-locate GP services, community health facilities, a pharmacy, and flexible activity spaces, aiming to reduce barriers to care and address health inequalities. The project is a partnership between the NHS, the Willesden Green Surgery, and the Council, with approximately 60% of project costs covered by external NHS and GP practice funding. The Council will retain the freehold of the site, granting a 150-year peppercorn lease to Willesden Green Surgery.

School Place Planning Strategy 2024-28 Second Refresh

Cabinet approved the second refresh of the School Place Planning Strategy 2024-2028. This strategy focuses on ensuring sufficient, sustainable, and high-quality school places in Brent, with a particular emphasis on expanding local provision for children with Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). The strategy aims to reduce reliance on costly out-of-borough placements and independent sector provision, with proposals including the development of the Strathcona site for additional primary SEND places. The strategy also addresses varying demand patterns across the borough, with a focus on early years education and supporting working families with childcare entitlements.

Draft Budget 2026-27

Cabinet agreed to consult on the Council's draft budget proposals for 2026-27. The proposals address a projected budget gap of approximately £30 million over the next three years, with a significant portion falling in the 2026-27 financial year. This gap is attributed to rising demand for temporary accommodation, increased costs in Adult Social Care, and higher expenses for children's placements. To generate necessary funding, a 4.99% Council Tax increase (including a 2% Adult Social Care Precept) is proposed for consultation. The budget also outlines savings proposals focused on commissioning and procurement, digital transformation, efficiency improvements, workforce productivity, income maximisation, and resident experience. The report detailed the Council's overall financial position, including the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account, Dedicated Schools Grant, and Capital Programme, acknowledging the challenging economic outlook.

Approval to Proceed with Alternative Heat Supply for Willesden Green Library

Cabinet approved a total capital budget of £917,628 for the installation of an alternative, low-carbon heating solution at Willesden Green Library and other energy conservation measures. This project, funded by a £667,628 Salix grant under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Phase 4 (PSDS P4) and £250,000 from the Council's Carbon Offset Fund, will see the replacement of the library's outdated heating system with an Air Source Heat Pump. This initiative aims to deliver significant carbon savings, improve energy efficiency, reduce operational costs, and support the Council's Net Zero 2030 goal.

Adopting the Socio-Economic Duty

Cabinet formally approved the Council's adoption of the Socio-Economic Duty (SED). This commitment, originally part of the Equality Act 2010, requires public bodies to address socio-economic inequalities when making decisions about service delivery. The adoption of the SED signifies a strengthened commitment to integrating equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) into the Council's decision-making processes, ensuring that decisions are informed by the impact on residents experiencing poverty, financial exclusion, or housing insecurity. This move is seen as a landmark step in tackling the root causes of inequality in Brent.

Authority to Participate in Collaborative Procurement for Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) Sexual Health Services

Cabinet approved the Council's participation in a collaborative procurement arrangement with Ealing and Harrow Councils for Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) sexual health services. This approach, part of the Outer Northwest London (ONWL) Sexual Health Programme since 2015, aims to enhance service integration, share best practices, and ensure residents have access to high-quality sexual healthcare. The report highlighted the services' strong performance, meeting or exceeding London averages for key indicators such as testing coverage and HIV treatment outcomes. An amendment was noted regarding recommendation 2.1, clarifying that approval was sought for participation in a collaborative procurement, not a direct award. Authority was delegated to the Director of Public Health to agree the contract award to London North West University Healthcare Trust (LNWHT) for a period of five years with a potential four-year extension.

Other Business

There were no items of urgent business. Councillor Muhammed Butt, Leader of the Council, announced the recent death of former Mayor and Councillor Mr Harbahjan Singh, offering condolences to his family.