The Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee was scheduled to discuss emergency planning and updates on the Casey Review, as well as Brent's progress and challenges in tackling poverty. The committee was also set to review its work programme and recommendations tracker for the upcoming year.

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 concerning major events at Wembley Stadium. This discussion was to follow up on scrutiny work undertaken in 2021 after the UEFA Euro 2020 Final and the subsequent Casey Review. The report was intended to outline progress in implementing the review's recommendations, current governance and operational arrangements, and risk management strategies as the number and scale of events at Wembley Stadium increase. Areas for further development, including strengthening corporate emergency response arrangements and recovery planning, were also to be highlighted. The report recommended that the committee note the progress made since 2021 in strengthening event governance, emergency planning, and enforcement, as well as the steps taken to embed learning from the Casey Review. It also noted areas for further development, such as continued work to strengthen Corporate Gold and Silver understanding of the council's operational role at Wembley Stadium and the planned programme of joint briefings and exercises.

Tackling Poverty in Brent

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing Brent's progress and challenges in implementing commitments related to poverty reduction, cost-of-living support, housing, and child poverty alleviation. This report was a follow-up to a previous scrutiny session on poverty and cost-of-living issues, providing a detailed, evidence-based update. The report aimed to highlight the council's progress since the Poverty Commission in 2021 and outline the approach to tackling poverty across key areas: response to the cost-of-living crisis, housing and homelessness, and child poverty.

The report noted that Brent has a poverty rate of 33%, the seventh highest in London, with 18.2% of residents on out-of-work benefits. It also highlighted that temporary accommodation tenancies had increased by 55% since 2021. The report detailed Brent's response to the cost-of-living crisis, including allocations for Discretionary Housing Payments and Household Support Funding, which supported residents with rent shortfalls, food vouchers, and utility bills. The council's efforts to tackle period poverty through the Period Dignity Brent initiative were also to be discussed.

In terms of housing and homelessness, the report was to cover Brent's commitment to delivering affordable homes, with a target of 5,000 by 2028. It also addressed the borough-wide Additional Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licensing scheme, which came into force on 2 February 2026. The report was to provide an update on the council's Housing and Homelessness Strategy for 2026-2031.

Regarding child poverty, the report indicated that Brent's child poverty rate stands at 41% compared to the London average of 35% after housing costs. It detailed initiatives such as the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme and the expansion of free school meals. The report also outlined the council's efforts to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged children and the role of Family Wellbeing Centres in providing early help and preventative services.

Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025-26

The committee was scheduled to review its work programme for the 2025-26 municipal year. This programme outlines the items the committee intends to consider, aligning with the council's strategic priorities, areas of local concern, and emerging policies. The work programme is a flexible document, subject to regular review and updates throughout the year.

Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee Recommendations Tracker 2025-26

The committee was also set to review its recommendations tracker. This document summarises previous scrutiny recommendations, suggestions for improvement, and information requests made by the committee. It tracks the progress of these items, ensuring that executive decisions and implementation are monitored. The tracker includes recommendations made to the Cabinet, external partners, and council departments, along with their responses and implementation status.