The Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee of Brent Council met on Tuesday 24 February 2026 to discuss a range of issues including fly-tipping and littering, the council's financial forecast, and the annual complaints report. Key decisions included noting the council's financial position and agreeing to provide further data on year-on-year comparisons for fly-tipping and enforcement actions. The committee also reviewed the Housing Revenue Account's financial forecast and discussed strategies for improving complaint handling processes across various council services.

Fly Tipping and Littering in Brent

The committee reviewed the effectiveness of Brent Council's arrangements for preventing, reporting, enforcing, and cleaning up fly-tipping and littering. Sarah Archer, representing residents of Bronzebury Villas, highlighted concerns about persistent fly-tipping and littering in her area, comparing the council's street cleaning standards unfavourably with neighbouring Camden. She noted issues with charitable tipping and the accumulation of waste around EV charging points. Councillor Smith, representing the Queen's Park end of Bronzebury Villas, echoed these concerns, particularly regarding litter from taxi drivers and the need for additional patrols and mobile cameras.

The report detailed that Brent had improved its national ranking for fly-tipping from being the worst in the country to 23rd, attributing this to swift action, enforcement, contract scrutiny with Veolia, and a desire for continuous improvement. Over 38,000 reports had been received by January, an increase on the previous year, with a 98.95% target for dealing with these reports.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on the underlying causes of fly-tipping, including bulky waste accessibility, commercial waste, housing density, and limited waste storage capacity. Councillor Long questioned the effectiveness of the council's bulky waste collection service, suggesting that the five-item limit and associated cost might encourage single-item dumping. The council is in the process of procuring a new contract for bulky waste collection, with hopes for improvements.

Concerns were also raised about waste storage within properties, particularly in Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs). The council has introduced an enforcement officer dedicated to upholding licensing conditions related to waste presentation, but the issue of internal waste separation and the lack of planning requirements for this were highlighted.

The effectiveness of the FixMyStreet portal was discussed, with members noting its integration with Veolia's IT system for faster response times and improved performance assurance. However, limitations were identified, including the system's inability to allow officers to add comments when reports are closed prematurely, leading to resident frustration. The upcoming retendering of the FixMyStreet contract in October 2026 presents an opportunity to address these issues, with a focus on user experience and better coordination between different land-owning entities.

The council's Don't Mess With Brent campaign was highlighted as a key communication and behaviour change initiative, credited with contributing to the improvement in Brent's national fly-tipping ranking. The campaign has involved lamppost banners, billboard adverts, significant media coverage, and viral social media content.

Quarter 3 Financial Forecast 2025/26

Councillor Mili Patel, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, introduced the Quarter 3 financial forecast, which indicated a net spend of £12.5 million against the approved budget. Adult social care continues to be a major cost driver due to rising demand and complexity of care requirements. The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is also significantly above budget expectations due to increased demand and reduced supply of suitable housing, as are children's services, particularly in relation to residential care and secure placements.

Councillor Neil Nerva, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Leisure, acknowledged the long-standing funding challenges in adult social care, noting that it is a demand-led service. He highlighted the council's efforts in promoting prevention and seeking value for money, but stressed that demand often has to be met. The council is exploring changes to commissioning models and investing in tech-enabled care to manage costs. Work is also underway with NHS partners to clarify responsibilities and recoup funding.

Councillor Fleur Donnelly-Jackson, Cabinet Member for Housing, reported strain on the HRA, partly offset by income from new housing developments. Efforts are being made to reduce void properties and improve turnaround times. The HRA has a 30-year business plan, which is updated annually, and significant investment is planned for existing stock and new builds. However, the council is facing challenges in balancing budgets due to increased interest rates on borrowing and the cost of new contracts.

The report detailed pressures in children's services, particularly with residential and secure placements, and the increasing complexity of needs. The council is working to increase in-house foster care provision and support care leavers, but housing shortages are impacting progress.

The Finance and Resources directorate is forecasting a £0.2 million underspend, attributed to savings in Legal Services and HR, partly due to reduced legal fees and staff restructuring. However, the Complaints Service is experiencing an overspend due to an increase in the volume of complaints.

The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) shows a projected deficit of £4.8 million, primarily due to pressures within the High Needs Block, driven by rising costs for independent, residential, and out-of-borough placements, as well as an increase in Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs).

Complaints Annual Report 2024/25

The committee reviewed the council's performance in handling and resolving complaints. Overall, 1,983 stage 1 complaints and 346 stage 2 complaints were received in 2024/25, an increase from the previous year. Housing services accounted for the largest proportion of complaints, particularly concerning repairs, Council Tax, and homelessness applications.

The report highlighted an increase in compensation paid, with a 56% rise compared to the previous year, totalling £277,814 across 474 cases. The Housing Needs Service saw a significant increase in compensation payments, attributed to the ongoing housing crisis and families staying longer in unsuitable accommodation.

The council's performance against the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) was noted, with Brent having an 88% uphold rate for detailed investigations, placing it joint 11th highest among London boroughs. However, when adjusted for population, Brent was 9th lowest for upheld decisions per 100,000 residents. The council demonstrated 100% compliance with Ombudsman recommendations.

A significant finding was the increase in complaints related to communication issues, accounting for 60% of all complaints. Service failure was the second most common root cause at 30%. The report also noted the growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) by residents in drafting complaints, contributing to the overall rise in complaint volumes.

The Housing Management Service's self-assessment against the Housing Ombudsman's Complaint Handling Code was also reviewed, identifying areas for improvement in policy development, staff training, and data management.

Scrutiny Progress Update - Recommendations Tracker

The committee reviewed the Scrutiny Recommendations Tracker, noting that several recommendations made in previous meetings were still outstanding. These included requests for detailed data on social value commitments, information on council-owned buildings potentially falling under the Building Safety Act, and a comprehensive overview of VCSE commissioned services. The committee agreed to await updated responses from relevant departments by the next meeting.

Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee Work Programme Report

The committee noted that there were no changes to its work programme for the municipal year 2025/26. The work programme is designed to be flexible and adaptable to the committee's needs.

The meeting also included a deputation from Sarah Archer regarding fly-tipping and littering on Bronzebury Villas. The committee also confirmed the minutes of the previous meeting and noted that there were no declarations of interest made.