Agenda and minutes

All Cabinet Members were present.

None.

The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed.

This was confirmed.

The Committee’s report, presented by Councillor Brian Crowe (Vice-Chairman), was warmly endorsed by the Cabinet. Cabinet placed on record its thanks and appreciation for the efforts of the Children and Families Service at the Council.

DECISION

That Cabinet:

1. Note that the Committee has commended the service and its performance.

2. Welcome the report from the Education and Children’s Services Policy Overview Committee and note the general consensus it found in favour of improving the current arrangements and future plans for safeguarding children at Heathrow Airport; and

3. Endorses the following recommendations of the Policy Overview Committee report as ways to enhance current arrangements and future plans for safeguarding children at Heathrow Airport, as set out below:

Policy Overview Committee Recommendations:

1. A specialised training programme be developed for foster carers and residential staff who provide care for this group of vulnerable children; carers must be made aware of the dangers of those children who go missing after being placed in their care. Safeguarding issues must be explained clearly and carers should be made fully aware of the issue of traffickers who contact children after they have been placed in their care.

2. Officer inspections take place at the foster homes of trafficked children – this can be performed through supervising social worker visits to foster carers to review the safeguarding arrangements.

3. The communication link between partner agencies and inter agency working be developed further through the work of the Trafficking Sub Group of the Hillingdon Safeguarding Children’s Board and that national and international links be further developed and strengthened.
   
   
4. Cabinet invite the Education and Children's Services Policy Overview Committee to review the council's approach to safeguarding trafficked children, should  national policy and/or legislation be modified, so that Cabinet are kept fully aware of national policy changes that could impact on our policies and resources and therefore compromise the Council’s safeguarding arrangements.

5. Information of missing children to be regularly monitored by the Education and Children’s Services Policy Overview Committee and that all instances of missing children reported to the Hillingdon’s Safeguarding Children Board will be used to form part of future Safeguarding reporting arrangements to the Education and Children’s Services policy Overview Committee.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet’s decision to endorse the Committee’s recommendations will build  upon Hillingdon’s current arrangements and future plans for safeguarding children at Heathrow Airport.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

Officer to action:

Merlin Joseph, Deputy Director of Education and Children’s Services

The Committee’s report, presented by Councillor Michael Markham (Chairman), was warmly endorsed by the Cabinet.

DECISION:

That Cabinet:

1. Note that the Committee’s recommendations are not the result of a comprehensive review, but recommendations designed to improve measures the Council has in place for combating the potentially dangerous issues of illegal cosmetics and illegally imported foods.

2. Welcome the report from the Residents’ & Environmental Services Policy Overview Committee and endorse the recommendations which seek to enhance the measures already in place as set out below:

Policy Overview Committee recommendations:

1. The Committee recognises the efforts made by Council and UK Border Agency (UKBA) Officers to tackle illegal goods being sold in the Borough and recommends that a public information campaign be launched to raise residents’ awareness of how to identify illegally imported cosmetic and illegally imported foods and of reporting procedures.

2. The Committee is of the view that closer working between the Council and UKBA is essential.  The Committee therefore recommends that, as a matter of urgency a clear, accountable and robust Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or protocol be set up between the Council (Trading Standards and Port Health) and UKBA, in order to exchange information freely and securely and that a joint database of offending exporters be developed. Provision for a back up system should also be put in place to ensue IT systems at Port Health Heathrow are available 24 hours a day  to maintain the continuity of the critical process of information exchange.

3. The Committee recommends that Officers make efforts to identify external funding in support of more joint operations.

4. The Committee recommends that the ‘Score on Doors’ scheme continues to be published through the appropriate communication channels.

5. During its deliberations, the Committee briefly considered the problems of the use of the drug Khat and its legal status. The Committee therefore recommends this as a future review topic in 2010/11.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet’s endorsement of the Committee’s recommendations enhanced measures already in place for combating the issue of illegal cosmetics and illegally imported foods at Border Controls and Wholesale/Retail.

Alternative options considered and rejected.

None.

Officer to action:

Sue Pollitt, Environment and Consumer Protection

DECISION:

That Cabinet:-

1.         Notes the contents of the Local Development Framework Consultation Draft Core Strategy.

2.         Approves the Local Development Framework Consultation Draft Core Strategy for public consultation.

3.         Grants delegated authority to the Director of Planning and Community Services to agree, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation, to make any minor editing and textual changes to the Consultation Draft Core Strategy, before it is formally published.

4.         Grants delegated authority to the Director of Planning and Community Services to agree, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation, the Sustainability Appraisal for the Consultation Draft Core Strategy, before it is formally published.

5.         Approves the Local Development Framework Consultation Draft Core Strategy as a material consideration for the purposes of development management.

6.         Instructs officers to carry out a minimum 6 week public consultation on the Core Strategy and the Sustainability Appraisal in compliance with the approved Statement of Community Involvement,  and for officers to report back to a future meeting of Cabinet the outcome of public consultation and recommendations for changes to the Core Strategy prior to its formal submission. 

7.         Agrees that previous draft Development Plan Documents of the Local Development Framework, summarised in paragraph 3 of the report, are rescinded to the status of background documents for the purposes of the preparation of the Local Development Framework.

8.         Agrees the arrangements to revise the Local Development Scheme as set out in paragraph 11 of the report.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet approved the recommendations in the report to enable the Council to make meaningful progress on the Local Development Framework Core Strategy in order to meet targets approved by the Government Office for London in the council’s Local Development Scheme.

Alternative options considered and rejected

The Cabinet could have decided not to approve the Consultation Draft Core Strategy for consultation or requested that officers make changes to the Core Strategy for its subsequent approval prior to public consultation.

Officer to action:

JalesTippell, Planning & Community Services

DECISION:

That Cabinet:

1. Instructs officers to begin the statutory consultation process on proposals for permanent additional places at schools identified as Phase 1 of the primary expansions programme.

2. Instructs officers to identify suitable sites for a new three form of entry primary school in the Hayes area.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet was aware that the Council had a statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for Children and Young People. Given the record number of applications for September 2010 reception places and robust data and population projections gathered, Cabinet therefore agreed the necessary action to seek to avoid a shortage of school places over the next few years.

Alternatives considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided not to undertake any school expansion programme at this time and thereby face a severe and sustained pressure for school places in future years.

Officer to action:

Sarah Harty, Education and Children’s Services

Cabinet had received a letter from English Heritage regarding the former RAF Uxbridge site, which was duly noted.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

That Cabinet:

1. Agrees the proposed Local List of Buildings of Architectural or Historic Importance as attached in Appendix 1;
2. Instructs officers to notify all the owners/occupiers of the buildings included in the list, and;
3. Instruct officers to update the GIS to include the new entries and to provide this information as an online database, available to council staff, councillors, the public and other users.

Reasons for decision

In considering the report, Cabinet recognised the buildings that are considered to be of local architectural and historical importance that contribute significantly to the unique character and sense of local distinctiveness of the Borough. Following wide public consultation, Cabinet formally agreed the Local List.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided not to have a Local List or not seek to revise the existing Local List, leaving buildings worthy of local designation unrecognised and vulnerable to insensitive development and the concerns of residents and Members unaddressed.

Officers to action:

Nairita Chakraborty/ Sarah Harper, Planning and Community Services

DECISION:

That Cabinet enter into a new Service Level Agreement with Hillingdon Homes for the housing related support that they provide as part of their sheltered housing service in their current 21 sheltered housing schemes for an annual sum of £742,106 pro rata for the period 1^st August 2010 until the operation is brought in-house on 1st October 2010.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet noted that there were two months between the cessation of the current service level agreement with Hillingdon Homes for the housing support services that it provides at the council’s sheltered housing schemes and when the council absorbs Hillingdon Homes’ operation. Cabinet therefore gave its authority for an interim arrangement for this period.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have tendered the services or let the service lapse after July. However, Cabinet considered it more effective for all of Hillingdon Homes’ operations to be brought in-house at the same time.

Officer to action:

Barry Newitt, Adult Social Care, Health and Housing

DECISION

That the tender from MP Building limited in the sum of £310,650.06 (ex VAT) is accepted.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet was aware that part of the school was affected by serious roof leaks and much of the toilet accommodation was old and in need of refurbishment. The school was meeting most of the cost of the project from its own resources, and Cabinet therefore agreed the contractor so that essential that work could be commenced on site in mid July this year.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

Officer to action:

Venetia Rogers, Education and Children’s Services

Exempt Information

This report was included in Part II as it contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) and the public interest in withholding the information outweighed the public interest in disclosing it (exempt information under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 as amended.

DECISION:

That Cabinet agree the appointment of the Contractor (Terrapin Limited) recommended within this report following a competitive tendering exercise to facilitate the expansion programme for Brookside, Rabbsfarm and William Byrd Primary Schools.  

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to enter into a contract or the appointment of a Contractor to design and supply a mobile double base class unit at Brookside, Rabbsfarm and William Byrd Primary Schools, in order to ensure that these schools had sufficient classrooms for their admission numbers and that the project was designed within budget and programme from inception to completion.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided to provide permanent accommodation, however, this could not have been achieved within the required time scale.

Officers to action:

Bill King, Graham Davies, Planning & Community Services

Exempt Information

This report was included in Part II as it contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) and the public interest in withholding the information outweighed the public interest in disclosing it (exempt information under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 as amended.

DECISION:

That Cabinet:

1.      Note the contents of this report

2.      Instruct officers to finalise clarifications and contractual matters with Wernick Building Ltd as the Council’s preferred contractor for the project

3.      Agree to the appointment of Wernick Buildings Limited as the Councils preferred contractor to replace the existing Ruislip Lido toilets and the construction of a new changing block subject to a satisfactory outcome of recommendation 2

4.      Increase the Councils financial contribution by a further £202,000 to enable officers to proceed with the project subject to the agreement by the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Business Services

5.      Agree to the appointment of the professional advisers as identified in the body of the report

Reason for decision

Cabinet agreed these new facilities at Ruislip Lido to progress its commitment to enhance the existing provision of its Green Spaces and recreational activities.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided not to proceed with the new facilities or re-tender the procurement of the works.

Officers to action:

Jean Palmer, Alan Dalton, Mohamed Bhimani – Planning & Community Services.

Exempt Information

This report was included in Part II as it contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) and the public interest in withholding the information outweighed the public interest in disclosing it (exempt information under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 as amended.

DECISION:

Cabinet agree:

1. That 1 & 2 Merrimans are declared surplus to requirements.

2. That Cabinet authorises officers to submit a planning application for conversion of the properties to provide four one bedroom flats to be used for supported housing for adults with learning disabilities.

3. That Cabinet authorises officers to sell 1 & 2 Merrimans on a long lease through a competitive tendering exercise to a Registered Social Landlord with the condition that the successful tenderer converts the properties into four one bedroom flats to provide supported housing for adults with learning disabilities nominated by the Council, all in accordance with the planning permission.   

Reasons for decision

Cabinet approved the recommendations to enable the redevelopment of 1 & 2 Merrimans, given that it is no longer required by Children’s Services and provide new supported housing to adults with learning disabilities.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decision to retain the properties in the Council’s ownership, use them to meet other housing needs, amalgamate the properties with the adjacent Respite Care Home or dispose on the open market.

Officer to action:

Mayur Patel, Planning and Community Services

Exempt Information

This report was included in Part II as it contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) and the public interest in withholding the information outweighed the public interest in disclosing it (exempt information under paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 as amended.

This item was deferred to the next Cabinet meeting.

None.

The meeting closed at 7.30pm

DECISION AUTHORITY

These Cabinet decisions were not called-in by the Executive Scrutiny Committee and therefore come into effect from Monday 7^th June 2010.

Delegated authority in this decision notice to the Director of Planning and Community Services will be to the Director of Planning, Environment and Community Services with effect 1 June 2010.