Agenda and minutes

CABINET - Thursday, 16th June, 2011 7.00 pm

Venue: Committee Room 6 - Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge, UB8 1UW

Contact: Mark Braddock  Senior Democratic Services Manager

Items
No. Item

335.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor David Simmonds.

336.

Declarations of Interest in matters before this meeting

Minutes:

TBC

337.

To approve the minutes of the last Cabinet meeting pdf icon PDF 216 KB

Minutes:

TBC

338.

To confirm that the items of business marked Part 1 will be considered in public and that the items of business marked Part 2 in private

Minutes:

It was confirmed that items 5 to 12 would be heard in the public part of the meeting, items 15 and 16 in the private part and items 13 and 14 would be deferred.

339.

'Sustain, Renew and Prosper' - Hillingdon's approach to regeneration 2011-2016 pdf icon PDF 133 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet:

 

  1. Agree the objectives for sustainable economic development from ‘Sustain, Renew, and Prosper’ as the regeneration strategy for Hillingdon 2011-2016, encouraging a total approach to appropriate growth, viability and regeneration of town and neighbourhood centres;

 

  1. Note the content of Hillingdon’s Local Economic Assessment as the key evidence base for our approach to economic regeneration supporting local residents and Hillingdon businesses;

 

  1. Instruct officers to continue to press Transport for London (TfL) for:

 

a)  Improved north – south bus routes, focussing initially from the north to Uxbridge and;

 

b)  An extension of Central Underground Line to Uxbridge in the longer term.

 

  1. Welcome the improvements to Hayes and Harlington station which are being carried out through the National Station Improvement Programme and instruct officers to continue to work closely with TfL, Network Rail and Crossrail to secure further good quality improvements to Hayes Station and its public realm;

 

  1. Support the initiatives which are being undertaken to improve the canal in Hayes and West Drayton, including the proposed allocation of funding from the Chrysalis environmental improvement programme towards the improvements at Western View in Hayes town centre;

 

  1. Instruct officers to review planning policies and to report back in the autumn with regard to:

 

a)  The designated town centre boundaries and the mix of uses within them.

 

b)  Introducing a simplified planning system to support new Small and Medium sized Enterprises, with the primary aim of creating employment for local people.

 

  1. Endorse the proposals for taking forward town centre Improvements in Hayes, Northwood Hills and Ruislip Manor (as set out in paragraphs 24 – 31) including improvements to the public realm; developing a shop front investment programme initially in Hayes; providing commercial expertise to independent traders, such as on visual merchandising; and providing a retail apprenticeship scheme for traders through the Uxbridge College Retail Academy.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet received Hillingdon’s latest Local Economic Assessment and approved an updated Economic Development Strategy focusing on a total approach to regeneration and town centre development.

 

It was noted that Hillingdon’s town centres were a key driver for the local economy and that the Council had made commitments for further town centre improvement in Hayes, Ruislip Manor and Northwood Hills.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

Cabinet could have not approved an update strategy, which would have weakened the Council’s ability to work with partners and lever in external investment to provide support for residents and businesses.

 

Officers to action:

 

Jales Tippell - Planning, Environment, Education and Community Services

Kevin Byrne - Central Services

340.

Local Implementation Plan 2011-2014 for submission to Transport for London pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet:-

 

1.            Notes the response to the Council’s targeted consultation on Hillingdon’s Draft Local Implementation Plan for 2011 - 2014;

 

2.            Approves Hillingdon’s Local Implementation Plan for 2011 - 2014 for final submission to Transport for London and delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Planning, Education, Environment  and Community Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling, to agree any minor changes to the Plan before submission;

 

3.            Notes that the Mayor of London has reversed his previous decision to reduce the overall Local Implementation Plan funding, which was reported to Cabinet in December 2010; and

 

4.            Grants delegated authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Planning, Education, Environment  and Community Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation, to agree the most appropriate allocation of the extra funding for 2012/13, once the precise sums involved have been identified by TfL.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet approved the statutory Local Implementation Plan for submission to Transport for London (TfL). Cabinet noted that the Plan, which set out the future transportation and infrastructure priorities and projects for Hillingdon over the next few years, for which funding would be received.

 

Cabinet noted that public consultation on the Plan had been generally supportive in nature and, where appropriate, residents’ and external organisations’ comments had been incorporated into it.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

Cabinet could have decided not to approve the document for submission to TfL, which would have risked securing support for future transportation funding.

 

Officers to action:

 

David Knowles/ Bob Castelijn

Planning, Environment, Education & Community Services

341.

Older People's Plan - Progress Update 2010-2011 pdf icon PDF 103 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet notes the significant achievements to deliver the Older People’s Action Plan during 2010/11 to date to improve the quality of life of older people.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet welcomed the progress on the three-year Older People’s Plan 2008-2011 and the commitment by the Council and its partners to the continued development and improvement of services designed to create a better quality of life for older people in Hillingdon.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

None.

 

Officer to action:

 

Dan Kennedy, Central Services

 

342.

Supplementary Planning Document - Planning for Crowded Places pdf icon PDF 135 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

Cabinet agrees that:

 

1)              The draft SPD be approved for public consultation;

 

2)              An immediate 8 week period of targeted consultation begins with the relevant groups that might have an interest in the SPD;

 

3)              The Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Planning, Environment, Education and Community Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling, is given delegated authority to incorporate any amendments that result from the targeted consultation in accordance with statutory public participation requirements and linking the public consultation to the LDF Development Management Development Plan consultation planned for later this year.

 

4)              The SPD will be reported back to Cabinet for final adoption.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet approved the Supplementary Planning Document for consultation following Government guidance. The document proposed minimum design standards for new construction or refurbishment of premises which were deemed “crowded places” to make them safer in the event of terrorist attack.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

The Cabinet could have decided not to proceed with the planning guidance, but felt that inadequate advice about such minimum standards could increase the risk, albeit remote, of potential injury from such attacks.

 

Officer to action:

 

James Rodger

Planning, Environment, Education and Community Services

343.

Disabled People's Plan 2009-2012 Update pdf icon PDF 99 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet notes the progress made on the delivery of the 2010/11 Disabled People’s Plan up to the end of the year.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet welcomed the progress on the delivery of the Disabled People’s Plan 2010-11 and the commitment by the Council and its partners to the continued development and improvement of services designed to create a better quality of life for disabled people in Hillingdon. Cabinet gave its thanks to the Disabled People’s Champion, Councillor Peter Kemp.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

None.

 

Officer to action:

 

Daniel Kennedy, Central Services

 

344.

Review of the Local List of Buildings of Architectural & Historic Importance and the Gazetteer of War Memorials pdf icon PDF 96 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet:

 

1.            Approves in principle the proposed changes to the adopted Local List of Buildings of Architectural or Historic Importance as attached in Appendix 1 and 2;

2.            Approves a period of consultation with owners and interested groups re the proposed revisions and new entries to the Local List;

3.            Approves the new entries in the Gazetteer of War Memorials, as attached in Appendix 3 and ;

4.            Instructs officers to carry out the necessary notification on the new entries to the Gazetteer.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet noted that the Local List of Buildings of Architectural or Historic Importance was adopted in May 2010 following extensive public consultation. A Gazetteer of War Memorials had also been adopted in September 2010. Since then, some owners had requested alterations to the entries for their respective properties and new requests had been received. Cabinet therefore approved an update Local List and Gazetteer.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

Cabinet could have decided not to update the existing Local List or Gazetteer, which may have left some buildings or memorials unworthy of local recognition and more vulnerable to insensitive development.

 

Officer to action:

 

Nairita Chakraborty

Planning, Environment, Education and Community Services 

345.

Changes to the Social Housing Allocation Policy pdf icon PDF 162 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet:

 

1) Approves the changes to social housing allocation outlined in the report, which have been broadly grouped under the following headings:

 

A.     Introducing local preference

B.    Addressing overcrowding

C.    Encouraging personal responsibility

D.    Financial considerations

E.     Removing discretion

F.     Introducing annual lettings plan

 

2) Delegates authority for final approval of the Social Housing Allocation Policy to the Corporate Director of Social Care, Health and Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Services, Health and Housing.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet endorsed a number of changes to the way social housing is allocated in the Borough to promote greater individual social responsibility within the local community, and delegated final approval of the policy to the Corporate Director and Cabinet Member.

 

Cabinet noted that the Council receives on average 3,000 housing applications per year from people who want to be housed and therefore because demand exceeded housing supply, a fair prioritisation system based upon local circumstances and priorities was required.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

Cabinet could have agreed not to approve the changes to the allocations policy.

 

Officers to action:

 

Beatrice Cingtho & Emma Humphrey  - Social Care, Health and Housing

346.

Planning Obligations - Quarterly Financial Monitoring Report pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the Cabinet notes the updated financial information attached to the report.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Circular 05/05 and the accompanying best practice guidance requires local planning authorities to consider how they can inform Members and the public of progress in the allocation, provision and implementation of obligations whether they are provided by the developer in kind or through a financial contribution. Cabinet noted the report which detailed the financial planning obligations held by the Council and what progress had, and was, being made.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

To not report to Cabinet.  However, Cabinet believed it was an example of good practice to monitor income and expenditure against specific planning agreements.

 

Officer to action:

 

Nicola Wyatt, Planning, Environment, Education and Community Services

 

347.

Support and Development of the Customer Relationship Management System

Minutes:

This item was deferred.

 

348.

Extra Care Housing: Contract Award for the Provision of Personal Care

Minutes:

This item was deferred to the next Cabinet meeting.

 

349.

Highgrove Pool Refurbishment

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet notes the contents of the report and agrees to:

 

  1. The appointment of VolkerFitzpatrick Limited as the Council’s preferred construction contractor to the second stage of a two stage tender process

 

  1. The payment of the preconstruction fees of £28,000 and the £6,775 advanced payment to the utility company should the project not proceed to the construction phase after the completion of the second stage tender process.

 

  1. The development of the enhanced scheme as detailed in the body of the report to extend the internal fabric and overall lifecycle of the facility by 15 to 20 years.

 

  1. A report back to Cabinet for the second stage tender approval.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet agreed to accelerate the progress of the phase II refurbishment of Highgrove Pool to meet the Council’s commitment of developing new sporting and leisure facilities and enhancing the existing provision to benefit Hillingdon residents. Cabinet agreed that a two stage procurement route would achieve the best balance of time, cost and quality.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

Cabinet could have decided not to proceed with the refurbishment or defer the refurbishment.

 

Officer to action:

 

Mohamed Bhimani – Planning Environment Education & 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.

 

350.

Authorisation of Consultant, Temporary and Agency Staff

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet authorise the retaining of consultancy, agency and temporary staff as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet accepted retaining a small number of consultant, temporary and agency staff to support service delivery in the areas of Occupational Health, Adult Social Care and Children’s and Families care.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

Cabinet could have decided not to approve one or more of the workers or delegated approval where further information was sought.

 

Officers to action:

 

Fran Beasley – Central Services

Linda Sanders – Social Care, Health & Housing

 

Exempt Information

 

This report was included in Part II as it contained information relating to an individual or likely to reveal the identity of an individual and the public interest in withholding the information outweighed the public interest in disclosing it (exempt information under paragraphs 1&2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 as amended.

 

Urgency Provisions

 

This report had been circulated less than 5 working days before the Cabinet meeting and was agreed by the Chairman to be considered as urgent.

 

351.

Any other items the Chairman agrees are relevant or urgent

Minutes:

None.

 

 

 

The meeting closed at 7:30pm

 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

 

DECISION AUTHORITY

 

The Cabinet’s decisions come into effect from Friday 24th June, subject to call-in by the Executive Scrutiny Committee.

 

Changes to proposed decisions:

 

Officers should note that the Cabinet amended recommendations and thereby agreed revised decisions on the following items:

 

  • Item 11 (minute 345) where a decision was delegated.
  • Item 13 (minute 347) which was deferred.
  • Item 14 (minute 348) which was deferred.
  • Item 15 (minute 349) where an additional recommendation was added.