Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Susan O'Brien, ex-officio member of the Cabinet.

No interests were declared by Members present.

The decisions and minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 21 July 2016 were agreed as a correct record.

This was confirmed, noting that items 14 and 15 would be considered at a future Cabinet meeting.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet notes the report and takes account of its conclusions in future planning for children’s services.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet noted the annual report, which was a statutory requirement and expressed the Council's commitment to the safeguarding of children. Cabinet welcomed the report from the Chairman of the Safeguarding Board who had led a number of improvements around its functioning and effectiveness, complimenting the significant investment in and re-modelling of Children's Services by the Council.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Services indicated efforts to ensure all agencies contribute sufficient funds towards the operation of the Board, particularly the Metropolitan Police.

Alternatives considered and rejected

None.

Officers to action:

Stephen Ashely (Independent Chairman, LSCB)

Tony Zaman, Social Care

Classification: Public

The report and any background papers relating to this decision by the Cabinet are available to view on the Council's website or by visiting the Civic Centre, Uxbridge.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet notes the annual report of the Hillingdon Safer Adults Partnership Board for 2015/16.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet noted the annual report, which was confirmed as a statutory requirement and expressed the Council's commitment to the safeguarding of adults and older people. It was acknowledged that The Care Act 2014 had been a significant factor in the way adult safeguarding was regarded amongst both agencies and the public. 

It was welcomed that safeguarding activity was progressing well and that Hillingdon's Board had clear agreement on the strategic priorities to take forward.

Alternatives considered and rejected

None.

Officers to action:

Stephen Ashely (Independent Chairman, LSCB)

Tony Zaman, Social Care

Classification: Public

The report and any background papers relating to this decision by the Cabinet are available to view on the Council's website or by visiting the Civic Centre, Uxbridge.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.      Agrees the principles of the Council's Local Implementation Plan 2017/18 Annual Spending Submission to Transport for London, set out in the report;

2.      Delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling, to agree the final Plan before submission to Transport for London;

3.      Notes that the subsequent progression of any individual scheme or programme in the Plan and funded by Transport for London budgets, will also be subject to the Council's democratic capital release procedures requiring final sign-off by the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to prepare and submit to Transport for London an Interim Local Implementation Plan Annual Spending Submission, which would bid for and set out the proposed expenditure on transport schemes on a project-by-project basis for the coming financial year. It was noted that the Submission was interim, following the election of the new Mayor for London who had indicated a review of spend.

Projects would be grouped under themes, previously used, to focus on transportation improvements for residents and businesses, including transport interchanges, public realm, school travel, road safety, parking management schemes, public footpaths and travel advice and education.

Alternative options considered and rejected

The Cabinet could have decided not to submit an Annual Spending Submission, which would have put at risk a significant amount of funding from Transport for London on local projects.

Officer to action:

Alan Tilly, Residents Services

Classification: Public

The report and any background papers relating to this decision by the Cabinet are available to view on the Council's website or by visiting the Civic Centre, Uxbridge.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community, Commerce and Regeneration, to use powers available under Part 4 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 in the form of Community Protection Notices to enforce against anti social behaviour that is having a detrimental effect on the quality of life for those in a locality, and is unreasonable, and  is of a persistent or continuing nature.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to provide an additional tool for officers to enforce against a wider range of anti social behaviours, where a statutory nuisance would not exist under other legislation, yet where behaviour was persistent and had a negative effect on a locality. It was noted that new Community Protection Notices could apply to the likes of untidy domestic gardens.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided not to make use of Community Protection Notices, but agreed that it would be a powerful tool available to the Council to tackle issues raised by residents of an anti-social nature.

Officers to action:

Nigel Dicker, Residents Services

Bill Hickson, Residents Services

Classification: Public

The report and any background papers relating to this decision by the Cabinet are available to view on the Council's website or by visiting the Civic Centre, Uxbridge.

Urgency

The decision was taken under urgency procedures and was not notified in advance on the Council's Forward Plan. This was to ensure the new powers could be implemented as swiftly as possible to benefit residents.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet notes the updated financial information.

Reasons for decision

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, Residents Services

Classification: Public

The report relating to this decision by the Cabinet is available to view on the Council's website or by visiting the Civic Centre, Uxbridge.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.      Note the forecast budget position as at July 2016 (Month 4).

2.      Continue the delegated authority up until the October 2016 Cabinet meeting to the Chief Executive to approve any consultancy and agency assignments over £50k, with final sign-off of any assignments made by the Leader of the Council. Cabinet are also asked to note those consultancy and agency assignments over £50k approved under delegated authority between the 21 July 2016 and 22 September 2016 Cabinet meetings, detailed at Appendix F.

3.      Endorses the Council's Efficiency Plan as presented in Appendix G.

4.      Agree to the appropriation of land at Acol Crescent in South Ruislip from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account to be developed as general needs and supported housing.

5.      Agree to the appropriation of land at Fir Tree Avenue in West Drayton from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account to be developed as general needs housing.

6.      Approve the re-phasing of £2,000k for the New General Needs Housing Stock budget from 2017/18 to 2016/17 for the purchase of additional Buy-Back properties and request the Chairman of the Executive Scrutiny Committee waive the scrutiny call-in period on this matter to ensure the Council can purchase some immediate properties w/c 26 September.

Reasons for decisions

Cabinet was informed of the latest forecast revenue, capital and treasury position (Month 4) for the current year 2016/17 to ensure the Council achieved its budgetary and service objectives.

Cabinet made a range of decisions including endorsement of the Efficiency Plan for submission to Government, a technical transfer of land assets between the General Fund and Housing Revenue Accounts held by the Council and re-phasing of expenditure to purchase additional Right-to-Buy properties from owners willing to sell them to the Council for re-use as affordable accommodation.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

Officer to action:

Paul Whaymand, Finance Directorate

Classification: Public

The report and any background papers relating to this decision by the Cabinet are available to view on the Council's website or by visiting the Civic Centre, Uxbridge.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet note the progress made with primary and secondary school expansions, the school condition programme and other school capital projects.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet received its monthly update, tracking progress on London’s largest school building programme which has continued to invest significant resources in new local education facilities over the last few years and into the coming years. This would ensure that every child in the London Borough of Hillingdon would have a quality place at a local school - primary or secondary.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

Officer to action:

Bobby Finch, Residents Services

Classification: Public

The report and any background papers relating to this decision by the Cabinet are available to view on the Council's website or by visiting the Civic Centre, Uxbridge.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.      Authorises the Council's use of the Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS) as a tool to purchase care home or supported living placements for adults to assist with managing the market for these services, endorsing the Memorandum of Understanding attached.

2.      Approves, that in meeting statutory need, the direct award of placements for vulnerable adults on a spot contract basis may be necessary where suitable arrangements cannot be made on the DPS; or where crisis or emergency circumstances dictate that it is not possible to do so via the DPS.

3.      Notes that the DPS is a WLA procurement initiative with Ealing Council acting as the contracting body on behalf of the London Boroughs of Hillingdon, Brent, Barnet, Hounslow, Hammersmith & Fulham, Westminster & Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet made the necessary decisions to source appropriate accommodation based placements to meet a range of eligible care and support needs for residents, by signing up to procurement initiative with other West London boroughs.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided to continue to source care home and supported living placements through existing methods or where known vacancies exist, but considered a strategic approach more efficient and flexible to ensure residents' accommodation needs were met.

Officers to action:

Tony Zaman, Social Care

Clare Harris, Finance

Classification: Private

Whilst the Cabinet's decisions above are always made public, the officer report relating to this matter is not because it was considered in the private part of the meeting and 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.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet approves the terms set out in the report, which is subject to negotiation with the voluntary sector organisation detailed in this report, and instructs the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services to then commission the Borough Solicitor to complete the appropriate legal documentation.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to the grant of a new 15 year lease of the William Byrd Swimming Pool to the William Byrd Pool Trust Limited. Cabinet's decision enabled the organisation to benefit from discounted rents as part of the Council's Voluntary Sector Leasing Policy and wider commitment to the voluntary sector.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have chosen not to apply the Voluntary Sector Leasing Policy.

Officer to action:

Susan Williams-Joseph; Residents Services

Classification: Private

Whilst the Cabinet's decisions above are always made public, the officer report relating to this matter is not because it was considered in the private part of the meeting and 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.

It was noted that a report on this matter would be considered at a future Cabinet meeting.

It was noted that a report on this matter would be considered at a future Cabinet meeting.

No additional items were considered by the Cabinet.

The meeting closed at 7.24pm.

* IMPLEMENTATION OF CABINET'S DECISIONS

Meeting after Cabinet, the Executive Scrutiny Committee did not call-in any of the Cabinet's decisions.

Recommendation 6 on Item 10, the Budget Monitoring Report, will take immediate effect after the Chairman of the Executive Scrutiny Committee waived the call-in period to ensure the immediate purchase of properties by the Council.

The remaining decisions of the Cabinet can be implemented from 5pm, Friday 30th September 2016, upon the expiry of the scrutiny call-in period, unless notified otherwise by Democratic Services.

The officers to implement the decisions are indicated in the minutes.

The public part of this Cabinet meeting was filmed live on the Council's YouTube Channel to increase transparency in decision-making. These minutes remain the official definitive record of proceedings.