Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Susan O'Brien, Chief Whip and Ex-officio Member of the Cabinet.

No interests were declared by Members present.

The decisions and minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 20 October 2016 were agreed as a correct record.

This was confirmed. The public part of the meeting was also filmed live on the Council's YouTube channel.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet notes the successes to date and continued progress to deliver the Older People’s Action Plan during 2016-17 to improve the quality of life, health and wellbeing of older people in Hillingdon.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet received a progress update on the Older People’s Plan, noting the continued commitment by the Council and its partners to services designed to improve the wellbeing of Older People in Hillingdon. The detailed work of the Leader's Initiative in this respect was welcomed along with the rich offer of services for local residents.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

Officer to action:

Kevin Byrne, Administration 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:

1.      Note the forecast budget position as at September 2016 (Month 6).

2.      Note the Treasury Management update as at September 2016 at Appendix E.

3.      Continue the delegated authority up until the December 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 20 October 2016 and 17th November 2016 Cabinet meetings, detailed at Appendix F.

4.      Note the transfer and release of £965k Capital Priority Growth funding and £79k General Contingency funding to the Battle of Britain Heritage Pride Project.

5.      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.

6.      Approve acceptance of gift funding in relation to Planning Performance Agreements on major developments within the Borough in accordance with the provisions of Section 93 of the Local Government Act 2003, in respect of the following applications:

a.      Former British Legion, West Drayton (up to £17,500)

b.      Arena, Stockley Park (£10,000)

c.       Mount Vernon Hospital, Rickmansworth Road (up to £15,000)

7.      Ratify a special urgency decision taken by the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services on 10 November 2016, in the absence of a Cabinet meeting, to extend the existing contract for Northgate Arinso (Resourcelink) on a single tender action basis for a three year period from 1 December 2016.

8.      Note the transfer of substantially uncommitted non-staffing budgets into service-level contingency funds and agrees that the Corporate Director of Finance, in full consultation with the Leader of the Council, be responsible for allocating these monies as required within the Council's budget.

Reasons for decisions

Cabinet was informed of the latest forecast revenue, capital and treasury position (Month 6) for the current year 2016/17 to ensure the Council achieved its budgetary and service objectives.

Cabinet made a range of decisions including release of funding for the Battle of Britain Heritage Pride Project, additional monies to purchase additional Buy-Back properties to increase the social housing stock, accepted gift funding to provide professional support some key upcoming planning developments in the Borough, ratified a previous decision taken on a new payroll contract and authorised the Leader of the Council to take additional steps to make decisions on individual council service budgets.

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 regular update 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.      Approves the grant of consent for a lease extension for the underlease between London Bus Services Limited (LBSL) and M&G at Enterprises House, Bakers Court, Uxbridge to 150 years.

2.      Approves a lease extension of the Council's Headlease to LBSL to 150 years.

3.      Agrees that Legal Services are instructed to complete the appropriate lease documentation.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed the necessary lease extensions for key property sites within central Uxbridge for their continued commercial operation.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

Officer to action:

Michael Paterson - 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.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.      Approves the appointment of lead consultants Baily Garner through direct selection from the Hyde Housing Framework for the redevelopment of Maple & Poplar Day Centres for a mixed tenure residential development of 34 flats for a contract for professional, technical and construction services, and for them to carry out the tasks necessary to prepare full proposals and deliver the schemes to completion;

2.      Approves the appointment of lead consultants Baily Garner through direct selection from Hyde Housing Framework for the redevelopment of the Willow Tree Depot for 11 houses, for a contract for professional, technical and construction services, and for them to carry out the tasks necessary to prepare full proposals and deliver the schemes to completion;

3.      To note the potential cost and the General Fund / HRA implications arising from the developments as set out in the report and;

4.      Agrees to delegate all necessary future decisions on the project to the Leader of Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to make best use of the some of the Council’s assets for the benefit of local residents. Members gave authority for the necessary work to commence which would provide for a range of rented and shared ownership properties.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Members considered a range of other options before the recommended way forward was put forward for Cabinet consideration.

Officer to action:

Jenny Evans, 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.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.      Gives approval to consult Healthwatch Hillingdon on a 5% reduction in budget per year, for two years, and subject to that consultation, delegates authority to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Social Services, Housing, Health and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Administration, to award a grant from 1st April 2017 – 31st March 2019, with the option to extend for a further two years thereafter to provide local Healthwatch services;

2.      Gives approval for Hillingdon to join a pan-London tendering process to procure the NHS ICAS service;

3.      Delegates authority to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Social Services, Housing, Health and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Administration, to approve such arrangements as are necessary to procure the NHS ICAS service following the tender exercise.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet gave its approval for the Council to consult with Healthwatch Hillingdon, with a view to entering a new two year contract in 2017 as the independent body, championing health and social care for the people of Hillingdon. Cabinet also agreed for the Council to begin work with other local authorities on a joint procurement exercise for the NHS Independent Complaints Advocacy Service. Both decisions enabled the Council to meet statutory duties under the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided to put the provision of Healthwatch service out to full competitive tender or establish a Hillingdon based Complaints Advocacy Service outside the consortium. Cabinet felt both options would not necessarily provide additional value for money or improvements in service.

Officers to action:

Kevin Byrne, Administration

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:

1.      Declares the six sites surplus to requirements;

2.      Approves the renewal or submission of new planning applications, as necessary on these sites;

3.      Authorises the sale of the six sites on the open market with planning consent for a residential scheme. The method of sale to be by auction, subject to prevailing market conditions. The sales are to be leasehold with an option to sell the freehold for £1 on the satisfactory completion of the development;

4.      Delegates authority to the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services, all subsequent decisions regarding the sale of the sites.

Reasons for decision

After considering various options for the development of six under-utilised small sites in the Borough, Cabinet made the necessary decisions to dispose of them, opening them up on the market for the opportunity of housing development. It was noted that currently most of the sites were attracting anti-social behaviour and fly tipping and that this decision would, not only provide additional housing for residents, but improve the quality of the areas concerned.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided that the Council itself develops the sites, but this was considered uneconomic given their size.

Officer to action:

Julie Markwell, 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.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.      Agree to outsource the following additional services to the current provider of the Highways Works Term Contract for Surfacing and Civil Engineering Works (contract commenced April 2014): Works to gullies, residential crossovers and responsive maintenance.

2.      Agree to extend the current Highways Works Term Contract for Surfacing and Civil Engineering Works (commenced April 2014, and running until March 2019) for a further five year period until end March 2024; incorporating the additional services listed above at a).

3.      Delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services, in conjunction with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling to make any further necessary decisions required in respect of the contracts for highways and highways related services.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to the extension and expansion of the existing service arrangements with O'Hara Bros Surfacing Limited, to meet the expectations of local residents and communities as the Council continues to invest in highway maintenance, transportation schemes and the streetscene infrastructure of the Borough. Cabinet welcomed the further efficiencies and savings that would be derived by outsourcing more services.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have undertaken a full tender exercise or invested in delivering such services in-house. Both options were discounted for service continuity reasons.

Officers to action:

Dalton Cenac, Residents Services

Allison Mayo, Finance - Category Management

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.

Special 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.

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 decisions. Cabinet's decisions can therefore be implemented from 5pm, Friday 25th November 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.