Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received Councillor Keith Burrows.

No interests in matters before the meeting were declared.

The decisions and minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 14 December 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

This was confirmed as set out on the agenda.

The Chairman of the External Services Scrutiny Committee attended to present his Committee’s review into the criminalisation of Looked after Children, which was endorsed by Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Notes the report of the External Services Scrutiny Committee on the criminalisation of looked after children (LAC);

2.    Gives consideration to increased opportunities for children in care to participate in local activities as set out in the report; and

3.    Encourages Councillors to actively promote awareness and advancement of LAC in the Borough.

Reason for decision

Cabinet welcomed the review of the Committee which had gathered information from witnesses about the work that was being undertaken to address the labelling and criminalisation of Looked after Children given their over-representation within the criminal justice system. Cabinet noted the work that had already been undertaken in Hillingdon, acknowledging that continued partnership-working, particularly with the Police, was critical in order to continue to support and safeguard Looked after Children.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

Officers to action:

Tony Zaman, Social Care (implementation)

Nikki O'Halloran, Chief Executive's Office (monitoring)

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 November 2017 (Month 8).

2.    Note the Treasury Management update as at November 2017 at Appendix E.

3.    Continue the delegated authority up until the February 2018 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 14 December 2017 and 25 January 2018 Cabinet meetings, detailed at Appendix F.

4.    Accepts the award of £221,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the Cranford Park project and instructs officers to proceed with the Development Phase.

5.    Approve acceptance of new burdens funding from DCLG in respect of the Homelessness Reduction Act. Hillingdon's three-year allocation totals £783,103, to be paid over three financial years (2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20).

6.    Approve acceptance of gift funding in relation to a Planning Performance Agreement on the following major development in accordance with the provisions of Section 93 of the Local Government Act 2003:

a.    Northwood College, Girls Day School, Maxwell Road, Northwood (£15,000)

7.    Agree that the Council donates £14,000 to the Mayor of Hillingdon's Charitable Trust to support local good causes, funded from the proceeds of kerbside textile waste collection and matched funding from the HIP Initiatives budget.

8.    Approve introduction of fees & charges relating to admission and guided tours at the new Battle of Britain Bunker Visitor Centre, as set out in appendix G. The new charges will apply from March 2018.

9.    Note the increase of 20% to nationally set planning fees charged and removal of the requirement for exemptions from fees for applications received after Article 4 directions and after removal of Permitted Development rights with effect from 17 January 2018, following direction from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government in December 2017.

10.Ratify urgent decisions taken by the Leader of the Council on 8 January 2018 and set out in Appendix I for the London Borough of Hillingdon to opt into the London Business Rates Pilot Pool and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding to establish the operation of the Pilot Pool, along with approval of local processes for subsequent decisions affecting the Pilot Pool.

11. Ratify a special urgency decision taken by the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services on 18 January 2018 to authorise the grant of a new lease for 99 years, to Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks for a substation site at Grassy Meadow, Hayes, on the terms outlined in the report and to instruct Legal Services to complete the appropriate lease documentation.

12.Agree in principle a grant of £125k to provide match-funding towards the building of a new Hut for the 2^nd/9^th Ruislip Scout Group to be funded from the 2017/18 Youth Provision Capital Budget, noting that this is subject to planning advice being satisfactory and, therefore, agrees to delegate final authority to award the grant to the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services. Furthermore, that Cabinet agree an exceptional waiver of the usual capital release reporting requirements for this, to enable any grant payment to be expedited.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet was informed of the latest Month 8 forecast revenue, capital and treasury position for the current year 2017/18 to ensure the Council achieved its budgetary and service objectives. Additionally, Cabinet accepted some external grants and funding, noting the success in receiving support from the Heritage Lottery Fund towards enhancements in Cranford Park. Furthermore, Cabinet agreed to donate monies to the Mayor’s Charity from proceeds of the kerbside textile waste recycling, updated planning applications fees and also new charges for the new Battle of Britain Bunker Visitor Centre, which would be free for Hillingdon residents.

Additional recommendations were moved and agreed to ratify a recent decision to lease an electricity substation to enable the development of the Grassy Meadows scheme and also to award, in principle, a grant to the 2^nd/9^th Ruislip Scouts Group towards the cost of their new premises.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

Officer to action:

Paul Whaymand, Finance

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 the Cabinet agrees to accept the tender received from Otis Limited (Trading as Express Lifts Alliance Group) for the replacement of the seven passenger lifts installed within Mandela Court, Uxbridge, Wallis House, Ruislip, Ascott Court, Eastcote, Missouri Court, Eastcote and Sibley Court, Uxbridge, for the value of £532,060 based upon the Council's specification.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet accepted the most economically advantageous tender for the replacement of 7 passenger lifts installed in the Council's sheltered housing properties at Mandela Court, Uxbridge, Wallis House, Ruislip, Ascott Court, Eastcote, Missouri Court, Eastcote and Sibley Court, Uxbridge.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None, as the lifts were considered to be beyond economic repair and at the end of their operational life expectancy.

Officer to action

Gary Penticost, 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.    Accept the Tender from Gpex for Lot 1 for the provision of main printing services to the Council for a period of three years with the option to extend for a further one year, subject to satisfactory performance.

2.    Accept the Tender from Paragon Service Point for Lot 2 for the print of Hillingdon People for a period three years with the option to extend for a further one year, subject to satisfactory performance.

Reasons for recommendation

Following a competitive procurement exercise, Cabinet agreed to accept the most economically advantageous tenders for the main printing contract across all council service areas, and also the printing for the Hillingdon People resident magazine. It was noted that overall print costs had declined significantly over recent years due to digital communication and proactive management of printed matter, however, the requirement to print certain publications and official legal and other documents still remained.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

Officers to action:

Charlotte Stamper / Emma Gilbertson, 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.

No additional items were considered by the Cabinet.

The meeting closed at 7:18pm.

Internal Use only - implementation of decisions

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

All decisions of the Cabinet can, therefore, be implemented by officers upon the expiry of the scrutiny call-in period which is from 5pm, Friday 2 February 2018.

Officers to action the decisions are indicated in the minutes.

If you would like further information about the decisions of the Cabinet, please contact the Council below:

democratic@hillingdon.gov.uk

Democratic Services: 01895 250636

Media enquiries: 01895 250403

To find out more about how the Cabinet works to put residents first, visit here.