Agenda and minutes

CABINET - Thursday, 21st January, 2021 7.00 pm

Venue: VIRTUAL - Live on the Council's YouTube channel: Hillingdon London. View directions

Contact: Mark Braddock - email:  mbraddock@hillingdon.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

All Cabinet Members were present.

2.

Declarations of Interest in matters before this meeting

Minutes:

Cllr Eddie Lavery declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 5 on the agenda as the Chairman of Governors at Ruislip Gardens Primary School. He remained in the virtual meeting during the discussion and vote on the item.

3.

To approve the minutes of the last Cabinet meeting pdf icon PDF 180 KB

Minutes:

The decisions and minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 10 December 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

4.

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:

This was confirmed.

5.

Proposed Changes to the Admissions Criteria for Community Schools pdf icon PDF 148 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet:

 

1.    Note the outcome of the consultation about proposed changes to the school admissions criteria (appendices 1-4).

 

2.    Consider and give full regard to the outcome of the consultation findings and when making a decision on the proposals to amend the school admissions criteria.

 

3.    Agree to implement the amended admission arrangements for all Hillingdon Community schools from September 2022, noting that in accordance with the School Admissions Code, Admissions Authorities must determine their admissions criteria by 28 February 2021.

 

4.    Agree for a reduction to the Planned Admission Number for Ruislip Gardens Community School from 90 to 60.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet considered the consultation responses which indicated support for its proposed changes to the admissions criteria to reception school places in Hillingdon which were aimed at mitigating the risk of applicants not receiving a school placement.

 

The Cabinet Member for Families, Education & Wellbeing detailed the changes proposed and noted they would be effective from September 2022.

 

Cabinet agreed to implement the proposals which would ensure the Council continued to meet its statutory responsibility to secure sufficient education places for children resident in the Borough and close to their home.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

Cabinet could have decided retained the current admission arrangements or amend the proposals as set out in the report.

 

Officer to action:

 

Dan Kennedy – Planning, Environment, Education and Community 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.

 

 

6.

Better Care Fund Section 75 Agreement pdf icon PDF 177 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet notes the report and agrees to delegate authority to approve the agreement between the Council and Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group under section 75 of the National Health Service Act, 2006 for Hillingdon’s 2020/21 Better Care Fund plan to the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, in consultation with the Corporate Directors of Finance and Social Care.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Due to national timing delays in the publication of the Government’s requirements for the 2020/21 Better Care Fund Plan, Cabinet agreed to delegated authority to the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care to give final approval to the Section 75 agreement once it had completed the mandated partnership approval process, including sign-off by the Health and Wellbeing Board.

 

The Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care outlined the significant funding that could be secured as part of the Agreement and the activity being undertaken to improve the integration of health and social care services, which it was noted had also been critical during the pandemic, including step-down arrangements from hospital, relieving pressure on the NHS.

 

The Leader of the Council thanked the Council and its health partners for the work to secure the significant amount of monies as part of the Better Care Fund and noted that this showed the scale of ambition to deliver such vital public services to residents in Hillingdon

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

Cabinet could have deferred approval to a later meeting or not entered into any agreement, but this would mean the Council would not receive additional care funding.

 

Officer to action:

 

Gary Collier, 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.

 

7.

Monthly Budget Monitoring Report: Month 8 pdf icon PDF 487 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet:

 

1.    Note the budget position as at November 2020 (Month 8) as outlined in Table 1.

2.    Note the Treasury Management update as at November 2020 at Appendix E.

3.    Continue the delegated authority up until the November 2020 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 10 December 2020 and 21 January 2020 Cabinet meetings, detailed at Appendix F.

4.    Approve a virement of £100k from the 2020/21 general capital contingency fund to the Battle of Britain Enhancements budget to create the “Faces of the Battle” permanent exhibition.

5.    Endorse the change in charity waste disposal fees as set out in Appendix G

6.    Accepts the £39k Community Champions Fund grant from the MLCHG.

7.    Ratify an Emergency Decision by the Leader of the Council taken on 14 December 2020 to appoint Edenred to administer the provision of supermarket vouchers to households eligible for free school meals, as part of the Winter Grant Scheme.

8.    Ratify an Emergency Decision by the Leader of the Council taken on 16 December 2020 to grant an interest free loan of £312k to GLL, the Council’s Leisure Provider.

9.    Accepts the Environment Agency Grants in relation to the below schemes:

a)    £30k Hayes End and Kingshill Avenue Scheme

b)    £35k for the Breakspear Road South and Copthall Farm Scheme

c)    £200k for the Frogs Ditch and Cranford Park Scheme

10.Appoints the following Councillors to the Shareholder Committee of Hillingdon First Limited and to the positions of Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Shareholder Committee:

               I.         Cllr Ian Edwards – Leader of the Council (Chairman)

             II.         Cllr Jonathan Bianco – Cabinet Member for Property & Infrastructure (Vice-Chairman)

            III.         Cllr Martin Goddard – Cabinet Member for Finance

11. Confirms the appointments of the following Councillors from the London Borough of Hillingdon to the Joint Committee of the London Housing Consortium:

               I.         Cllr Edward Lavery – Cabinet Member for Environment, Housing and Regeneration (executive member)

             II.         Cllr Philip Corthorne – Chairman, Social Care, Housing and Public Health Policy Overview Committee (non-executive member)

 

Reasons for decision

 

The Cabinet Member for Finance informed Cabinet of the latest revenue and capital position for the financial year 2020/21, including the status of the Council’s savings targets, it’s reserves and balances position and noted the continued General Fund underspend on the current year’s position.

 

Commenting on the £32.1m budget pressures in respect of the pandemic, it was noted that this included both lost income and additional costs but that it would be funded through Government grants, or should it be required, additional earmarked reserves set up to mitigate future pressures.

 

Cabinet made a number of financial related decisions, including the virement of monies to fund exhibition enhancements at the Battle of Britain Bunker, an amendment of the fees for charity waste disposal and it accepted funding for the Community Champions Fund and from the Environment Agency for specific flood works schemes.

 

Cabinet ratified two emergency decisions taken by the former Leader of the Council on the Winter Grant Scheme for free school means and a loan to the Council’s leisure centre provider, GLL to support it during the pandemic.

 

An addendum was published, which Cabinet approved, to confirm appointments to the Hillingdon First Limited Shareholder Committee - the Council’s property company - and also the London Housing Consortium.

 

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.

 

8.

Integrated Public Health Services Contracts

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the Cabinet:

 

1.    Agree to amend the existing contracts into a single contact with extended scope and duration with CNWL to provide the provision of Integrated Public Health Services to secure immediate contract savings of £250k to allow services to be co-terminous and to allow the transformation programme to progress ahead of re-tendering the services. Furthermore, agree to CNWL to provide these services to the London Borough of Hillingdon for period to 31st July 2022 at a value of £10,525,321.

 

2.    Agree to extend the current contract with LNWH for the provision of Integrated Sexual & Reproductive Health Services to the London Borough of Hillingdon for the period of 1 July 2021 to 31 July 2022 at a value of £3,568,629.

 

3.      Accept to extend the current contract with the GP Confederation for the provision of Health Checks to the London Borough of Hillingdon for the period of 1 April 2021 to 31 July 2022 at a value of £373,333.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet agreed the continuation of the existing contracts with the incumbent health providers and introduced a co-terminus expiry date for all Public Health contracts to 31 July 2022, noting that this was part of a transformation project that would allow the Council to move forward with an integrated provision of such services in the future.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

Cabinet could have decided to run competitive tenders instead at this time, but it considered the short contract period would not be the optimal commercial arrangement.

 

Officer to action:

 

Sally Offin, 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 in accordance with Section 100(A) and paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 (A) to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

 

9.

Disposal of 2 dwellings and 2 former garage sites

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the Cabinet:

 

1.    Declares the 2 dwellings and 2 sites surplus to requirements;

2.    Authorises the sale of the 2 dwellings via local estate agents.

3.    Authorises the sale of the 2 former garage 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 and;

4.    Delegates authority to the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Property and Infrastructure, in consultation with the Director of Infrastructure, Transport and Building Services, for all subsequent decisions regarding the sale of the sites.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet agreed to declare two properties surplus to requirements as their letting or redevelopment were considered unviable. Cabinet also declared two garage sites surplus which had been attracting anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping. With planning consent granted, these sites would bring a financial receipt to the Council, which would be ring fenced for other housing projects.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

Cabinet considered a range of options as set out in the report.

 

Officer to action:

 

Julie Markwell - Infrastructure, Transport & Building 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 in accordance with Section 100(A) and paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 (A) to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

 

 

10.

Any other items the Chairman agrees are relevant or urgent

Minutes:

No additional items were considered by the Cabinet.

 

The meeting closed at 7.18pm

 

 

*Internal Use only - implementation of decisions

 

When the Cabinet’s decisions come into effect

 

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

 

Implementation of all decisions:

 

All decisions of the Cabinet can be implemented by officers upon the expiry of the scrutiny call-in period which is:

 

from 5pm, Friday 29 January 2021.

  

Officers to action the decisions are indicated in the minutes.

 

The minutes are the official notice for any subsequent internal process approvals required by officers to action the Cabinet’s decisions.

 

 

This virtual meeting was broadcast live on the Council’s YouTube channel here under The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) (Regulations) 2020.

 

Please note that these minutes and decisions are the definitive record of proceedings by the Council of this meeting.

 

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.