Agenda and minutes

All Members of the Cabinet were present.

No interests were declared by Members present.

Cabinet approved the decisions and minutes of the meeting held on 14 October 2021 as a correct record.

This was confirmed.

The former Chairman of the retired Residents’, Education and Environmental Services Policy Overview Committee, Councillor Wayne Bridges, presented that Committee’s 2020/21 review into the adult education service, which was warmly welcomed by Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet welcomes the Committee's findings from their review into adult and community learning in Hillingdon, and the recommendations outlined below, noting that their implementation will be taken forward with officers and by the Cabinet Member for Families, Education and Wellbeing:

Policy Overview Committee Recommendations

1.     That Cabinet recognises the good work and improvisation of the HACL service during the recent COVID pandemic and notes the new ways of working identified and underway.

2.     That the service be rebranded to ‘Hillingdon ACE’ (Adult Community Education), supported by a communications campaign to support a ‘soft relaunch’ of the service to stimulate demand and uptake of courses.

3.     That the service continues with the new ways of working identified as a result of the pandemic, including use of technology, blended learning, new courses, increased interdepartmental and partnership working via new processes.

4.     That officers continue lobbying the GLA to increase their grant funding allocation, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Families, Education and Wellbeing, and also investigate other funding or lobbying options.

5.     That Council continues to review and develop oversight and scrutiny, and includes an annual report to the Families, Education and Wellbeing Select Committee & Cabinet Member (inclusive of feedback from learners and tutors).

Reasons for decision

Cabinet welcomed the report and accepted the Committee’s recommendations which would  ensure the continued provision and financial sustainability of the adult and community learning service. It was noted how the service had adapted well during the pandemic, supporting residents at a difficult time. The proposal to re-brand the Service was welcomed by the Cabinet Member for Families, Education & Wellbeing.

The Cabinet Member noted the popularity of the service and gave feedback about how it was empowering users with their career confidence. It was also positively noted how the Service was now offering a more blended approach with both virtual and face-to-face courses across the Borough.

The Leader of the Council thanked the Committee for its report and remarked how the Service was making a positive difference to peoples’ lives and, importantly, to the most vulnerable assisting with the local COVID-19 recovery.

Alternative options considered and rejected

The Cabinet could have decided to reject some or all of the Committee’s recommendations.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.     Considers the outcome of the Housing Strategy consultation process as outlined in Appendix 1 and;

2.     Formally recommends the Hillingdon Housing Strategy 2021/22 to 2025/26 set out in Appendix 2 to full Council for adoption as a policy framework document.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet considered the outcome of the consultation on the draft Housing Strategy and recommended it be referred to full Council for formal adoption in January 2022.

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Housing & Regeneration noted the amendments following consultation and outlined the importance of the Strategy, which would set out the Borough’s strategic direction and five priorities for housing going forward.

The Leader of the Council expressed his thanks to the office team for their good work on the Strategy.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided to seek further amendments to the Strategy prior to recommending it for formal approval.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.     Note the budget monitoring position and treasury management update as at September 2021 (Month 6) as outlined in Part A of this report.

2.     Approve the financial recommendations set out in Part B of this report below:

a)    Note those consultancy and agency assignments over £50k approved under delegated authority between the October 2021 and November 2021 Cabinet meetings, detailed at Appendix A.

b)    Accept the grant funding of £373,350 from the Department of Education for Children’s Social Care COVID-19 Regional Recovery and Building Back Better Fund awarded to London Borough of Hillingdon against a number of projects.

c)    Approve acceptance of £5k grant funding from the Food Standards Agency for costs associated with the prioritisation of new businesses for initial inspection.

d)    Approve acceptance of £11k grant funding from the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) for the implementation of legislation relating to allergen labelling changes for prepacked direct for sale food.

e)    Approve to charge an affordable rent based on the London Affordable Rent (LAR) plus service charges for the 2 new build acquisitions at Abrook Court, Uxbridge (£182.16pw for 1 bed flat and £213.55 pw for 3 bed flat).

f)      Approve the award of a contract with PwC for consultancy services associated with the urgent work required to be undertaken in respect of the DSG ‘Safety Valve’ negotiations with the DfE for a fixed fee of £325k as detailed in Appendix B.

g)    Ratify a special urgency decision taken on 1 November 2021 by the Leader of the Council, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Property & Infrastructure, to authorise the surrender of the existing leases subject to an agreement for lease for the grant of a new lease of the library and adult education rooms in the proposed new school building at Harlington Community School negotiated by officers as detailed in this report and instructs Legal Services to complete the appropriate documentation.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet was informed of the forecast revenue, capital and treasury position for the current year 2021/22 to ensure the Council achieved its budgetary and service objectives.

The Cabinet Member for Finance informed Cabinet that the financial position continued to be strong and stable. Exceptional pressures arising from COVID-19 were detailed, along with the central Government funding and earmarked reserves to manage this. It was noted that the savings programme was making good progress alongside positive efforts with the Department for Education to seek to reduce the Dedicated Schools Budget deficit.

Other financial recommendations approved by the Cabinet included the acceptance of grants, the setting of new affordable rents for two housing sites, approval of the use of consultants to assist the Council’s activity in relation to tackling the Dedicated Schools Budget deficit and ratification of an urgent decision.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1)    Notes that in-principle Cabinet Member authority was given on 23^rd July 2021 to use compulsory purchase powers to deliver vacant possession of the residential estates at Hayes Town Centre and Avondale Drive

2)    Notes that the Council will continue to use all reasonable endeavours to acquire, by negotiation, the various land interests affected by the compulsory purchase orders, to complete the acquisitions and disposals of land as necessary and to deal with any acquisitions pursuant to blight claims.

3)    Notes and approves the draft London Borough of Hillingdon (Hayes Town Centre) Compulsory Purchase Order 2021 as attached at Appendix 4 (“HTC Order”), the maps comprising the land that is proposed to be compulsorily acquired as may be subject to amendment pursuant to paragraph (5). below) as attached at Appendix 2 and referred to in the  HTC Order ("the HTC Map"), and the draft Statement of Reasons made in support of the HTC Order and attached at Appendix 6.

4)    Notes and approves the draft London Borough of Hillingdon (Avondale Drive) Compulsory Purchase Order 2021 as attached at Appendix 5 (“Avondale Order”), the maps comprising the land that is proposed to be compulsorily acquired as may be subject to amendment pursuant to paragraph (5) below) as attached at Appendix 3 and referred to in the  Avondale Order (“Avondale Map”), and the draft Statement of Reasons made in support of the Avondale Order and attached at Appendix 7.

5)    Authorises the Borough Solicitor to make changes to the HTC and Avondale Orders (together referred to as “the Orders”), the HTC and Avondale Maps (together referred to as “the Order Maps”) (within the red line boundary as shown on the Order Maps) and Statements of Reasons as considered necessary and agreed with the Corporate Director – Infrastructure, Transport and Building Services.

6)    Authorises the use of powers in the 1990 Act to secure the removal of any apparatus of statutory undertakers.

7)    Authorises the acquisition by agreement of all third party interests in and over the land described in the HTC Order and the Avondale Order (together known as “the Orders”) under Section 227 of the 1990 Act before and after confirmation of the Orders.

8)    Authorises the Borough Solicitor to take all necessary steps to secure confirmation of the Orders and the acquisition of all third party interests in the land described within the Orders (“Order Land”).  This authorisation includes the publication and advertisement of the Orders, serving appropriate notices, seeking confirmation of the Orders, taking all steps to acquire relevant interests and such other steps as deemed appropriate by the [the Borough Solicitor to facilitate the development, redevelopment or improvement of the Order Land.

9)    Authorises the Borough Solicitor to enter into agreements and make undertakings, contracts and transfers on behalf of the Council with third party interests in the Order Land, including for the withdrawal of objections to the confirmation of the Orders and also including the offering back of any part of the Order Land or rights over it, or acquisition of additional land or interests in or over any such land and the removal of any land from the Orders.

10) Authorises defending any proceedings challenging these decisions, and the making, confirmation or implementation of the Orders or any notice, general vesting declaration or anything else made pursuant to the Orders.

11) Authorises the Borough Solicitor following confirmation of the Orders to publish and serve all appropriate notices of confirmation of the Orders and to make one or more general vesting declarations or serve notices to treat and notices of entry (as appropriate) in respect of the Order Land.

12) Authorises the Borough Solicitor to initiate on behalf of the Council or for the Council to take part in any arbitration or proceedings before the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) or the Courts in order to resolve any disputes as to compensation or other payments payable for any interests in the Order Land or arising from the making or confirmation of the Orders or securing possession of any part of the Order Land or title to any part of the Order Land or the removal of any occupants or apparatus of statutory undertakers or communication code operators.

13) Has due regard to the Equality and Human Rights Impact Assessment, at Appendix 8.  

Reasons for decision

Cabinet considered the detailed report and agreed to exercise the Council’s compulsory purchase powers, should they be required, on the Hayes Town Centre and Avondale Drive Estates, which would facilitate the redevelopment proposals for those Estates.

The Cabinet Member for Property and Infrastructure welcomed the significant regeneration proposals and noted, given the ongoing negotiations with those living on the current estates, that the use of compulsory purchase would in essence be a reserve option if required, in order to progress the project.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided not to go ahead with the redevelopment of the Estates, despite the positive result of the Residents’ Ballot, thereby not maximising the opportunities to provide new high-quality local housing for residents.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet note the three confidential appendices:

1.     Appendix 4 Draft HTC Order - Schedule Table 1 and Table 2

2.     Appendix 5 Draft Avondale Order - Schedule Table 1 and Table 2

3.     Appendix 9 (financial considerations)

as part of the preceding public report on this agenda.

Reason for decision

As part of Cabinet’s decisions in relation to the preceding report on the agenda, Cabinet had noted the confidential appendices which included full details of the relevant compulsory purchase orders and also key financial considerations.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet approve the 1-year contract extension until December 2022 with John McGuinness Roofing Ltd for the roofing repair services to housing properties and corporate buildings for our residents for the estimated sum of £541,917.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to extend the previously approved contract for roofing repair services to housing properties and corporate buildings.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided to re-tender the contract, but considered the one-year extension the best value option at the current time.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.     Accept the tender from MPM Specialist Solutions Ltd for provision of a graffiti removal service and street washing service for a three-year period from December 2021 to November 2024 at the estimated value of £486k. 

2.     Furthermore, agree that this includes the provision to extend the contract for a one year period, (four years in total), delegating final approval of any extension to the relevant Cabinet Members, in conjunction with the Corporate Director of Infrastructure, Transport and Building Services - at a total contract value of £648k over the full four years. 

Reasons for decision

Following a competitive tender exercise, Cabinet accepted a tender for the removal of graffiti and flyposting and for street washing services across the Borough.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have considered bringing the services in-house, but considered it not cost effective at the current time.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet approves the variation to the contract with CCS Homecare Services Limited so that the initial 5-year term is updated to a 6-year term which will expire in April 2026 with the option of a further two-year extension delegated for approval to the relevant Cabinet Members, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Social Care & Health.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to vary the current contract with CCS Homecare Services Limited for the provision of Homecare, Outreach, Specialist Support and Extra Care services in the North of the Borough.  Cabinet noted this would ensure that the intended service improvements and outcomes for residents were not adversely impacted by the pandemic and that contracts for both the North and the South could expire simultaneously, with the same option to extend.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have left the contract with the original expiry date, but this would have resulted in the Council not receiving full value due to the impact on mobilisation of the pandemic and not enable both contracts for the North and the South to be aligned.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.     Approve the 1-year contract extension with First Choice Facilities Services Limited to deliver the cleaning and porterage provision at the Council’s Civic Centre and other corporate properties for the period 4 February 2022 – 3 February 2023 for the value of £1,348,218 for the first year and;

2.     Delegate authority to agree the optional second (final) year extension of the contract to the relevant Cabinet Member(s), in consultation with the Corporate Director of Infrastructure, Transport & Building Services.  

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to extend the contact for cleaning and porterage services at its various buildings.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided to re-tender the contract, but considered that it was not the best value option at the present time.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the Cabinet accepts the tender for the Council’s main insurance contracts for three years with an option to extend for a further two-year period from 1st December 2021 as follows:

a)    Lot 1 - Property Insurance at the of cost £509,554 from Risk Management Partners Ltd;

b)    Lot 2 - Liability Insurance at the cost of £378,510 from Risk Management Partners Ltd;

c)    Lot 3 – Motor Fleet premium, revised at the cost of £151,633 from Zurich Municipal;

d)    Lot 4 - Group Personal Accident Travel and Schools offsite at the cost of £19,671 from Zurich Municipal;

e)    Lot 5 - Engineering Inspection and Insurance at the cost of £97,222 from Zurich Municipal; and

f)      Lot 6 - Terrorism Insurance at the cost of £53,200 from Risk Management Partners Ltd.

2.     Furthermore, that Cabinet agrees for Lots 1 to 6, that this includes the provision to extend the contract for a two-year period, delegating approval of any extension to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet noted the competitive tendering exercise and accepted new tenders for the provision of the Council’s various insurances required. A confidential addendum was considered by Members to revise the premium for Lot 3 (Motor Fleet) set out in the original report, which Cabinet also approved.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet agree to extend the contract with Octaga Security Services Limited for the provision of security services at the Council’s Civic Centre and other corporate properties for the period from the 15th March 2022 to 14th March 2024 for the value of £667,905 for the first year and £674,605 for the second year.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed the extension of the current contract for the Council’s security.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

No additional items were considered by the Cabinet.

The meeting closed at 7.19pm