Agenda and minutes

CABINET - Thursday, 26th July, 2018 7.00 pm

Venue: Committee Room 6 - Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge UB8 1UW. View directions

Contact: Mark Braddock - email:  mbraddock@hillingdon.gov.uk / Telephone: 01895 250470  Cabinet Secretary / Senior Manager, Democratic Services

Link: Watch the Cabinet meeting here

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Philip Corthorne.

2.

Declarations of Interest in matters before this meeting

Minutes:

No interests were declared by Members present.

3.

To approve the minutes of the last Cabinet meeting pdf icon PDF 157 KB

Minutes:

The decisions and minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 21 June 2018 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.

Review into Air Quality by the previous 2017/18 Residents' & Environmental Services Policy Overview Committee pdf icon PDF 92 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Wayne Bridges introduced the report from the previous Committee, which was warmly welcomed by Cabinet.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet:

 

  1. Welcome the upcoming review of the Council’s Air Quality Action Plan in 2018 and the positive and comprehensive work being undertaken by the Council to tackle air quality issues locally.

 

  1. Note that in support of this, the Committee has examined the topic of Air Quality and makes the following recommendations to Cabinet, for consideration as part of the wider review as follows:

 

1.    The Action Plan should maintain a strong focus on Hillingdon school travel plans. It should prioritise work with schools most affected by air pollution, particularly to explore measures to tackle car/coach idling emissions.

 

2.    Further promotion of the Air Text service/pollution alerts for Borough residents should be considered.

 

3.    Explore ways in which the Council can work with businesses to help them and their employees improve air quality in the Borough.

 

4.    Review the air quality monitoring networks across the Borough to ensure that there is appropriate coverage, particularly in Air Quality Focus Areas.

 

5.    As the whole Borough is designated a Smoke Control Area, that the Council explores further ways to make businesses and residents aware of their responsibilities.

 

6.    That existing work by the Council to promote healthier and greener alternatives to driving, such as cycling and walking and other practical ways to reduce pollution be integrated into the Action Plan along with ways to evaluate their impact in helping to reduce emissions.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet received a report from the previous 2017/18 Residents’ & Environmental Services Policy Overview Committee which had made a number of Hillingdon specific recommendations regarding air quality. Whilst recognising the work already that had been undertaken, it was noted that the Committee had identified areas that could be focussed on further to help manage key air quality issues affecting residents. 

 

Cabinet highlighted the impact on children of poor air quality and also the Council’s recently announced legal challenge in respect of the Borough’s main contributor of pollution, Heathrow Airport.

 

Cabinet agreed the recommendations to go forward as part of the Borough's Air Quality Action Plan to be comprehensively reviewed this year.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

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

 

Officers to action:

 

Val Beale, Residents Services (implementation)

AnishaTeji, 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.

 

6.

Revised Financing Scheme for Schools pdf icon PDF 121 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the Cabinet approves the Revised Scheme for Financing Schools.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet agreed the necessary technical changes to the Scheme for Financing Schools in light of new guidance from the Government, predominantly on the treatment of loans to schools. Cabinet noted that the Scheme was a statutory document that set out the financial relationship between the Council and maintained schools within the Borough.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

None.

 

Officer to action:

 

Peter Malewicz, 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.

 

7.

Update to Hillingdon's Local Development Scheme pdf icon PDF 96 KB

TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the Cabinet:

 

1.    Endorses and recommends that the Local Development Scheme is referred to Full Council in September 2018 for adoption.

 

2.    Grants delegated authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services to agree, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling, any editing and textual changes to the Local Development Scheme prior to submission to Council.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet received an updated version of the Local Development Scheme which was a statutory document that set out the timetable for the production of the Local Plan. Cabinet recommended it to Council for final approval.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

None.

 

Officer to action:

 

James Gleave: 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.

 

8.

Monthly Council Budget Monitoring Report - Month 2 pdf icon PDF 334 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet:

 

1.    Note the budget position as at May 2018 (Month 2) as outlined in Table 1.

2.    Note the Treasury Management update as at May 2018 at Appendix E.

3.    Continue the delegated authority up until the September 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 21 June 2018 and 26 July 2018 Cabinet meetings, detailed at Appendix F.

4.    Delegate full authority to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Residents Services, to make all necessary procurement and financial decisions, including approving the appointment of further consultancies and the placing of building contracts required for the development of the mixed tenure scheme at Acol Crescent comprising 19 General Needs and 14 Shared Ownership housing units.

5.    Accept a capital grant of £205k from the Department for Education in respect of the Healthy Pupils Capital Fund.

6.    Accept an award of £200k from Transport for London in respect of the Borough Principal Roads programme.

7.    Agree to fund a lease for a horse to support a local paralympic athlete at a cost of £8k per annum for up to three years.

8.    Agree an annual grant for 2018/19 of £81,000 to the Metropolitan Police Service for a variety of activities including, twelve month leasing of semi-marked police cars, pro-active operations to tackle drug misuse and support for responses to domestic abuse cases.

9.    Ratify a special urgency decision taken by the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Community, Commerce and Regeneration on 24 July 2018 to agree the appointment of DSSL Group Ltd to undertake the replacement of CCTV systems at various Town Centre locations across the Borough under single tender action.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet was informed of the latest Month 2 forecast revenue, capital and treasury position for the current year 2018/19 to ensure the Council achieved its budgetary and service objectives.

 

Cabinet made a number of decisions, including the acceptance of grants from the Government and Transport for London for public health and transport initiatives. Cabinet also agreed support for Hillingdon's Gold Medal Paralympic Dressage rider and funding towards the Metropolitan Police for local community safety priorities. Furthermore, a decision previously taken under delegated authority to upgrade the CCTV across the Borough’s towns and villages, was ratified.

 

Cabinet also remarked on the Dedicated Schools Budget and called on the Schools Forum to take more responsibility leading on the financial challenges that are currently facing local schools.

 

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.

 

9.

Former Adult Education Centre & Laurel Lane Primary School Academy Lease pdf icon PDF 95 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the Cabinet:

 

1.    Authorises the grant of a lease of the former Adult Education Centre to LDBS Frays Academy Trust for a term of years to expire co-terminously with the 125 year lease of Laurel Lane Primary School dated 28th March 2013, as set out on the site plan.

 

2.    Authorises giving consent to the Trust to carry out the proposed refurbishment of the former Adult Education Centre building and notes that the Council will contribute £35,000 towards the cost of the refurbishment.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet gave its approval to a supplemental lease of the former Adult Education Centre alongside the existing 125 year academy lease of Laurel Lane Primary School. Cabinet also agreed to contribute funding towards the refurbishment of the Centre, so that the School could enhance the early years and educational facilities available to local residents.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

Cabinet could have decided to retain the building, however, it had identified no other use for the site.

 

Officer to action:

 

Mike Paterson, 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.

 

10.

Grant of a lease to occupy workshop and yard at Harlington Road Depot

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the Cabinet authorises the grant of a 5 year lease to Dennis Eagle Limited for a workshop and yard at Harlington Road Depot (as shown in the site plan) with a three month break clause to terminate concurrently with the Commercial Contract as detailed in this report and instructs Legal Services to complete the appropriate lease documentation.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet agreed to grant a lease for property located on Harlington Road Depot for use as a workshop and yard to Dennis Eagle Limited, following a decision in April 2018 to award up to a five year contract to the company to provide vehicle and plant inspection, servicing, maintenance and repair to the Council's fleet of vehicles.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

Cabinet could have not granted a lease, but this would have affected the delivery of services to the Council’s fleet.

 

Officer to action:

 

Michele Wilcox - 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.

 

 

11.

Contract for Lift Replacement Programme - Melbourne House, Yeading and Skeffington Court, Hayes

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the Cabinet:

 

1.    Agrees to accept the tender received from Lift and Engineering Services Limited for the replacement of the four passenger lifts installed within Melbourne House, Yeading and Skeffington Court, Hayes;

 

2.    Agrees to award a contract for these same works to Lift and Engineering Services Limited for the value of £669,292. Based upon the Council's specification.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet awarded a contract to upgrade the lifts at Melbourne House, Yeading & Skeffington Court, Hayes, both of which were high-rise tower blocks in the Borough, to ensure the safety and convenience of the residents in the buildings.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

The Cabinet could have decided not to upgrade the lifts, but agreed that this would not solve underlying problems of unreliability and could result in further costly repairs.

 

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.

 

 

12.

Any other items the Chairman agrees are relevant or urgent

Minutes:

No additional items were considered by the Cabinet.

 

The meeting closed at 19.25pm.

 

 

Internal Use only - implementation of decisions

 

When the Cabinet’s decisions come into effect

 

Cabinet’s decision on the Local Development Scheme took immediate effect and is now referred to Full Council for approval.

 

Meeting after Cabinet, the Executive Scrutiny Committee did not call-in any of the remaining Cabinet decisions. Therefore, these decisions can be implemented by officers upon the expiry of the scrutiny call-in period date below:

 

from 5pm, Friday 3 August 2018

 

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.

 

 

The public part of this meeting was broadcast on the Council’s YouTube channel here. 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.