Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Richard Lewis.

No interests were declared by Members on matters on the agenda.

The decisions and minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 13 December 2018 were agreed as a correct record.

It was confirmed that the items marked Part 1 would be considered in public and the items marked Part 2 in private.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:  

1.    Note the proposal to introduce a licensing scheme for professional dog walkers using Hillingdon's parks and open spaces on behalf of their clients, including the draft terms and conditions and code of conduct as set out in the report. Furthermore, Cabinet note the intention to reduce the maximum number of dogs under one persons control from six to four and that commercial dog walkers be licensed to a maximum number of six dogs under one persons control.

2.    Authorise the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members for Commerce, Community and Regeneration and Finance, Property and Business Services, to undertake the necessary statutory consultation required before changes can lawfully be made to existing Public Space Protection Orders and to then decide whether to give effect to the proposed changes, having conscientious regard to the consultation responses and also determining whether the statutory test required to make these changes is fully satisfied.

3.    Subject to the outcome of the statutory process above, delegate authority to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members for Commerce, Community and Regeneration and Finance, Property and Business Services, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services, to approve the licensing scheme and make all necessary decisions to give effect to this proposal, including setting the associated fees and charges.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to progress a proposal to limit the number of dogs under one persons control in parks and open spaces and introduce a new licensing scheme for professional dog walkers, following an increase in such activity. Cabinet noted that such schemes had been introduced in the Royal Parks and nearby local authorities, resulting in more people using Hillingdon’s parks.

The proposed measures would ensure parks and wildlife were protected, the use of public open space would maintained for all visitors and professional dog walkers would be able to comply with current health and safety, animal welfare and best practice for the safety and enjoyment of their dogs.

Upon agreeing the proposal, Cabinet noted that this would be subject to the statutory consultation process relating to Public Space Protection Orders, before any final decision was made by Members.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided to leave the existing controls in place, but agreed that the increase in the number of professional dog walkers now required more robust controls to manage this for their benefit, along with other park and open space users.

Officer to action:

Paul Richards, 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.    Note the budget position as at November 2018 (Month 8) as outlined in Table 1.

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

3.    Continue the delegated authority up until the next 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 13th December and 24th January 2019 Cabinet meetings, detailed at Appendix F.

4.    Accept an award of £533k Disabled Facilities Grant funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

5.    Note the additional High Needs funding of £775k provided by the Department for Education within the Dedicated Schools Grant.

6.    Accept the Grant Award of £400k to Transform Childrens’s Social Care from the ‘What Works Centre for Children’s Social Care’.

7.    Approve the release of £328k from the General Contingency to Residents Services budgets to meet the ongoing costs of specialist advice in relation to the Council's claim for compensation in connection with the Council owned land acquired by SJWL to provide accesses to the Southall Gas Works site.

8.    Approve a virement in 2018/19 of £6,408k from the HRA General Capital Contingency Budget to HRA New General Needs Housing Stock £6,290k and New Build Shared Ownership £118k.

9.    Approve a virement of £200k from capital programme under spends to the General Equipment and Furniture capital budget. 

10.Approve acceptance of gift funding of up to £32k in relation to a Planning Performance Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 93 of the Local Government Act 2003 for Land at Status Park, Nobel Drive, Heathrow.

11.Agree to the virement of £146k from unallocated capital contingency to fund redevelopment of Harefield Pond and approve the associated capital release.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet was informed of the latest forecast revenue, capital and treasury position for the current year 2018/19 to ensure the Council achieved its budgetary and service objectives. Additionally, Cabinet made decisions on other financial matters, which included to:

·         Accept grant and additional funding from in respect of Disabled Facilities Grants, the transformation of children’s social care and the High Needs budget for schools;

·         Release funds from contingency budgets to meet the Council’s claims for compensation in connection to access to the Southall Gas Works site, use of contingency monies for new housing stock, along with funding for the renovation of the Harefield Village Pond, Harefield.

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 Cabinet:

1)    Accepts a single tender from Certitude Support for the provision of care and support services in supported living schemes in Frays Avenue, West Drayton and Queens Road, Cowley to the London Borough of Hillingdon for the period 1st April 2018 to 9 July 2020 at a cost of £759.5k for the core service and an estimated cost for the flexi support of £338.8k.

2)    Accepts a single tender from Care Management Group for the provision of a care and support service in Church Road, Uxbridge supported living scheme to the London Borough of Hillingdon for the period 31st May 2020 to 9th July 2020 at a cost of  £23.2k for the core service and an estimated cost for the flexi support of £67.5k.

3)    Accepts a single tender from  Comfort Care Services Ltd for the provision of a care and support service in Honeycroft Hill, Hillingdon supported living scheme to the London Borough of Hillingdon for the period 31st May 2020 to 9th July 2020 at a cost of  £25.8k for the core service and an estimated cost for the flexi support of £67.6k.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to extend, by single tender action, a range of supported living contracts for people with learning disabilities. Cabinet noted that this would align contract expiry dates for a later competitive tender at the same time.  Cabinet considered that the contract extensions would continue to provide a stable environment for existing service users, pending the outcome of the tender process.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet considered other options as set out in the confidential report.

Officers to action:

Kate Kelly-Talbot / Gary Collier - Social Care

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 approve the purchase of ten refuse collection vehicles for use by Waste Services based at Harlington Road Depot at a cost of £1,417,730 from the supplier Dennis Eagle Ltd.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to purchase a number of new refuse collection vehicles to modernise the fleet and waste service, which residents value. Cabinet noted that the purchase would ultimately provide savings, when compared with continuing to make use of and maintain the older vehicles now becoming beyond economical repair.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided to continue to repair the existing refuse collection vehicles owned by the Council, however, it agreed that this would become increasingly more expensive as the vehicles continue to age.

Officer to action:

Bobby Finch, Resident 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 agree to extend the current contract with Ability Care and Support for the provision of a care and support services at Hayes Park Lodge and Hamlet Lodge and a floating support service to people with mental health needs for an 8 month period from 1 April 2019 to 30 November 2019 and at a cost of £599k for the period.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to extend by eight months the existing contract with the current provider of care and support services to people with mental health needs at two supported living schemes. Cabinet noted that this would enable the alignment of expiry dates for all the Council’s supported living contracts for people with mental health needs, to later be put to competitive tender at the same time. The Cabinet Member for Social Services, Housing, Health & Wellbeing welcomed the higher number of people able to live independently in Hillingdon compared to other areas.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet considered other options as set out in the confidential report.

Officers to action:

Kate Kelly-Talbot / Gary Collier - Social Care

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 agrees the rent set out in the report, which is subject to negotiation with the voluntary sector organisations detailed in the report and instructs the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services to then commission the Borough Solicitor to complete the appropriate legal documentation.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed the grant of a new 10 year lease of the new pavilion building at Field End Recreation Ground, Eastcote. Cabinet’s decision enabled the organisations concerned to benefit from heavily discounted rents as part of the Council's Voluntary Sector Leasing Policy and wider commitment to a vibrant local voluntary sector.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

Officer to action:

Mike 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.

No additional items were considered by the Cabinet.

The meeting closed at 7.15pm.

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

from 5pm, 1 February 2019.

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.

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.