Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor David Simmonds CBE.

No interests were declared by Members present.

The decisions and minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 14 February 2019 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)    Notes the contents of the report.

2)    Endorses the Council's response dated 4 March 2019 to Heathrow Airport Limited's January 2019 Heathrow Airspace and Future Operations Consultation.

3)    Reaffirms the Council's commitment, working either alone, or in conjunction with partner authorities and others, to take all necessary action, including pursuing appeals to the appellate courts in relation to the current legal challenge, and commencing further separate legal challenges, to oppose the Government's proposals to expand Heathrow Airport and it confirms that the existing delegated authority to the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services and the Borough Solicitor to formally implement any actions directed by the Leader of the Council is to remain in place. 

Reasons for decision

The Leader of the Council informed Cabinet of the Council’s robust response to the recent Heathrow Airport Heathrow Airspace and Future Operations Consultation, which was endorsed. It was noted that Heathrow expansion would have a devastating impact on the Borough and its local communities. The Leader explained that the consultation proposals would mean significant parts of the Borough would be impacted by flight paths and frequent noise from aircraft, from Harlington in the South to Northwood in the North. Cabinet was also updated on the Council’s involvement in the current Judicial Review proceedings against the Government’s plans for a third runway.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None, due to the highly unsatisfactory nature of the consultation and the very significant adverse impacts its proposals would have on the Borough and its residents.

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.

Special Urgency Provisions

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, the Chairman of the Executive Scrutiny Committee agreed that this matter could be considered as urgent and that it could not practicably be deferred, waiving the required public notice period. Additionally, report relating to this decision had also been circulated less than 5 working days before the Cabinet meeting and it was agreed by the Chairman to be considered as urgent.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet notes the updated financial information.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet noted the report which detailed the financial planning obligations received by developers and held by the Council. Cabinet considered what progress had, and was, being made to further invest in a wide range of local infrastructure and Council capital projects benefitting local communities.

Alternative options considered and rejected

To not report to Cabinet. However, Cabinet believed it was an example of good practice to monitor income and expenditure against specific planning agreements.

Officer to action:

Nicola Wyatt, 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 January 2019 (Month 10) as outlined in Table 1.

2.    Note the Treasury Management update as at January 2019 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 14th February to 14th March Cabinet meetings, detailed at Appendix F.

4.    Approve virements of £650k from the School Conditions Building Programme and £515k from the Secondary Schools Expansions Programme to the Primary Schools Expansions programme to support additional conditions and adaptation works required for the expansion at Hillside Primary School.

5.    Agree to accept grant funding of £17,280 from Hillingdon Community Trust to support the delivery of music lessons in schools.  

6.    Approve the award of four direct grant payments funded from the 2019/20 Chrysalis budget. The grant awards are:

a.    Field End Infant and Junior Schools £87k refurbishment of the school forecourt

b.    Hillside Infant School £11.16k creation of new school murals

c.    John Locke Academy £26.5k new canopies in the school playground

d.    Harefield Horticultural Society £3,100 towards roof repairs to their shed on the Hill House Allotment site. 

7.    Award Hillingdon Autistic Care and Support a core grant of £61,500 in 2019/20 to enable the continuation of employment support projects at the tea rooms at Rural Activity Garden Centre and at Brookfield Adult Education Centre.

8.    Agree to accept grant funding of £7,000 from Sports England to support the review of Leisure provision in the Borough. 

9.    Approve the acceptance of funding for  the Rapid Rehousing Pathway of £173,973 split £12,427 for 2018/19 and £161,546 (provisional allocation) for 2019/20  that will help rough sleepers, and those at risk of rough sleeping, access the support and settled housing they need to leave the streets for good.

10.Approve a grant of £18k to the Ruislip Woods Trust for the development of the Woodland Centre at the Ruislip Lido and approve the associated capital release.

11.Ratify a special urgency decision taken by the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services on 22 February 2019 to:

a.    Accept the Tender from The Pantry (UK) Limited for the provision of Lot 1 (Business & Industry Catering) for the Civic Centre Astro Cafe and internal hospitality for a three year period from 24 March 2019 to 23 March 2022 at a cost neutral position to the Council;

b.    Furthermore, agree that this includes the provision to extend the Lot 1 contract for a further 1 + 1 year periods (five years in total), subject to the approval of the Leader of the Council & Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services;

c.    Accept the Tender from Caterplus Services Limited for the provision of Lot 2 (Social Care Catering) to the Council’s Extra Care schemes, Children's Residential, Early Years Centres and Adult Resource Centres for a three year period from 24 March 2019 to 23 March 2022 at the value of £955,955 per annum; and,

d.    Furthermore, agree that this includes the provision to extend the Lot 2 contract for a further 1 + 1 year periods (five years in total), subject to the approval of the Leader of the Council & Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet was informed of the latest Month 10 forecast revenue, capital and treasury position for the current year 2018/19 to ensure the Council achieved its budgetary and service objectives. Additionally, Cabinet agreed to award grant monies for a number of local community projects. Cabinet received an addendum to ratify a special urgency decision taken on 22 February 2019 to award a new catering contracts for the Civic Centre and social care facilities used by residents.

The Leader of the Council updated Members on the Council’s relative strong financial position and the Cabinet Member for Communities, Commerce & Regeneration noted recent business growth across the Borough and efforts by the Council to drive forward new jobs and prosperity in Hayes.

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 Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust for the provision of an integrated therapies service for children and young people to the London Borough of Hillingdon for the period 1st August 2019 to 31^st July 2021 at a cost of £5,195.6k (£2,597.8k pa).

2)    Accepts a single tender from Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust for the provision of a speech and language therapy service and an occupational therapy service for children and young people to the London Borough of Hillingdon for the period 1st April 2019 to 31st July 2019 at a cost of £123.9k (£371.8k pa).

3)    Accepts a single tender from Eden Academy for the provision of Speech and Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy to the London Borough of Hillingdon for children and young people receiving their education in schools outside of the borough’s boundaries to meet statutory needs identified through Education, Health and Care Plans for the period 1st April 2019 to 31st July 2019 at a cost of up to £23k (£69k pa).

Reasons for decision

Cabinet accepted a single tender from a provider to deliver an integrated therapies service for children and young people. Cabinet noted that this would lead a new integrated health and social care model with the Council as lead commissioner on behalf of Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group to deliver better outcomes for children and young people. 

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided to continue with the current separate contracts and commissioning arrangements for therapy services or gone out to a full competitive tender.

Officer to action:

Thomas Murphy - 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 the Cabinet: 

1.  Approves the appointment of construction services consultancy Philip Pank Partnership up to RIBA Stage 3 in order to carry out the tasks necessary to prepare full proposals and deliver the Falling Lane development, Otterfield developments and a sport and leisure facility in the Yiewsley/West Drayton area for a total cost of £97k.

2.  Approves the appointment of design consultancy Hunter & Partners Ltd up to RIBA Stage 3 in order to carry out the tasks necessary to prepare full proposals and deliver the Falling Lane development, Otterfield developments and a sport and leisure facility in the Yiewsley/West Drayton area for a total cost of £702k.

3.  Approves the development of a sport and leisure facility in the Yiewsley/West Drayton area.

4.  Delegates authority for all future decisions regarding the above mentioned projects to the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance Property and Business Services, in conjunction with the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services.

Reason for decision

Cabinet agreed to appoint consultants for the delivery of three Master Plan developments in Yiewsley and West Drayton, which would provide a mix of housing and community facilities, including a new Leisure Centre with swimming pool. Cabinet welcomed that the additional housing would be discounted or shared ownership, to assist first time buyers in the Borough.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet’s decisions progressed the final set of proposals for the area, noting that over the last few years, Cabinet had considered a range of other options for development on the sites.

Officer to action:

Michael Naughton, Resident Services

Urgency provisions

As set out on the agenda for this meeting, this decision was taken under urgency provisions in accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

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)    Approve the Council to enter into a contract with Anglian Water Business (National) Ltd trading as Wave from 1st April 2019 to 31st March 2021 at a projected value of £594,448 following a mini competition under the Crown Commercial Services Framework reference RM3790 for the Provision of Water, Wastewater and Ancillary Services.

2)    Furthermore, that this includes the provision to extend the contract for a ONE YEAR period, subject to the approval of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services, in consultation with the Director of Infrastructure, Procurement, Business Improvement, Communications, Waste Services & ICT.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet noted the requirements following the deregulation of the water market in April 2017 and agreed, through a pan London procurement approach, to accept a contract with a single retailer for clean and waste water services that would also provide the Council with reduced supplier margin costs and efficiency gains through consolidated billing and improved contract and account management.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have procured a water retailer in isolation but this was not recommended.

Officer to action:

Richard Coomber, 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 formally approves the writing off of £1,035,403.78 in respect of Irrecoverable Corporate Debt.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to write-off debt, where there was no prospect of recovering the monies or through legal action in the Courts. It was noted that there were no direct revenue implications associated with the debt write-off as the total cost would be managed within existing bad debt provisions.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None

Officer to action:

Rob Smith / Muir Laurie

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 leases for the Hayes Rugby Football club at Kingshill Avenue, Hayes, the Court Park Bowls Club new pavilion, Parkway and the Harlington Bowling club pavilion, Pinkwell Park, Hayes. 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 7.28pm.

*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, 22 March 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.