Agenda and minutes

CABINET - Thursday, 23rd July, 2020 7.00 pm

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

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

Link: Watch the LIVE or on demand broadcast of this meeting here

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

All Members were present.

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 151 KB

Minutes:

The decisions and minutes of the virtual Cabinet meeting held on 25 June 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.

Cranford Park Project: Delivery Stage pdf icon PDF 137 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the Cabinet: 

 

1.    Welcomes and accepts the National Lottery Heritage Fund (Heritage Fund) award of £2,282,600, on the basis of the proposed match funding package, and authorises the delivery stage of the project, which will entail the restoration of the historic buildings, structures and landscapes, the provision of additional visitor facilities with volunteering and events programmes and the upgrading and interpreting of Cranford Park for educational, recreational and community purposes.

 

2.    Authorises the Deputy Chief Executive & Corporate Director of Residents Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Business & Property Services and Cabinet Member for Central Services, Culture and Heritage, to make any necessary decisions to retain the Design Team for the delivery phase, specifically Chris Blandford Associates up to a cumulative value of £265,000 and AOC Archaeology up to a cumulative value of £80,000;

 

3.    To ensure efficient delivery of the project, agrees to delegate all necessary future decisions that would require Cabinet approval to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members for Finance, Business & Property Services and Central Services, Culture and Heritage, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet welcomed the news that the Council had been successful in its Stage 2 Bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund for the restoration project at Cranford Park in the South of the Borough. It was noted that the project would enable the buildings and gardens to be transformed into a valuable community and educational resource for all parts of the Borough.

 

The Cabinet Member for Central Services, Culture and Heritage outlined how the project had been informed by specialist surveys, the Steering Group and shaped by the results of a large public consultation and visitor surveys.

 

Cabinet agreed to retain the necessary specialists for the delivery phase and provided the required delegated authority to ensure decisions on the project can be undertaken efficiently.

 

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services – a member of the Steering Group – expressed, on behalf of Cabinet, his thanks to officers in progressing the project.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

Cabinet could have decided not to proceed with the project.

 

Officers to action:

 

James Rodger, Residents Services

Charmian Baker, Project Manager of the Cranford Park Project

 

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.

Monthly Council Budget Monitoring Report: Month 2 pdf icon PDF 399 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet:

 

1.    Note the budget position as at May 2020 (Month 2) as outlined in Table 1.

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

3.    Continue the delegated authority up until the September 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 25 June 2020 and 23 July 2020 Cabinet meetings, detailed at Appendix F.

4.    Accept a grant of £40k from the GLA Greener City Fund towards wetland creation and ecological improvements at Hillingdon House Farm.

5.    Approve the acceptance of £25k additional GLA funding for Adult Education from the ‘Skills for Londoners COVID – 19 Response Fund Programme’ to support the delivery of Adult Education during the pandemic.

6.    Agree to enter into a three year strategic partnership with Trees for Cities, at a total cost to the Council of £75,000 (£25,000 per year) to be funded by existing budgets within Green Spaces. 

7.    Accept a £100k grant from the Department for Transport as part of the first tranche of their Emergency Active Travel Fund.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet was informed of the latest revenue, capital and treasury position for the financial year 2020/21. The Leader of the Council outlined how the Council had split its budgeting into normal business activity and COVID-19 related pressures. For normal activity, there was net in-year projected underspend to-date. However, in-year COVID-19 pressures were currently at £25,182k. Cabinet welcomed the stronger position of Hillingdon compared to other local authorities, but noted the challenges ahead and the mix of Government grant and use of its own earmarked reserves that would be applied towards mitigating this exceptional pressure.

 

On other matters, Cabinet accepted a grant for ecological improvements at Hillingdon House Farm and agreed to enter into an agreement with Trees for Cities. The Cabinet Member for Housing and The Environment noted that these measures would increase biodiversity, enhance open spaces and encourage cleaner air. 

 

The Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Youth Services welcomed the successful grant application to support residents continuing their adult education courses in light of the pandemic and the Cabinet Member for Community, Commerce and Regeneration noted the Council’s support for local businesses, in particular the low cost new pavement licences for traders which had come into effect.

 

An addendum was moved, which Cabinet agreed and enabled the acceptance of grant monies from the Government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund to improve conditions for walking and cycling for local residents as part of the recovery phase of COVID-19.

 

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.

 

7.

Refurbishment of the Yiewsley and West Drayton Community Centre

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet accept the tender from Portview Fit-Out Limited for the refurbishment of Yiewsley and West Drayton Community Centre building works at the value of £1,512,810.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet accepted a tender in order to appoint a contractor to carry out the planned refurbishment of the Yiewsley and West Drayton Community Centre. Cabinet welcomed the works, which would enable the building's condition issues to be addressed, modernise the facilities, improve accessibility to residents and provide more energy efficient features.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

Cabinet could have decided not to progress the project but this would have limited the ability for the facility to be used by the local community in the future.

 

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

8.

Disposal of Land at Whiteheath Avenue, Ruislip

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet:

 

1.    Declares the land at Whiteheath Avenue Ruislip surplus to requirements as set out in the report;

 

2.    Authorises the disposal of the site at auction, noting the site has planning consent for the development of 2 x 4 bed houses and agrees that the site is to be sold as a long leasehold, on a 125 year lease, with the freehold transferred upon completion of the development;

 

3.    Delegates authority to the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services, for all subsequent decisions regarding the sale of the site.

 

4.    Approves the grant of a 25 year lease of the substation site to UK Power Networks and;

 

5.    Approves the expenditure of circa. £13,483 for the construction of an access track, fencing and vehicle crossover to the substation.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet agreed to dispose of vacant land at Whiteheath Avenue, Ruislip where planning consent had been granted for residential development. Cabinet also granted a lease in respect of the substation on the site and expenditure to provide access to it.

 

Alternative options considered and rejected

 

Cabinet considered a range of other options which were discounted, including whether the Council should sell the site to Hillingdon First or develop the site itself.

 

Officer to action:

 

Julia Thompson - 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 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.

Voluntary Sector Lease - Hillingdon District Guides, Mayfield Close, Hillingdon

Minutes:

 

RESOLVED:

 

That Cabinet agrees the rent set out in the report, which is subject to negotiation with the voluntary sector organisation detailed in this report, and instructs Property and Estates to complete the Rent Review Memorandum.

 

Reasons for decision

 

Cabinet agreed the rent review for the Hillingdon District Guides, Mayfield Close, Hillingdon. Cabinet’s decision enabled the organisation concerned to benefit from heavily discounted rent 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:

 

Michele Wilcox / 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 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 7.23pm.

 

 

*Internal Use only - implementation of decisions

 

All decisions: Meeting after Virtual Cabinet, the Virtual Executive Scrutiny Committee did not call-in any of the Cabinet’s decisions. Therefore, these decisions can be implemented by officers upon the expiry of the scrutiny call-in period which is from:

 

5pm, Friday 31 July 2020.

 

 

Officers to action the decisions are indicated in the minutes.

 

 

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.