Agenda and minutes

All Members were present. Councillor Susan O’Brien and Councillor Philip Corthorne participated in the Cabinet meeting by teleconference.

No interests were declared by Members present.

The decisions and minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 22 October 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

Items to be considered in public and in private were confirmed as set out on the agenda.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet notes the successes to date and continued progress to deliver the Older People’s Action Plan during the first half of 2020-21 to improve the quality of life, health and wellbeing of older people in Hillingdon.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet welcomed the work undertaken as part of the Older People’s Action Plan during the year, aimed at improving the lives of older people in the Borough.

The Leader of the Council outlined how various Council services had risen to the challenge to assist older people during the pandemic.

A summary of key achievements were highlighted; including free burglar alarms totalling 10,926 since the initiative began; the TeleCareLine supporting over 6,000 older people to live independently in their homes and the work of AGE UK undertaking befriending and other support schemes funded by the Council.

The success of the Brown Badge Scheme assisting older people to park was welcomed, with currently over 13,000 active users in the Borough. In closing, the Leader and Cabinet welcomed the unparalleled level support for older people provided by Hillingdon Council.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

Officer to action:

Kevin Byrne – 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 the Cabinet:

1. Authorises the grant of a peppercorn lease to High Speed Two (HS2) Limited of Ruislip Golf Course for a maximum term of 10 years and on the other main terms outlined in this report.

2. Authorises the grant of an Agreement for Lease with the Secretary of State for Education to grant a 125 year peppercorn lease of land at Ruislip Golf Course to a free school trust or another party (at the direction of the Secretary of State) on the main terms outlined in this report and subject to the conditions precedent having been met.

3. Authorises officers to give public notice of the Council’s intention to appropriate the land from Open Space and green belt land to Education use(s) in the event that planning permission is obtained for the new school.

4. Delegates authority to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services, in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director Residents Services, to consider any objections to the proposed appropriation: decide whether the land should be appropriated for Education use(s) and to make all necessary decisions to give effect to the above recommendations and any other decisions which are required in relation to the land.

Reasons for decision

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services set out the background to the report, arising from the Funding Agency for Schools – and not the Council - who had been looking at sites in the Borough for a new secondary school based on calculations of future school places.

Following due consideration of all relevant matters, Cabinet agreed to the granting of two lease agreements at Ruislip Golf Course, one to HS2 Limited and the other to the Secretary of State for Education. Cabinet considered a section of the Ruislip Golf Course, which the Council owned freehold, but is affected by HS2 works, was the only suitable site.

It was clearly noted that this was not a final decision on a new school being built, but the reserving of the site should it be required in the future.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have not entered into a lease with HS2 Ltd, which would have left HS2 Limited in possession of the golf course without any obligations to the Council to secure and maintain it. Cabinet also noted that the Department for Education considered alternative sites for a potential new secondary school but following an assessment by Council officers none had been found suitable.

Officers to action:

Dan Kennedy, Residents Services

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.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1. Notes the findings from a review by officers of the Elective Home Education Policy and current external factors.

2. Considers the proposals for changes to be made to the Elective Home Education Policy and authorises officers to undertake a full consultation exercise in relation to them and the draft policy attached in Appendix 1.

3. Agrees to receive a further report at its February 2021 meeting for the purpose of considering the consultation responses and deciding whether to implement a revised Elective Home Education Policy.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed a consultation on the Council’s Elective Home Education Policy, which took into account the latest guidance released by the Department for Education in April 2019.

The Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Youth Services reflected the more balanced approach proposed with responsibilities of safeguarding and the rights of parents. Cabinet welcomed the support than an updated policy would provide to those parents that choose to home educate, which had increased during the pandemic.

It was noted that the Residents’, Education and Environmental Services Policy Overview Committee would be engaged in the consultation process.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

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.

RECOMMENDATIONS

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the budget position as at September 2020 (Month 6) as outlined in Table 1.

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

3.    Continue the delegated authority up until the November 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 22 October 2020 and 12 November 2020 Cabinet meetings, detailed at Appendix F.

4.    Approves re-phasing of £6,463k HRA capital expenditure and associated financing budgets into later years of the capital programme.

5.    Approves re-phasing of £28,435k General Fund capital expenditure and associated financing budgets into later years of the capital programme.

6.    Approves the virement of £676k from the 2020/21 General Capital Contingency budget to the Uxbridge Mortuary Extension project.

7.    Accept grant award of £9,980 from London Sport in respect of the Tackling Inequalities COVID-19 Fund.

Reasons for decision

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Business Services informed Cabinet of the latest revenue and capital position for the financial year 2020/21, which showed an improved net underspend from the previous month and some rephrasing of continuing capital projects, in part due to the pandemic.

The Leader of the Council detailed the recommendations in the report, drawing to Members’ attention the latest treasury position. The Leader updated Cabinet on the exceptional costs associated with the pandemic and how the Council was effectively managing the cover of these costs within its budget.

Cabinet made a number of financial related decisions, including the rephrasing of capital budgets, additional funding to build the state-of-the-art Uxbridge Mortuary extension and accepted monies for cycle training for vulnerable and at risk groups in the Hayes area.

The Leader explained how Hillingdon’s financial position, despite recent challenges, was in a good place compared to other local authorities.

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.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1. Expresses its appreciation to Jean Palmer OBE, the Council’s Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services, for her outstanding service to the London Borough of Hillingdon.

2. Effective 12 January 2021, permits the transfer of all previous delegations granted by Cabinet to the Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services (in conjunction with the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members) to the Chief Executive or the relevant Corporate Director or Director post responsible for the service area relating to that delegation.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed the orderly transfer of the substantial delegated authority it had previously granted to the retiring Deputy Chief Executive and Corporate Director of Residents Services, to reflect the Council’s new top-tier management structure.

Individual Cabinet Members praised Ms Jean Palmer OBE for her outstanding service to the Borough and local government, reflecting on their own experiences over the years. This included working closely with them on major projects, delivering gold standard services, her strong work ethic and focus, ably steering the Council’s vision of putting residents first. Cabinet praised Ms Palmer’s role during the pandemic and wished her a very happy retirement.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

Officer to action:

Mark Braddock, Democratic 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 the Cabinet:

1)    Approves the Direct award to Prism UK Medical Limited for the supply and installation of new stairlifts and ceiling track hoists within private dwellings and the Council's housing stock for a three year period from the 1st December 2020.

2)    Furthermore, agree that this includes the provision to extend the contract for a further ONE (1) plus ONE (1) years (5 years in total), delegating approval of any extension to the Leader of the Council and 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 accepted a tender for the installation of stairlifts and ceiling track hoists to enable residents to maintain their independence and remain in their homes.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have considered ad hoc purchasing arrangements, but considered this would risk service quality and speed.

Officers to action:

Gary Penticost – Residents Services

Michael Breen – Finance

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).

No additional items were considered by the Cabinet.

The meeting closed at 7:36pm.

*Internal Use only - implementation of decisions

All decisions: Meeting after Cabinet, the Executive Scrutiny Committee did not call-in any of the remaining 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 20 November 2020.

Officers to action the decisions are indicated in the minutes.

democratic@hillingdon.gov.uk

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