Agenda and minutes

All Cabinet Members were present.

No interests were declared by Members present.

The minutes and decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on 18 February 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

This was confirmed.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.    Approves Hillingdon’s draft Climate Change Action Plan for consultation.

2.    Agrees to receive the final Climate Change Action Plan in July 2021, informed by the findings from the consultation process.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet welcomed the draft climate change action plan which aimed to deliver the Council’s climate emergency declaration made by full Council in January 2020. The Cabinet Member for Environment, Housing and Regeneration outlined the bold and ambitious plan which Cabinet agreed to publish for public consultation, returning back to Cabinet with the outcome in July 2021.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None, as such an action plan was requested as part of the Council’s climate emergency declaration in 2020.

Officers to action:

David Haygarth / Ian Thynne - Planning, Environment, Education and Community 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 2021 (Month 10) as outlined in Table 1.

2.    Note the Treasury Management update as at January 2021 at Appendix E.

3.    Agree that delegated authority, up until the Council AGM in 2021, be granted to the Chief Executive to approve any consultancy and agency assignments over £50k that are within approved budgets and establishment, whilst agreeing that any outside budget or establishment will also require final sign-off by the Leader of the Council. Cabinet further notes those consultancy and agency assignments over £50k approved under the previous delegated authority between the 18 February 2021 and 18 March 2021 Cabinet meetings, detailed at Appendix F.

4.    Note the virement of £59k funding from the 2020/21 HRA Acquisitions and Internal Developments budget within HRA Major Projects to the 113-127 Moorfield Road redevelopment project.

5.    Approve acceptance of gift funding in relation to a Planning Performance Agreement in accordance with the provisions of Section 93 of the Local Government Act 2003 for;

a.    30-32 Blyth Road, Hayes - £10,000

b.    Minet School - £20,000

c.    Brunel Rugby - £8,000

d.    Brunel University (BCAST) - £10,000

e.    Nestle Factory (Industrial - Unit 4), Hayes - £26,000

f.      15-17 Uxbridge Road - £20,000

g.    GSK Stockley Park - £40,000

6.    Accept £500k grant funding from the West London Waste Alliance to support the implementation and promotion of segregated food waste collection and processing.

7.    Accept £728,229 National Leisure Recovery Fund grant funding from Sport England to support the reopening of the Council’s leisure facilities.

8.    Agree funding of £20k to Stop Heathrow Expansion (SHE) to support their ongoing work in respect of campaigning against Heathrow expansion.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet was informed of the latest forecast revenue, capital and treasury position for the current year 2020/21 to ensure the Council achieved its budgetary and service objectives.

The Cabinet Member for Finance outlined the Council’s current position and noted the exceptional financial pressures relating to the pandemic which would be covered by Government grants or the Council’s earmarked reserves especially for this purpose.

Additionally, Cabinet made financial decisions to vire monies for the Moorfield Road redevelopment project, accepted gift funding for major planning developments in the Borough and accepted two grants, one from West London Waste Alliance in relation to food waste and the other from the Government to support the re-opening of the Council’s leisure centres.

An addendum was moved to amend authorisation for the sign-off of agency and consultancy staff, to note an increase in grant supporting leisure centres and to award £20k to the Stop Heathrow Expansion campaign group.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

Officer to action:

Paul Whaymand, Corporate Director of Finance – 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 notes the updated financial information.

Reasons for decision

The Cabinet Member for Environment, Housing and Regeneration introduced the report which detailed the financial planning obligations received by developers and held by the Council. Cabinet agreed to note the information.

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, Planning, Environment, Education & Community 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 accept the tender from ONI Plc for the provision of a digitalised Cloud-based Telephony and Contact Centre solution, and the support, maintenance, and transformation of Local Area Network, Wireless, Wide Area Network, and Internet Security solutions to the London Borough of Hillingdon for a six-year (3+2+1) period from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2027 and at the value of £4,046,765.85.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet accepted a tender for the Council’s telephony system and network infrastructure which was essential for the Council’s business continuity, communications and delivery of services to residents. The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Transformation indicated how this would also enable the Council to move more fully to the Cloud and, thereby reducing its dependency on Civic Centre systems.

Alternative options considered and rejected.

To not tender or extend existing contracts was considered uneconomic and a risk to the provision of modern ICT services.

Officers to action:

Michael Clarke – Infrastructure, Transport & Building Services

Jo Allen - 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).

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet accept the tender from TES-N Projects Ltd. for the provision of Mezzanine Floor Fit Out Works at the Civic Centre for the London Borough of Hillingdon for a 12-week period at the value of £705,792.23

Reasons for recommendation

Cabinet gave its approval for the appointment of a works contractor to carry out the internal fit-out works of the Civic Centre Mezzanine level, which would enable family and young people’s services that are currently delivered elsewhere to be relocated to the Civic Centre for residents to continue using, in particular the Abacus Family Centre which was located on the proposed site for the new sports and leisure facility in West Drayton. The Cabinet Member for Property & Infrastructure outlined how this would provide much improved facilities for residents.

Alternative options considered

Cabinet noted that other locations were considered, including for the Abacus Family Centre, but these were deemed not as suitable as the Civic Centre.

Officer to action:

Jenny Evans, Infrastructure, Transport and Building 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).

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet approves an extension of the current contract with Carers Trust Hillingdon for the provision of the Carer Support Service to the London Borough of Hillingdon for a two-year period from 1st September 2021 to 31st August 2023 and at total minimum value of £1,311,272 (£655,636 pa) and maximum value of £1,350,873 which allows for a 2% annual uplift contingency depending on a review of the uplift business case.

Reason for decision

Cabinet agreed a two-year extension of the contract with the incumbent provider for the provision of support services to Carers in Hillingdon. The Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care expressed thanks to the work of the Trust during the pandemic and the Leader of the Council indicated that this was an example of the Council’s strong relationship with the voluntary sector.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None, as the Council would not meet its statutory responsibilities.

Officer to action:

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

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet authorises the grant of a lease for the substation site at Meadow High School, Hillingdon negotiated by officers as detailed in this report and instructs Legal Services to complete the appropriate lease documentation.

Reasons for decision

The Cabinet Member for Property & Infrastructure informed Cabinet of the refurbishment of Meadow High School, Hillingdon which would include a new building and sports block extension. Cabinet agreed to the grant of a long-term lease for an electrical substation to provide sufficient power to the school site going forward.

Alternative options considered and rejected.

None.

Officer to action:

Michele Wilcox; Infrastructure, Transport & Building 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).

No additional items were considered by the Cabinet.

The meeting closed at 7.13pm

*Internal Use only - implementation of decisions

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

from 5pm, Friday 26 March 2021.

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.