Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Jane Palmer.

No interests were declared by Cabinet Members present.

The decisions and minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 20 April 2023 were agreed as a correct record.

It was confirmed that the reports on the agenda, as marked public and private, would be considered as shown.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.     Notes the findings and considers the responses from a comprehensive consultation exercise, which has informed the proposed final Library Service Strategy;

2.     Notes the adaptations to the proposed Tiered library opening hours as set out in the report, following consultation.

3.     Agrees the Library Service Strategy in Appendix 4 from June 2023, and agrees the Tiered opening hours to take effect later in this financial year as set out in the Annex to this report.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet received and considered the responses from the public consultation on the Library Strategy and tiered library opening hours. Cabinet noted that the proposals were discussed at a meeting of the Residents’ Services Select Committee. Cabinet also considered the equalities impact assessment.

The Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services highlighted the five key ambitions of the Strategy and noted that the Council was required under law to provide a comprehensive and efficient library service and given that Hillingdon Council provided more branches and opening hours than its neighbouring boroughs, he was confident the Council met the requirements of this. The Cabinet Member re-affirmed the Council’s commitment of libraries being a key part of the Council’s wider community offering, providing a comprehensive range of activities for all ages.

The Cabinet Member noted the 865 responses received during the consultation, predominately from the North of the Borough, with visits by users to libraries once a month being the average. In respect of the proposed tiered opening hours, it was noted that these were based on usage but also on the mapped availability of an alternative library within travelling distance. The Cabinet Member outlined the proposed changes to opening hours following consultation, where subject to the decision on Harlington Library it was proposed West Drayton Library would move to Tier 3, and at Northwood Hills Library it was proposed it remained at Tier 3 but with a lunchtime closure. The Cabinet Member indicated that opening hours would be kept under regular review.

Both the Cabinet Member and the Leader of the Council paid thanks to officers in the Library Service for their work on the consultation and the valued service they provide to the Borough.

Alternative options considered and rejected

No alternative options to the Library Service were considered in order to retain a large network of public libraries in Hillingdon and ensure resources were deployed responsibly and efficiently.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.     Notes the findings and considers the responses from a comprehensive consultation exercise and;

2.     Having regard to the content of the Equalities Impact Assessment, and noting the actions that are proposed to mitigate the adverse effects of Harlington Library closing, Cabinet agrees that it is satisfied that service users will retain the ability to access a comprehensive and efficient library service within Hillingdon. 

3.     Therefore:

a.     Approves the closure of Harlington library from Friday 21^st July 2023 and instructs officers to inform all current service users of the closure and advise them about how they can still access the library service within Hillingdon, including the digital library, Mobile library and nearby alternative static libraries.

b.    Authorises the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Residents Services, to negotiate appropriate compensation with Harlington School.

c.     Instructs officers to take all necessary steps to terminate the Council’s lease relating to Harlington Library in accordance with the requirements of the  Department for Education.

Reasons for decision

Following public consultation, Cabinet duly considered the detailed responses to the proposed closure of Harlington library and noted that the matter had also been considered by the Residents’ Services Select Committee.

The Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services noted a minor inconsequential correction to the report for the record.

The Cabinet Member explained the unique nature of the library being situated within Harlington School and the outcome of the consultation. The consultation had received 84 responses and the library had the lowest rate of book borrowing in the Borough, with the vast majority of usage being pupils at the School. Whilst the equalities impact assessment noted some inconvenience to those residents who did use the library, including those with disabilities, the Cabinet Member outlined the proposed mitigations to the proposed closure, which would include increased opening hours at the nearby West Drayton Library and increased mobile library opening hours in Pinkwell Ward.

Cabinet considered the report and its recommendations. Firstly, having due regard to the consultation, the equalities impact assessment and also actions proposed to mitigate the adverse effects of the closure, Cabinet agreed that it was satisfied that users would retain the ability to access a comprehensive and efficient library service.

Secondly, and consequently, Cabinet therefore agreed to the closure of the library, noting that users would be advised how they to access other library services locally. Cabinet also made the necessary decisions to passport the library facilities to benefit Harlington School.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet considered that no viable alternative options had been identified as set out in the report, but that users would still be able to benefit from a substantial library service offer locally and across the Borough.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet note the reports to be considered later in private and Part 2 of the Cabinet agenda and comment on them as appropriate for public information purposes.

Reasons for decision

The Leader of the Council introduced the report which provided a public summary of the matters to be discussed in the private part of the Cabinet meeting later, increasing the Council’s transparency.

The Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport informed Cabinet about the two private reports on the agenda. The first report proposed the re-use of the Pembroke Centre in Ruislip for new modern health facilities which would benefit residents in the area. The second report, following the receipt of an external grant, proposed to decarbonise four of the Borough’s biggest energy consuming buildings, making a significant contribution to the Council’s carbon neutral objectives.

Alternative options considered and rejected

These were set out in the public Cabinet report.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.     Declares that The Pembroke Centre, 90 Pembroke Road Ruislip, HA4 8NX is surplus to requirements; the Property as shown on Plan A in the report.

2.     Authorises the sale of the freehold interest in The Pembroke Centre to GP Confederation and One Medical Property at the value and terms as detailed in the report.

3.     Authorises a short-term letting of the ground floor of the premises to GP Confederation and One Medical Property for GP services prior to disposal of the freehold interest.

4.     Delegates all future decisions regarding this disposal to the Cabinet Member for Property, Highways & Transport, in conjunction with the Corporate Director of Place.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to declare surplus a vacant Council owned building called the Pembroke Centre in Ruislip and authorised a property transaction between the Council and the GP Confederation and One Medical Property.

The Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport welcomed that this would provide a new state of the art health and wellbeing facility, supporting the healthcare provision of up to 16,000 local residents.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet considered various options as set out in the report, including residential development and renting the building, but discounted these on viability and best value grounds.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.     Accept the grant from The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and welcome the substantial investment in decarbonising Council buildings as a significant part of the Council’s Strategic Climate Action Plan to achieving future energy savings and achievement of its net zero target by 2030.

2.     Approve the appointment of Ameresco to prepare detailed design proposals and technical specifications associated with the proposed decarbonisation measure as detailed in Appendix B for a total fee charge of £490,000 for the following sites:

·       Civic Centre, Uxbridge

·       Winston Churchill Hall, Ruislip

·       Hillingdon Sports and Leisure Centre, Uxbridge

·       Highgrove Pool, Ruislip

3.     Agree delegated authority to the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport, in conjunction with the Corporate Director of Place, to approve proposals to move project onto works delivery stage following completion of the detailed designs.

4.     Approve the appointment of Ameresco to project manage delivery of the project and use their subcontractors to undertake the works associated with the delivery of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund 3c Hillingdon project.

5.     Agree to the capital release request of £19,542k (£5,791k of Council Resources and £13,751k of grant funding)to support the delivery of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund 3c project. Installing a mix of measures (including air pumps, fabric insulation and solar PV) at 4 sites in the borough.

6.     Delegate all other decisions required for this project to the Corporate Director of Place, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport, and where related to the Council’s climate change strategy, with the Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet noted that the Council had been successful securing Government funding to decarbonise four of the Council’s highest energy producing buildings and agreed to progress plans to introduce a significant range of energy conservation works to reduce the Council’s energy demand at those sites. The Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport welcomed that this would introduce new modern energy systems such as air source heat pumps. The Leader of the Council also welcomed the project.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have tendered the works, but opted for utlilising a specialist procurement framework due to the required time scales for project delivery.

No additional items were considered by the Cabinet.

The meeting closed at 7:14pm