Agenda and draft minutes

All Cabinet Members were present.

No interests were declared by Members present.

The minutes and decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on 12 December 2024 were agreed as a correct record.

It was confirmed that items of business marked Part 1 would be considered in public and those marked Part 2 in private.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet: 

1)    Considers the public consultation responses and summary information on the draft Public Spaces Protection Order;

2)    Has regard to the contents of the Equalities Impact Assessment and;

3)    Approves the finalised Public Spaces Protection Order in Appendix 1 for publication and implementation on 1st February 2025.

Reasons for decision

Following Cabinet’s approval of the matter for public consultation in 2024, Cabinet considered the outcome of that consultation on a proposed new Public Space Protection Order prohibition in relation to private hire vehicles and taxis in the wards around Heathrow Airport.

The Cabinet Member for Community & Environment stated that this would address a long-standing issue related to anti-social behaviour by some private hire vehicle drivers and taxis near the airport. It was advised that the report presented the results of a public consultation, which showed strong support for implementing the controls. Unlike previous measures, the Cabinet Member indicated that the new prohibition would make it an offense for such vehicles to be in the area without a fare to pick up or without being a resident. Enforcement would be carried out using various types of camera technology, targeting the registered owners of the vehicles.

The Cabinet Member advised that the primary goal was to address the anti-social behaviour and related issues, not to generate fine income and that, if approved, a short period of intense publicity was planned to encourage compliance.

The Leader of the Council highlighted the extent of the problem, noting that private hire drivers were causing obstructions and littering, and that some had used private gardens as toilets. The Leader expressed his support for the new measures.

Following consideration of the consultation and the equalities impact assessment, Cabinet agreed to implement the Order.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided to do nothing, further engage with the private hire and taxi community but considered these would not sufficiently tackle the matter. Cabinet could have also introduced further legal restrictions on all vehicles but discounted this due to the impact directly on residents.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1)    Agree to review the current PSPO 2023 and approve the draft for consultation;

2)    Note the consultation process proposed;

3)    Agree to receive the updated final version of the PSPO 2025 in April 2025 following consultation, for consideration and approval.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet considered a report to consider removing or amending specific prohibitions in the current Public Spaces Protection Order 2023 relating town centres and in particular amplification, the placing of tables, signage or similar effects and also street trading and leaflet distribution.

The Cabinet Member for Community & Environment mentioned that some of the existing prohibitions had faced legal challenges, and the strong advice from the Council indicated that defending these challenges would be difficult. As a result, it was proposed that a consultation be conducted to amend the existing Public Spaces Protection Order. However, it was made clear by the Cabinet Member that the remainder of the Order, particularly the prohibitions on amplified equipment in green spaces, would remain in place.

Cabinet agreed to the consultation and to receive a further report back following this to inform any determinations on an updated PSPO.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have not consulted on the proposed changes or amended them before consultation. Cabinet also noted the Council's other options to manage anti-social behaviour generally were limited to available enforcement legislation, whilst also noting that police resources were also limited.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1. Approves for consultation the updated Adult Social Care Charging for Social Care and Support Policy for Hillingdon for 2025/26 for charging adults receiving care and support services in the Borough, as set out in the report and Appendix 1;
2. Delegates authority to the Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance and Corporate Director of Adult Social Care & Health, to consider the outcome of the public consultation and to then determine the final policy and fees for 2025/26;
3. Agrees that, thereafter, this policy and fees are reviewed annually as part of the Council’s wider review of fees and charges to provide a transparent and consistent approach going forward.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet received a report proposing to consult on a clear policy framework and fees for charging adult recipients for social care services provided.

The Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care emphasised the importance of having a robust and up-to-date charging policy to ensure the Council could successfully collect assessed contributions for care services. The updated policy proposed for consultation would include a care arrangement fee for residents arranging their own care, consisting of an annual setup fee and a yearly administrative cost and was expected to generate a new income stream.

On a related matter, the Cabinet Member noted that the Council's adult social care services were recently assessed by the Care Quality Commission and that they had received a ‘good’ rating, highlighting the Council's commitment to transparency and fairness for residents.

The Leader of the Council indicated his support for the proposed policy, stating that was appropriate for those who can afford to pay for their care to do so.

Cabinet agreed to consult on the proposed policy and fee arrangements.

Alternative options considered or rejected

Cabinet could have agreed to not review the policy, but considered the current policy outdated.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet approves the updated Risk Management Policy attached in Appendix A for implementation.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet received a report to approve an updated Risk Management Policy.

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Transformation highlighted the Council's statutory responsibility to maintain a comprehensive framework of internal controls, which included managing risks to the Council and its services. It was explained that the policy outlined the procedures to identify, evaluate, and mitigate potential risks and threats. It also required an assessment of the likelihood of each risk and the identification of management actions to mitigate them.

It was noted that a significant change in the policy was the attribution of responsibilities to officers managing specific services or activities, both for identifying and addressing risks if they materialise. Furthermore, the Cabinet Member advised that the reporting and monitoring of risks were now managed through a new software application and that the proposed Policy also reflected a series of updates and improvements that became operational in 2024.

Cabinet agreed the updated policy.

Alternative options considered or rejected

To not implement the policy, but Cabinet considered this would not follow best practice or legislative requirements.

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.

Alternative options considered and rejected

These were set out in the public Cabinet report.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1)    Note the Government grants for the new Local Stop Smoking and existing Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment programmes;

2)    For delivery, agree to vary the contract between the Council and the Central and North West London NHS Trust for the enhanced delivery of the adult substance misuse and treatment service and the smoking cessation service to:

a)    Incorporate the new Local Stop Smoking Service, noting that funding for this is dependent on Government grant with no substitution of funding from the Public Health Grant or the Council General Fund when funding ceases to be available;

b)   Continue the Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services at the cost of £587,682, utilising the last year of the Government Grant to continue treatment services focussed for rough sleepers.

Reasons for decision

The Cabinet Member for Health and  Social Care introduced a report on key local public health services, which Cabinet agreed, to vary the grant-funded adult substance misuse and smoking cessation services contract for new Local Stop Smoking Services and the continuation of Rough Sleeping Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services.

Alternative options considered or rejected

Cabinet could have decided not to spend the grant money, which would have reduce the Council's focus on health initiatives.

No further items were considered by Cabinet.

The meeting closed at 7.11pm