Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Peter Curling who was substituted by Councillor Stuart Mathers. Apologies were also received from Councillor Peter Money.

No interests were declared in matters before the meeting.

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

To confirm that the items of business marked Part I will be considered in public and that the items marked Part II will be considered in private.

Items to be considered in public and those in private were confirmed.

To receive the responses on any information requests or clarifications on matters from the previous Cabinet meeting and associated reports.

The report was noted.

To undertake the statutory scrutiny role of executive decision-making by the London Borough of Hillingdon, and in particular to review decisions made by the Cabinet prior to this meeting. Members should consider any other decision taken by a Cabinet Member(s) or key decision taken by an Officer published in the five working days before this meeting.

Members of the Committee attended the virtual Cabinet meeting held prior so that they could review the Cabinet reports and decisions made.

In respect of Cabinet’s decisions to issue the draft Climate Change Action Plan for consultation, Councillor Stuart Mathers moved to call-in these decisions with the rationale being a lack of detail on what the consultation process would look like, no mention of carbon reduction plans in the Council’s housing stock along with little information about how this would apply to contracted services. Thereby, arguing that the Plan contained insufficient information for Cabinet to make an informed decision.

Other Members commented that the draft Action Plan approved by Cabinet was high-level and strategic in nature, that its status was draft and there would therefore be the opportunity to shape the Plan via the public consultation process, which would include Policy Overview Committees and Councillors. It was also considered that the specific points raised by Councillor Mathers could be reviewed as part of this process. However, it was agreed by the Committee to seek out further details on the proposed consultation.

The motion to call-in the decision having been proposed by Councillor Mathers, was seconded by Councillor Kerri Prince. Being put to the vote, the motion was lost.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet’s decisions on the Climate Change Action Plan be not called-in.

On the budget monitoring report, following a query from Mr Little, Members agreed to request information from officers on any guidance that was issued to manage the high needs deficit in the Schools Budget following the rejection of the Council’s disapplication request by the DfE.

RESOLVED: – That the remaining decisions made by the Cabinet at their meeting on 18 March 2021 be endorsed and that no call-in be made.