Agenda and minutes

All Cabinet Members were present.

No interests were declared by Members present.

The decisions and minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 17 June 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

This was confirmed.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.     Notes the findings and positive response from a comprehensive consultation exercise which has informed the final Strategic Climate Action Plan;

2.     Approves Hillingdon’s Strategic Climate Action Plan for adoption;

3.     Notes that officers will prepare operational plans to drive forward and fully implement the objectives set out in the Strategic Plan, with progress being regularly reported to Cabinet and;

4.     Notes to undertake a review of this strategy in July 2024.

Reasons for decision

Following a comprehensive 12-week public consultation, Cabinet agreed Hillingdon’s Strategic Climate Action Plan which had been shaped by the views and ideas from residents, various stakeholders, including webinars with residents’ associations. The Cabinet Member for Environment, Housing and Regeneration re-iterated the Council’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030 and set out the Council’s positive track record already with reducing CO2 emissions. The Leader of the Council welcomed the Plan and the need to take it forward for action.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None, as Cabinet considered the Plan necessary to achieve the Council’s climate emergency declaration.

RESOLVED:

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

Reasons for decision

The Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care introduced the update on the Older People’s Plan and welcomed the commitment from the Council and its partners to improve the quality of life for older people in Hillingdon. Cabinet noted the plan and the themes within, including safety and security which had delivered over 11,000 free burglar alarms to older people along with the telecare service providing essential support when needed. Appreciation was given to the views of older people, through the work of the Older People’s Assembly and the effort by Age UK locally, who had assisted older people in securing the benefits they were entitled to.

The Leader of the Council noted the impact of the pandemic on older people and how the Council had worked hard to support them during this time, particularly through greater digital inclusion.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.   

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet approves the Draft Hillingdon Housing Strategy 2021/22 to 2025/26 included at Appendix A for consultation.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to progress with consultation on its draft Housing strategy for the coming years. The Cabinet Member for Environment, Housing and Regeneration noted how this would help the Council develop its housing policy and the actions needed to meet the needs of residents, support independent living and also assist rough sleepers.

With a significant housing waiting list, the Council would be investing in more affordable housing and along with the planned regeneration schemes, this would help to increase the supply and quality of the Council’s housing stock.

The Cabinet Member paid his appreciation to the officers in the housing department involved in the development of the Strategy and the Leader of the Council set out the importance of residents having the opportunity to comment on it as part of the public consultation.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None, as the Council would not have a framework in which to take its housing policies forward over the coming years.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1)    Note the budget monitoring position and treasury management update as at May 2021 (Month 2) as outlined in Part A of the report.

2)    Approve the financial recommendations set out in Part B of the report below:

a.     Note those consultancy and agency assignments over £50k approved under delegated authority between the June 2021 and July 2021 Cabinet meetings, detailed at Appendix A.

b.    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.     Douay Martys School - £5,000

b.    3 Viveash Close - £27,500

c.     Achilles Therapeutics - £20,000

d.    Colt Data Centre - £50,000

c.     Approve to charge an affordable rent based on the London Affordable Rent (LAR) for the 10 new build general needs houses at Ditchfield Road. Hayes (£180.72 pw for 3 bedrooms and £190.23 pw for four bedrooms) as detailed in Appendix B

d.    Approve to charge an affordable rent based on the London Affordable Rent (LAR) plus service charges for the 9 new build general needs flats at Giveen House, Uxbridge (£174.94 pw for 2 bedrooms and £184.46 pw for three bedrooms) as detailed in Appendix B

e.     Agree the proposed leisure services fees and charges uplifts detailed in Appendix C in line with the leisure contract terms, to come into effect from 1st August 2021. 

f.      Ratify a special urgency decision taken by the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care on 24 June 2021 in relation to the award of contract for a Care and Wellbeing Service in Supported Living for People with Learning Disabilities from 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2022

g.    Approve the acceptance of the additional Local Covid Support Grant of £782,414.86 from the DWP to fund continuing support for vulnerable families during the Coivd pandemic and to note the continuing use of Edenred (UK Group Limited), a third-party provider appointed through the NPS Framework for the delivery of food vouchers (approved through use of the Leaders Emergency Power ratified June Cabinet Recommendation 18 Item 5)

Reasons for decision

The Cabinet Member for Finance introduced a restructured budget monitoring report going forward in the interests of transparency and user-friendliness.

Cabinet was informed of the first forecast revenue, capital and treasury position for the current year 2021/22 to ensure the Council achieved its budgetary and service objectives but it was noted that it was still too early to identify trends in spending patterns.

However, the Cabinet Member set out the strong position of the Council’s finances and its balances going forward, along with progress on savings targets and how the Council was managing the financial pressures arising from COVID-19. Cabinet noted the re-phasing of the Council’s capital programme and housing revenue account following a review, along with the budget pressures in the Dedicated Schools Budget.

A number of other financial recommendations were proposed by the Cabinet Member, which were agreed by Cabinet. The Leader of the Council thanked the Cabinet Member and finance department for their efforts managing the budget well.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet accept a direct contract award to Dennis Eagle Ltd for the provision of fifteen specialist refuse collection vehicles to the London Borough of Hillingdon at the value of £2,326,411 to be funded from the 2021/22 Purchase of Vehicles capital budget and also authorise the necessary capital release.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to the purchase – and capital release - of a number of refuse collection vehicles for the Waste Service to avoid the cost of maintaining and running older fleet vehicles at the end of their useful economic life.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have hired new vehicles but considered this a more expensive option than purchasing outright.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.     Accepts the tender from Care Outlook Ltd. for the provision of Community Based Care and Support Services - the Lead Provider of Homecare and Outreach Services in the South of the Borough, to the London Borough of Hillingdon for a five-year period from approximately the 27th July 2021 to the 26th July 2026 and at a value of £40,073,585;

2.     Agrees that this includes the provision to extend the contract for a two-year period (up to 7 years in total), delegating approval of any extension to the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Social Care & Health.

Reasons for decision

Following a review of existing arrangements for the delivery of homecare and outreach support to adult residents in need, Cabinet accepted a tender for a lead service provider for the south of the Borough.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have continued with the approach of using existing lead providers but considered that this would not deliver maximum benefit to residents or achieve cost-effectiveness for the Council.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.     Accept the tender from Event Power Engineering Limited for the provision of Christmas Lights in all 22 wards across the London Borough of Hillingdon for a two-year period from 1 August 2021 to 31 July 2023 and at the value of £319,940.

2.     Furthermore, agree that this includes the provision to extend the contract for a one + one year period, subject to the approval of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Environment, Housing & Regeneration, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Infrastructure, Building Services & Transport, noting that the total contract value would be £639,880.

3.     Approves, for 2021, the total Christmas lights programme cost of £241k including displays and Christmas Trees and also authorises the direct grant awards to the four community organisations who manage their lighting schemes directly, as set out in the report.

4.     Approves the pilot trial of 24/7 Christmas lighting in 2021 to maximise the positive benefits of the lighting displays for residents and businesses and associated vehicle emission reduction.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet accepted a tender for Christmas lights and agreed the Hillingdon 2021 Christmas Lights Programme, which for the first time would cover all 22 wards in the Borough and give a boost to residents and high street businesses.

Cabinet agreed grants to four organisations who arrange their own Christmas lights locally and the Cabinet Member for Environment, Housing and Regeneration confirmed, following a pilot scheme, the removal of the lighting timers across the whole Borough. It was explained that this would not only enable residents to enjoy the LED lighting effects throughout the day and night, but would also eliminate the need for night-time scouting by Council crews and timer repair costs, saving money and also reducing CO2 emissions.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided not to continue the Christmas lights programme.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.     Accepts in principle the tendered bid from Buckingham Group Ltd for the design and construction of the new Yiewsley and West Drayton Leisure Centre as set out in the report and delegates final approval of the tender acceptance to the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Member for Property & Infrastructure and Cabinet Member for Finance, in consultation with the Corporate Director Infrastructure, Transport & Building Services.

2.     Accepts the Value Engineering options where possible whilst maintaining the traditional masonry and planning consented scheme.

3.     Delegates all further decisions required in relation to the overall delivery of the project to the Leader of the Council, Cabinet Member for Property and Infrastructure and Cabinet Member for Finance as appropriate, in consultation with the Corporate Director Infrastructure, Transport & Building Services.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to progress the Council’s commitment to build a new leisure centre for the Yiewsley and West Drayton area of the Borough. Cabinet considered the recent tendering exercise and approved the necessary delegated decision-making in order to take the construction aspect of the project forward.

Alternative options considered and rejected.

None, as Cabinet had considered alternative options regarding the project previously in its decision back in May 2017.

No additional items were considered by the Cabinet.

The meeting closed at 7.23pm