Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Committee Room 6 - Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge UB8 1UW. View directions
Note: The Cabinet meeting will be held in Committee Room 6, Civic Centre Uxbridge, with entrance to the room via the Civic Centre Forecourt (adjacent to the New Uxbridge Library).
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The Cabinet meeting commenced slightly later than scheduled at 7:12pm to facilitate those attending to watch proceedings. |
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Apologies for Absence Minutes: Apologies were received from Councillor Ian Edwards, Leader of the Council and Councillor Eddie Lavery, Cabinet Member for Community & Environment.
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Declarations of Interest in matters before this meeting Minutes: No interests were declared by Members present.
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To approve the minutes of the last Cabinet meeting Minutes: The minutes and decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on 22 May 2025 were agreed as a correct record.
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To confirm that the items of business marked Part 1 will be considered in public and that the items of business marked Part 2 in private Minutes: It was confirmed that items of business marked Part 1 would be considered in public and those marked Part 2 in private.
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Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
That Cabinet:
1) Agree to cease retail-side operations based at the Rural Activities Garden Centre in West Drayton on or before 31 July 2025, noting its continued loss-making commercial position and the public subsidy required.
2) Agree further consultation on the future of the services at the RAGC site for those in receipt of assessed social care services with a commitment to ensure identified needs continue to be met, along with further consultation with those who attend the RAGC as volunteers and on proposals to:
a) Relocate those with assessed care needs to the Civic Centre Campus in Uxbridge to provide enhanced horticultural services and development opportunities.
b) Support voluntary service users to move to partner organisations within the local area offering a more diverse range of activities including horticulture and biodiversity, and opportunities for paid employment positions should they desire to do so. The Council would provide training and assistance where required.
c) Consider no change in the location of voluntary and support services for those with assessed social care needs.
3) Note the initial engagement that has taken place with those with assessed social care needs and volunteers, with regard to the proposal and duly considers the petitions and views received during the petition hearing held on 11 June 2025, as set out in the report.
4) Note that staff consultation has commenced as part of the proposal in relation to the closure of the retail-side of the Centre.
5) Note that there will be further consultation and engagement with regard to the proposals using independent advocacy, where appropriate.
6) Subject to the conclusion of the above and taking into account consultations and the Equalities Impact Assessment, delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Community & Environment, to make a decision on the future of the RAGC site and relocation of service provision accordingly.
Reasons for decisions
The Deputy Leader of the Council introduced the report concerning the proposed closure of the retail operations at the Rural Activities Garden Centre. The Deputy Leader clarified that the decision was limited to the retail aspect and not the broader social care services provided at the site. A minor correction was noted in the report, changing the term “volunteers” to “gardeneers” in a paragraph.
The Deputy Leader explained that the retail operations had been financially unsustainable, particularly following the impact of COVID-19. Despite efforts to revive the Centre, it had not recovered, prompting the proposal to close the retail side. The Deputy Leader explained that this move was consistent with other Council actions to eliminate subsidies in loss-making services, such as theatres and golf courses, which had since improved under new operators.
The Deputy Leader reassured attendees that the social care services at Centre would undergo a review and consultation on them. The Council intended to consult with users and explore alternative provisions that could offer enhanced support. All current gardeneers, including those not currently receiving social care, would be offered assessments if they wished.
The Deputy Leader also addressed public concern, acknowledging petitions and campaign letters, and clarified that the Council had no plans to sell the site at the current time. Therefore, it was made clear that the issue of designating it as an Asset of Community Value was currently not a relevant consideration at this time.
The Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care addressed the meeting to provide a social care viewpoint. The Cabinet Member acknowledged the strong community interest and explained the Council’s commitment to person-centred care. The Cabinet Member stated that the proposed changes aimed to improve services by relocating support to the Civic Centre campus in Uxbridge, offering a broader range of activities such as gardening, handiwork, and adult education.
The Cabinet Member assured that all individuals with assessed needs would be supported and that social workers were actively engaging with service users and families to ensure any smooth transitions. It was also noted that the Council was also working with the voluntary sector to provide opportunities for those without formal care packages as part of the proposal.
The Deputy Leader then read out the report’s recommendations, which the Cabinet duly considered and then agreed.
Cabinet then agreed a short adjournment of the meeting.
Alternative options considered and rejected
Cabinet could have decided to make no changes to the Centre and to continue to operate as at present but considered this would not be a financially sustainable option.
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Additional documents: Minutes: Cabinet reconvened after a short adjournment.
The Chair of the Residents’ Services Select Committee presented the committee’s report into Homeless Prevention and the Customer Journey, and its findings, which was warmly received by the Cabinet.
RESOLVED:
That the Select Committee’s report, which focuses on enhancing the resident experience, ensuring process efficiency, staff support and training, and building on existing partnerships and collaboration in relation to homelessness prevention and the customer journey, be welcomed, and authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing & Growth to implement the Committee’s recommendations, as set out below:
Reasons for decisions
Cabinet received the report of the Residents’ Services Select Committee which had made recommendations to improving homelessness services around a range of resident-focused initiatives, including clearer communication, streamlined processes, enhanced staff training, and stronger partnerships with local organisations.
The Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing & Growth expressed full support for the presentation delivered by Councillor Bridges and commended the Resident Services’ Select Committee for their thoughtful and in-depth work. He formally recorded his appreciation for the Committee’s collaborative and constructive approach throughout the review process.
Gratitude was also extended to Council officers and external partners, particularly those who contributed through witness sessions and site visits, for their valuable support.
The Cabinet Member highlighted that the recommendations outlined in the report were pragmatic and resident-focused, aligning with the Council’s ongoing priorities.
Cabinet welcomed the recommendations and delegated their detailed implementation to the Cabinet Member.
Alternative options considered and rejected
Cabinet could have decided to reject some, or all, of the Committee’s recommendations or pursue alternative routes by which to progress the outcomes of the review.
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Temporary Accommodation Action Plan Monitoring Minutes: RESOLVED:
That the contents of the quarterly update report be noted.
Reasons for decision
The Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing & Growth presented the first quarterly update on the Temporary Accommodation Strategy and Action Plan, originally approved in February. He reported encouraging progress in increasing housing supply, reducing costs, and improving homelessness prevention, though demand remained high.
Temporary accommodation placements had dropped significantly, and prevention rates had improved from 14% in April to 40% in May. The Council had also increased private sector housing allocations and landlord engagement, with a new forum launching soon. Notably, the number of costly nightly rentals had been halved in two months, and leasing targets had been raised following the approval of new homes.
Financially, the Council was already achieving notable savings as a result. Governance and data oversight had also improved, and new policies were in place to support more efficient housing solutions.
The Deputy Leader of the Council welcomed the report as a positive step in addressing homelessness and easing financial pressures, while acknowledging that further work was still needed. The Cabinet noted the report and its recommendations.
Alternative options considered and rejected
None.
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Capital Funding Allocation for Education & SEND * Minutes: RESOLVED:
That:
1) the creation of a budget from the DfE High Needs Capital funding listed below for the expansion of specialist provision in mainstream schools for 2025/26 and subsequent years, be approved, noting this will be by usingthe underspend of £6,065k by rephasing 2 existing 2024/25 budgets (secondary school expansion and temp classrooms) to fund future Specialist Resource Provisions and Designated Units in Secondary schools to mirror those created in Primary schools;
2) the strategy to extend secondary school specialist provision in line with the Hillingdon Local Area, be noted as set out in the SEND and Alternative Provision Strategy and Hillingdon SEND & AP Sufficiency Strategy. This includes the expansion of Specialist Resource Provisions (SRPs) and Designated Units (DUs);
3) the Capital Release of £540k for internal adaptations to be carried out at Bishop Ramsey School to create a specialist provision (SRP) of up to 32 places (Appendix 2), be approved.
4) authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Corporate Services & Property and Finance & Transformation to: a. To decide which school capital projects will be approved from the budget in line with the above strategies. b. To release funding from the budget for the agreed school capital projects.
Reasons for decision
The Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education presented a report on capital funding for special educational needs (SEND). The report proposed the rephasing of £6.065 million from the 2024–2025 budget into the 2025–2026 budget. This amount included £4.765 million in grant funding and £1.3 million from Council resources, aimed at supporting the expansion of secondary school provision for SEND pupils.
The Cabinet Member explained that the Council had a statutory duty to ensure sufficient school places for all children, including those with special educational needs. While progress had been made in expanding primary SEND provision, there remained a shortfall of places in the secondary sector. The proposed funding would support the development of additional special school places and designated units to meet growing demand, which had increased significantly since the 2014 Government reforms.
In addition to the rephasing, the Cabinet Member requested approval for £540,000 to carry out internal adaptations at Bishop Ramsey School in the north of the Borough. This work would create 32 new places within a specialist resource provision. The remaining funds would be allocated to future SEND unit projects.
Cabinet agreed the recommendations.
Alternative options considered and rejected
None, as without such funding, additional specialist provision could not be created in schools, leading to additional costs of independent placements.
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UK Shared Prosperity Fund - 2025/26 allocation Minutes: RESOLVED:
That:
1) the proposed allocations in Section 2 of the Supporting Information, for spending Hillingdon’s 2025/26 UK Shared Prosperity Fund grant, be approved 2) authority be delegated to the Director for Planning and Sustainable Growth to sign-off on all expenditure of the grant in-line with the approach set out in section 2 and make procurement decisions on contracts below £100,000 in value, reporting decisions for transparency. 3) note that the Corporate Director of Place, following legal advice, has agreed and signed the UKSPF grant agreement with the Greater London Authority for 2025/26. 4) note that the Director for Planning and Sustainable Growth has agreed and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ealing Council for an additional tri-borough grant element.
Reasons for decision
At the Cabinet meeting, the Cabinet Member for Planning, Housing & Growth presented a report on Hillingdon’s £1.1 million allocation from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund for 2025–2026. Despite national reductions, the Council retained its full funding, including a successful Tri-Borough bid with Ealing and Harrow. The funding, which was entirely external and had no impact on the Council’s core budget, was aimed at supporting town centre regeneration, business growth, and employment initiatives.
The capital portion of the funding would be used for improvements in Uxbridge and Hayes, including upgrades to public spaces and the development of a Business Innovation Hub in partnership with Brunel University and the Hillingdon Chamber of Commerce. Revenue funding would continue to support employment and training programmes, business mentoring, and procurement readiness for SMEs. The Cabinet Member highlighted that over 350 residents and 200 businesses had already benefited from previous funding, and this year’s allocation would build on that success.
The Cabinet Member also noted that the UK Shared Prosperity Fund would end in March 2026, making this year’s allocation likely the final opportunity to use the funding.
The Deputy Leader welcomed the report, acknowledging the value of the grant and the importance of using it effectively for the benefit of residents and businesses.
Cabinet agreed the recommendations.
Alternative options considered
None, as the Council would forgo the opportunity to utilise this grant to support businesses and residents and improve town centres.
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Public Preview of Confidential Reports Minutes: 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
At the Cabinet meeting, the Deputy Leader of the Council introduced the public preview report outlining items to be considered in private later in the meeting. The Deputy Leader highlighted the report on the purchase of new street sweepers and announced that the Council would be launching a competition to name each of the sweepers. This initiative was intended to engage children, particularly in primary schools, and possibly secondary schools as well, offering a fun and creative opportunity for young residents to get involved.
In addition to the street sweepers, the Deputy Leader noted several other items on the private part of the agenda, including planned fire safety works in schools, a contract related to the revenue, benefits, and housing services systems and a periodic report on the write-off of irrecoverable non-domestic rate debt, which the Cabinet was required to consider.
Alternative options considered and rejected
As set out in the public Cabinet report and also within the private report.
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Fleet Replacement Programme - Purchase of Street Sweepers Minutes: RESOLVED:
That:
Reasons for decision
The Cabinet Member for Finance & Transformation introduced a report and recommendations, which were agreed, to purchase a number of sweeper vehicles as part of the Council’s operational mix to maintain street and cleanliness standards across the Borough.
Alternative options considered and rejected
Cabinet could have decided to maintain the current fleet and service model or reduced operations but considered this unsustainable due to high maintenance costs or service disruptions.
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School Conditions Building Programme 2025/26 - Fire Safety works at Schools Minutes: RESOLVED:
That:
1. the School Condition Programme Year 1 2025/26 Fire Safety works, as outlined in this report, be noted.
2. a contract variation of the term contract for Fire Safety works with Gerda Security Products Ltd to progress the survey and installation of Fire Door Sets as part of the School Condition Programme Year 1 2025/26 at an estimated cost of £1,284k, be approved.
3. the capital release request of £1,461k from the School Conditions Programme Budget 2025/26 for the funding of fire door works and associated project costs for School Condition Programme Year 1, as set out in Appendix A, be approved.
4. Authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place to make all further necessary decisions required to implement the proposed fire safety works at schools.
Reasons for decisions
The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Property introduced a report and recommendations, which Cabinet agreed, to vary a contract to install fire door sets in schools as part of the Council’s Schools Condition Programme.
Alternative options considered / risk management
None.
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Contract for Revenues, Benefits & Housing System & Other Corporate Solutions Minutes: RESOLVED:
That:
Executive Summary
The Cabinet Member for Finance & Transformation introduced a report and recommendations, which Cabinet agreed, to award a new contract for the continued annual hosting, support and maintenance of the Revenues and Benefits and Housing systems, and the purchase of new modules for wider system transformation. The relevant investment savings were noted as well as how it would enhance housing systems and the use of data by the Council.
Alternative options considered and rejected
Cabinet could have either discontinued the system or re-tender, which was discounted for financial and implementation reasons.
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Irrecoverable Corporate Debt Minutes: RESOLVED:
That £1,559,693.98 in respect of individual irrecoverable Non-domestic Rates debt, as set out in the report, be written off.
Reasons for decision
The Cabinet Member for Finance & Transformation introduced a report, with a recommendation which Cabinet agreed, to write-off non-domestic rate debt which was deemed as having no possibility of recovery due to the circumstances of the cases concerned. It was noted that the Council’s contribution was minimal with most of the debt to be written-off borne by the Government and GLA.
Alternative options considered and rejected
None.
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Any other items the Chairman agrees are relevant or urgent Minutes: There were no further items. The meeting closed at 7.58pm
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