Cabinet Decisions

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 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 budget monitoring position and treasury management update as at February 2024 (Month 11), noting the actions proposed by officers as outlined in Part A of this report.

2)    Approve the financial recommendations set out in Part B of this report.

a)    Accepts of £140k grant funding from the Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (Defra) for costs associated with the delivery of new post-Brexit port health authority functions at the Heathrow Imported Food Office.

b)   Accepts a grant of £1,079k from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to fund further Public Health investment into substance misuse treatment & recovery.

c)    Agree to the release of the specific General Contingency created to fund the SEND Projects, with the following releases being requested totalling £10,000k:

a.    Meadow High School Expansion - £9,263k

b.    Pinkwell Primary School Expansion - £413k

c.    Establishing 24 ASD places at Wood End Park Academy - £324k.

d)   Note the acceptance of £90k grant funding from the Department for Transport for costs associated with progressing the Council’s local Electric Vehicle infrastructure strategy.

e)    Approve acceptance of the GLA Good Growth Fund grant of £450k to fund improvements at Hayes Town Centre.

Reasons for decision

In Councillor Goddard’s absence, the Leader of the Council gave a statement on the latest budget monitoring report from the Cabinet Member. The General Fund revenue account showed a small underspend, consistent with the month 10 report. The Leader noted the additional cost pressures of £3.6 million due to increased demand for homelessness services, care for looked-after children, and adult social care. These costs were to be covered by earmarked reserves, projected to total £10.1 million by 31 March 2024.

A surplus of £4.1 million in the collection fund had been identified, with the majority of benefits expected in the fiscal year 2024-2025, marking an improvement from the month 10 projection. Reported unallocated general balances were at £26.8 million, leading to a projected total reserve of £37 million by year-end. The Leader advised that the existing savings programme was on track to meet the £22.8 million target.

The Capital Fund forecast indicated an underspend of £38.4 million, with most of this amount proposed to be deferred to the following year. Despite inflation and increased demand for housing and social care against stagnant central Government funding, the Leader indicated that the Council’s financial position remained strong.

Discussions with the Department of Education regarding the Dedicated Schools Grant deficit were ongoing, following the suspension of the safety valve agreement and a delay in receiving £2.5 million funding from the Department. Consequently, the dedicated schools grant was projected to have a £29 million deficit by year-end.

The Leader noted that the Housing Revenue Account was expected to match the budget for the full year, with capital expenditure projected at £84 million, underspending by £0.5 million, which would mostly be deferred.

The Leader highlighted Part B of the report, which included financial recommendations and the use of capital contingency funding for additional special education needs within the Borough. Other recommendations, all agreed by Cabinet, pertained to the acceptance of grants.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:  

1)    Agree the School Organisation Plan and for publication.

2)    Agree to the School Organisation Plan being updated and presented to the   Cabinet Portfolio Member, relevant Select Committee and schools annually with the latest data and forecasts.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed a School Organisation Plan to support strategic school place planning and for schools to be kept informed and to plan effectively for the future.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education presented the report. The report provided an overview of Hillingdon’s educational landscape, summarising current and projected pupil demand across primary, secondary, and special school settings. It outlined the Council’s plans for future school places within the Borough, emphasising the need to manage school places effectively and maintain a balance of sufficiency.

The Cabinet Member explained that the document projected place requirements for the next seven years, noting a decline in demand that had led to a planned reduction by 18 forms of entry in the primary sector by 2026. The report also addressed the growth in demand for special educational needs placements since 2014, highlighting the creation of specialist resource provisions and designated units benefiting 71 children.

The Cabinet Member underscored that the report set out the need for schools to adapt and become flexible within the educational landscape, mentioning the conversion of schools to Academy status and the formation of multi-Academy trusts or collaborations within the Borough.

The Leader of the Council commended the Director of Education & SEND for the strong, informative, and useful report, requesting the Chief Executive to convey Cabinet’s gratitude.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.    Agree to the implementation of the following policies attached in Appendix A:

·         Fraud Response Plan

·         Anti-Bribery Policy

·         Anti-Money Laundering Policy

·         Surveillance & RIPA Policy

2.  Agree that the policies in Appendix A are reviewed on a 3-year cycle by Cabinet unless there are formal legislative changes necessitating a review at an earlier stage, where the Corporate Director of Finance, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Finance, may authorise the changes required.

3.  Authorises the Cabinet Member for Finance to sign-off the yearly review of the Surveillance & RIPA Policy in line with the Investigatory Powers and Commissioner’s Office (IPCO) requirements.

4.  Agree to retire the Corporate Prosecution & Sanctions Policy and the Internal Investigations Protocol for the reasons set out in the report.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet considered and agreed updated counter fraud and related investigative policies, following a review.

The Leader of the Council, in Councillor Goddard’s absence, presented the report on counter fraud and corporate investigative policies. The Leader detailed the suite of policies that would guide the investigation of fraud, money laundering, and other criminal activities. These policies stood independently and offered transparency to the public on the Council’s investigative processes, providing a framework for both the Council and its officers. The Leader highlighted the Counter Fraud team’s recent successes in recovering substantial sums of money and assets, including addressing fraud in homelessness services where landlords had claimed for unoccupied temporary accommodations. Over 100 properties were recovered from council tenants who had been unlawfully subletting. The team’s efforts had been nationally recognised. The Leader of the Council gave particular emphasis on the policy on the use of CCTV and the necessary considerations for its deployment as an investigative tool.

Alternative options considered and rejected

An alternative would be for the Council not to update its policies; however, this would have had a negative impact as the Council would not be following best practice or legislative requirements. 

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet notes the Annual Education Standards Report 2022-23 and the key findings set out. 

Reasons for decision

Cabinet received a report on the outcomes of standards and quality of education across Hillingdon schools in 2022/23.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families, and Education introduced the annual report. The report, intended for noting, reflected the previous academic year’s data and was thus a year behind current outcomes. It focused on attainment, progress and achievement of outcomes, assessing the local education system’s performance. The Cabinet Member also highlighted legacy issues that educational establishments continued to address post COVID-19, such as low attendance, persistent speech and communication delays in younger children, and ongoing mental health challenges across all educational settings, including early years. It was noted that Ofsted had cleared their inspection backlog and it was reported that 92% of Hillingdon schools were rated as good or outstanding.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

RESOLVED: That the application be approved as per officer’s recommendation.

RESOLVED: That the application be approved as per officer’s recommendation.

RESOLVED: That the application be refused as per officer recommendation

RESOLVED: That the application be approved as per officer recommendation subject to the information in the addendum.

RESOLVED: That the application be approved as per officer’s recommendation.

It was confirmed that all items would be heard in Part I.

None.

RESOLVED: That the minutes from the meeting on 14 March 2024  be approved.

None.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Darran Davis with Councillor Corthorne substituting.