Decisions

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.    Note the budget monitoring position and treasury management update as at January 2023 (Month 10) as outlined in Part A of this report.

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

a)    Approve the introduction from April 2023 of an enhanced housing management service charge for all HRA short life properties at £9.12 pw.

b)   Approve the introduction from April 2023 of a furniture and furnishings service charge for all new HRA short life properties (bedsit £22.12pw; 1 bed 26.84pw; 2 bed £37.55pw; 3bed+ £45.68pw).

c)    Accept a grant of £400k from Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust for extension of the Mental Health Crisis Recovery House pilot to 31 March 2024.

d)   Accept a grant of £340k from The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to secure community support for virtual wards.

e)    Accept a grant of £300k from North West London Integrated Care Board to contribute to hospital discharge related costs incurred by Adult Social Care in 2022/23.

f)     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;

                             I.        Ainscough Cranes - £32,000

                            II.        1 Vinyl Square (NMA) - £5,000

                          III.        Bellmore Allotments - £32,000

                          IV.        Austin Road - £32,000

                           V.        Avondale Drive - £40,000

g)   Agree a multi-activity Summer Holiday Programme for the provision of out of school activities in Summer 2023, with those in receipt of benefits-related free school meals eligible for free and agree to introduce a charge of £92 for a full week (equivalent to £18.40 per day), for children not currently in receipt of free school meals.

h)   Accept a grant of £16,100 from the Department for Education for the financial years 2022/23 and 2023/24, for the Professional Development Programme for Early Years Practitioners.

i)     Accept a grant of £907k from The Hillingdon Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to contribute to community costs for supporting hospital discharge; and delegates authority to Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care, in consultation with the Executive Director of Adult Services and Health, approval of the spending plan for the grant.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet was informed of the forecast revenue, capital and treasury position for the current year 2022/23 to ensure the Council achieved its budgetary and service objectives.

The Cabinet Member for Finance noted that that the overall in-year position was stable, strong and predictable, with general balances predicted to be at £26.8m by year end. It was noted that the continuing pressures from Covid-19 were projected at £14.9m, and whilst lower than last year, would be absorbed within earmarked reserves.

The Cabinet Member explained the current national inflationary environment and the impact on the Council’s costs, which were also being absorbed through earmarked reserves and to a degree, vindicated the Council’s decision to factor in high inflation into the budget for next year. It was noted that the savings programme was on track and would be delivered. In respect of the capital programme, whilst this was £22m under budget to due delays on agreed projects, such spend would be re-phased into future years.

In respect of the Dedicated Schools Grant it was noted that this had also suffered from cost inflation in respect of high needs placements, particularly those out-of-borough, but that the year-end deficit was showing a further reduction and the Council’s work to create additional special needs places was making good progress. It was also noted that the Department for Education had agreed to the Council’s disapplication request to transfer funds to the high needs block. The Cabinet Member also updated Cabinet on the Housing Revenue Account.

Other financial recommendations approved by the Cabinet included the acceptance of range of Government or external grants, along with new fees for the Summer Holiday Programme in 2023, and new service charges for short-life properties in respect of housing management services and furniture and furnishings.

An addendum was tabled to update a recommendation relating to the virtual ward grants and in order make a decision on accepting a grant recently received to further support hospital discharge work.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.    Agrees to progress to public consultation with the proposed Youth Offer Vision and delivery model for Hillingdon. 

2.    Authorises the Executive Director of Children and Young People, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education, to approve the approach to consultation.

3.    Agrees to receive a report back to consider the consultation responses and the final Youth Offer Vision and delivery model for approval, informed by the findings of the consultation exercise.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to public consultation on the Council’s proposed Youth Offer and the delivery model.The Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education noted that the proposed new integrated youth offer would align with the Council's wider early help and prevention arrangements which would support all young people to reach their potential.

It was explained that the proposed offer sought to deliver a modern, accessible, responsive and dynamic service to meet the ever-changing needs of young people in Hillingdon. The proposed service delivery model would be informed by data and delivered through a flexible locality-based approach, and in-line with what young people had told the Council, in particular, through the 2021 survey of young people, which had received a positive response rate.

The Cabinet Member noted that the proposed delivery model set out a range of settings and formats for youth services, including providing them in schools, sports facilities and community centres, along with outreach services where required and a digital offer. The Cabinet Member stated that there would be for a minimum 6-week consultation and welcomed the views of young people and residents on the proposals.

The Leader of the Council noted that the proposals seek to improve the service the Council provides and echoed the Cabinet Member’s remarks encouraging young people and the public to engage in the consultation.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have considered approving implementation of the Youth Offer and Vision and delivery model without seeking further views, but considered this would miss potential opportunities to incorporate the views of residents and ensure the final Youth Offer and delivery model best met local needs.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.    Agrees that a public consultation be undertaken on the proposed Family Hub strategy and delivery model for Children and Young People aged 0 –19 (25 for SEND) and their families as set out in the report.

2.    Agrees that the public consultation should include a consultation on the future of the Council’s directly delivered childcare in the three early years nurseries as set out in the report.

3.    Agrees to delegate authority to the Executive Director of Adult Services & Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Education to:

a.    Approve the commissioning of an independent provider to run both public consultations and,

b.    Review and approve the final consultation documents for publication.

4.    Agrees to receive a report back to consider the consultation responses and to make a decision on the strategy and delivery model for Family Hubs Services, informed by the findings of the consultation.

5.    Agrees to receive a report back to consider the consultation responses and to make a decision in relation to the delivery of childcare in the nurseries, informed by the findings of the consultation.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed to undertake a public consultation on proposals for a new family hub strategy and delivery model as a way of providing services for children and young people aged 0-19, to 25 years with SEND, and their families. Cabinet also agreed public consultation on potential options for the future of the Council’s directly provided childcare in early years nurseries. The Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education noted that this would involve engaging with parents, carers, partners, organisations and all residents on their views and both consultations would take place over a 12-week period.

In respect of the proposals for family hubs, the Cabinet Member stated that Hillingdon had been an early adopter of this model, with the Uxbridge Family Hub currently in operation, which sought to provide one front door to a range of early intervention and prevention services for residents, accessible and available at the right time to meet their needs. It was noted that as part of the proposed delivery model, there were six geographical locations that could provide such services, accessible within a 30-minute walk or a one-and-a-half mile driving distance.

With regard to the proposal to consult on options for the Council’s three directly run nurseries, the Cabinet Member noted that the Council had a statutory duty to ensure sufficiency of child care so far as reasonably practicable, but that it was not a statutory requirement for the Council to directly deliver child care. The Cabinet Member explained that the Council wished to consult primarily on three options, firstly to maintain the current nurseries and review their charging structure, secondly to put one, two or all nurseries on the market as a going concern and thirdly, to close the nurseries and repurpose the assets whilst retaining a small core team supporting families with children who had complex needs. The Cabinet Member stated that the three proposed options were not exhaustive and any other options that arose as part of the consultation would be considered.

The Leader of the Council noted the uncertainty that followed any proposals for change, but he welcomed the bold ambition to review how the Council can extend the support it provided to families and younger people, whilst also delivering it in an accessible way to local neighbourhoods. He encouraged residents to find out more about the Uxbridge Family Hub, to give a helpful insight about how services can be shaped better.

Alternative options considered and rejected

Cabinet could have decided to not consult, but considered this would not be in the best interest of residents to ensure that the services the Council delivers meet the needs of its residents and communities as they change over time.