Cabinet Decisions

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1.     Note the budget monitoring position and treasury management update as at May 2024 (Month 2), 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 the report below:

a)    Approves rephasing of £39,287k 2023/24 General Fund Major Projects, £11,370k from the Programme of Works expenditure, and £10,701k from General Contingency and associated financing budgets into future years.

b)    Approves rephasing of £22,791k 2023/24 HRA capital expenditure and financing budgets into future years as set out in the report.

c)    Agree the request to continue existing operational arrangements with Frankham Group whilst new contracts are agreed and formal governance approved.

d)    Approve acceptance of £2,759k grant funding from the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero Wave 2.2 funding to contribute towards the cost of £17,696k to undertake decarbonisation works in the Council’s Housing properties.

Reasons for decision

The Cabinet Member for Finance presented a more concise and accessible budget monitoring report covering the latest financial forecast for the year. It was noted that at this early stage, forecasting was challenging due to uncrystallised trends in demand and expenditure. Despite this, potential cost increases from growing demand and inflation were highlighted.

The Cabinet Member noted the zero-based budgeting process was nearing completion, with benefits expected to be reflected in later budget reports. The General Fund revenue account was reported to be breaking even against budget, though areas like homelessness support, adult social care, and asylum provision remained potential pressure points. It was noted that general balances and earmarked reserves were projected to total £35 million by the end of the financial year, with an additional £8 million in unutilised capital receipts. The savings program was also outlined by the Cabinet Member, which totalled £21.5 million, with £6.8 million already delivered or nearly completed.

On the General Fund Capital Budget, it was proposed to rephase £39.3 million of unachieved capital expenditure from 2023/24 into the current year’s budget.

Progress was reported on the dedicated schools grant, with cost rationalisation measures reducing the forecast in-year deficit by £9.5 million, though it was noted that a £16.1 million deficit was still projected due to underfunding by central Government. It was noted that the Housing Revenue Account was within budget and the Cabinet Member then moved a number of financial related recommendations related to the rephasing of capital budgets, contracts and the acceptance of grants.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet:

1)    Approves the Draft Hillingdon Council Social Housing Allocation Policy July 2024 included at Appendix A, for consultation.

2)    Agrees to receive the findings of the consultation and any proposals for subsequent changes to the policy for consideration at the Cabinet meeting in November 2024.

Reasons for decision

Cabinet agreed an updated Social Housing Allocation Policy for consultation. The Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services presented the report detailing proposed changes to the policy which aimed to make it more transparent for the Council and residents. It was noted that the current policy resulted in many applicants being grouped in Bands A and B, often with unrealistic expectations of obtaining council housing soon. The proposed changes for consultation would be for smaller bands for a clearer allocation status.

The Leader of the Council expressed the importance of transparency and realism in providing information to those seeking social housing and looked forward to strengthening the policy based on residents' feedback during the consultation phase.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None, as Cabinet considered the policy needed to respond to changes in housing need and to enable the Council to fulfil its functions in an efficient and effective way.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1)    Welcomes the conclusions and findings from the former Property, Highways and Transport Committee's review into road safety initiatives and activities around schools, as set out in this report.

2)    Agrees that officers, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport, consider how to best take forward the following specific recommendations from the Committee set out below (a-g):

a)    Promote projects and events throughout the year through social media highlighting the Youth Travel Ambassador programmes and the Dragons’ Den event.

b)    Explore ways on how communications can be better developed with schools that do not engage. This may include introducing working groups amongst schools, encouraging Ward Councillors to highlight the benefits of working with the Transport team and issuing advisories for schools to be shared with parents at the start of the academic year about safe drop-off and pick-ups.

c)    With the improvement in technology in CCTV cameras, the Committee recommends that Cabinet reviews the current cameras used outside schools and looks at improving the cameras as an ongoing programme of works to ensure pupils and the public remain safe outside schools where there are restricted parking areas and/or consider other enforcement options.

d)    Cabinet instructs officers to continue making relevant applications to Transport for London for funding to improve road safety across the Borough, ensuring that the roads across Hillingdon are safe for all users and that there is appropriate signage and road markings outside schools.

e)    Cabinet reviews the feasibility of parking enforcement officers attending the schools on a reasonable rotational basis.

f)      Cabinet instructs officers to investigate those schools that could benefit from 20mph speed limits, where appropriate, and to work with schools to identify safer crossing routes if appropriate.

g)    Cabinet requests officers to investigate, where feasible, raising pavements and installing bollards outside schools to improve safety.

Cabinet Member recommendation

3)    Notwithstanding recommendation 2(f) from the Committee's review, Cabinet confirms that the London Borough of Hillingdon, in considering whether to introduce a 20 mile per hour speed restriction, will, as Council policy, adopt the approach set out in statutory guidance issued by the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to section 18 of the Traffic Management Act 2004. In exercising this, Cabinet and/or the responsible Cabinet Member will expect to be provided with evidence that introducing a lower speed limit will have a beneficial effect on community safety (for example, outside schools) and that the proposals are supported by residents. 

Reasons for recommendations 

Cabinet received a report from the former Property, Highways and Transport Select Committee which had undertaken a review into the Council’s Road Safety Initiatives and activities around the Borough’s schools.

The Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport thanked the former Select Committee for their thorough work on the road safety review, highlighting key recommendations for operational improvements. The Leader of the Council recognised the importance of the issue and the need for legal changes to enhance enforcement, endorsing the proposed recommendations for adoption.

Alternative options considered / risk management 

The Cabinet could have decided to reject some, or all, of the Committee’s recommendations or pursue alternative routes by which to progress the objectives of the review.