Agenda and minutes

Apologies for leaving the meeting early were given by Councillor Williams and Councillor Trigg.

In accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct, Members are requested to declare any interests orally at the start of the meeting and again immediately before consideration of the matter. Members are reminded to specify the agenda item number to which it refers and whether the interest is of a personal or prejudicial nature.

Members are also reminded of the requirements of Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 that they should declare and not vote on specified matters if they are two months or more in arrears with their Council Tax payments.

Councillor Lourie, Councillor Knight and Councillor Williams declared a personal interest on item 15 of the agenda, London Councils’ Grant Scheme – Proposed Expenditure.

Reason:

Councillor Knight is the Vice-Chair of the Grants Committee.

Councillor Lourie and Councillor Williams used to Chair the Grants Committee.

To consider and approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2009 attached.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2009 be received and approved and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

There were none.

1.           Recommendations from the Health, Housing and Social Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee in relation to item 9 on the agenda, Proposals for Borough Based Commissioning of Community Services

2.           Recommendations from the Environment & Sustainability Overview & Scrutiny Committee in relation to item 12 on the agenda, Local Development Framework: Development Management DPD – Pre-Submission Version

The report informs the Cabinet of the work carried out with NHS Richmond on arrangements to strengthen borough based commissioning of community services.

It also requests agreement in principle to the proposals set out in Appendix A in order that further exploration and the detailed co-design of services with staff and implementation planning may begin.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services Health and Housing and the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education attached.

This is a key decision.

The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Health, Housing and Social Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Percival and Councillor Stratton respectively, informed the Cabinet of the views expressed by their Committee on 13 January 2010, as summarised below:

·              The Health, Housing & Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee welcomed the opportunity to consider the important issue of Borough Based Commissioning on 13 January.

·              The Committee appreciated that this was a complex issue and that NHS Richmond and the Council had done a lot of work to get the proposals to this stage.

·              In general terms, the Committee was supportive of the development of robust, democratic and transparent arrangements to strengthen the Borough Based Commissioning of Community services. The Committee considered that these fitted in with the national trend and a growing expectation by our residents that seamless and effective Health and Well Being services would be delivered on the ground.

·              Concerns were raised regarding the specific proposals.

Ø                  In particular, the Committee felt that the proposals for new governance and management structures appeared to be over bureaucratic and hierarchical.  There was a danger that the opportunity to introduce a more streamlined, efficient and less expensive system that would speed up the real integration of services for the benefit of all our residents could be missed. The Committee requested that the current proposals were reconsidered in the light of these concerns.

Ø     The Committee also felt that it was important to stress the importance of transparency, democratic legitimacy, and a proper system for conflict resolution as part of the development of the proposals as well as performance measures and detailed financial information.

In addition to the above comments, the Chair and Vice-Chair raised the following concerns:

·              In referring the Cabinet to the delegated funding arrangements for children in Appendix 2, concern was raised that the Children’s Trust Board should be on the same level as the PCT Board and the Cabinet as it is the commissioning authority for Children’s Services. 

·              At the Kings Fund Conference, delegates had been advised that the NHS would need to achieve 6% productivity gains nationally.

·              Quoting from the Council's Health Update of December 2009: "The government has identified the need to generate up to £20 billion of savings and productivity gains."

·              The Cabinet was also referred to an extract from a consultant’s report on borough based commissioning, and to the notes of a meeting held between the Chief Executives of London PCTs and Councils, both referring to the potential benefits of a single organisation arrangement, as stated below:

Ø     Quoting from a briefing paper by Finnamore Management Consultants (commissioned by the Council and the PCT) - page 10, second paragraph, under 4.1: ‘”One organisation or Two? A single organisation may be more difficult to implement, as it represents the biggest change’. However it would be very effective in ensuring that a single, clear leadership could address and overcome structural, cultural and performance management challenges."

Ø     Quoting from the notes of the ‘Working together to strengthen borough-level  ...  view the full minutes text for item 148.

The report informs the Cabinet of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) 2009 refresh, highlighting the key messages which will be fed into the strategic planning process.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health & Housing and the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services & Education attached.

This is a key decision.

The Cabinet was advised that in paragraph 3.7, the figure quoted in the first bullet point of 4.7% should be amended to 11.6%, thus reading ‘births to women in NHS increased by 11.6%’. It was noted that the report had been considered by the Health, Housing and Social Care Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 13 January 2010.

The reasons for the decision and any alternative options considered and rejected are set out in the report.

RESOLVED that the key findings from the JSNA 2009 refresh, as summarised in sections 3.6 to 3.13 of the report and which will inform the commissioning and strategic planning processes be noted.

The purpose of this report is to present to cabinet the proposed Learning Disability Commissioning Strategy 2010 -2013 which sets out a clear direction for how services for adults with learning disabilities will develop over the next 3 years. A draft version of the strategy has been the subject of a 3 month formal consultation with a range of stakeholders and was submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 18 November 2009. Agreement is sought from Cabinet that this strategy be adopted and its implementation overseen by the Local Learning Disability Partnership Board.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing attached.

This is a key decision.

The reasons for the decision and any alternative options considered and rejected are set out in the report.

RESOLVED that implementation:

1.                  of the Strategy as the commissioning approach for learning disability services over the next three years be agreed; and

2.                  being overseen by the Local Learning Disability Partnership Board be agreed.

The report recommends to Council that the pre-submission version of the Development Management Development Plan Document (DMDPD) is agreed for formal public consultation.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Environment attached.

Appendix 2 is a separate enclosure.

This is a key decision.

The Cabinet agreed to include adjustments to reflect the views of the Environment & Sustainability Overview & Scrutiny Committee in the Pre-Submission version of the Development Management DPD for formal public consultation. The views expressed by the Environment & Sustainability Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 18 January 2010 are summarised below:

·                     The section around wind turbines should be revised to recognise that while they would generally not be an effective solution within the built up parts of the Borough, there may be some locations where they can be effective particularly with new design solutions.

·                     The extent to which larger retail premises would be encouraged within Richmond town centre needed to be monitored as too many could prove damaging to smaller independent businesses. It was noted that larger retail units might improve the financial viability of the town centre, but that would be at the expense of changing the character of the shopping environment.

·                     In relation to linked sites it was important that affordable housing was delivered prior to, or in conjunction with, the completion of the on-site market development.

·                     Specific reference was made to potential views within Bushy Park and open spaces within Whitton that should be protected.

·                     The cycling standards needed to be reviewed. These had been carried over from earlier UDPs and no longer reflected the increased and growing reliance on the bicycle as a means of transport.

·                     One member suggested that consideration might be given to the provision of more houseboat moorings along the Thames.

The reasons for the decision and any alternative options considered and rejected are set out in the report.

RESOLVED that:

1.         the Council be RECOMMENDED to agree the Development Management Development Plan Document submission version for formal public consultation; and

2.         any minor textural changes be agreed prior to consultation by the Head of Policy and Design, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for the Environment.

The purpose of this report is to seek continued rent funding support for the temporary co-location of the Environment Trust for Richmond and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers in premises on Eel Pie Island pending the completion and availability of the new River Centre at Twickenham Riverside.

Report of the Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategy and Partnerships attached.

The reasons for the decision and any alternative options considered and rejected are set out in the report.

RESOLVED that it be agreed to finance the co-location of the Environment Trust for Richmond and the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers with continued rent support of £18,000 p.a. for premises leased on Eel Pie Island, initially to 31 March 2011 and subject to the separate delegated agreement of the Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategy and Partnerships to June 2012.

The report requests the Cabinet to approve the tender and the award of contracts to contractor/s for the provision of street cleaning, gully cleaning and graffiti removal to enable commencement from February 2011.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Environment attached.

This is a key decision.

The reasons for the decision and any alternative options considered and rejected are set out in the report.

RESOLVED that approval be granted:

1.         to begin a formal tendering process using competitive dialogue for street cleansing and ancillary services; and

2.         for Contract award(s) based on a 5 year plus 5 year option for extension.

The report considers the London Councils’ Grants Committee’s recommended level of overall expenditure for 2010/11 and to agree the Council’s response.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Communities attached.

This is a key decision.

The reasons for the decision and any alternative options considered and rejected are set out in the report.

RESOLVED that a contribution of £622,330 to the London Councils’ Grants Committee be approved.

The report recommends the Council Tax Base for 2010/2011.

Report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources attached.

This is a key decision.

The reasons for the decision and any alternative options considered and rejected are set out in the report.

RESOLVED that:

1.         the Council Tax Base for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames for 2010/2011 be agreed as 88,895.44, and the Council be RECOMMENDED to so confirm; and

2.                  the policies as to discounts, referred to at paragraph 3.4 and 3.5, be continued.

The report seeks approval for a revised and updated Corporate Asset Management Plan (AMP) for the Council’s land and buildings. Whilst the AMP covers the broad objectives for schools premises, they currently have their own separate Asset Management Plan.

Report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources attached.

The reasons for the decision and any alternative options considered and rejected are set out in the report.

RESOLVED that the revised and updated Asset Management Plan, attached at  Appendix A, be approved and RECOMMENDED to Council.

The report advises on the outcome of the tender for Insurance Cover and recommends the award of the contract.

Report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources attached.

The reasons for the decision and any alternative options considered and rejected are set out in the report.

RESOLVED that subject to the satisfactory statutory process and completion of formal Contracts, the Cabinet agrees to award the Insurance Cover Contract, as detailed in paragraph 6.1 of the report to Risk Management Partnership to cover personal accident and non-school travel and Zurich Municipal Insurance to cover all other tendered risks.

The report updates the Cabinet on the progress in implementing the Richmond Works programme.

Report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources attached.

The reasons for the decision and any alternative options considered and rejected are set out in the report.

RESOLVED that the progress of the Richmond Works programme; and the revised overall financial plan be noted.

The report summarises the results of the survey of voluntary sector groups in the Borough on their current accommodation and future needs and requirements, and to make proposals for future accommodation provision.

Report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cabinet Member For Communities attached.

The reasons for the decision and any alternative options considered and rejected are set out in the report.

RESOLVED that:

1.                  a new centralised shared office accommodation for the voluntary sector in Richmond upon Thames should be sourced, in replacement of existing leased accommodation;

2.                  the Council should acquire or lease appropriate accommodation to fulfil this requirement, subject to a further report to Cabinet on details once suitable premises have been identified;

3.                  the premises should be leased to a third party organisation to be run as a not for profit social enterprise; and

4.         a project manager should be appointed by the Council to champion the project and ensure timely delivery.

To decide having regard to the particular nature of the business to be transacted, whether or not to exclude the Press and Public during consideration of the following items on the grounds that they were likely to disclose exempt information by virtue of Paragraph 3 of schedule 12 A (as amended) to the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED that having regard to the particular nature of the business to be transacted, the press and public be excluded during consideration of the following items on the grounds that they were likely to disclose exempt information by virtue of paragraph 3 as defined in Access to Information Rule 10.4.

Confidential Appendix attached.

That the appendix be noted.

Confidential Appendix attached.

That the appendix be noted.

Confidential Appendix attached.

That the appendix be noted.