Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Lourie 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider and approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2009.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2009 be received and approved and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

Agenda item 11 – ORLEANS HOUSE CHARITABLE TRUST

• Mr John Bell
• Mr Jack Betteridge

Agenda item 12 - SOCIAL CARE TRANSFORMATION – WHOLE SYSTEM REDESIGN

• Ms Jackie Venus
• Mr Alex Brining

None.

Agenda item 9 – EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE PROPOSED ACADEMY AT SHENE

Councillor Nicholson

None.

A report on the recommendations for the Academies Programme at Shene School was presented to the Cabinet and considered as part of agenda item 9. EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR THE PROPOSED ACADEMY AT SHENE

This report seeks Cabinet’s approval of the Expression of Interest document for the proposed academy at Shene. 

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

This is a key decision.

The recommendations arising from the meeting of the Children’s Services and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 16 November 2009 were tabled for the Cabinet’s consideration.

Councillor Nicholson, Chair of the Children’s Services and Culture Overview & Scrutiny Committee attended for this item.  Councillor Nicholson’s points are summarised below:

·         The Overview and Scrutiny Committee received a presentation from David Triggs, lead officer at Academies Enterprise Trust (AET) and the committee was impressed by what he had to say.

·         Councillor Urquhart and Susan Kramer, MP, also spoke about the proposed academy at Shene.

·         The committee was advised that if the Expression of Interest document was changed to include a provision of a 6^th form at this stage, the process would not be completed in time.

·         The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had visited an AET academy in Essex with the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education and were impressed.

·         Some members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee felt that there was demand in the community for a 6^th form at Shene.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education’s points are summarised below:

·         AET would be a good sponsor for Shene, although were untested as an organisation two years ago when they were first considered.

·         David Triggs had been liaising heavily with various groups around Shene and it was felt AET would be good at building relations with the community.

·         A 6^th form had been attempted in 2006, but this failed due to very low attendance.

·         When consultation took place around HCC and Whitton a large majority of people were opposed to the concept of 6^th forms.

·         The main drive for inviting AET in would be to enable the school and headteacher to gain from their expertise.

·         If this stage received Cabinet and Ministerial sign off, consultation would begin shortly after the New Year.

·         AET had also been in communication with various universities in order to build relationships with them.

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

RESOLVED that:

1.         the Expression of Interest for the proposed academy at Shene be approved; and

2.         authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education, in consultation with officers, to agree any subsequent minor changes prior to Ministerial approval.

This report considers the most appropriate method of tendering and the process of awarding the contract for architectural design services in connection with the redevelopment of the existing Hampton Clinic site in Tangley Park Road, Hampton for a new co-located services Children’s Centre.

Report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education 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 use of the Restrictive Tender Method (Contract Standing Orders Clause 6.4) for the procurement of architectural design services in relation to the redevelopment of the Hampton Clinic site be approved;

2.                  it be agreed that the final selection for these services be made using the quality weighted selection criteria described in this report; and

3.                  authority be delegated to let the contract to the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services and Education to maintain the programme, provided that the recommended contract value does not exceed 10% of the pre-tender estimate.

This report brings forward a proposal to register the Orleans House charitable bequest of the Hon. Mrs Nellie Ionides with the Charity Commission, and recommends future governance arrangements for the registered charitable trust. 

Report of the Cabinet Member for Youth, Culture and Leisure attached.

This is a key decision, elements of which need to be approved by Council.

The following summarises representations made by John Bell and Jack Betteridge:

·         Both endorsed the overall proposal and welcomed attempts to find a way forward.

·         It was correct not to widen the new trust’s responsibilities any further.

·         The membership of the new advisory forum would be very important, as would its terms of reference.

·         The Cabinet Member and officers should be thanked for their work on this matter.

·         It was hoped this would bring benefits to the whole of Twickenham.

The Cabinet Member for Youth, Culture and Leisure gave assurances that she was content with proposed arrangements.

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

RESOLVED that:

1.         the charitable bequest comprising Orleans House, the Octagon Room, the extension wings, stable block and art collection be registered with the Charity Commission as Orleans House Trust in line with the original objects of the bequest, as set out in paragraph 3.9;

2.         the Council be registered as sole trustee of Orleans House Trust and Council be recommended to establish a separate committee with proportionate cross-party representation to discharge its functions as sole trustee, as set out in paragraph 3.9; 

3.         the Council be recommended to put in place robust scrutiny arrangements and appoint an independent Scrutineer to ensure that the Council does not place its interests above those of the charitable trust, as set out in paragraph 3.10;

4.         authority for producing a legal agreement defining the basis on which Orleans House, the Octagon Room, the extension wings, stable block and art collection are held and managed by the Council in its role as sole trustee, as set out in paragraph 3.12, be delegated to the Director of Children’s Services and Culture and the Head of Legal and Electoral Services;

5.         authority be delegated to the Director of Children’s Services and Culture and the Head of Legal and Electoral Services to enter into discussions with the trustees of the Octagon Trust about its future contribution, as set out in paragraph 3.13; and

6.         an advisory forum with representatives of the local community be established to provide advice and guidance on the objects of the charitable trust, the conservation and future development of Orleans House, as set out in paragraph 3.14.

The purpose of this report is to present to Cabinet proposals for the total transformation of the Adult Social Care delivery system, in itself integral to the successful delivery of personalisation (self directed support and personal budgets) locally. The report seeks agreement from Cabinet that officers can commence the transformation process which will involve a large reorganisation of the Commissioning Care division of Adult and Community Services.

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

This is a key decision.

The following summarises representations made by Jackie Venus and Alex Brining:

·         There was concern that a specialist sensory services team was being lost and its absence would be felt by many service users.

·         Services users were not certain whether specialist staff would be replaced by other specialist practitioners.

·         People were concerned about whether rehabilitation services would need to be paid for with Self Directed Support money, as this would mean many would no longer be able to access the services.

·         Organisations were calling for a period of consultation before any decisions were being made.

·         A more effective, personalised service was welcomed.

·         “Whole service redesign” implied that some very large changes were expected by service users.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing and Director for Adult and Community Services made a number of points which are summarised below:

·         This was a change in the administration of the service only and it would not affect the services received now.

·         A main purpose of this work was to speed up the processes which enable service delivery while ensuring that advice could be offered to all who wanted it, regardless of whether they were eligible for Council assistance.

·         Larger teams were better placed to deal with people contacting them and many service users may experience an improvement.

·         Richmond was one of a few Councils still providing services to people with a moderate need.

·         People would still be eligible for a personal budget via means testing.

·         Specialist staff would only be replaced by other specialist staff.

·         The current staff would remain, however they would be sited within different teams and would still be supervised by appropriate managers.

·         It was hoped that the knowledge held by the current staff could be shared with their new teams.

·         People currently receiving services would still access those services in the same way and processes would be put in place to ensure this.  New cases will be accessing via a different team.

·         The assessment process would be made more effective.

·         Progress would be monitored and feedback was welcomed.

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

RESOLVED that:

1.         the whole system transformation of Adult Social Care as described in this report be agreed; 

2.         consultation with staff beginning in December 2009 for 6     weeks be agreed; and

3.         authority be delegated to the Director of Adult and Community Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing, to agree the final configuration and implementation timeframe.

This report provides details of the outcome of the consultation undertaken following the decision at Council on 14 July 2009 and advises that the Council adopt its preferred model of Leader and Cabinet following the election in May 2010.

Report of the Chief Executive attached.

There are elements of the decision which need to be approved by Council.

RESOLVED that:

1.                  the outcome of the public consultation be noted and that adoption of the new Leader and Cabinet model be recommended to a special meeting of Council

This report seeks Cabinet’s approval for a 6 month extension to the Insurance Claims Handling 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:

1.                  a 6 month extension to the Heath Lambert contract as detailed in paragraph 4.6 be agreed; and

2.                  Contract Standing Orders (CSO 3.3) be waived.

This report updates Members on the current issues surrounding the Council’s day to day Treasury Management activities.

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

The Director of Finance and Corporate Services confirmed that the Council was now largely not using Building Societies for investment.  This was because those previously being used no longer met stricter investment criteria.  Talks were taking place to try and resolve this situation so Councils could start using them again.  Richmond upon Thames currently only invested with one Building Society which was backed by the Government security scheme.

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

RESOLVED that the:

1.                   counterparty information in Appendix A be noted; and

2.         introduction of Money Market Funds and the use of foreign banks as discussed in paragraphs 7 and 8 be noted.

This report seeks Cabinet’s agreement on the joint funding of an appointment, with NHS Richmond, to the NHS post of Director of Public Health, with the Council contributing 30% towards funding the post.

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

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing said that this was the first joint appointment at this level of seniority.  She hoped that plans for closer joint working would be brought to Cabinet in the future.

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

RESOLVED that the jointly funded appointment with NHS Richmond to the NHS  post of Director of Public Health, at the cost to the Council of £34,200 per annum be agreed.

This report provides details of the financial position of the council, both revenue and capital, as at 30 September 2009.

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

An amended Appendix C was tabled.

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

RESOLVED that:

1.          both the projected revenue underspend as detailed in paragraphs 5 to 23 and the latest position of the capital programme as detailed in paragraphs 24 to 32 be noted; and

2.         any underspend in the current financial year earmarked to support the implementation of longer term efficiency plans as per paragraph 51 of this report be agreed.