Apologies were received from Lord True, Leader of Richmond Borough Council.

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.

No declarations were received.

To consider and approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 10^th May 2011.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the 10^th May be received and approved and the Chairman authorised to sign them.

No representations were received.

No matters were raised by Members of the Executive.

No matters were raised by Non-Executive Members.

No matters were referred for re-consideration.

No reports were received from Overview and Scrutiny.

To receive a report of the Leader of the Richmond upon Thames Council reporting progress made towards priorities agreed in May 2010.

Cabinet received a report of the Leader of Richmond Council the purpose of which was to provide an update on progress against the Council’s priorities for the year to May 2011.

It was RESOLVED that the progress made towards priorities agreed in May 2010 be noted.

To receive a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Children’s Services seeking agreement to progress work on the development of a collaborative commissioned organisation for the delivery of children’s services.  

Cabinet received a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Children’s Services the purpose of which was to seek agreement to progress work on the development of a commissioned organisation for the delivery of children’s services in collaboration, ideally with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames. 

The Strategic Member introduced the report to Cabinet, she advised that Social Enterprises were an exciting way of delivering services within the public sector and in the current economic climate it was important that such ideas and methods were investigated.  She also reminded Members that this paper sought to enable the process but that the details of any project or agreement would be brought to Cabinet for consideration in November.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.                  The proposed approach to the transformation of delivery of children’s services through the development of an arms-length management organisation (ALMO) to be commissioned by the Council be agreed

2.                  The exploration of a vehicle for delivering the ALMO described in 1. in collaboration with the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, in line with the South London Partnership four-borough memorandum of understanding,  be agreed

3.                  That work on the feasibility and full business case for a possible social enterprise and the programme required to deliver it, including a full analysis of all alternative delivery models for children’s services be undertaken by the Director of Education, Children’s and Cultural Services

4.                  Up to £200,000 in resources, to be matched by the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames, be directed from the Invest to Save Reserve to the Director of Education, Children’s and Cultural Services to progress the proposal, including project management, independent legal, financial and HR advice.

5.                  The establishment of a Shadow Board for the new children’s services organisation with the Directors of Children’s Services in Richmond and Kingston as the two founding Board Members, alongside their current responsibilities, be agreed.

6.                  A further report to Cabinet in November 2011, requesting approval for a commissioned delivery model for children’s services, based on a full business case, be received.

To receive a report of the Strategic Member for Education, Youth and Children’s Services setting out the case for a family centre in Hampton and seeking approval to use Tangley Park Hall for such purposes.

Cabinet received a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Children’s Services setting out the rationale for establishing Hampton Family Centre in the building known as Tangley Park Hall in the Hampton North ward. It also established the context in which permission was sought to use the Council owned building to deliver universal and targeted family support services for those living within walking distance of the proposed building.

In addition she and the Cabinet Member for the Environment, Planning, Parks and Highways made the following minor amendments to the report:

·         Paragraph 3.3 delete “relative deprivation” insert “relative need”

·         Paragraph 6.1 add “and the wider area” between “……..vulnerable families in Hampton North” and “area and may compromise……..”

·         Paragraph 6.3 after “local area” add “and would be designed into the new scheme in some capacity.

[These changes have been reflected in the online version of the report]

It was RESOLVED that

1.      the use of Tangley Park Hall to deliver universal and targeted family support services, particularly to families with children under 5 years, from December 2011, be agreed. 

2.      growth of £52,000 in the annual revenue budget for children’s centres, to develop a programme at Tangley Park Hall be agreed

3.      a one-off £80,000 (maximum) capital payment for refurbishment at Tangley Park Hall be agreed.

4.      That the new facility be called Hampton Family Centre.                                        

To receive a report of the Strategic member for Education, Youth and Children’s Services seeking permission to extend the Service Level Agreement currently in place with Welcare to provide Children’s centre provision in the St Margaret’s, Twickenham and Teddington Quindrat.

Cabinet received a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Children’s Services the purpose of which was to seek agreement to forego normal local authority procurement procedures and waive contract standing orders to extend the Service Level Agreement with Welcare to provide Children’s Centre provision within the St Margaret’s, Twickenham and Teddington Quindrat.

It was RESOLVED that:

1. the contract with Welcare, to provide Children’s Centre Services in the St Margaret’s, Twickenham and Teddington Quindrat, to the value of £138,000 per annum be continued and contract standing order 3.3 be waived in order to facilitate this continuation.
   
   
2. Authority be delegated to the Director of Education, Children’s and Cultural Services to agree the detailed specification within the defined budgetary range set out in paragraph 5.

To receive a report of the Deputy Leader and cabinet Member for Finance and Resources setting out, and seeking agreement of, proposals for the future use and disposal of The Avenue Centre, Normansfield Avenue, Teddington.

Cabinet received a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources the purpose of which was to advise members of proposals for the future use and disposal of the Avenue Centre, Teddington and seek authority to pursue those proposals through delegated authority to officers.

It was reported that correspondence from a member of the public had been received and circulated to Cabinet members prior to the meeting.

Cabinet expressed the view that progress on thias site was to be welcomed.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.      That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director of Environment to pursue negotiations on the proposals as set out at 3.6 below and in the confidential report; finalise terms and complete agreements and submit planning applications as necessary.

2.      That Conservation Area Consent be sought, and demolition of the existing building take place at the earliest opportunity be agreed. 

To receive a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources seeking approval of funding for improvements to Ham Day Centre.

Cabinet received a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Finance and Resources the purpose of which was to request approval of additional funding further to that identified in February 2011 to provide features towards the improvement of the Ham Day Centre.  Cabinet were informed that these features had been determined through a consultation exercise with users and carers.

Cabinet agreed that this important work would help the centre in it’s bid to become a centre of excellence for dementia care.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.      That funding up to the value of £20k be approved to provide for additional features for improvement to the Ham Day Centre.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing in consultation with the Assistant Director of Environment, Property, Parks and Sustainability to implement the spend.

To receive a report of the deputy leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources setting out the outturn position at the financial year end 2011 and seeking agreement to carry forward unspent budgets.

Cabinet received a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources the purpose of which was to advise on the overall outturn position for both revenue and capital expenditure for the financial year ended 31^st March 2011.  The report also sought approval to carry forward unspent budgets and of the impact of 20010/11 spending on the Council’s reserves.

It was RESOLVED that:

To receive a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources reporting the indicative council tax figures.

Cabinet received a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources the purpose of which was to report indicative Council Tax figures as  agreed in the budget strategy. The report proposed that the indicative figure be a zero % increase.

It was RESOLVED that:

1. The proposed indicative 0% Council Tax increase be noted
   
   
2. Final recommendations to Council be made when being considered there later in the municipal year.

To receive a report of the deputy leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources seeking agreement to develop a policy in respect of Council Reserves.

Cabinet received a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet member for Finance and Resources identifying whether a set of principles could be agreed to enable a more rigorous approach to the basis on which reserves were held.

In particular the report sought to establish whether it was reasonable to set a minimum reserves policy that the Council as a whole could agree upon.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.       A policy on Minimum Reserves be developed.

2.      The comments and request for further consideration of the details from the Finance and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted

3.      Authority be delegated to the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance to finalise the detail of the reserve policy (having considered ideas and input from Cabinet and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee).

To receive a report of the Cabinet Member for Performance providing an update on work undertaken towards a procurement function and seeking agreement to a programme of works to deliver savings.

Cabinet received a report of the Cabinet Member for Performance which provided an update on work undertaken to establish a procurement function through a centralised team, the introduction of category management and the identification of plans to secure £6m of savings.

It was RESOLVED that:

1. The update on procurement work, as set out in paragraph 3.4 and the possible savings proposals at paragraph 3.5 be noted.
   
   
2. The appointment of PWC as set out at paragraph 3.13 to produce estimated savings of £2.2m-3.9m, in the first round of procurements, on the basis set out in the confidential portion of this report be approved.
   
   
3. Authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Performance and the Chief Executive to implement PWC’s proposals.

To receive a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health & Housing seeking agreement to draw down funds from the Housing Capital programme to develop affordable homes in Teddington.

Cabinet received a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing which sought authority to draw down funding from the 2011/12 Housing Capital Programme to fund the development of 30 and 8 affordable houses at Elmtree Road, Teddington and Hanworth Road, Heathfield respectively at a cost to the programme of £1,600,000.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.      The use of up to £800,000 of grant funding from the   2011/12 Housing Capital Programme as set out in paragraph 3.6 of the report be agreed.

2.      The use of £800,000 of grant funding from the 2011/12 Housing Capital Programme as set out in paragraph 3.11 of the report be agreed.

To receive a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing seeking agreement to an Interim Policy Statement on Affordable Rent.

Cabinet received a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing containing a briefing on the Affordable Rent Model and seeking agreement of an Interim Policy Statement on Affordable Rent prior to the development of a Strategic Tenancy Policy.

It was RESOLVED that:

The interim Affordable Rent Policy Statement be agreed.  

To receive a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing seeking agreement to set up a Trust Account Deed between LBRuT and Richmond Housing Partnership.

Cabinet received a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing which sought approval to set up a Trust Account Deed between London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and Richmond Housing Partnership.  Cabinet were informed that Funds from the sale of land in the ownership of RHP would be deposited into the account and used solely for the development of future affordable housing.

It was RESOLVED that:

1. The development of a Trust Account Deed between the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames and Richmond Housing Partnership to manage the capital receipt generated by the sale of RHP assets a public summary of which is provided in 3.5 of this report be agreed.  
   
   
2. Authority be delegated to the Head of Legal Services in consultation with the Assistant Director (Commissioning, Corporate Policy and Strategy) to finalise the Deed and to extend it to include other sites where this will increase the supply of affordable homes that meet the housing needs of London Borough of Richmond residents as outlined in 5.4 of this report.

To receive a report of the Cabinet Member for Performance providing information on the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames performance measured against local priorities and national indicators.

Cabinet received a report of the Cabinet Member for Performance the purpose of which was to provide information on the Council’s performance towards achieving priorities set out in the Corporate and Community Plans and against key performance indicators January to March inclusive, for quarter 4 of 2010/11.

It was RESOLVED that:

1. The performance in key programmes / projects and against national indicators be noted
   
   
2. Proposed and implemented actions to improve or maintain performance be noted.

To receive a report of the Cabinet Member for Performance seeking approval for a one off payment to Serco in order to realise savings.

Cabinet received a report of the Cabinet Member for Performance which sought approval of a one off payment to Serco in lieu of certain ongoing revenue payments in order to make a saving.

The Director of Finance addressed Cabinet in order to request that the decision be taken as urgent owing to the necessity of making payment before 30^th June 2011 to compliment Serco accounting procedure.  He had discussed the matter with the Chairman of the Finance Overview & Scrutiny Committee and the opposition Lead member for Finance neither of whom had raised no objections.

It was RESOLVED that

1. An urgent decision to make a one off payment to Serco as set out in the confidential report be approved

This decision will not be subject to call-in.

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.

It was RESOLVED that:

having regard to the particular nature of the business to be transacted 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 Procedure Rule 10.4 and Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded

To receive a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources containing exempt financial information relating to the proposals for future use of The Avenue Centre detailed in the public report at Item 13.

Cabinet received a further report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources on the Avenue Centre, Teddington.  The confidential report set out the financial details of the proposals for future use of the site.

It was RESOLVED that:

The report be noted

To receive a report of the Cabinet Member for Performance containing exempt information pertaining to the information and provided and agreement sought in the public report at Item 18.

Cabinet received a further report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources on delivery of savings through procurement.  The confidential report contained the financial details of the arrangements with PriceWaterhouse Cooper.

It was RESOLVED that:

            The report be noted.

To receive a report of the Cabinet member for Adult Services, health and Housing containing exempt information pertaining to the draw down of funds from the Housing capital programme as detailed in the public report at Item 19.

Cabinet received a further report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health & Housing on the Housing Capital Programme and use of funds for affordable housing.  The confidential report contained commercially sensitive information pertaining to the negotiations conducted with Registered Providers.

It was RESOLVED that:

The report be noted.

To receive a report of the Cabinet member for Adult Services, Health & Housing containing exempt information pertaining to the approval of the creation of a Trust Account Deed between LBRuT and RHP as detailed in the public report at Item 21.

Cabinet received a further report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing on the establishment of a Trust Account Deed with Richmond Housing Partnership.  The confidential report contained financial details of the on-going negotiations with the developer, RHP and LBRuT.  In addition the report contained legal opinion and advice offered on a ‘without prejudice’ basis.

It was RESOLVED that:

            The report be noted.

To receive a report of the Cabinet Member for Performance containing exempt financial information pertaining to the request for approval to make a one of payment to Serco as detailed in the public report at Item 23.

Cabinet received a further report of the Cabinet Member for Performance pertaining to the permission to make a one of payment to Serco in lieu of ongoing revenue payments in order to realise a saving.  The confidential report contained the financial details of the arrangements with Serco.

As reported in minute 286 the Director of Finance had addressed Cabinet in order to request that the decision be taken as urgent and this had been agreed.

It was RESOLVED that:

            The report be noted.