No apologies were received.

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 at this point.

Councillor Morris declared a personal interest during item 24 by virtue of knowing one of the objectors in a community capacity unrelated to the site or school place provision.  It was not known until the speaker approached the table that this was the case.

To consider and approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd June 2011

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of 23^rd June 2011 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.

One Executive response to a Task Group of an Overview and Scrutiny Committee was received at Item 8a (See Minute 37a).

To set out the full response of the Executive to the report of the Drug Misuse Scrutiny Task Group, which was agreed by the Environment, Sustainability and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 24 March 2011.

Cabinet received a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture the purpose of which was to set out the full response of the Executive to the report and recommendations of the Drug Misuse Scrutiny Task Group; agreed by the Environment, Sustainability and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting on 24 March 2011.

Cabinet heard a representation from Councillor Jaeger, Chairman of the Task Group which included the following points:  

Ø      That the report had acknowledged the cross cutting nature of drug misuse and addiction and had included members from the Children’s, Environment and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

Ø      That she hoped that all of those committees not just the parent committee (Environment) would continue to take an interest in the future of the recommendations and proposals from the Task Group.

Lord True, Leader of the Council, thanked Councillor Jaeger and the other Task Group Members for their hard work and the useful report that had been produced.

The Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture also thanked the group and welcomed the recommendations.  She remarked that Drug services like all public services were expected to work with less funding in the current economic climate but that this did not mean that services should suffer.

The Strategic Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Children’s Services confirmed that she would refer the matter to the Chairman of the Education and Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration at a future meeting.

It was RESOLVED that:

The full response to the Drug Task Group’s recommendations as at Appendix B, be agreed.

To inform Cabinet of progress on All in One events the proposals for developing village plans and the options for developing community involvement following on the All in One events.  In addition the report seeks agreement to proposals for an annual survey of residents. 

Cabinet received a report of the Strategic Cabinet member for Community, Business and Culture the purpose of which was to inform of progress on All in One events held across the borough through May to July and to set out proposals for developing village plans and community involvement. In addition the report sought agreement to conduct an annual survey of residents. 

The Leader of the Council noted with pleasure the information contained in the report, in particular that 1300 people had attended ‘Village events’.  He considered this to be much improved on the numbers of people that had attended previous Area Consultation Meetings. 

It was RESOLVED that:

1.                  Progress on the All in One be noted

2.                  Proposals for developing village plans be agreed.

3.                  Suggested actions needed to ensure effective community involvement in the future, under paragraph 3.13 be noted and receipt of a further detailed report on how these actions may be achieved be agreed.

4.                  The undertaking of an annual telephone survey of residents be agreed

5.                  Thanks to officers who helped at the ‘village events’ be noted

To seek agreement to a new strategy and delivery model for the library service and to note progress on the full business case for devolved management and governance.

Cabinet received a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture seeking agreement to a new strategy and delivery model for the library service and reporting progress on the full business case for devolved management and governance.

Cabinet heard representations from Mr Howard Vie which included the following points:

Ø      Mr Vie declared that he was an employee of the Library Service but that he spoke as a resident of the Borough.

Ø      That the Library in Ham required minimum cosmetic work to improve it greatly and a move was not necessary.

Ø      He thanked the Council for their commitment to Libraries

Lord True, Leader of the Council, thanked Mr Vie and vicariously all Library workers in the Borough and reiterated the administration’s commitment to them and Libraries.

Some members of the Cabinet put questions to Mr Vie and in response heard that:

Ø      He believed that Council tax Payers expected Libraries to be part of what they were paying for and that as such the Council should run them.

Ø      That Ham Library was open 36/37 hours a week.

Lord True reminded those present that the report before them was the start of a process of modernisation but that keeping libraries open was core to that process.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.                  The new four-year strategy for the library service as set out in paragraph 3.4 and attached as appendix A, be agreed.

2.                  The strategic objective to maintain library services in areas where they currently exist, while considering a new delivery model for the library service as set out in paragraph 3.5 involving potential local community management of some libraries, be agreed.

3.                  Further work by the Head of Culture and Service Improvement on the full business case for devolving management and governance of the library service to a not-for-profit organisation with charitable status, as set out in paragraph 3.6, be undertaken and a request that a further report be presented to Cabinet in November 2011 be agreed. 

4.                  The use of the £750,000 capital receipt from the sale of Heathfield Library to implement the new library strategy and delivery model as set out in paragraph 5.2 be agreed.

To set out the framework to support delivery of the Council’s Uplift Strategy.

Cabinet received a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Environment, Planning, Parks and Highways which sought agreement of the establishment of a new framework which would support delivery of the Council’s uplift strategy.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.                  The framework as set out in the report be agreed.

2.                  The prioritisation of the Uplift programmes for Hampton North and Whitton be agreed.

To inform Cabinet of the process being undertaken by the Education, Children’s and Cultural Services (ECCS) directorate to procure a range of children and young people’s services for 2012-13, and to seek Cabinet approval to procure services through this route.

Cabinet received a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Children’s Services the purpose of which was to inform Cabinet of the process being undertaken by the Education, Children’s and Cultural Services (ECCS) directorate to procure a range of children and young people’s services for 2012-13, and which sought agreement to procure services through this route in the future.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.                  The process for commissioning children’s services as outlined in paragraph 3.13 be agreed.

2.                  Receipt of a report detailing the outcome of the commissioning process in February 2012 be agreed.

To set out and seek agreement to the approach and timetable for the transfer of voluntary sector grants for Adults Services into the mainstream Adult and Community services commissioning programme.

Cabinet received a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing setting out and seeking agreement to the approach and timetable for the transfer of voluntary sector grants for Adults Services, into the mainstream Adult and Community services commissioning programme.

It was RESOLVED that:

The approach outlined in the report, for the transfer of the voluntary sector grants for Adult Services into the mainstream Adult and Community Services commissioning programme, be agreed.

The report on the annual review of the Winter Service Plan

Cabinet received a report of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene containing the annual review of the Winter Service Plan.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.                  The Winter Service Plan for 2011/2012 as detailed in the report be agreed

2.                  Consultation in accordance with section 4 of the report be agreed.

3.                  Authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene in consultation with the Assistant Director for Environment to approve revisions to the final version following consultation.

To seek agreement to the procurement of services that will provide infrastructure support and help to build capacity within the local voluntary and community sector.

Cabinet received a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture which sought agreement to the procurement of services that would provide infrastructure support and help to build capacity within the local voluntary and community sector.

The Strategic Cabinet Member drew the attention of the Cabinet to paragraph 3.9 of the report and asked that members be aware that it referred to the entire voluntary sector in the Borough.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.                  The procurement exercise and timetable for infrastructure and capacity building services as described in this report be agreed.

2.                  Authority be delegated to the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture in consultation with the Assistant Director, Commissioning, Corporate Policy and Strategy to agree the final specification.

3.                  Authority be delegated to the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture in consultation with the Assistant Director, Commissioning, Corporate Policy and Strategy to award contract(s) following the procurement exercise for infrastructure and capacity building services.

To receive the supplementary budget levy for the London Borough Grants Scheme and agree the Council’s response.  To consider the Council’s Equalities Impact Needs Assessment (EINA), Service Impact Assessment and recommendations against the decision by London Councils Leader’s Committee to terminate early some grant commissioned services.

Cabinet received a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture in order that the supplementary budget levy for the London Borough Grants Scheme could be considered.  In addition the report provided an update on the work related to the Equalities Impact Needs Assessment (EINA), Service Impact Assessment and recommendations against the decision by London Councils Leader’s Committee to terminate early some grant commissioned services.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.                  A supplementary contribution of £18,185 to the London Boroughs Grant Scheme for 2011/12 be agreed.

2.                  The identification of £65,000 for 2011/12 and £30,000 for 2012/13 as a contingency in light of London Councils de-commissioning voluntary sector services as described in paragraphs 3.3 to 3.8, be agreed.

3.                  Authority be delegated to the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture to approve any grants awarded as a result of London Councils de-commissioning.

This report seeks to update Members on the work undertaken by the Member Tenants’ Champion, and to request that budgetary provision be made for additional resources to be allocated to support this work moving forward.

Cabinet received a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing the purpose of which was to update Members on the work undertaken by the Member Tenants’ Champion, and which sought approval for budgetary provision for additional resources to support this work.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.                  The success of the Tenants’ Champion role in complaints resolution with Registered Providers operating in Richmond upon Thames be noted.

2.                  Additional resources of £14,100 for the current year and £20,600 p.a. in following years be agreed and allocated to the relevant budget in Adult & Community Services as outlined in paragraphs 3.10 - 3.12 in this report to cover extending staffing support and resources to the Tenants’ Champion role.  

To seek authority to draw down funding from the Affordable Housing Fund and note an amendment to the funding required at Ross Road, Whitton. £358,750 is requested to part fund the development of 53 affordable homes at Third Cross Road, Twickenham helping to secure external grant funding of £4,854,750.

Cabinet received a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing seeking authority to draw down monies from the Affordable Housing Fund and noting an amendment to the funding required at Ross Road, Whitton.

In total £358,750 was requested to part fund the development of 53 affordable homes at Third Cross Road, Twickenham in order to help secure external grant funding of £4,854,750.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.                   The use of £358,750 from the Affordable Housing Fund to part fund 53 affordable homes as set out in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.5 of the report, be agreed.

2.                   The reduced amount of grant required from the Affordable Housing Fund to subsidise Richmond Housing Partnership’s development of family houses at Ross Road, Whitton as set out in paragraphs 3.6 and 3.7, be agreed.

To seek approval to extend both the corporate and schools cleaning contracts with the current provider – Wettons Ltd for a period of two years and align contract end dates to 1^st August 2013.

Cabinet received a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources which sought approval to extend both the corporate and schools’ cleaning contracts with the current provider, Wettons Ltd., for a period of two years and to realign all contract end dates to 1^st August 2013.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.                  An extension to the corporate cleaning contract for a period of two years; with Wettons Ltd., based on the negotiated fee revision, be agreed.

2.                  Authority be delegated to the Deputy Leader for Finance and Resources in consultation with the Assistant Director of Environment, to extend for a period of up to two years, the school cleaning contracts 4, 5 and 6 with Wettons Ltd., when these expire in 2011.

To enable scrutiny of the Council’s revenue and capital budget management.

Cabinet received a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources the purpose of which was to enable scrutiny of the Council’s revenue and capital budget management.

It was RESOLVED that:

The latest budget monitoring projections be noted.

To provide an update on the Efficiency and Transformation Programme and seek approval for further development work to continue across a range of services.  The report also provides an on the South London Partnership and the recent identification of five potential areas for joint working.

Cabinet received a report of the Cabinet Member for Performance which provided an update on the Efficiency and Transformation Programme and sought approval for further development work to continue across a range of services.  An update was also given on the South London Partnership and the recent identification of five potential areas for joint working.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.                  The progress being made with the Efficiency and Transformation programme be noted.

2.                  The proposals of the outline business cases to date as set out in paragraph 3.4 below be noted and further development work in line with the individual recommendations as shown be agreed.

3.                  The progress of the South London Partnership to date and the outcomes of the recent Chief Executive’s workshop be noted.

To request resources from the Invest to Save Fund in order to progress the implementation of a range of priority programmes

Cabinet received a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cabinet Member for Performance the purpose of which was to set out the requirement for resources in order to progress the implementation of a range of priority programmes and recommend a further delegation of £750k from the Invest to Save Fund to the Cabinet Member for Performance.

It also sought acknowledgment that the delivery of the full programme was likely to require further resources which officers would seek to identify within existing resources.

It was RESOLVED that:

1.                  A delegation of £750k from the Invest to Save Fund to the Cabinet Member for Performance to be used to fund in part the resources now required be agreed.

2.                  Should further resource be needed it be agreed that officers endeavour to identify it from existing budgets in 2011/12 or 2012/13.

To receive information on current issues surrounding work undertaken by the Borough’s Camera Cars.

Cabinet received a report of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene the purpose of which was to describe serious problems with the requirements for certification of camera cars that had been operated for the Council since April 2009 and to make recommendations for the way forward.

The Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene introduced the report to Cabinet and reminded members of the complex issues involved and the recommendations of officers.

Lord True also addressed the meeting.  He apologised that the procedural path the decision would now take would be longer than he had originally envisaged, owing to the decision having to be brought before a full Council meeting.  He acknowledged that any delay was unfortunate but it was necessary to ensure that decisions taken were procedurally correct and legally sound.  He reminded those present that as elected representatives members of the Cabinet must balance the interests of all residents and give due regard to the legal advice received. 

Cabinet heard representations from members of the public:

Mr Ashford addressed Cabinet and during his representations made the following points:

Ø      Examples were given of the types of people who would miss out on refunds of Penalty Charge Notices administered by inadequately certificated Camera Cars should the council choose not to contact people directly.

Ø      Examples were given of other authorities where repayments had pro-actively been made

Ø      That an advert and appeal process was a step in the right direction but still an insufficient response to the problem.

Ø      That Cabinet and its members risked engaging in criminal activity should they choose to follow the recommendations in the report.

There were no questions for Mr Ashford but Lord True commented that claims of criminal activity were very serious and should not be made lightly.

Mr Wise addressed Cabinet and during his representations he made the following points:

Ø      He commended Cabinet and the Council on the steps it had taken thus far to address the problems identified and also on the wider approach to traffic management and parking.

Ø      He claimed, with regret, that the policies in the past including the use of camera cars had forced businesses in the area to close.

Ø      That the council should continue in this vein and take a pro-active approach to the repayment of wrongly taken monies, as described by the previous speaker.

Lord True thanked Mr Wise for drawing to the attention of the Council the problems that had now come to light and were being dealt with at the first opportunity. 

Mr Baker addressed Cabinet and during his representations he made the following points:

Ø      That it would cost money to place advertisements in the press that could be used to contact those affected.

Ø      That should a bank take money from an account and not pay that money back it would count as theft under the Theft Act; he suggested that the situation which Cabinet was addressing should be viewed in the same way.

Ø      He argued that a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

This report seeks Cabinet agreement to the purchase of the Richmond Adult Community College (RACC), Clifden Road, Twickenham, for future school provision.

Councillor Morris declared a personal interest in the item by virtue of knowing one of the objectors in a community capacity unrelated to the site or school place provision.

Cabinet received an urgent late report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources. 

The reasons for lateness and urgency were reported as follows:

The report had not been available for at least five clear days before the meeting but would be considered at this meeting as it was the last meeting of Cabinet before the August recess.  Cabinet would not meet again until 15 September 2011.  It had not been possible to prepare the report earlier as the matter needed to be discussed by the Board of RACC which met on 13 July 2011, with subsequent negotiations over the following days.  Delay would compromise delivery of the project.

In addition the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules contained within Part 4 of the Constitution allowed a decision such as this to be taken as a matter of urgency. The procedures required that the Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition determine that it would be impractical to convene a quorate meeting of the full Council during the summer recess.  The procedures also required that the Chairman of the Finance and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee be consulted.

It was reported that these procedures had been followed and appropriate agreements obtained.

As a result of these reasons and processes, decisions taken on this matter would not be subject to call-in.

The purpose of the report was to seek agreement to the purchase of the site of the Richmond Adult Community College (RACC), Clifden Road, Twickenham, to provide future school provision.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources introduced the item and reminded members present that the decision before them was to agree the purchase of the site for school provision at this stage.  Decisions regarding the type of school and whether it may provide a Catholic Secondary school for the borough would be a process completed after this initial decision had been taken.

He argued that a school on this site would benefit children and parents in the Borough, as well as the college and those partaking in adult education.

Cabinet heard representations from members of the public:

Mr Joyce (speaking in place of Mr Kennedy) addressed Cabinet and during his representations made the following points:

Ø      That a Catholic Secondary School in the Borough was welcomed by Catholic Parents in the Borough. 

Ø      As a parent it concerned him that in order to continue a catholic education his children may have to be schooled outside of the Borough, but if a new school were built this would no longer be necessary.

There were no questions for Mr Joyce, but the Leader thanked him for his comments and conveyed the best wishes of Cabinet for Mr Kennedy’s speedy recovery.

Mr Heather  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

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.

Confidential report attached.

Cabinet received a further report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources on the Purchase of a site for the provision of School Places. 

The confidential report set out the financial details of the proposals for future use of the site.

The Director of Environment suggested amendments to paragraph 3.4 of the report.

It was RESOLVED that:

1. The report be noted
   
   
2. The suggested amendments to the report be agreed and the report be amended as such [attached as appendix A – restricted]

Confidential report attached.

Cabinet received a further report of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Street Scene on the Issues with LBRuT Camera Cars. 

The confidential report set out the legal advice received which was subject to legal privilege.

It was RESOLVED that:

          The report be noted