Agenda and minutes

Apologies were noted from Councillor Percival.

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 on this occasion.

To consider and approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2012.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2012 were approved as a correct record.

There were no representations by members of the public on this occasion.

There were no matters raised by Executive Members on this occasion.

There were no matters raised by non-Executive Members on this occasion.

There were no matters referred to the Executive for reconsideration on this occasion.

Lord True stated that recommendations made by the Environment, Sustainability and Community Scrutiny Committee would be considered by the Cabinet in connection with future consideration of the continuing programme of Twickenham Town Centre improvements.

Cabinet is asked to approve the lease of the Old Courthouse site, Mortlake, and the

former Oldfield School site, Hampton, for the establishment of two primary free

schools in September 2013.

Cabinet considered a report which sought approval of the lease of the Old Courthouse site, Mortlake and the former Oldfield School site, Hampton for the establishment of two primary free schools in September 2013.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approves the lease of the Old Courthouse site, Mortlake for 125 years at a peppercorn rent to Thomson House School from 1 September 2013.
2. Approves the lease of part of the former Oldfield School site, Hampton for 125 years at a peppercorn rent to St Mary’s Hampton Church of England Primary School from 1 September 2013
3. Delegate to the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, following consultation with the Director of Environment responsibility for developing plans for part of the former Oldfield House site, Hampton to be made available as parkland and / or for other community use.

This report is being presented to Cabinet to enable scrutiny of the Council’s revenue and capital budget management.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources which provided an overview of the revenue and capital budget management and projections as at Quarter Two.

Members were informed that an additional paragraph (outlined below) had been  added to the report since its publication to clarify the finances with regard to the Temporary Accommodation Service.

[The Temporary Accommodation Service is projecting an overspend of £450K which reflects a significant increase in numbers of households in Bed and Breakfast accommodation (87 as opposed to an average of 74 in 2011/12). It is hoped that new provisions within the Localism Act will allow the Council greater flexibility in discharging its homelessness obligations and that improved maintenance procedures will reduce void rates.  These measures should reduce the overspend and an overspend control report is currently being developed.]

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Note the latest budget monitoring projections as detailed in the report.

Cabinet to consider proposals for the next phase of the Richmond Account and Card.

Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture and Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene which outlined the proposals for the next phase of the Richmond Account and Card.

It was noted that this innovation would increase accessibility to Council services at the best value for local residents.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the proposal for the next phase of the Richmond card as outlined.
2. Agree to allocate £360,000 for 2012/13 budget to develop and implement the new card.
3. Agree to allocate £430,000 over the next three years for further roll out and maintenance and note the potential loss of parking income that would have to be considered as part of the 2013/14 budget process.
4. Approve the proposed procurement strategy as set out in paragraph 5 combining use of the Bracknell licensing arrangement for the card management system and tendering for the bureau services to encode the card with information to enable its use in libraries, leisure centres and for parking discounts and for sending the cards to customers and a procurement process for the cards.
5. Note that the proposal for the next phase of the Richmond Card will be considered by the Environment and Sustainability Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 29 October 2012.