Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Hodgins.

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 Samuel declared a personal interest in item 9 on the agenda. The nature of the interest being that he was a governor at Buckingham School.  

To consider and approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2011

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2011 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

There were no representations from members of the public.

No matters were raised by Members of the Executive.

No matters were raised by Non-Executive Members.

No matters had been referred to the Executive for reconsideration.

To consider the Executive Response to the Housing Task Group final report and recommendations.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Health, Housing and Adult Services which included the Executive Response to the report of the Housing Task Group of the Adult Services, Health and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Urquhart expressed thanks to the Task Group for their diligent work in undertaking the review.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Notes the hard and diligent work of the Housing Task Group in compiling the final report (at Appendix 2.)
2. Agree the actions detailed in Appendix 1.

This report seeks approval for the procurement route and process of acceptance of a tender for over £500,000 to appoint the building contractor(s) to undertake building works for the delivery of the expansion of Buckingham Primary School.

Cabinet considered a report of the Leader of the Council seeking approval for the procurement route and process of acceptance of a tender for over £500,000 to appoint the building contractors to undertake building works for the delivery of the expansion of Buckingham Primary School.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the use of the Council’s select list of contractors as the tendering method for the procurement of the design and build construction contract.
2. Subject to such delegation being required, delegate authority to award the building contract for Buckingham Primary School expansion to the Leader of the Council, provided that the recommended contract value is within 10% of the pre-tender estimate.

This report seeks the approval of Cabinet, in its role as ‘local decision-maker’, to the proposals to expand the size of Hampton Wick Infant and Nursery School and St John the Baptist Church of England Junior School on 1 September 2012 and 1 September 2014 respectively. The proposals will provide additional primary school places to meet forecasted demand.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Schools seeking approval of the proposals to expand the size of Hampton Wick Infant and Nursery School and St John the Baptist Church of England Junior School on 1 September 2012 and 1 September 2014 respectively. The proposals will provide additional primary school places to meet forecasted demand.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the proposal to expand the size of Hampton Wick Infant and Nursery School on 1 September 2012.
2. Approve the proposal to expand the size of St John the Baptist Church of England Junior School on 1 September 2012.

This report seeks the approval of Cabinet, in its role as ‘local decision-maker’, to the proposals to expand the size of Heathfield Infant School and Heathfield Junior School on 1 September 2013. The proposals will provide additional primary school places to meet forecast demand.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Schools seeking approval of the proposals to expand the size of Heathfield Infant School and Heathfield Junior School on 1 September 2013. The proposals would provide additional primary school places to meet forecasted demand.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the proposal to expand the size of Heathfield Infant School on 1 September 2013.
2. Approve the proposal to expand the size of Heathfield Junior School on 1 September 2013.

This report seeks the approval of Cabinet, in its role as ‘local decision-maker’, to the proposals to change the age-range and size of Orleans Infant and Nursery School and St Stephen’s Church of England Junior School on 1 September 2012, so that both schools are converted into two-form entry, all-through primary schools. The proposals will provide additional primary school places to meet forecast demand.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Schools which sought approval to change the age range and size of Orleans Infant and Nursery School and St Stephen’s Church of England Junior School on 1 September 2012 to convert both schools into two form entry, all through primary schools.  The proposals will provide additional primary school places to meet forecasted demand.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the proposal to expand the age range and admission number of Orleans Infant and Nursery School on 1 September 2012.
2. Approve the proposal to expand the age range and admission number of St Stephen’s Church of England Junior School on 1 September 2012.

To provide an update on how the council is moving from the current arrangements of voluntary sector grants to commissioning services and to seek agreement to transitional grant funding for voluntary organisations to provide continuity where current grants end and the implementation of new contract arrangements. 

Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture to provide an update on how the Council was moving from the current arrangements of voluntary sector grants to commissioning services and to seek agreement to transitional grant funding for voluntary organisations to provide continuity where current grants end and the implementation of new contract arrangements.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Agree the indicative transitional grant funding as outlined in Appendix A of the report.

Cabinet to consider the London Councils Grants Committee’s recommended level of overall expenditure for 2012/13 for the London Boroughs Grant scheme and agree the Council’s response.

Cabinet considered a report of Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture seeking approval to the Council’s response to the recommended level of overall expenditure for 2012/13 for the London Borough Grants Scheme. The report also included a response regarding overall changes to the Grants Scheme and future grants programme.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Note the reason for urgency and agree that the decision should be exempted from the Council’s Call-In Process.
2. Approve a contribution of £280,545 to the London Boroughs Grant Scheme.

This report seeks approval of the proposed Corporate Capital Planned Building Maintenance Programme for 2012/2013 and updates Cabinet on progress regarding delivery of the 2011/2012 programme.

Cabinet received a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources which sought approval of the proposed Corporate Capital Planned Building Maintenance budget for 2012/13 and provided an update on progress regarding the delivery of the 2011/12 programme. Further approval was sought to delegate approval of the detailed programme of work for 2012/13 within the approved budget to the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the Corporate Capital Planned Maintenance Budget for the financial year 2012/2013.
2. Delegate the approval of the detailed programme of work within the approved budget for 2012/13 to the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, following consultation with the Assistant Director of Environment.
3. Note the progress made in the delivery of the planned building maintenance programmes for the current financial year 2011/12.

Cabinet to consider the five year capital programme (from 2012/13 to 2016/17) and details of new capital schemes and the funding of the capital programme.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources seeking approval for the five year capital programme for 2012/13 – 2016/17 including details of new capital schemes and associated funding.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the schemes listed in Appendix A for inclusion in the 2012/13 Capital Budget.
2. Note the proposals in Appendix A for the financial years 2012 / 13 to 2016 / 17
3. Recommend the overall Capital Budget for 2012 / 13 to Council in February 2012 for approval as part of the overall financial strategy
4. Recommend the prudential indicators in Appendix B to Council for approval in February 2012.

To seek the approval of Cabinet to recommend to Council the level at which to set the Council Tax Base for the financial year 2012/13.

Cabinet received a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources seeking approval of Cabinet, to recommend to Council, the level at which to set the Council Tax Base for 2012/13.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Recommend to Council that the Council Tax Base for 2012/13 be set at 89,992.04
2. Agree that the policies regarding discounts referred to at paragraphs 3.4 and 3.5 be continued.

To seek the view of Cabinet regarding the second stage of the Thames Water consultation on the Thames Tunnel, launched on 4 November 2011 and closing on 10 February 2012.

Cabinet received a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Environment, Planning, Parks and Highways regarding the second phase of the consultation for the Thames Tunnel launched on 4 November 2011 and due to close on 10 February 2012.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Welcomes to the changes made to the Thames Tunnel Project and the reduced impact at Barn Elms.
2. Continues to support in principle and believes the use of a brownfield site, instead of the previously proposed Barn Elms, to be a significant improvement to the scheme as well as a benefit to local residents
3. Supports the proposal being made by the London Borough of Wandsworth to modify the proposed construction access as set out in the report.

Cabinet to approve the Supporting People Commissioning and Procurement Plan.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Housing and Health seeking approval of the Supporting People Commissioning and Procurement Plan.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the Supporting People Commissioning and Procurement Plan.
2. Delegate authority in accordance with the Council’s Contract Standing Orders for the implementation of the procurement decisions.

To provide the Cabinet with detail of sales achieved under the approved Sales/Re-investment Programme 2010/2013 and to seek approval of an updated programme which reflects the known current and future property service delivery activity of the Council.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources which provided details of sales achieved under the approved sales / reinvestment programme 2010 / 2013 and sought approval of an updated programme to reflect the known current and future property service delivery activity of the Council.

Councillor Samuel addressed Cabinet regarding the report. He expressed sincere apologies for a technological error which had resulted in an incorrect version of the appendix initially being published. This was replaced at the earliest possible opportunity and revised papers circulated immediately to all parties.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Note the sales achieved in delivery of the Sales / Reinvestment Programme 2010 / 2013 as set out within paragraph 3.2 and Appendix A.
2. Approve the updates Sales / Reinvestment Programme for 2010/13.

To seek Cabinet approval to meet the requirements of the Council’s Library Service by joining the SELMS Consortium and procuring Civica’s Spydus library management system

Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture seeking approval for the replacement of the library service’s computer management system including joining the SELMS Consortium and procuring Civica’s Spydus library management system.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the procurement of a library management system and associated services for a five year contract with Civica under the terms of an existing EU compliant framework agreement;
2. Agree to delegate the decision to enter into a Contract, upon the completion of the procurement process, to the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community Business and Culture, following consultation with the Director of Education, Children’s Services and Culture
3. Approve the Library Service’s application to join the South East Library Management System (SELMS) consortium in place of its current membership of the London Libraries Consortium (LLC.)

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 Paragraphs 3 of schedule 12 A (as amended) to the Local Government Act 1972.

Resolved: That having regard to the particular nature of business to be transacted during the consideration of items 23, 24 and 25 that it was likely to disclose exempt information by virtue of paragraph 3, as defined in the Access to Information Procedure Rule 10.4 and of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded.

To note an exempt report regarding the Supporting People Commissioning and Procurement Plan

Cabinet considered a further report of Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing regarding the Supporting People Procurement Plan.

The exempt report set out information regarding the financial and / or business affairs of the Local Authority.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Note the information contained within the report.

To consider an exempt report with regard to the sales and investment programme.

Cabinet considered a further report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources regarding the property sales and re-investment programme.

The exempt report set out information regarding the financial and / or business affairs of the Local Authority.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Note the exempt information contained within the report.

To consider exempt information with regard to the procurement of a new Library Management System.

Cabinet considered a further report of the Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture regarding the replacement of the library management system.

The exempt report set out information regarding the financial or business affairs of the Local Authority.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Note the exempt information contained within the report.