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.

Councillors Samuel and Marlow declared a personal interest with regard to Item 9 – Revenue Budget Strategy and Council Tax Setting. The nature of the interest being that they were both trustees of Richmond Theatre.

To consider and approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2012.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 January 2012 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.

There were no reports from Overview and Scrutiny Committees.  

This report gives details of the budget strategy and recommends that the Richmond upon Thames element of the Council Tax remain unchanged  at £1,287.39.

Cabinet received a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources regarding the Revenue Budget Strategy and Council Tax 2012/2013.

Councillor Samuel noted a factual amendment which was required under Part 7 – Consultation and Engagement of the report. He clarified that the consultation referred to had not taken place at an evening session and the words ‘ ‘who attended an evening run by the OPM organisation’ should be deleted from the report.

Resolved subject to the amendment in the report as outlined above: That Cabinet:

1. Note the advice of the Director of Finance and Corporate Services in respect of Section 25 of the Local Government Act 1003 in setting the budget.
2. Recommend the approval of the Revenue Budget for 2012/13 to Council.
3. Recommend to Council the agreement that the Richmond Upon Thames element of the Band D Council Tax be unchanged at £1287.39, thereby enabling the Council to accept a further £2.896 million one off funding in Council Tax Freeze Grant from the Government
4. Note the expected Greater London Authority (GLA) precept of £306.72
5. Recommend to Council to agree the overall Band D Level of Council Tax for 2012/13 including the GLA element to be set at £1,594.11, a reduction of 0.19% on 2011/12. The levels of Council Tax for all property bands were noted in Appendix A.
6. Approve the revised Medium Term Financial Strategy (Appendix C) including the efficiencies / savings identified and the expansion of the 5 year capital programme.

This report presents the key Treasury Management documents for 2012/13.  These documents are the Treasury Management Strategy, the Treasury Management Policy and the Approved Investment Criteria.  The report takes into account the comments of the Audit Committee on 7 February 2012. 

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources regarding the treasury management policy and strategy for 2012/13.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Recommend to Council for approval the Treasury Management Policy for 2012/13 as set out in Appendix A.
2. Recommend to Council for approval the Treasury Management and Investment Strategy for 2012/13 as set out in Appendix B
3. Recommend to Council for approval the Investment Criteria for 2012/13 for as set out in Appendix C.

That Cabinet note and comment on the latest budget monitoring projections as detailed in the report.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources which provided an update of the Council’s financial performance in Quarter 3.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

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

This report sets out the draft Education Planned Capital Maintenance Programme for 2012/13 and seeks Cabinet approval for the recommended prioritisation of this Programme.  It also sets out the capital budgets for the Education, Children’s and Cultural Services (ECCS) Directorate for 2012/13.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Children’s Services regarding the draft Education Planned Capital Maintenance Programme for 2012/13 and recommended prioritisation of the programme. The report also included the capital budgets for the Education, Children’s and Cultural Services Directorate for 2012/13.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the Education Capital Maintenance Programme priorities as set out in Appendix A of the report.
2. Delegate to the Director of Education, Children’s and Cultural Services following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Children’s Services the authority to re-prioritise projects if necessary.
3. Note the proposed 2012/13 Capital Budget.

To consider the conversion of a limited number of ‘Pay & Display’ parking bays to free short-stay parking bays in Barnes, East Sheen, Kew and Teddington.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Highways regarding the conversion of a limited number of ‘Pay and Display’ parking bays to free short stay parking bays in Barnes, East Sheen, Kew and Teddington.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Agree to delegate the approval to convert up to 33 ‘Pay and Display’ bays into free short stay parking bays as set out in the report to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene.

To consider additional funding arrangements for the highways maintenance programme.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene regarding additional funding arrangements for the highways maintenance programme.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Support the approach to highway maintenance as detailed in the report.
2. Delegate to the Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene the approval of the arrangements to engage with residents regarding Village Priorities.
3. Approve the Council funded Highway Maintenance Programme (HMP) for 2012/13 as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report and delegate any changes to this programme to the Assistant Director of Environment following liaison with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene.

To approve the outline of a 3 year Capital funded Parks Investment Programme (2012 – 2015) for the borough’s parks and open spaces. 

Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, Parks and Highways which outlined the 3 year Capital funded investment programme (2012-2015) for the borough’s parks and open spaces.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the outline of the three year Parks Investment Programme (2012 – 2015) subject to the appropriate public consultation.
2. Delegate final approval of the Parks Investment Programme to the Strategic Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, Parks and Highways following consultation with the Assistant Director of Environment (Property, Parks and Sustainability.)

This report is provided to update Members on the £485 million, 25 year procurement being run by West London waste Authority for the provison of long term facilities for the treatment and disposal of residual waste.

Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, Parks and Highways regarding the £485 million, 25 year procurement being run by the West London Waste Authority for the provision of long term facilities for the treatment and disposal of residual waste.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Note the progress made by West London Waste Authority in the procurement of residual waste facilities.
2. Note the requirement for future Cabinet reports regarding the final contract award.
3. Note the financial impact of this procurement upon the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy.

To seek approval to commence work on adopting powers to enforce ‘moving traffic offences.’

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene which sought approval to commence work on adopting powers to enforce ‘moving traffic offences.’

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the progression of work to obtain formal approval to enforce ‘moving traffic offences.’

To approve the adoption of a revised policy for the allocation of social housing.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing which sought approval of a revised policy for the allocation of social housing.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the new Housing Allocations Policy in listed in Appendix 1 to be implemented from the date the Localism Act comes into force.