Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Arbour.

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 Morris declared a personal interest in Item 10 – Council Tax Benefits Changes. The nature of the interest being that she owned a property within the Borough which was leased to tenants.

To consider and approve the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2012.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2012 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

There were no representations received 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.

There were no reports from overview and scrutiny committees on this occasion.

Cabinet to 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 information regarding the Council’s revenue and capital budget management.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources proposed that the report be amended to reflect an additional £400,000 from existing underspends being allocated to fund repairs to roads and pavements following consultation with residents. The proposal would bring forward expenditure which would have been incurred in future financial years.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Note the latest budget monitoring projections as detailed in the report.
2. Approve the allocation of £400,000 from existing underspends to fund repairs to roads and pavements.

Cabinet to consider proposals for a local Council Tax Support Scheme to replace the

current Council Tax Benefit System from 1 April 2013 and changes to Council Tax

discounts and exemptions.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources which set out the proposals for a local Council Tax Support Scheme to replace the current Council Tax Benefit system from 1 April 2013  and for changes to Council Tax discounts and exemptions.

Councillor Samuel addressed Cabinet regarding the proposals. He noted that the nature of the work being undertaken was extremely complex and central to the proposal was the need to balance the needs of those claiming benefits against those of all Council Tax payers. The views of the Finance and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been fully taken into account in developing the proposals for consultation.

He outlined the context of reductions in national funding in which the revised scheme was being developed and the need to ensure the impact of proposals was limited as far as possible for the Borough’s most vulnerable residents. The upper limit for benefit recipients would be explored alongside proposals for contribution by additional adults within a household. An essential part of the proposals would be to support people in employment.

The Equalities Impact Needs Assessment (EINA) had been carried out alongside the development of proposals for the local scheme of council tax support.

In response to questioning by Councillor Urquhart, he provided assurances that the Borough’s most vulnerable residents, as defined by the current scheme, would remain protected during the development of the new scheme. He also noted in response to questions regarding the EINA, that it would be continually reviewed and developed during the consultation process.

Councillor Samuel clarified that the current national Council Tax rules included 100% council tax relief for Landlords between lets up to a maximum of 6 months. The proposal would be to reduce the exemption by 25%. Meaning that landlords would now be required to pay 25% of Council tax due. This element would remain under review and the impact of the proposal would be considered in detail due to the importance of protecting vulnerable residents within the Borough and the potential impact upon Housing Associations. He noted that increasing the change in the figure beyond 25% may impact upon tenants through increased rents.

In concluding his representation, he highlighted that the concepts of fairness and equality which were central to the proposals. Approximately 900 residents would benefit financially from the proposals. 500 would be impacted upon negatively and fell broadly into two categories; those who were living in properties which many residents could not afford and those who had benefitted previously from the non-contributory other working adult in household arrangements.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the draft Council Tax Support Scheme as set out in Appendix A as the basis for the consultation process.
2. Note the contents of the draft Equalities Impact Needs Assessment as set out in Appendix B and that the EINA will continue to be developed as the consultation progresses
3. Note the reason for urgency and agree that the decision should be exempted from the Council’s Call-in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 250.

To seek approval for a revised and updated Corporate Asset Management Plan (AMP) for the Council’s land and buildings.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources which sought approval for a revised and updated Corporate Asset Management Plan (AMP) for the Council’s land and buildings.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the updated Asset Management Plan as shown at Appendix A.

Cabinet to consider the draft refresh of the Community Safety Partnership Plan 2011-14 Year Two.

Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture which sought approval of a refreshed Year Two of the Community Safety Partnership Plan 2011 – 14.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Endorse the draft refresh of the Community Partnership Plan 2011 – 14 and recommend approval by Full Council on 18 September 2012.
2. Delegate any further amendments to the updated Community Safety Partnership Plan 2011 -14 to the Leader of the Council following consultation with the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture and the Chief Executive.  

That the Cabinet approves the procurement strategies for the residential and supported living homes and respite service for adults with a learning disability which are currently delivered and managed by Council staff.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing regarding the procurement strategy for the Adult Care Provision Priority Programme. The procurement strategy included residential care homes, supported living and respite services for adults with a learning disability to be delivered in future by organisations external to the Council.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the procurement strategies for residential and supported living homes and respite services for adults with a learning disability which are currently delivered and managed by Council staff.
2. Approve the establishment of a procurement timeline aiming to have contracts in place by April 2013.

Cabinet is asked to approve a full feasibility study to explore how greater integration between health and social care services can be achieved.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing which sought approval for a full feasibility study to explore how greater integration between health and social care services could be achieved.

Councillor Urquhart proposed that funding for the feasibility study would be met by NHS Funding for Adult Social Care transferred to the Council through its Section 256 Agreement not the Invest to Save Fund as previously indicated in the report.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve a full feasibility study to better understand how integrated health and social care arrangements in the Borough can be achieved.
2. Agree funding for the feasibility study of up to £150,000 to be met from NHS Funding for Adult Social Care transferred to the Council through its Section 256 Agreement.
3. Receive the recommendations and proposals from the feasibility study at the Cabinet meeting in January 2013

To seek agreement to the Council’s approach to the commissioning and procurement

of community advice services.

Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture seeking approval of the Council’s approach to commissioning and procurement of community advice systems.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approves the approach to commissioning community advice services as described in the report.

To inform Cabinet about proposals for developing the Council’s Consultation and Community Engagement work stream (as part of the broader Community Involvement Programme).

Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community Development which outlined the proposals for developing the Council’s Consultation and Community Engagement work stream (as part of the broader Community Involvement Programme.)

It was noted that the figure omitted from paragraph 3.5 was £490,000 which had been spent on repairs to roads and pavements within the borough following residents identifying this as an area for improvement.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the actions set out at paragraph 3.9 to develop and expand the Council’s approach to consultation
2. Approve the actions set out at paragraph 3.13 to strengthen procedures and ensure consultation activity is robust.

To consider the allocation of Section 106 funds to Parks Improvement schemes over the next three years for the enhancement of the Parks facilities throughout the borough subject to relevant public consultation

Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, Parks and Highways seeking approval of the allocation of Section 106 funds to parks improvement schemes over the next three years.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approves the allocation of existing Section 106 funds for parks improvement schemes over the next three years, subject to relevant public consultation and consultation with the Strategic Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, Parks and Highways.

To advise Cabinet that the Council’s Director of Education, Children’s Services &

Culture has additionally been appointed, initially on an interim basis, to the post of

Director of Children’s Services in Kingston.

Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive which advised Members that the Council’s Director of Education, Children’s Services and Culture had additionally been appointed, initially on an interim basis to the post of Director of Children’s Services at the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames.

The Leader of the Council said that closer integration with the Royal borough of Kingston, with a view to the creation of a social enterprise, remained a strategic objective of the Council.  He had secured assurances from the Chief Executive and the Director of Education that joint working would not lead to any diminution of the quality of service leadership in Richmond. Any additional remuneration for the Director would be met by Kingston

Resolved: That Cabinet note the report.

This report seeks approval for the procurement of a replacement Integrated Children’s System (ICS) for case management in children’s social care

Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Children’s Service which sought approval for the procurement of a replacement Integrated Children’s System (ICS) for case management in children’s social care.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the procurement of a replacement ICS for children’s social care by means of a Framework Agreement which is compliant with Public Contracts Procurement Regulations.
2. Delegate the decision to award the contract, following completion of the procurement process to the Strategic Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Children’s Services, following consultation with the Director of Education, Children’s and Cultural Services.

Cabinet to consider further detail on capital budgets and receipts for the Sixth Form Programme following the report to Cabinet on 24 May 2012.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Schools which provided further detail on capital budgets and receipts for the Sixth Form Programme.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Note the proposed sixth form capital budget and receipt expectations
2. Note the progress to date
3. Approve the disposal of the premises and sites as indicated in the exempt report
4. Approve the proposed contribution to development of sixth forms at the three existing Academies.

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 Item 22, on the grounds that it was 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 advise Cabinet of exempt information relating to sixth form capital funding.

Cabinet considered a further report of the Cabinet Member for Schools regarding the capital budgets and receipts for the Sixth Form programme.

The exempt report set out further information regarding the disposal of premises and sites as part of the programme.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Note the exempt information contained within the report.