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 the nature of the interest.

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 December 2012.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2012 were agreed 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.

There were no reports from Overview and Scrutiny Committees on this occasion.

To recommend to Council the level at which to set the Council Tax Base and to agree the NNDR1 return for the financial year 2013/14.

Cabinet considered 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 and to agree the NNDR1 return for the financial year 2013/14.

Councillor Samuel requested that recommendation three as listed in the report be replaced with ‘ Agree the NNDR1 total as £78,415,2348 subject to the Director of Finance and Corporate Services having delegated authority to make alterations in light of the proposed new Government regulations should this be required.’

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Resolve that the Council Tax Base for the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames for 2013/14 be 83,504.41 (see Appendix A) and be recommended to Council for approval.
2. Agree the policies for discounts, referred to at paragraph 3.4 and 3.5
3. Agree the NNDR1 total as £78,415,2348 subject to the Director of Finance and Corporate Services having delegated authority to make alterations in light of the proposed new Government regulations should this be required.

This report presents the proposed Council Tax Support Scheme to be effective from 1^st April 2013.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources regarding the proposed Council Tax Support Scheme to be effective from 1 April 2013.

Lord True addressed Cabinet regarding the potential cumulative impact of the proposed Scheme for those individuals and families who may be in receipt of multiple benefits. Mr M Maidment, Director of Finance and Corporate Services, explained that the productive dialogue which had been undertaken with groups representing those who may be impacted would continue following scheme implementation to enable the impact on those most affected to be continually monitored. Councillor Urquhart highlighted that the impact on those recipients of Disability Living Allowance which would soon become the Personal Independence Payment had been raised as a particular concern for monitoring purposes.

Councillor Samuel noted that once approved, the Scheme would be reviewed annually. Due to the rolling programme of national changes to the benefits system over the coming months, it would require some time for the Scheme to embed and the implications to be fully known.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Note the responses to the consultation listed at Appendix A.
2. Note the Equalities Impact Needs Analysis listed at Appendix B.
3. Recommend the proposed Council Tax Support Scheme to Council for approval
4. Delegate authority to the Director of Finance and Corporate Services to make any changes to the scheme, subject to appropriate consultation.  

This report considers the 6 year Capital Programme (2012/13-2017/18), provides details of new capital schemes and looks at how the Capital Programme is funded.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources regarding the six year Capital Programme (2012/13 – 2017/18) which provided details of new capital schemes and how the Programme would be funded.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the schemes identified in Appendix A for inclusion in the 2013/14 Capital Budget.
2. Note the proposals in Appendix A for financial years 2014/15 to 2017/18.
3. Recommend to Council the overall capital budget for 2013/14 for approval in February 2013 as part of the Council’s Financial Strategy
4. Recommend to Council the Prudential Indicators listed in Appendix B for approval in February 2013.

This report provides an update of work undertaken to develop the Council’s education priorities and is a continuation of the report to Cabinet 24 November 2011. It also seeks approval for the outline funding to proceed with the next phase of the Education Capital Programme. A separate report on the Council’s overall Capital Programme 2012/13 – 2017/18 is included on this cabinet agenda.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources and Cabinet Member for Schools which provided an update of work undertaken to develop the Council’s education priorities and sought approval for the outline funding to proceed with the next phase of the Education Capital Programme.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the outline funding for the next phase of the Education Capital Programme.
2. Delegate authority to the Director of Finance and Resources following consultation with the Director of Environment for the procurement of these projects, subject to statutory approvals.

The report presents a mid-year review of the Council’s progress in delivering the commitments presented in the Corporate Plan. It provides assurance to that the Council is on course to meet its corporate commitments for 2012/13.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Performance which presented a mid-year review of the Council’s progress in delivering the commitments presented in the Corporate Plan.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Notes the key achievements to date with regard to the delivery of Corporate Plan Priorities
2. Note that a year-end report will be provided to assess progress achieved.

This report is to consider the London Councils’ Grants’ Committee’s recommended level of overall expenditure for 2013/14 for the London Boroughs Grant scheme and agree the Council’s response.

Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture which sought consideration of the London Councils’ Grants Committees recommended level of overall expenditure for 2013/14 for the London Borough’s Grant Scheme and approval of the Council’s response.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve a contribution for the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames of £205,690 to the London Borough’s Grants Scheme.

Cabinet to consider the Tenancy Strategy which the Council is required under the Localism Act 2011 to develop by the end of January 2013.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing which sought approval of the Tenancy Strategy, required under the Localism Act 2011 to be in place by 31 January 2013.

Councillor Samuel addressed Cabinet regarding the particular area of Anti Social Behaviour as referred to in the Strategy. He noted that the Council was strongly committed to taking a robust approach to Anti Social Behaviour and protecting the living environment of all residents across the Borough. Strong support for the non-renewal of tenancies for individuals with a history of anti social behaviour was expressed, in particular where criminal activity had been involved. He requested that his view be distributed to local Housing Associations alongside the Strategy, once approved.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the Tenancy Strategy outlined in Appendix A.
2. Approve the recommendations on tenancy type (3.15 and 3.16), tenancy duration (3.21 and 3.22), tenancy renewal (3.30, 3.31 and 3.32) and affordable rent (3.42)
3. Delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing to make minor amendments to the strategy.
4. Note the strong commitment of the Authority to taking a robust approach to Anti-Social Behaviour and support for the non-renewal of tenancies for individuals with a history of Anti-Social Behaviour, in particular where criminal activity had been involved.
5. Agree the forwarding of these views, along with the approved Strategy to local Housing Associations.

Cabinet is asked to note that the final payment under the Richmond Theatre

lease guarantee agreement is due to be made on 31 March  2013 and to endorse the

revised arrangements for Council involvement in the Richmond Theatre Trust after

that point.

Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Business, Community and Culture regarding the final payment under the Richmond Theatre lease guarantee agreement to be made on 31 March 2013 and seeking endorsement of the revised arrangements for Council involvement in the Richmond Theatre Trust after that point.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Note that the final payment by the Council under the lease dated 26 March 1991 would be made on 31 March 2013.
2. Approve the proposed nomination of one Trustee to the revised Richmond Theatre Trust Board and the arrangement to continue to provide advice to the Board via the Head of Cultural Services (or equivalent post.)

The report covers the future of the small businesses that support people with a learning disability and recommends that the Council undertakes a competitive process to identify a partner who will bring relevant expertise to the management and future development of the Garden Gang and Green Power Recycling.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing which related to the future of small businesses that support people with a learning disability.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approves the preparation of a service specification for the competitive process that would require bidders to describe how they would assist people with learning disabilities with meaningful work experience training in the delivery of these services and to move on to paid employment as and when appropriate.
2. Approves that bidders are given the flexibility to use part of the Grimwood Road site should they so wish and enter into an appropriate lease / licence of the same.
3. Approves that the Council carries out a competitive process and enters into a five year contract with an external provider with an expectation to reduce subsidy by at least 30% by the end of year three of the contract.
4. Delegate authority to the Director for Adult and Community Services following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing to approve the form of competitive process following market testing and to authorise the award of the resultant contract and licence / lease.
5. Agree that Café Sunshine be excluded from this process and continue to be based on the Twickenham Riverside site and run by the Council for the time being.

This report sets out proposals to vary aspects of the Council’s PFI contract with Care UK for residential and nursing care across three care homes within the Borough.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing which set out the proposals to vary aspects of the Council’s PFI contract with Care UK for residential and nursing care access across three care homes in the Borough to better match the commissioning needs of the Council, respond better to older people within the Borough, increasing provision for people with dementia and in time reduce expenditure on services for which the Council pays but does not use or need.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Agrees to revise the total number of Council commissioned beds from 195 to 175, allowed Care UK to privately market a further 20 beds currently paid for by the Council but not used.
2. Agrees to reconfigure the remaining 175 Council commissioned beds within the contract, allowing more provision for people who have dementia.
3. Agrees that respite care will be sourced through generally available beds from within the available contract beds or purchased flexibility on ‘as required’ basis if not contract beds are available.
4. Delegate the final agreement and timing for the implementation of this proposal to the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing following consultation with the Director of Adult and Community Services.

The Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 will be implemented from January 2013.  This report sets out the requirements within the Act that the Council must meet, their implications and proposes a way forward.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Performance which outlined the requirements in the Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012 which the Council must meet, their implications and proposed a way forward.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Agree the approach outlined in the report at paragraphs 3.6 – 3.11
2. Approve the Council’s Social Value Priorities (drawn from the Corporate Plan) set out in Appendix 1.