Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies on this occasion.

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 17 January 2013.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2013 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.

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

To consider the outcome of the Feasibility Study approved by Cabinet on 19^th July 2012 as to how greater integration between health and social care services could be achieved, and further approve the Council’s participation jointly with Hounslow Council, Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust and the Clinical Commissioning Groups in Hounslow and Richmond in the development of a full business case for the creation of a new Integrated Care Organisation (ICO).

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing which outlined the outcome of the feasibility study as to how greater integration between health and social care services could be achieved. Approval was also sought to join with Hounslow Council, Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust and the Clinical Commissioning Groups in Hounslow and Richmond to proceed in the development of a full business case for the creation of a new Integrated Care Organisation (ICO.)

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the development of a full business case jointly with Hounslow Council, Hounslow and Richmond Community Healthcare NHS Trust and the Clinical Commissioning Groups in Hounslow and Richmond for the creation of a new Integrated Care Organisation (ICO.)
2. Note that the business case will include more detailed information on estimated costs and benefits, information governance and IT systems and implementation phases and timing to allow the five organisations to take the final decision whether or not to proceed.
3. Note the allocation of up to £150,000 from Section 256 grant funding to cover the Council’s proposed share of the direct and backfilling costs of producing the final business case.
4. Agree that, subject to approval of the Council’s continued participation, the business case would be presented to Cabinet in June 2013.

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 considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources which provided details of the budget strategy and recommends that the Richmond upon Thames element of the Council Tax remain unchanged at £1,287.39.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Note the advice of the Director of Finance and Corporate Services in respect of section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 in setting the budget.
2. Recommends to Council that the Revenue budget for 2013/14 be agreed.
3. Recommends to Council for approval 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 £1.166m one off funding in Council Tax Freeze Grant from the Government.
4. Note the expected Greater London Authority (GLA) precept of £303.00
5. Recommends to Council for approval that the overall Band D level of Council Tax for 2013/14 including the GLA element be set at £1,590.39, a reduction of 0.23% on 2012/13. The levels of Council Tax for all property bands are shown at Appendix A of the Report
6. Approve the revised Medium Term Financial Strategy (Appendix C) including the efficiencies / savings identified and the 5 year Capital Programme.

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 outlined the Council’s latest budget monitoring projections for Quarter 3, as at December 2012.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

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

This report presents for endorsement by Cabinet and recommendation to Council for approval the key Treasury Management documents for 2013/14.  These documents are the Treasury Management Strategy, the Treasury Management Policy and the Approved Investment Criteria.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources which presented the key Treasury Management documents for 2013/14. The documents included the Treasury Management Strategy, the Treasury Management Policy and Approved Investment Criteria.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Recommend to Council for approval the Treasury Management Policy for 2013/14 as set out in Appendix A.
2. Recommend to Council for approval the Treasury Management and Investment Strategy for 2013/14 as set out in Appendix B.
3. Recommend to Council for approval the Investment Criteria for 2013/14 as set out in Appendix C.

To agree growth arising from Ofsted recommendations and advise Cabinet of substantive budget risks facing the Education & Children’s Services Directorate.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources seeking approval of growth arising from Ofsted recommendations and advising on the substantive budget risks facing the Education and Children’s Services Directorate.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve growth of £237,000 in 2013/14 for additional posts in line with Ofsted recommendations
2. Note the substantive budget risks facing Education and Children’s Services and the potential impact on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS.)

This report sets out the draft Education Planned Capital Maintenance Programme for 2013/14 and seeks Cabinet approval for the recommended prioritisation of this Programme.  It also outlines the delay of notification of capital grant allocations for the Education, Children’s and Cultural Services (ECCS) Directorate for 2013/14.

Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Children’s Services, Cabinet Member for Schools and Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources which set out the draft Education Planned Capital Maintenance Programme for 2013/14.  The report also outlined the delay of notification of capital grant allocations for the Education, Children’s and Cultural Services Directorate for 2013/14.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the Education Capital Planned Maintenance Programme priorities as set out in Appendix A of the report.
2. Delegate authority to the Director of Education, Children’s and Cultural Services following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Children’s Services to re-prioritise and determine as necessary the final list of projects to be included in the 2013/14 financial year.
3. Note the delay to the notification by the Department for Education of the 2013/14 capital grant allocation details.

The current Waste and Recycling Contract is due to expire in October 2014 and the first step to re procuring a new commissioned contract is to serve notice of our intention to procure on the Mayor for London.This report seeks authority to serve such a notice

Cabinet considered a report of the Strategic Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, Parks and Highways seeking approval to undertake the first step to re procure a commissioned contract for Waste and Recycling Services. The current contract is due to expire in October 2014 and the report requires that that a notice of the intention to re-procure is served on the Mayor for London.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Agree that a notice be served on the Mayor for London to give notice under Section 358 of the GLA Act 1999 of Richmond’s intention to procure a new waste and recycling services contract.
2. Agree that a further notice be served subject to Hounslow’s agreement for a collaborative procurement between the two Boroughs to commence with Richmond taking a procurement lead.

To report the level of grant settlement via Transport for London (TfL) and to seek approval for expenditure of section 106 planning obligations contributions for works within the administrative area in conjunction with the Local Implementation Plan (LIP) programme from April 2013 onwards.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene which contained information regarding the level of grant settlement via Transport for London (TfL) and seeking approval for expenditure of section 106 planning obligations contributions for works within the administrative area in conjunction with the Local Implementation Plan (LIP) programme from April 2013 onwards.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Note the capital / revenue allocation for LIP and Community Parking Zone schemes for 2013/14 and to approve the expenditure of section 106 planning obligations contributions for works in the administrative area to complement the LIP programme as detailed in Appendices A, B and C.
2. Delegate to the Director of Environment the authority to agree additional schemes / proposals in the 2013/14 and future LIP programmes following scheme consultation and discussion with the Strategic Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, Parks and Highways and the Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene.

This report deals with Highway Maintenance and seeks to consider and approve

2013/2014 highways footway and carriageway maintenance programme. 

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Highways and Street scene and Strategic Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, Parks and Highways seeking approval of the 2013/14 highways footway and carriageway maintenance programme.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Support the Highway Asset Management Plan approach to highway maintenance.
2. Approve the Council funded Highway Asset Management Programme (HAMP) for 2013/14 as detailed in Appendix 1 and delegate any changes to the programme to the Director of Environment following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene.

To advise Members on the requirements of the Community Right to Bid/  maintaining a List of Assets of Community Value under the Localism Act 2011 (and associated Regulations), to outline the implications, and to agree the governance arrangements for administering the legislation.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources advising of the requirements of the Assets of Community Value / Community Right to Bid elements of the Localism Act 2011. The report outlined the implications and governance arrangements for administering the legislation.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Agree the Council’s approach and governance arrangements to the

implementation of the List of Assets of Community Value/ Community Right to

Bid, as set out at 3.3 - 3.9 below, in particular:

• Nominations of non-Council owned assets will be considered by the Asset

Management Working Group (AMWG), and to delegate authority to the

Assistant Director of Environment (Property, Parks and Sustainability), to

approve the AMWG’s recommendation following consultation with the Deputy

Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources and Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture;

• Nominations in respect of Council assets will be considered by the Property

Programme Board (PPB), and to delegate authority to, the Assistant Director

of Environment (Property, Parks and Sustainability) to approve the PPB’s

recommendation following consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet

Member for Finance and Resources and Strategic Cabinet Member for

Community, Business and Culture;.

• That the AMWG will consider claims for compensation under the scheme, and to delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Environment (Property, Parks

and Sustainability), to approve the AMWG's recommendation on the

compensation payment, following consultation with the Deputy Leader and

Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources and Strategic Cabinet Member for Community, Business and Culture;

• That Internal reviews of nomination and compensation decisions under the scheme will be undertaken by the PPB with assistance from the Head of Shared Legal Services.

2. Delegate authority to the Head of Estates and Valuation to alter,

vary or change the procedures set out in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.9 below in order

to comply with any future amendments or changes to the Localism Act 2011 or

any Regulations.

To make a decision whether to introduce a Choice Based Lettings System for the

allocation of housing to higher rental homes the (New Affordable Rent)  and to

update the scheme to reflect the changes brought in by The Allocation of Housing

(Qualification Criteria for Armed Forces) (England) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/1869.)

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Housing and Health seeking approval of the introduction of a Choice Based Lettings system for the allocation of housing to higher rental homes the (New Affordable Rent) and to update the scheme to reflect the changes brought in by The Allocation of Housing (Qualification Criteria for Armed Forces) (England) Regulations 2012 (SI 2012/1869.)

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the introduction of a Choice Based Lettings Scheme for the allocation of social housing to New Affordable rent properties to be introduced as part of the Council’s Information Management Programme.
2. Approve that updates to the scheme to reflect the statutory changes to social housing allocations for members of the armed forces be incorporated into the Allocation Scheme.

To report and obtain approval for terms provisionally agreed for new leases at each of the properties indicated.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources seeking approval for terms provisionally agreed for new leases at St Mary’s Church of England School, Strafford Road, Twickenham and Hampton and Richmond Football Club, Station Road, Hampton.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the completion of a lease to the trustees of Twickenham Parochial Schools Charity of premises at St Mary’s Church of England School, Strafford Road, Twickenham on the terms set out at paragraph 3.2 of the report.
2. Approve the completion of a lease to Hampton and Richmond Football Club, Station Road, Hampton on the terms set out a paragraph 3.3 of the report.
3. Delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Environment (Property, Parks and Sustainability) following consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources to negotiate and finalise detailed terms of the lease arrangements as necessary.

This report seeks approval of the proposed Corporate Capital Planned Building Maintenance Programme for 2013 – 2014 and provides Cabinet with an update on progress regarding the 2012 – 2013 programme.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources which sought approval of the proposed Corporate Capital Planned Building Maintenance Programme for 2013/14 and provided an update on progress regarding the 2012/13 programme.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the Corporate Capital Planned Maintenance Programme for the 2013/14 financial year.
2. Notes the progress made in the delivery of the planned building maintenance programme for the 2012/13 financial year.

To obtain authority for the compulsory purchase of the derelict properties set out in paragraph 4.6 of this report and their subsequent resale to purchasers who will undertake to restore them to use as occupied dwellings.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Services, Health and Housing seeking approval for the compulsory purchase of derelict properties at 109 Lincoln Avenue, Twickenham. 105 Fulwell Road, Teddington and 14 Rosedale Road, Richmond. and subsequent resale to purchasers who will undertake to restore them to use as occupied dwellings.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the making of compulsory purchase orders (CPOs) under Section 17 of the Housing Act 1985 (as amended) on the land and buildings described in paragraph 4.6 of the report and their submission to the Government Office for London for confirmation.

2. Agree that the Council proceed with acquisition of them by use of General Vesting Declarations.

3. Delegate authorisation to the Director of Environment to settle the compensation payable in acquiring the properties

4. Authorise the Director of Environment to dispose of the properties on the open market including by auction with the sale documentation to include conditions in a form approved by the Joint Head of Legal Services, requiring the new owners to renovate the properties to the satisfaction of the Head of Housing Operations and so they meet the Decent Homes Standard and are ready for occupation within a specified time

5. Delegate authorisation to the Director of Adult and Community Services to suspend the progress of the compulsory purchase procedure in respect of any specific property listed within the report if satisfied that the owner is taking appropriate action to restore its condition and return it to residential use.

This report details the rationale for a four borough shared legal services and asks Cabinet to approve the merging of the council’s existing shared legal service with the legal teams in the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames and the London borough of Sutton.

Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources which provided detail of the rationale for a four borough shared legal service and seeking approval to merge the Council’s existing shared legal service with the legal teams in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and the London Borough of Sutton.

Resolved: That Cabinet:

1. Approve the establishment of a four borough shared legal service with the London Borough of Merton, the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames and the London Borough of Sutton and a mirrored transition option for implementation.
2. Delegate further decisions to the Chief Executive following consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources.
3. Authorise the Chief Executive to sign formal documentation with the three Boroughs.