Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Business. (Late items of Urgent Business will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items of Urgent Business will be dealt with at Item 19  below. New items of exempt Urgent Business will be dealt with at Item  21 below).

The following late report was accepted as an item of Urgent Business for the reasons set out below:

Item 8: Financial Planning 2012/13 – 2014/15

The report was submitted late because it was prudent to await the confirmation of the final Local Government budget settlement received by the Council on 31 January 2012.

The report is too urgent to await the next meeting because of the deadline for the statutory budget setting process.

A Member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A Member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member's judgment of the public interest and if this interest affects their financial position or the financial position of a person or body as described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct and/or if it relates to the determining of any approval, consent, license, permission or registration in relation to them or any person or body described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations made at this point in the meeting.

Prior to the consideration of Item 8: Financial Planning 2012/13 to 2014/15 Councillor Reith noted that she was a Homes for Haringey leaseholder.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 20 December 2011 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 December 2011 be confirmed as a correct record of the meeting.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Standing Orders.

A deputation request was accepted from Flora Onwukwe of Unison with respect to Item 16: Options for the Future of Directly Provided Children’s Homes.

(Report of the Chief Executive to be introduced by the Leader of the Council) To provide an update on progress against the Council’s outcomes and priorities for the third quarter of 2011/12 (October-December 2011).

Cabinet considered a report that provided with respect to progress with respect to the Council’s outcomes and priorities for the third quarter of 2011/12.

The Leader of the Council introduced the report and noted that changes in to the Welfare Benefits meant that more young women were now claiming job Seekers Allowance and as a consequence this group was now being recorded as Not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET).

Cabinet was advised that officers from the Youth Service and Employment and Skills team were looking at how this group could be targeted within the new Jobs Programme and Jobs Strategy.

RESOLVED:

1. That progress against the five outcomes during the third quarter of 2011/12 be noted.

2. That the issues and challenges moving into the next reporting period, as outlined in the report, be noted. 

(Report of the Director of Corporate Resources – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction): To consider the forecast financial revenue and capital outturns for 2011/12 based on actual performance to 31 December 2011.

Cabinet considered a report that provided an overview of the forecast financial revenue and capital outcomes for 2011/12 based on actual performance to 31 December 2011.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction clarified that sums from any under spent budgets would be used to help close the deficit in funding rather than being re-spent in areas where cuts had already been made.

 RESOLVED:

1. That progress being made with respect to the Council’s 2011/12 budget with regard to revenue and capital expenditure be noted.

2. That the budget changes set out in Appendix 3 of the report be approved.

3. That the transfer of General Fund risk provision to general reserves, as outlined in paragraph 10.3 of the report, be approved.

(Report of the Director of Corporate Resources – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction): To consider and agree the proposed budget package for 2012/13 and later years and the Council Tax for 2012/13.

REPORT TO FOLLOW

Cabinet received a report that presented the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), which covered the three years to March 2015 and included a revised assessment of the General Fund, Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and the Capital Programme.

It was clarified that Corporate Resources was not being allocated additional funding for back office functions and that reserves were being ‘held’ by Corporate Resources until they were formally allocated.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction advised that details of the ‘One Borough One Future’ proposals would be made public before the end of the Municipal Year.

RESOLVED:

1. That it be recommended to Council that it approve the proposals for the Council’s Revenue Budget 2012/13 and MTFP 2012-2015 as set out in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report.

2. That it be recommended to Council that it approve the General Fund budget requirement for 2012/13 of £278.4m, net of the Dedicated Schools Grant, subject to the decisions of precepting and levying authorities, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

3. That it be noted that significant savings will still have to be identified to deliver a balanced budget in 2013/14 and 2014/15.

4. That it be recommended to Council that it approve the Cabinet’s responses to the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the chosen three themes of the draft revenue proposals agreed at the Cabinet meeting on 4 October 2011 (as set out in paragraphs 7.6 to 7.8 and Appendix 8 of the report).

5. That the summary of consultation responses received to date on the draft revenue proposals, agreed by Cabinet on 4 October 2011 (and set out in paragraphs 7.1 to 7.5 of the report) be noted. 

6. That the latest position with regard to the funding allocations within the Children and Young People’s Dedicated Schools Grant be noted and approved (as set out in paragraph 12 and Appendix 5 of the report).

7. That it be recommended to Council that it approve the housing rent increases (average increase of £6.55pp (7.5%)) (as set out in Appendix 6 of the report).

8. That it be recommended to Council that it approve the tenants’ service charges (as set out in paragraph 5 and Appendix 6 of the report).

9. That it be recommended to Council that it approve the HRA Budget 2012/13 and the MTFP 2012-15 (as set out in paragraph 7 and Appendix 8 of the report).

10. That it be recommended to Council that it approve the Council’s Capital Programme for the period 2012-15 comprising spending and funding of £204.880m (as set out in paragraph 14 and Appendix 7 of the report).

11. That it be recommended to Council that it approve changes in Directorate cash limits as shown in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report.

12. That it be recommended to Council that it approve the additional investment proposals set out in paragraph 9 and summarised in Table 2 at paragraph 10 of the report.

13. That it be recommended to Council that it approve the forecast level  ...  view the full minutes text for item 116.

(Report of the Director of Corporate Resources – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction): To consider and agree the proposed fees and charges for 2012/13.

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Cabinet considered a report that provided an overview of the annual review of the Council’s fees and charges.

In response to a question with regard to the increase in the fees charged for the use of allotments Cabinet was advised that although this was a 40% increase this still remained a relatively modest charge. It was noted that the Council was working with allotment holders to improve the safety and security of allotments.

The £10 increase in the charge for Blue Badges was in line with increases being made by other Local Authorities following change in the contractors used by the Government.

RESOLVED:

1. That the increases to the Council’s fees and charges, as contained in Appendices 1 to 10 of the report (excluding Pendarren House at Appendix 10), be approved with effect from 1 April 2012, subject to an Equalities Impact Assessment being carried out where appropriate and subject to any subsequent changes then required being delegated to the relevant Director in consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Member.

1. That the increase of fees for Pendarren House by 3% from 1 September 2012 (as contained in Appendix 10 of the report) be approved, subject to any counter conclusions coming out of the review of Pendarren House, which would be brought back to a later meeting of the Cabinet.

(Report of the Director of Corporate Resources – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction): To receive the Annual  Audit letter for 2010/11 from the Council’s external auditors, Grant Thornton, and to note the issues raised and actions being taken.

Cabinet considered a report that presented the Annual Audit Letter for 2010/11.

In response to a question Cabinet was advised that the timetable for the submission of Alexandra Palace’s Accounts had been delayed and consequently an action had been included with regard to the alignment of Alexandra Palace and the Council’s end of year timetables.

It was noted that the inclusion of Alexandra Palace’s debt within the Council’s accounts would not effect the rate at which the Council was able to borrow nor would alter the way in which the Council treated Alexandra Palace as an independent entity.   

RESOLVED:

That the Annual Audit Letter for 2010/11 be received and formally noted by the Cabinet.

(Report of Director of  Place and Sustainability– To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction):  To summarise the work currently being undertaken to assess future property needs.

Cabinet received a report that summarised the work being undertaken to assess the future property needs and that reviewed the Council’s asset holdings to determine options and strategies to achieve key regeneration and community priorities, generate capital receipts and release savings through the reshaping if the Council’s property estate.

RESOLVED:

That the aims and objectives of the property review work streams be noted.  

(Report of the Director of Place and Sustainability – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Social Inclusion):To consider the proposed package of funding for Tottenham, combining Council and Mayor of London resources to help leverage private sector funds.  The aim of this funding package is to deliver a first phase of sustainable social, economic and physical regeneration in Tottenham, with a particular focus on the priority area of North Tottenham.

Cabinet received a report that sought approval of the proposed funding and investment programme for Tottenham of £41.345m.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Social Inclusion introduced the report and responded to queries raised.

It was noted that a further report would be brought to Cabinet outlining the new flagship Jobs Programme that was aimed at tackling unemployment and child poverty and that this would include details of the targets with respect to the number jobs that would be created.

Cabinet was advised that changes to the Section 106 Agreement referred to in the report would be considered at a special meeting of the Planning Committee on 13 February (the report being considered by the Planning Committee was published on the Council’s website and copies had been made publicly available since 3 February). 

It was clarified that the Council’s Supplementary Planning Policy (SPP) on the provision of Affordable Housing within new schemes allowed for the existing mix of housing in an area to be taken into account when determining applications. It was recognised that there was a high proportion of social housing already and in order to encourage a greater mix of housing it was proposed that the requirement within the existing Section 106 Agreement was amended.

In terms of the provision within the Section 106 Agreement for Education purposes it was being recommended to the Planning Committee that this contribution was revised down from x to x and the decision with regard to this was within the remit of that Committee rather than Cabinet.

The Chair thanked officers for their hard work during the six month period since the disturbances in pulling this piece of work together. She noted that against a backdrop of rising deprivation and unemployment, particularly in Northumberland Park and White Hart Lane, it was hoped that the package of private and public sector investment agreed would act as a catalyst for the regeneration of the North Tottenham area.

RESOLVED:

1. That Cabinet approve the funding and investment programme for Tottenham of £41.345m as outlined in paragraph 1.1 of the report. 

2. That it be approved, in principal, that a further allocation of £5m to make a total of £9m investment (including £4m capital programme investment already provisionally agreed by Cabinet on 20/12/11 but subject to Full Council agreement) in North Tottenham (linking with the Mayoral investment of £18m) to support:

Ø      A contribution to heritage building improvements in the vicinity of the NDP Scheme (£3m)

Ø      A contribution to public and community event space to be provided as part of the NDP Scheme (£5m)

Ø      Environmental improvements on Worcester Avenue (£0.5m)

Ø      The formulation of a phased North Tottenham regeneration master-plan with a primary focus on the area west of High Road centred on White Hart Lane (£0.5m)

3. That the further allocation of £5m should be formally added to the Capital Programme at an appropriate point in the future once the relevant part of the NDP scheme has progressed and when funding has been identified.

4. That  ...  view the full minutes text for item 120.

(Report of the Director of Place and Sustainability – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Social Inclusion): To consider proposals for working in partnership with the Greater London Authority (GLA) to create an enterprise, employment and community centre within 639 High Road Tottenham (Bruce Grove Ward) as part of the regeneration of the area.

Cabinet considered a report that provided an overview of proposals for working in partnership with the Greater London Authority (GLA) and local communities to create a centre for enterprise and employment at 639 High Road.

Exempt information pertaining to the report was discussed under Item 23. 

RESOLVED:

1. That it be noted that 639 High Road, Tottenham was fire damaged and vacant following the riots.

2. That 639 High Road should be declared surplus to the Councils requirements.

3. That proposals to work in partnership with the GLA to establish 639 High Road as an enterprise, employment and community resource, with public space providing accommodation for new and existing businesses and support mechanisms for aspiring individuals and social enterprise, be noted.

4. That the disposal of the freehold of the property to the GLA be approved, as outlined in the terms set out in (exempt) section 5.15 of the report and to delegate the final terms of the disposal, including the price and any overage, to the Head of Corporate Property Services in consultation with the Director of Place and Sustainability, Programme Director for Tottenham and Head of Legal Services.

(Report of the Director Housing and Adult Services – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services): To note the Local Account 2010/11 document.

Cabinet received a report that presented the Local Account 2010/11.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services noted that following the abolition of the Care Quality Commission’s Annual Performance Assessment Local Authorities were now required to publish an annual Local Account to demonstrate and describe performance with regard to adult social care to local residents.

RESOLVED:

That the content of the Local Account for 2010/11 be noted.

(Report of the Director Housing and Children’s Services – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services): The report describes the re-distribution and re-allocation of the funding for full time places to support the anticipated increased demand for part time places to meet national expectations of 90% take up of the 15 hour per week free entitlement to nursery education for all 3 year olds.

Cabinet received a report that sought approval to extend the fifteen hour free entitlement for three year olds and to redistribute full time free places to ensure that they had the most impact on children in the greatest need.

RESOLVED:

1. That the take up of the fifteen hour free entitlement for three year olds should be increased to 90% by 2014 in line with national expectations.

2. That the most vulnerable and disadvantaged three and four years old children should benefit from access to free, good quality early education.

3. That the number of full time places currently provided in Haringey schools should be reduced and re-profiled.

4. That the number of part time places should be increased to ensure that sufficient places were available in the areas of greatest need.    

(Report of the Director Children and Young People’s Service – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services): This report summarises the various options for the future of the residential provision provided for Looked After Children directly by the Council.

A report was received that summarised the various options for the future of the residential provision for Looked After Children directly by the Council.

Prior to consideration of the report a deputation was taken from Flora Onwukwe of Unison in opposition to the proposals.

Ms Onwukwe noted that within the Ofsted rating awarded to Home B the assessment of the quality of care element had been rated as ‘good’ and that the children care for there had indicated that they supported this. It was contended that the use of agency staff had contributed to a loss of consistency and a subsequent deterioration in the standard of care that the Homes were able to provide.

Ms Onwukwe suggested that private care providers would need to procure specialised services that the Council was able to access from in-house providers and that this would constitute an additional cost. In addition Ms Onwukwe contended that private providers might be selective with regard to the children that they took in order to preserve their Ofsted ratings.

It was noted that twenty-eight staff would be affected by the closure of the Homes and these staff faced with an uncertain future due to the lack of redeployment opportunities available to them. 

Ms Onwukwe concluded by noting that the properties were situated in desirable residential areas where property prices were high and she suggested that this consideration was being placed before the needs of the children living in the Homes.

The Chair thanked Ms Onwukwe for her deputation and invited Cabinet Members to put questions to her.

It was noted that the overall rating awarded to both Homes by Ofsted was ‘satisfactory’ and that when using private and voluntary sector providers the Council’s policy was to only use providers with a rating of ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.  In response Ms Onwukwe acknowledged this left room for improvement and reiterated that the quality of care had been assessed as ‘good’, which constituted an improvement in performance, achieved against a background of significant change and a loss of continuity due to an increase in the use of agency staff.

The Cabinet Member for Children’s Services responded to Ms Onwukwe and began by thanking her for attending the meeting. She noted that whist it was recognised that staff had been doing a good job in difficult circumstances, a rating of ‘satisfactory’ was not sufficient. As set out above the Council required all private and voluntary sector providers to be rated as ‘good’ or ‘excellent’ when procuring their services and this was what the Council aspired to achieve within all of the Homes that it placed children in.

In response to suggestions that private providers might exercise a degree of selection in order to preserve their Ofsted ratings she noted that there was no evidence to suggest that this was the case and that it was common practice for Local Authorities to work with private providers. 

With respect to concerns raised regarding the impact of potential disruption and continuity resulting from the closure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 124.

To note the minutes of the meetings set out below:

a)Corporate Parenting Committee 06 December 2011

b) Procurement Committee 12 January 2012

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Corporate Parenting Committee meeting held on 6 December 2011 and the Procurement Committee meeting held on 12 January 2012 be noted.

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive): To inform the Cabinet of delegated decisions and significant actions taken since the last Cabinet meeting on 20 December 2011.

Cabinet received a report advising it of the delegated decisions and significant actions taken by Directors since the previous Cabinet meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To consider any items admitted at Item 2 above.

There were no new items of Urgent Business.

The following items are likely to be the subject of a motion to exclude the press and public as they contain exempt information which either relates to the business or financial affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) or the amount of any expenditure proposed to be incurred by the authority under any particular contract for the acquisition of property or the supply of goods and services.

Note by the Head of Local Democracy and Member Services

Items 22 and 23 allow for the consideration of exempt information in relation to Items 12 and 15, which appear earlier within the agenda.

To consider any items admitted at Item 2 above.

There were no new items of exempt Urgent Business.

(Report of the Director Children and Young  People’s Services – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services): This report summarises the various options for the future of the residential provision provided for Looked After Children directly by the Council.

Cabinet discussed exempt information pertaining to the report and the recommendations contained within the report were agreed as set out under minute xxx above.

(Report of the Director of Place and Sustainability – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Social Inclusion): This report describes proposals for working in partnership with the Greater London Authority (GLA) to create an enterprise, employment and community centre within 639 High Road Tottenham (Bruce Grove Ward) as part of the regeneration of the area and to encourage and support entrepreneurship and secure wider community engagement.

Cabinet discussed exempt information pertaining to the report and the recommendations contained within the report were agreed as set out under minute xxx above.

(Report of the Monitoring Officer – To be introduced by the Leader): This report proposes that the London Housing Consortium (LHC) should be formally established under the Local Government Act 1972 as a Joint Committee comprising the London Borough of Haringey.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval that the London Borough of Haringey should continue to be a member of the London Housing Consortium (LHC) and the establishment of a Joint Committee in conjunction with other participating Local Authorities that had also resolved to become members.

RESOLVED:

1. That the London Borough of Haringey should continue to be a member of the London Housing Consortium (LHC).

2. That pursuant to section 101 (5) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended), a Joint Committee be established to effect the governance and management of the LHC, comprising of the London Borough of Haringey jointly with one or more of the other ten participating Local Authorities that also resolve to become members.

3. That the Joint Committee be authorised to exercise the Council’s executive functions in relation to the LHC.

4. That Councillor John Bevan, Cabinet Member for Housing, be appointed as the Council’s representative on the Joint Committee for the remainder of the current Municipal Year.

5. That the Chief Executive, after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and the Head of Legal Services, be authorised to agree a Constitution for the Joint Committee based on the draft constitution set out in Appendix 1 of the report and any subsequent variations.

6. That other options for the legal framework and governance structure of the LHC be explored and that a further report, detailing the options, should be submitted to a future meeting of Cabinet for its consideration.