Agenda and minutes

Please note that this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that they will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions, making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on. 

By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.

The Chair referred to the notice of filming at meetings and attendees noted this information.

To receive any apologies for absence.

There were apologies for absence from  Cllr Chandwani and Cllr Arkell.

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 under Item 16 below. New items of exempt business will be dealt with at Item 18 below).

None.

A Member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a prejudicial interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered:

(i) must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest becomes apparent, and

(ii) may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must withdraw from the meeting room.

A Member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which is not registered in the Register of Members’ Interests or the subject of a pending notification must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days of the disclosure.

Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interests are defined at Paragraphs 5-7 and Appendix A of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

None.

On occasions part of the Cabinet meeting will be held in private and will not be open to the public if an item is being considered that is likely to lead to the disclosure of exempt or confidential information. In accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 (the “Regulations”), members of the public can make representations about why that part of the meeting should be open to the public.

This agenda contains exempt items as set out at Item x: Exclusion of the Press and Public. No representations with regard to these have been received.

This is the formal five clear day notice under the Regulations to confirm that this Cabinet meeting will be partly held in private for the reasons set out in this Agenda.

None.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2023 as a correct record.

RESOLVED

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 18 April 2023 as a correct record.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Standing Orders.

None.

For Cabinet to note (if any).

None.

Report of the Director of Children's Services. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children, Schools, and Families.

Haringey Children’s Social Care Service was inspected by Ofsted between 13 and 24 February. The inspection took place in accordance with legislation and the new Ofsted inspection framework that became operational in December 2022.  The findings from the inspection were published on 11 April 2023.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families introduced the report which provided an update on the findings and outcome of the Ofsted Inspection of Children’s Social Care Services and set out the approach to address findings of the inspection and further develop services and outcomes for children who were in the care of the local authority.

The Cabinet Member thanked the Children Services Team for their hard work and achievements. She was proud of the service for the change in working culture, which had been fully recognised in the inspection findings. She commented on the valuable self-evaluation, which the service had undertaken in December 2022, which helped inform the inspection.

The Cabinet further commended the Children’s service for achieving this significant milestone and thanked wider Council staff and partners for their support in this transformation. Special mention was made of the continuing support to care leavers and the Ofsted finding that the Council was making considerable progress to make a positive difference to children’s lives.

In response to questions from Councillors: das Neves, Hakata, Gordon and Cawley Harrison, the following was noted:

-       Pleased that the Council’s work with children in care, had been recognised.

-       That the inspection had found no children were at risk or unsafe.

-       The service would need to provide a post inspection action plan by the 18^th of July and this would set out the priority actions to be taken forward and would have granular detail on how these would be taken forward.

-       The action plan would include actions related to permanency plans, private fostering arrangements, life story work and supervision across the service and improving the understanding and knowledge of frontline workers around adoption. The current draft action plan was being consulted on with key children’s partners and would be considered and commented on by the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel on the 26^th of June.

-       The Children’s service was exploring establishing a separate Children's commissioning and contracts team to help develop conversations with the marketplace around stability of placements, the recruitment of in house foster carers and enable better negotiations with the independent fostering agencies.

-       The independent chair of the Excellence for Children’s meetings was in the process of being confirmed at the present time. However, the individual likely to take the role was considerably experienced in the children’s services area.

-       The Council was part of a cohort of London Councils working with the LGA considering the  the inclusion of care leavers as a protected characteristic under the equality act.

RESOLVED to

1.            Note the findings and outcome of the Ofsted Inspection of Children’s Social Care Services, a copy of which is attached as Appendix 1; and

2.            Note the approach set out in paragraph 4.5 of the report to address the findings of the inspection and further develop services and outcomes for children who are in care to the local authority.

Reasons for decision

Children’s services were subject to a full Ofsted inspection  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Report of the Director of Placemaking and Housing. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment, and Transport and Deputy Leader of the Council.

To agree the changes to the processes and policies related to the School Streets, and the new batches of the School Street programme until 2027/28.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Environment and Transport, and Deputy Leader of the Council introduced the report, which sought approval of the proposed School Streets Plan, which set out the recommended plan for delivery of School Streets in Haringey until 2025/26.

The Cabinet Member highlighted the following achievements and benefits of the School Streets programme:

-       The borough had one of the most successful School Streets programmes in London with 23 School Streets and one of the fastest growing programmes.

-       The need to protect early educational establishments from traffic volumes and improve safety on the road and Streets for children and young people. The highest number of accidents occurred for children under the age of 12 during School drop off times.

-       Significantly accepted programme in Schools and the community. Acknowledgement of the additional protections that the School Streets programme provides to health and wellbeing.

-       The aim was to continue the programme until there was a School Street outside every educational establishment in the borough.

-        Delivering the aims of reduced traffic volumes outside Schools reduced oxide levels.

-       Increase in walking and cycling.

-       Aim to have healthy Streets and healthy School zones, for Schools that were not able to have a School Street i.e. those on a main road.

In response to questions from Cllr das Neves, and Cllr Cawley – Harrison, the following information was noted.

-       The Council’s Active Travel team worked closely with Schools and 100% of Headteachers, that have received School Streets, were in support of them.

-       School Streets were part of the hard infrastructure of tools to improve the environment and air quality in the borough. The Active Travel team were part of the soft infrastructure of the Council taking forward initiatives to improve air quality in and around Schools which involved parents and carers. The success of the schemes was underpinned by upfront engagement , in line with Haringey Deal principles, to identify any early issues and resolve any legitimate concerns that Headteachers, staff, parents and carers had. This way of working would be continued for the forthcoming schemes.

-       With regards to meeting the future funding requirement for an increased Schools Streets programme, this was through 50% capital funding and 50% external funding. The Council were confident in securing the expected external funding through external sources such as the Mayor's Air Quality Fund and government public health funding. The Council were further expecting to exceed the forecasted receipt of external funding required.

-       The 18-month period of the School Streets scheme was an experimental traffic order and had allowed the Council to adjust a scheme based on feedback. This report was proposing that the schemes were designed up front and implemented based on the community feedback received. The newer process was commented to be more inclusive as it allowed the Council to seek the views of the community beforehand, and allowed a smoother, quicker deployment of the School Street.

-       With regards to including Christchurch Road in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

Report of the Director of Placemaking and Housing. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Council House building, Placemaking, and Local Economy.

To note the termination of the Borough Intervention Agreement dated 14 March 2018 (Affordable Housing Cashflow Funding) with the GLA, related to £7.35m recoverable grant payment and agree the reallocation of funds identified to repay this grant funding (£7.35m SDP Land Receipts) to support priority capital projects in Tottenham Hale as well as wider Council priorities.

The Cabinet Member for Council Housebuilding, Placemaking and Development introduced the report which noted the termination of the Borough Intervention Agreement dated 14 March 2018 (Affordable Housing Cashflow Funding) with the GLA, related to £7.35m recoverable grant payment and sought approval for the reallocation of funds identified to repay this grant funding (£7.35m SDP Land Receipts) to support priority capital projects in Tottenham Hale as well as wider Council priorities.

The Cabinet Member highlighted the following achievements of Tottenham Hale place making:

-       3,200 new homes being built, 40% were affordable, including nearly 700 high quality and sustainable new Council homes, located with direct access to parks and open spaces.

-       A new district health centre; new community hub; a range of good and outstanding local Schools; comprehensive healthy Streets improvements and major investment in green infrastructure including over 400 new trees being planted across our Streets, public spaces and new developments.

-       The building of 35,000sqm additional commercial space, supporting the existing retail and commercial uses in the centre and creating new local jobs and business opportunities.

-       Flagship green and open spaces programmes at Down Lane Park and The Paddock have been shaped with the community, for the community, exemplifying the commitments made to residents through the Haringey Deal.

-       The co-designed masterplan for Down Lane Park would see over £9m investment in new and improved facilities for the community, climate resilience and a new community hub to serve the neighbourhood.

-       The Paddock will have the Borough’s first new Nature Reserve in over a decade, investing in improvements across the site including educational facilities, and incorporating land around the riverine edges to create an additional 1.9 acres of publicly accessible greenspace.

The Cabinet Member added that the decision represented a major investment by the Council in the green and social infrastructure that would make a genuine difference to the lives and futures of Tottenham Hale’s residents. The proposed decision honoured the Council’s commitment to reinvest the proceeds of the sale of land through the Strategic Development Partnership, into securing long term and direct benefits for our residents.

In response to questions from Councillor Hakata and Councillor Cawley – Harrison , the following was noted:

-       The Down Lane project had involved 18 meetings of community groups including youth and disabled resident representation and involved working with stakeholders to improve and redesign the park. This was a co design in action and there was confidence that a good process had been followed.

-       There was 40% affordable housing target had been reached. The Council had acquired a number of Council homes and had strived to achieve as much mixed tenure and to increase amenities.

-       With regards to the Notting Hill Genesis housing project not hitting the milestone dates for the funding and not proceeding to development as planned, it was noted that they had very recently now gone on site and were aiming to complete in late 2025. The context of this outcome was outlined, noting the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

Report of the Director of Placemaking and Housing. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters, and Planning.

To extend the value service of the current fire safety consultancy service by external consultants which includes support in key fire safety programmes and undertaking fire risk assessments.

The Cabinet Member for Housing Services, Private Renters and Planning introduced the report which sought approval for the variation of the existing contract value for the current provision of Fire Safety Consultancy Services to the Council, for the remaining contract term, to January 2025. This contract was needed until an in-house team was established.

In response to questions from Councillor Cawley – Harrison the following was noted:

-       Clearly there would be an increase in the number of fire safety inspections of Council homes and the Council were working to increase the number of trained Council staff able to carry out these assessments.

-       The Director for Placemaking and Housing outlined, as advised in previous Cabinet reports and to the Housing Improvement Board, that the Council had commissioned an independent review of the landlord function, following the insourcing of Homes for Haringey which included verifying data concerning fire risk assessments. This had identified a number of issues with the data compilation and the Council had put in place a number of actions to address this issue.

-       The data issues were not related to the performance of the contractor and extension of the contract was an expedient way to ensure the fire safety services continued efficiently.

RESOLVED to

1.            Approve a variation of the existing contract with Faithorn Farrell & Timms LLP for the provision of Fire Safety Consultancy Services to the Council by increasing the maximum contract value by an additional £247,500 taking the maximum contract value to £742,500 over the maximum contract period of 5 years (of which 3 years and 7 months currently remain) including the optional extension period of up to 2 further years beyond the initial 3-year contract period.

Reasons for decision

            In order to deliver the Fire Safety programmes, which includes Fire Risk Assessments, Surveys, Specifications and Schedules of Works, Reports and Quality Assurance, Haringey Council requires the support of specialist fire safety services (including Project Management; Surveying; Cost Consultancy; and Quality Management & Assurance from Competent Persons).

            The existing arrangements for this work have been in place since January 2022 and were procured as a direct award under the South East Consortium’s Fire Safety Consultancy Framework. After initially approaching the top ranked consultancy, we approached the second placed consultancy, Faithorn Farrell & Timms LLP (FFT), who were able to take on and support our service requirements.

            The consultants are and have since been successfully delivering programmes of safety inspections and surveys, critical to the safety of residents. This support is currently relied upon whilst we continue to try to recruit to existing vacancies within our team of Fire Risk Assessors and Surveyors, who would normally deliver the core elements of this work. However, due to market pressures and a shortage of suitably competent persons this is taking longer than originally anticipated.

            Even when the team is fully resourced, there will always be a need to rely upon additional consultancy services to support the in-house team through peaks in workload and gaps in resources. The procurement of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Report of the Head of Legal and Governance. To be introduced by the Leader of the Council.

To re-establish the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee, confirm its terms of reference, and appoint Members to serve on this advisory Cabinet sub-Committee.

To confirm the terms of reference of the Community Safety Partnership and appoint members to this statutory partnership body.

The Leader introduced the report which sought approval for the re-establishment of the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee, to confirm its terms of reference, and appoint Members to serve on this advisory Cabinet sub-Committee. The report also sought approval to confirm the terms of reference of the Community Safety Partnership and appoint members to this statutory partnership body.

It was noted that the Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families had asked for the Cabinet Member Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care, and Wellbeing

to participate in the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee Meetings to provide a link and scrutinise information on transitions of young people from Children’s to Adults related services.

The Democratic Services Manager advised that there was universal provision in committee standing orders for any member of the Council, with the chair’s permission, to attend and participate in a committee meeting. It was agreed that the Cabinet Member for Health, Social Care, and Wellbeing participate as a Councillor attendee at these meetings and the Committees team would facilitate this attendance.

RESOLVED to

1.            Re-establish the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee, and that the terms of reference for this advisory Sub Committee, attached at Appendix A of the report be noted.

2.            Note the Community Safety Partnership terms of reference attached at Appendix B of the report.

3.            Appoint the following Members to serve on the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee and Community Safety Partnership:

            Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee

            Chair – Cllr Brabazon Cabinet Member for Children, Schools, and Families

            Cllr Ali

            Cllr Collett

            Cllr Johnson

            Cllr Opoku

            Cllr Weston

            Cllr Isilar-Gosling

            Community Safety Partnership

            Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Cohesion (as Co-Chair)

            Cabinet Member for Children, Schools, and Families

            Cllr da Costa

Reasons for decision

Establishing a Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee ensures that there is an overview of the Councillors statutory role as a corporate parent, assisting the Council to deliver its duties to children in care and young people leaving care.

            Appointments from Cabinet are required to the Community Safety Partnership to reflect statutory duties and enable high level, accountable, strategic, oversight of issues relating community safety.

Alternative options considered

            The alternative option would be for the Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee to cease and this would mean that there is not a scheduled opportunity for members and officers to meet and discuss the wellbeing of children in care and to ensure that the Council is meeting its corporate parenting obligations. This Committee is different to the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel as it concentrates on Looked After Children and care leavers and reports directly to the Cabinet.

            The Community Safety Partnership is a statutory partnership body and therefore not appointing Cabinet Members to this body is not an option.

To note the minutes of the following:

Cabinet Member Signing

12 April 2023

12 April 2023

13 April 2023

18 April 2023

18 April 2023

20 April 2023

25 April 2023

26 April 2023

9 May 2023

15 May 2023

Urgent Decisions

12 May 2023

22 May 2023

RESOLVED

To note the minutes of other bodies.

To note the delegated decisions taken by Directors.

RESOLVED

To note the significant and delegated actions.

As per item 3.

None.

As per item 3.

None.