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 Leader referred to agenda item 1 as shown on the agenda in respect of filming at this meeting, and Members noted this information.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Peter Morton.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor McNamara and Councillor Goldberg.

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 18 below. New items of exempt business will be dealt with at Item 23 below).

There were no items of urgent business. An exempt addendum would be tabled  at item 21, sale of land at Keston Road.

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.

There were no declarations of interest put forward.

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 [20,21,22,23] : Exclusion of the Press and Public.  No representations with regard to these have been received.

This is the formal 5 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.

No representations were received.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 14 July 2015 as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 14^th of July 2015 were agreed as a correct record.

For Cabinet to note:

The Scrutiny Review of Violence against Women and Girls

Councillor Blake was invited to introduce, the Scrutiny Review of Violence against Women and Girls , compiled by the Environment and Community Safety Panel, which she had chaired, in 2014/15.

The aim of project was to help with the identification ,prevention and reduction of domestic violence and abuse in  Haringey. The report drew attention to the  different  types of abuse that can be suffered by women and girls and sought to bring to light that abuse is preventable and that agencies have a role in achieving this through a  framework of services.

Councillor Blake asked Cabinet to endorse the recommendations of the review which would allow good practice around supporting women and girls and help the voices of victims to be heard.

Local communities also had a role to play in recognising the issues  and supporting women and girls to come forward and access support services.

RESOLVED

To note the conclusions and recommendations of the final report of the scrutiny project on Violence against Women and Girls.

[Report of the Director of Public Health. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Communities] Cabinet will be asked to agree the responses to the  Scrutiny review recommendations, set out appendix 1 of the report.

Councillor Vanier, Deputy Leader, and Cabinet Member for Communities, thanked the Environment and Community Safety Panel for their work on identifying and investigating this significant issue. Violence against women and girls was a corporate priority as part of outcome 3. The Cabinet Member endorsed the recommendations of the review and was pleased that a violence against women and girls strategy was being developed. The strategy group would be the vehicle through which the issues raised by the review will be considered.

It was noted that some of the recommendations would be challenging and will require working with partners as part of the coordinated community response to violence against women and girls which were being implemented locally.

The Cabinet Member for Communities further explained that some of the recommendations had been partially agreed as there were budget implications which needed to be explored further.

RESOLVED

That the responses to the scrutiny review be agreed.

Councillor Kober, Leader of the Council, invited Paul Burnham to put forward 

is representations in relation to item 10, Housing Review.

Deputation 1 – Paul Burham

Mr Burnham began his deputation by asking Cabinet to not agree the recommendations of the report and consider its long term ramifications on the availability of Council housing and secure tenancies.  He felt the findings of the review would lead to new estates being transferred to private companies by  stealth and demolition with tenants placed on private rented tenancies. Private landlords would have financial rather than social interests as their main aim and this would also had a detrimental impact on equalities.

The deputation disputed the findings of the tenant consultation and contested how it had been conducted and framed. They contended that the consultation was not adequate with any choices between the housing management options put forward to tenants.

The deputation continued to make the following requests:

• That Cabinet close down the ALMO to prevent future privatisation of this housing management service and to consider alternative options.
• Consider the future financial housing situation which indicates that there will be a lack of funding for maintaining and investing in estates.
• Lobby government to reverse the Right to Buy policy as this will have a detrimental impact on the future social housing available for residents.

• Consider the political climate and contribute towards a movement against the Conservative Housing polices coming forward.

• Ballot Council and Homes for Haringey tenants on the retention of the ALMO.

The Leader of the Council further asked the deputation party about what their solution would be to the Government’s new enforced regulation that will require all local authorities’ to sell high value home assets. This would have a significant impact on the future availability of affordable housing in the borough. All London councils were working together to find solutions to mitigate against  future decreased availability of social housing.

The deputation party responded by condemning this Conservative policy but contended that there were still choices for the Council to make and this should not include demolishing homes and replacing them with private rented homes.

Councillor Strickland was invited by the Leader to respond to the issues raised by the deputation.

Cllr Strickland began by emphasising the long examination given to the future of housing management, investment and regeneration in the borough, culminating in the findings and recommendations of the Member Housing Review Steering group. The process had begun 9 months ago with a cross party steering group including a tenant representative considering tried and tested models for housing management. They had also visited a range of Councils around the country to discuss these models and  get first hand experience of them.

In terms of new regeneration estate housing ownership, the Council had continued to be explicit in not yet having a view on this. This was still subject to financial considerations and tenants views .The recent Love  Lane estate transfer of tenants was referred to as a positive experience for the residents  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67.

[Report of the Chief Operating Officer. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing and  Regeneration] The report will consider the future approach to managing and investing in the Council’s housing in Haringey and Cabinet will be asked to make decisions on the ownership  and management of housing stock following advice from the  Member Review Group  and an Independent Adviser.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration introduced the report which considered the future approach to managing and investing in the Council’s housing in Haringey. The recommendations had been compiled by a cross party housing steering group which had consisted of Councillor  Barbara Blake, Councillor Mann, Councillor Ejiofor, Councillor Beacham  and Mabel Obeng, a Haringey tenant. The Cabinet Member thanked the group and the independent advisor to the group Julian Wain for their considerable efforts over the last 9 months in investigating and analysing the best solution for management, regeneration and improvement of homes in the borough. Tenant’s interests and the best outcome for getting new housing into the borough had been key considerations of the review group and this had been continually kept in mind throughout the review, leading to the recommendations of the report.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration also highlighted the future funding gap for housing improvement and management and there would be a further financial review of the housing funding situation with a paper coming forward on this issue.

The Cabinet Member further flagged a future  review of the Council’s relationship with leaseholders.

RESOLVED

a)    That Homes for Haringey is retained as the Council’s Arms Length Housing Management company, and is offered an extended contract of 10 years in duration, with a review after 5 years, such extended contract to expire on 31^st March 2026

b)    That a new management agreement with Homes for Haringey is agreed, the approval of such agreement being brought back to Cabinet not later than March 2016.

c)    That the new management agreement should include:
- an expectation of continued improvement in performance, including reaching top quartile performance by March 2018, as per their business plan.
- that Homes for Haringey expands its offer to involve and engage tenants in the management of their homes
- that Homes for Haringey continues to maintain a high standard of leadership and staffing within the organisation and the board.

d)    That at this time, the functions relating to homelessness and allocations services as set out in Appendix A, continue to be managed by Homes for Haringey as part of this contract to 31^st March 2016.

Cabinet further resolved to note

a)    That a development vehicle is potentially the best solution to progress major estate renewal, maximise the potential for investment in the Council’s housing stock, and the delivery of new social and affordable housing. That the Council should aim to replace the same number of affordable habitable rooms and that the deal for tenants is broadly comparable under the Vehicle. A separate report on this will be brought to Cabinet in due course. 

Other estates:

b)    That the regeneration of Northumberland Park is considered in the context of a potential development vehicle.

c)    That given the high stock condition needs and repairs costs at Broadwater Farm, a solution is developed in conjunction with the residents in this context, and consultation with tenants should begin by December 2015.

d)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

[Report of the Director of Children’s Services. To be introduced by the  Cabinet Member for Children and Families].This  report will request approval to award a contract for construction works to be undertaken on the St Mary’s CE Primary School building located on the Rectory Gardens site so it can accommodate an additional form of entry.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Families introduced the report which sought agreement to an award of contract for construction works to be undertaken on the St Mary’s CE Primary school building located on Rectory Gardens, in order to accommodate an additional form of entry.

RESOLVED

      i.        To appoint T&B (Contractors) Ltd in the amount of £1,444,238.15 for a contract period of 57 weeks. This will allow timely delivery of the project to enable accommodation of an additional for of entry by September 2016.

     ii.        To issue a letter of intent not exceeding 10% of the contract sum as allowed under CSO 9.07.3 whilst formal works contracts are being prepared.

Alternative Options Considered

The proposed expansion of St Mary’s CE Primary School is expected to support additional cohorts from September 2016. A do nothing option would not support local demand for additional pupil places.

The feasibility report considered 5 design options for the Rectory Gardens site, with emphasis on flexibility, programme, impact on the school and financial viability.

Options 1, 2, 4 and 5 were discounted by stakeholders on the basis that the design did not offer the most beneficial outcomes to meet the project objectives and success criteria.

Option 3 was considered the preferred option and approved for progression to design development.

Reasons for decision

To award a contract which will enable the timely mobilisation and construction     of works to St Mary’s CE Primary School Rectory Gardens Site which aims to support the Council’s requirement for additional school places from September 2016.

[Report of the  Director of Children’s services. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children and Families].This report provides outcomes from feasibility work carried out on the potential to expand three Muswell Hill schools and balances this against latest available school roll projections.

 The Cabinet Member for Children and Families introduced the report which set out the consultation and feasibility work  completed on the possible expansion of three primary schools in the Muswell Hill area  - Coldfall Primary, Muswell Hill Primary and St James C of E Primary. These investigations were conducted against the background of school roll projections that showed continued growth in school numbers. However, since these investigations had neared completion the current school roll projections showed that in this part of the borough the numbers are likely to decrease which  will lead to a surplus of school places rather than  a deficit.   

The Cabinet Member for Children and Families advised that, while there is now no need to increase the size of any of these schools, the availability of the feasibility studies mean that if the need arises the Local authority will be able to act quickly to provide additional places and in the meantime there will be consideration of condition issues at the schools where appropriate.

Late representations, expressing concern at the decision not to expand St James’s Primary school had also been received by both the Leader and Cabinet Member for Children and Families. The detailed concerns would be responded to in writing, outside of the meeting, and the  Council’s School’s Learning team had also offered to have further meetings with the school.

The Leader of the Council further spoke of the Council’s good record of responding to school places and although at this stage there was no action to be taken, the Council would remain fully alive to this issue to ensure that parents are able to send their children to local, good quality schools.

Cabinet noted the following:

                       i.       the latest available school roll projections (received May 2015) show projected sufficiency of reception places in Planning Area 1 (Muswell Hill) up to and including 2024

                      ii.       the risks outlined in para 6.37-39 of this report in not currently proceeding with options to provide new places in Muswell Hill;

                     iii.       that projected falling demand for reception places in Muswell Hill by 2018 may require a review of potential surplus capacity;

                     iv.       that constant monitoring of the demand for and supply of reception places in Muswell Hill will take place and a further report will be prepared if local demand varies from current projections;

                      v.       the outcome of the feasibility works, including construction and overall budget costs for the expansion of Coldfall Primary by two forms of entry (60 places), Muswell Hill Primary by one form of entry (30 places), and St James C of E Primary by one form of entry (30 places);

                     vi.       that further scoping work is proposed by the Property Services on suitability and condition issues at Coldfall and at Muswell Hill Primary, with responsibility for any suitability or condition issues at St James falling to the London Diocesan Board for Schools; the initial general assessment of the impact of the emerging Childcare Bill on Haringey’s schools estate in terms of the 30  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

[Report of the Director for Planning , Regeneration and Development. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration.]The report will seek agreement to the sale of  land at Keston Road to  Pocket Living LLP to provide affordable housing in the Borough.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration introduced the report which sought agreement to the sale of part of the Keston Road site to provide an opportunity for Pocket Living LLP to provide a high percentage of affordable housing in the Borough. There was an increasing demand for intermediate housing and this site was well located to provide 67 affordable home ownership units. The Goan Community Centre and West Green Play group would be given the opportunity to relocate in a new community building which will provide modern facilities in the same location with minimal disruption.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration acknowledged the concerns received from local residents concerning the number of proposed units and  potential height  of the development .Cllr Strickland made clear that the Cabinet decision tonight was to dispose of land at Keston Road  and Pocket Living LLP would still need to seek planning permission from the Council’s Planning Sub Committee for the development. Concerned residents  would still be able to put forward their planning concerns at this stage.

Cabinet agreed this was a good deal to enable additional much needed affordable housing to made available in the borough.

RESOLVED

1. To declare the part of the site shown edged red on the plan attached (Appendix A) surplus to requirements. This approval is with delegated authority for the Director of Regeneration, Planning & Development following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration to agree the final red line boundaries between the land to be retained and the land to be disposed of.

2. To note that the Family Contact Centre will be relocated to a suitable alternative Council site close by subject to further consultation with the staff and service users.

3. To note that the West Green Play Group will be re-provided for within a new community facility to be completed on the retained land. The Goan Community Group have also been offered accommodation in the new facility.

4. To authorise the disposal of the part of the site shown edged red on the plan attached in Appendix A to Pocket Living LLP for the sum set out in part B of the report for the purposes of building 102 new homes of which 67 (65%) will be affordable home ownership units and on the terms set out in paragraph 5.16 (including the construction of a new community building on the retained Council land at their own cost).

Alternative Options Considered

Should the Council not sell the site then it will lose the opportunity to provide new housing and continue to retain a wasting asset.

Reason for decision

It is recommended that the land is sold to Pocket Living LLP who is able to deliver a scheme to maximise the amount of recognised affordable units on the site to support the Councils priorities set out in the Corporate Plan

[Report of the Director of Planning, Regeneration and Development. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Environment.]The report will seek approval to the Annual Spending Submission for 2016/17 contained at  Appendix 2 and will be asked to note the progress to date on delivering against  LIP and Corporate Plan targets.

The Cabinet Member for Planning, introduced the report which set out the annual investment programme for transport infrastructure in the   Borough for 2016/17.The plan covered  physical renewal of the borough’s transport infrastructure alongside softer measures  to promote behaviour change  and engage on wider safety, health and environmental objectives  including air quality, and support for more walking and cycling  in line with Corporate Priorities 2,3 and 4,

RESOLVED

        i.        That the Annual Spending Submission for 2016/17 as set out in Appendix 2 of the report be approved

      ii.        That the progress to date on delivering against our LIP and Corporate Plan targets be noted

Alternative Options Considered

The Annual Spending Submission supports our approved LIP covering 2011 to 2031. It is, therefore, not considered necessary to consider other options.

Reason for Decision

Investment in transport infrastructure has a key part to play in the delivery of the Council’s ambition to deliver economic growth and improve the health and wellbeing of our residents and businesses. The Local Implementation Plan [LIP] therefore represents a significant annual investment programme that specifically supports Priority 2, Priority 3 and Priority 4 of the Corporate Plan.

[Report of the Director for Planning, Regeneration and Development. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration] This report details the outcome of an open tender process for the award of contracts to provide Mental Health Accommodation Based and Floating Support Services.  New contracts will be awarded in 5 lots, in line with Contract Standing Order (CSO) 9.06.1(d) following a robust tendering process.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Regeneration introduced the report which detailed the outcome of an open tender process for the award of contracts to provide Mental Health Accommodation Based and Floating Support Services.  New contracts would be awarded in 5 lots, in line with Contract Standing Order (CSO) 9.06.1(d) following a robust tendering process

RESOLVED

To agree the award of contracts to the successful tenderers in accordance with Contract Standing Order (CSO) 9.07.1(d), as set out below, each for an initial term of 4 years with an option to extend for a further period of two years.

Alternative Options Considered

The option of extending the existing contracts was not available beyond March 2016 as the contracts had previously been extended.  No other options were available that maintained service provision.

Reason for Decision

The contracts for our established services are due to expire and there is no facility to extend beyond March 2016.  It was therefore necessary to tender to continue to provide services to vulnerable service users and to achieve the aim of developing an HRS Pathway.

As a result of the procurement exercise, which has been carried out in accordance with the Council’s Contract Standing Orders and the Procurement Code of Practice, it is necessary to award the contract to the successful tenderer in accordance outlined in 3.1 and 3.2 in accordance with CSO 9.07.1(d).

To note the minutes of the following:

Cabinet Member Signing   7^th July 2015

Cabinet Member Signing   30^th July 2015

Cabinet Member Signing   11^th August

Cabinet Member Signing   1^st September 2015

RESOLVED

To note the minutes of the following:

Cabinet Member Signing        7^th July 2015

Cabinet Member Signing        30^th July 2015

Cabinet Member Signing        11^th August

Cabinet Member Signing        1^st September 2015

To note the delegated actions  taken by directors in July and August 2015.

RESOLVED

To note the delegated decisions taken by Directors in July and August.

To consider any items admitted at Item 3 above.

None

Note from the Head of Democratic Services

Items 20, 21, 22, 23 allow for the consideration of exempt information in relation to Items ,11, 13,15 and 3 respectively.

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting as the items below contain exempt information, as defined under paragraph 3, Part 1, schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting as the items below contain exempt information, as defined under paragraph 3, Part 1, schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972

As per item 11

As per item 11.

As per item 13

As per item 13.

As per item 16

As per item 15.

None