Agenda and minutes

(if any)

There were no apologies for absence.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of urgent business. (Late items will be considered under the agenda item where they appear. New items will be dealt with at Item 21 below. New items of exempt business will be dealt with at Item 26 below).

The following late items of Urgent Business were considered under the agenda item

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, licence, permission or registration in relation to them or any person or body described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct.

Councillor Lorna Reith declared a personal and prejudicial interest with respect to Item 14 and left the Chamber for the duration of that item.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet  held on 19 July 2011, 28 July 2011, and 18 August 2011.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July, 28 July and 18 August 2011, were confirmed as a correct record.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Standing Orders.

The

a.      Scrutiny Review of Betting Shops (To be introduced by Councillor Winskill)

Note by the Head of Local Democracy and Member Services

Part 4 Section G Paragraph 1.3 (vii) of the Constitution states that following endorsement by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, final reports and recommendations will be presented to the next available Cabinet meeting. The Cabinet will note the report and request a responding report from the Chief Executive or Chief Officer and Cabinet Member responsible. The report is to be available within 6 weeks of the request and will include a detailed tabulated implementation action plan.

Prior to consideration of this item the financial comments set out below, which had been omitted from the original report in error, were circulated:

The Chief Financial Officer has reviewed the attached scrutiny review and the recommendations and notes the financial comments highlighted in section 10.0 of this covering report.

The majority of the recommendations should be able to be contained within existing budget provisions over the longer term although should Members wish to prioritise any there may be implications in terms of staff and budget resources.

As highlighted in section 10.2 the recommendation with the largest financial implication is the possible adoption of a local Article 4 Direction. At this stage the recommendation to undertake some further cost benefit appraisal appears the most pragmatic approach.

The Clustering of Betting Shops in Haringey

Cabinet noted the Scrutiny Review of the Clustering of Betting Shops and the Cabinet Member for Environment expressed her thanks to the Panel members (Councillor Winskill (Chair) Councillor Browne, Councillor Diakides, Councillor Ejiofor and Councillor Newton) for their work in carrying out the review.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and, in accordance with the requirements of the Constitution, officers be requested to submit a Cabinet response including a detailed tabulated implementation action plan.  

(Report of the Chief Executive – To be introduced by the Leader): The report provides an update on progress against the Council’s outcomes and priorities for the first quarter 2011/12 (April –June 2011)

The Cabinet received a report that provided an overview of performance during the first quarter of 2011/12 against the Council’s agreed priorities and outcomes.

It was noted that despite the constraints of the current economic climate good progress was being made in reducing the number of young people not in education, employment or training. Particular areas for focus during the remainder of the year would include working with partners to provide support and advice to people moving into employment and working with Veolia to improve recycling and street cleaning.

Members were advised that details with respect to the number of schools in the Borough that intended to apply for academy status could be obtained from the Deputy Director of Children’s Services.

RESOLVED:

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

2. That the issues and challenges identified in the report with regard to the next reporting period be noted.

(The report of the Director of Corporate Resources  to be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon  Reduction) . The Cabinet will consider the Medium Term Financial Plan covering the three years to March 2015, with a revised assessment in each of the next three years of the financial resources available to the Council and to make initial budget proposals for 2012-15 for scrutiny and external consultation , the outcomes of which will inform the Cabinet’s recommendations to the Council for its revenue budget estimates 2012-13 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2012-15.

REPORT TO FOLLOW

The Cabinet received a report that provided an update with respect to the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) that covered the three years to March 2015.

The report built on an earlier set of savings agreed by the Cabinet in March 2011 and contained proposals around how the remaining budget gap of £21m would be closed.

It was noted that as part of the proposals included reductions to the running of residential children’s homes and measures to achieve the savings outlined were being considered at present. Given the scale of the savings that were required it was important that all areas were reviewed to ensure that the best possible value for money was being achieved.  

RESOLVED:

1. That the latest revenue financial forecasts for 2012-14, as set out at paragraph 9.39 and Appendix 1, of the report be noted.

2. That the new savings proposals, set out in Appendix 2 of the report for review by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and external consultation, be approved in principle.

3. That at its meeting on 20 December 2011 the Cabinet would consider further the revenue budget proposals for 2012/13 and the proposals for the Medium Term Financial Plan 2012-15 informed by responses to the consultation and scrutiny reviews set out at (ii) above.

(Report of the Director of Corporate Resources – To be introduced  by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction) -The report outlines the proposed Sustainable Procurement Policies of Haringey Council. Cabinet is requested to approve the documents as formal policies of the Council (assuming integration of any recommendations).

The Cabinet received a report that sought the approval of two new sustainable procurement policies relating to the procurement of timber and food and drink.

It was noted that sustainable procurement was becoming increasingly important and that the government was placing an increasing emphasis on this. In addition there were also new regulatory and policy requirements being established around energy use and sustainable production and consumption.

RESOLVED:

That the sustainable timber policy and sustainable food and drink policy be adopted as formal policies of the Council.

(Report of the Director of Place and Sustainability – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Environment) – The purpose of this report is to provide the results of the recent informal tender disposal exercise for Bereavement Services and to seek Cabinet approval of the preferred bidder and disposal of the Council’s Bereavement Services.

The Cabinet received a report that provided an overview of the results of the recent informal tender disposal exercise for Bereavement Services. The report also sought approval of the preferred bidder and disposal of the Bereavement Service.

It was noted that three bids had been received and evaluated and it was recommended that ‘Company A’ should be selected as the preferred bidder.

The Cabinet was advised that the potential for re-using graves had been explored; however the costs attached to work that would need to be undertaken to make this viable outweighed any income that could be derived from this. It was noted that the heads of terms would state that the Council’s permission would need to be obtained if the successful company wanted to pursue the re-use of graves.  

Further discussion took place under Item 25 which contained exempt information with respect to this report and this is set out the exempt minutes of the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1. That on completion of the proposals described in 3.2 of the report the Council would cease to directly provide crematorium and cemetery services (‘Bereavement Services’).

2. That the disposal of the Council’s Bereavement Services as a going concern and its three sites, known as Enfield Crematorium, Tottenham Cemetery and Wood Green Cemetery be approved. 

3. That ‘Company A’ be selected as the preferred bidder and its bid, as set out in paragraph 2.2 of the Exempt report.

4. That ‘Company B’ be selected as the reserve bidder and its bid, as set out in paragraph 2.2 of the Exempt report.

5. That the preferred bidder would produce an agreed Conservation and Biodiversity Management Plan to cover all three sites during the negotiation on final terms and conditions and before the date of disposal.

6. That Cabinet delegates authority to the Director of Place and Sustainability, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Environment, to agree the final heads of terms and related sale and lease agreements.   

(Report of the Director of Place and Sustainability – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Environment and Cabinet Member Economic Development &Social Inclusion) -  The Cabinet will receive an  update on the  progress of the Tottenham Hale Gyratory Scheme (reverting the Gyratory to two-way traffic flow, building a new bus interchange at Tottenham Hale Station and associated works) following the signing of the First Funding Agreement between the Council and Transport for London authorised by Cabinet in September 2010.

The Cabinet will be asked to authorise the completion of the Second Funding Agreement to commit funding to complete the second and final phase of the Gyratory Scheme by Autumn 2014 requiring the commitment of up to £5,141,900 from the Council and subject to satisfactory completion of the Hale Village Section 106 Agreement

The Cabinet will note the combined contributions to the 2^nd phase of the scheme by Transport for London and Homes and Communities Agency total £17,998,000.

The Cabinet will consider the transfer to Transport for London of two Council-owned strips of land required for essential localised road widening as part of the Gyratory Scheme.

The Cabinet received a report that provided an update on progress with respect to the Tottenham Hale Gyratory Scheme following the signing of the first funding agreement between the Council and Transport for London (TfL).

Authorisation for the completion of the second and final phase of the scheme by Autumn 2014, subject to the satisfactory completion of the Hale Village Section 106 Agreement was also sought.

Cabinet was advised that since the publication of the agenda the objection to the transfer of land, recommended in 4.6 of the report, had been withdrawn and as such the recommendation had been amended to reflect this.

It was noted that measures had been put in place to mitigate the risk attached to the receipt of monies from the Section 106 Agreement being delayed. The current economic climate and housing downturn had had an impact on the Hale Village scheme in order ensure that scheme could progress in the even of a delay in the receipt of this £500k had been included in the Council’s indicative capital programme to cover, in part, any shortfall. This sum would then be recouped when the Section 106 contribution had been received.

RESOLVED:

1. That the sum of £5,141,900 should be committed as the Council’s contribution to the Phase Two main construction works for the Tottenham Hale Gyratory Scheme (together with the use of remaining Growth Fund money from Phase One work), having fully considered the risks associated with the possible non-receipt of funds (as set out in paragraphs 6.20 – 6.29 of the report). 

2. That the sum of £878,000 should be allocated in the indicative capital programme for 2012/13 as an additional contingency fund to mitigate the risk of shortfall in Section 106 receipts that can be allocated to the scheme (as set out in paragraphs 6.21 – 6.29 of the report).

3. That the Director of Place and Sustainability and Head of Legal Services should be authorised to finalise the drafting and completion of the second funding agreement for the Tottenahm Hale Gyratory Scheme, along with Transport for London, that would commit the Council funds approved under point (i) of this resolution, subject to the prior completion of the Hale Village Section 106 Agreement, which provides for infrastructure payments that can be used towards the scheme.

4. That Transport for London will be responsible for funding any increase in costs above the estimated total cost of £34.176m for the whole scheme.

5. That the principle (without fettering any future decisions of the Council) that up to £10,002,000 of the investment by Transport for London and up to £4,998,000 by the Homes and Communities Agency, for the scheme may reimbursed to those organisations by the Council subject to:

a.      the receipt of appropriate and sufficient payments that could be allocated to the scheme from Section 106 agreements or a Community Infrastructure Levy system (if such a levy was introduced by the Council in the future) with such decisions being at the sole discretion of the Council and;

b.      any reduction in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

(Report of the Director of Place and Sustainability  -  To be introduced by the  Cabinet  Member for  Environment) – The report will seek approval for submission of the Local implementation Plan (LIP)  Annual Spending Submission for 2012/13 to Transport for London.

The Cabinet received a report that sought approval to submit the Local Implementation Plan (LIP) Annual Spending Submission for 2012/13 to Transport for London.

RESOLVED:

That the LIP Annual Spending Submission, as set out in Appendix A of the report, be approved.

(Report of the Director of  Place and Sustainability – To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Environment) – Approval from Cabinet will be sought to the 2011/12 Winter Service Plan which details the Council’s policies and operational procedures for dealing with snow and ice on the highways.

Due to its size Appendix 1, The Winter Service Plan, has not been included within the agenda pack. A copy is available in the Members Room, Level 5, River Park House and will be published on the Council’s website following the meeting.

A copy of this will also be available for members of the public to view, on request, at the Civic Centre, High Road, Wood Green.

The Cabinet received a report that sought approval of the Winter Service Plan for 2011/12.

It was noted that feedback and suggestions gathered about the service had been reflected in the plan. As well as an extended grit bin network measures to enable and equip residents to clear snow for themselves, as recommended by the Government, had also been included for the first time.

RESOLVED:

1. That the Winter Service Plan 2011/12, appended to the report, incorporating the proposed changes to Pavement and Carriageway Priority Levels, be approved and adopted.

2. That the extension of the grit bin network, to include four new sites (as detailed in paragraph 4.8 of the report) be approved.

3. That the amended minimum salt stock levels and in-season salt stock review arrangements (detailed in Table 1, paragraph 4.14.3 of the report) be approved.

4. That the promotion of the Government’s self-held advice for residents and businesses who want to clear snow from the pavements outside their premises and the provision of snow shovels upon request to recognised residents groups (detailed in paragraph 4.15 and Appendix 3) be approved.

5. That the Winter Service Operation Plan should be reviewed annually.

Report of the Director of Adult and Housing Services   - To be introduced by  the Cabinet Member for Housing) – The report will provide details of investment priorities and procurement arrangements that are proposed for  2012-13 Decent Homes Programme , together with details of a number of other investment priorities that are recommended for inclusion in the programme when funding becomes available.

The Cabinet received a report that sought approval of the investment priorities and procurement arrangements that were proposed for the 2012/13 Decent Homes Programme.

RESOLVED:

1. That the Decent Homes funding that is anticipated between 2012 and 2015 (including the provisional allocations in 2013/14 and 2014/15) be noted.

2. That the proposed priorities for 2012/13 (Year 5 of the Decent Homes Programme) as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

3. That the ‘reserve list’ of homes, detailed in Appendix 2 of the report, be noted and approved and that these homes should be added to the Decent Homes Programme when funds allowed for this.

4. That the 2012/13 programme is delivered through a mini-tender of the four Decent Homes Programme contractors and that delegated authority for the approval of these contracts is given to the Director of Adult and Housing Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing.

(Report of the Director of Adult and Housing Services  - To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services) The report will  inform Cabinet Members of the outcome of extensive consultation with a range of people who use Adult Services Day Opportunities, their families/carers and other key stakeholders in relation to decisions made in principle on 21st December 2010 about the future of these services.

The report will further propose a range of amended proposals in relation to the Day Opportunities services in question, that have been adjusted to take account of the comments received following extensive consultation (Appendix 2), and also an Equalities Impact Assessment (Appendix 1) undertaken over the same period.

The Cabinet received a report that provided an overview of the consultation that had been undertaken with a range of people that used Adult Services Day Opportunities, their families/carers and other key stakeholders in relation to decisions made in principle on 21 December 2010 about the future of these services.

A range of amended proposals were set out in the report with respect to the Day Opportunities services in question, which took in to account the comments received as part of the consultation process.

RESOLVED:

That the following recommendations, set out below, be agreed:

The Haven Day Centre for Older People

That this would not be closed, as previously proposed, but that the service model would be adjusted to provide a new and more flexible service for all adults providing care and support to both older people and people with mental health issues who live in the east of the Borough. With the rolling out of personal budgets, older people using the centre to purchase their care via a personal budget and look to an appropriate voluntary or independent sector provider to provide the service in the future, subject to market testing.

Grange/Hayes Centres for Older Adults with Dementia

That this would not be combined on one site, as previously proposed, but to continue as separate units under a combined staff and management structure and the day opportunities support there would be purchased via a personal budget as above.

684 Centre for People with Mental Health Issues

This would be closed no later than 31 March 2012, as originally proposed, with eligible users of the service being offered an alternative service in The Clarendon Centre and on an outreach basis for two days in The Haven; care from The Haven to be purchased via a personal budget given to people to gain increased choice and control of their support packages.

Woodside Day Centre for Older People

That this would closed by no later than 31 March 2012 as originally proposed, with eligible service users offered a service in The Grange, The Hayes Centre or The Haven and their care to be purchased via a personal budget.

(Report of the Director of Children and Young People’s Service  - To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children) The report will set out the response of the Children’s Service to the recent scrutiny review on Corporate Parenting.

The Cabinet received a report that set out the Children’s Services response to the Scrutiny Review on Corporate Parenting.

It was requested that feedback was provided to the young people that had given their views to the Panel as part of the review in order to demonstrate how their views had shaped it.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet agreed the response as set out in the report.

1. Cabinet Member(Children’s Services) Signing – 15 August 2011
2. Procurement Committee 28 July 2011

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the following meetings be noted and necessary action be approved:

1. Cabinet Member (Children’s Services) Signing - 15 August 2011
2. Procurement Committee - 28 July 2011

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (People and Organisational Development): To inform the Cabinet of delegated decisions and significant actions taken.

The Cabinet received a report detailing the delegated decisions and significant actions taken by Directors since 19 July 2011.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (People and Organisational Development): To inform the Cabinet of Urgent Decisions taken by Directors in consultation with Cabinet Members)

The Cabinet received a report detailing urgent decisions taken by Directors in consultation with Cabinet Members since 19 July 2011.  

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

(Report of the Director of Corporate Resources  - To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction) -  The report will seek approval from the Cabinet for the disposal of two properties that will become surplus to the Council’s requirements.

The Cabinet was advised that since the publication of the agenda there had been further discussion with officers with respect to the Council Offices at Compton Crescent and it was therefore proposed that the decision with regard to this property should be delayed until the next Cabinet meeting on 8 November.

Exempt information pertaining to the report were set out exempt report at Item 24.

RESOLVED:

That the Head of Corporate Property should be authorised to dispose of the Council’s freehold interest in the following property for the best consideration reasonably obtainable on the open market:

113 Crouch Hill, N8

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

Item 22 allows for the consideration of exempt information in relation to items 18 &20  which appear earlier on the agenda.

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded as the following items contain exempt information which either relate to the business or financial affairs of particular persons (including the Authority holding that information) and 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.

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (People and Organisational Development): To inform the Cabinet of delegated decisions and significant actions taken.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt delegated decisions and significant actions set out in the report be noted.  

(Report of the Director of Corporate Resources  - To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction).  The report will seek approval from Cabinet to the disposal of two properties that will become surplus to requirements.

As set out under Item 20.

The purpose of this report is to provide the results of the recent informal tender disposal exercise for Bereavement Services and to seek Cabinet approval of the preferred bidder and disposal of the Council’s Bereavement Services.

As set out under Item 10.

(Report of the Director of Corporate Resources  - To be introduced by  the Cabinet member for Finance and Carbon Reduction). The Cabinet will be asked to consider a ‘Cap and Collar’ approach to pensions in respect of the employer contributions and past service deficits only for those employees that would be subject of TUPE transfer as a result of the Leisure management contract and who are or become active member of the London Borough of Haringey Pension Fund.

REPORT TO FOLLOW

The Cabinet considered a report that sought agreement to the adoption of a ‘cap and collar’ approach to the employer contributions and past service deficits for those employees who were being transferred to the employment of an external contractor via a TUPE arrangement.

RESOLVED:

That a ‘cap and collar’ approach to pensions be adopted in respect of the employer contributions and past service deficits for those employees that would be subject of TUPE as a result of the leisure management contract and who are or become active members of the London Borough of Haringey Pension Fund with the precise percentage range for the cap and collar to be agreed by the Director of Corporate Resources, mitigated by the contractor being 100% liable for pension costs within their control.   

To consider any items admitted under Item 2 above.

There were no new items of exempt Urgent Business.