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 under Item 17 below. New items of exempt business will be dealt with at Item 23 below).

There were no items of Urgent Business.

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 made.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 10 July 2012 and the Special Cabinet Meeting held on 19 July as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 10 July 2012 and the Special Cabinet meeting held on 19 July 2012 were confirmed as a correct record.

To consider any requests received in accordance with Standing Orders.

A deputation was taken in relation to Item 11: ‘Options for the Future of John Loughborough School’ from Mr Samuel Berton, Acting Chair of the school Governors.

(Report of the Assistant Director Finance - to be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction). To advise Cabinet of the forecast revenue and capital outturns for 2012/13 based on actual performance to 31 July 2012 and to consider proposed management actions and budget adjustments in response to monthly budget management during the financial year to date.

Cabinet considered a report, introduced by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Carbon Reduction, which forecast financial revenue and capital outturns for 2012/13, based on actual performance to 31 July 2012; the report also sought approval of budget adjustments (virements) in response to monthly budget management.

RESOLVED:

1. That the report and the progress being made against the Council’s 2012/13 budget, with respect to revenue and capital expenditure, be noted.

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

3. That the capital carry forward of £396k relating to Alexandra Park and Palace from 2011/12 to 2012/13 be approved.

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive – to be introduced by the Leader of the Council). To provide an update on progress against the Council’s priorities and other major responsibilities in the first quarter of 2012/13.  

Cabinet considered a report, introduced by the Leader of the Council, which provided an update in relation to progress against the Council’s priorities and other major responsibilities during the first quarter of 2012/13.

In response to a question with regard to performance in relation to the adoption of Looked After Children, Cabinet was advised that the Department for Families and Education (DFE) had considered that the Council’s plans for improvement in this area were sufficiently robust and that performance in this area would continue to be closely monitored by the Corporate Parenting Committee. 

There was agreement that the Cabinet Member for the Environment would check whether figures reported within the report in relation to a rise in litter, from 8% to 13%, were correct and report back to Cabinet and the Leader of the Opposition.

RESOLVED:

1. That progress against the Council’s priorities and other major responsibilities during the first quarter of 2012/13 be noted.

2. That the emerging issues and challenges going forward be noted.

(Report of the Director of Adult and Housing Services to be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing). REPORT TO FOLLOW

This item was withdrawn from the agenda.

(Report of the Director of Place and Sustainability – to be introduced by the Cabinet Member for the Environment). The report seeks approval to withdraw certain permitted development rights to improve the management of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs).

Cabinet considered a report, introduced by the Cabinet Member for the Environment, which sought approval to make a Direction under Article 4 (1) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, as amended, removing permitted development rights for changes of use from C3 to use C4 in twelve of the Borough’s wards.

It was noted that the implementation of an Article 4 Direction would enable the Council to better manage the impact of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) and ensure that HMOs were of a higher standard where they were approved. This would form part of a range of measures available to the Council to raise standards in private sector housing and would also compliment work being undertaken to regenerate Tottenham.

In response to a question it was noted that the Article 4 Direction was being implemented in wards in the east of the Borough as there was a far higher level of HMOs being established in these areas. 

RESOLVED:

1. That the current joined up partnership working already in place to better manage private sector housing in the Borough, as outlined in paragraph 2.2 of the report, be noted.

2. That approval be given to make a Direction under Article 4 (1) of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, as amended, removing permitted development rights for changes of use from C3 to use C4 in the following Wards:

Ø      Seven Sisters

Ø      Tottenham Green

Ø      Tottenham Hale

Ø      West Green

Ø      Bruce Grove

Ø      White Hart Lane

Ø      Northumberland Park

Ø      Noel Park

Ø      Woodside

Ø      Bounds Green

Ø      Harringay

Ø      St Ann’s

3. That it be specified in the making of the notice that it should come into effect no less that twelve months later.

4. That the Director of Place and Sustainability be authorised to carry out the statutory procedure for making an Article 4 (1) Direction including undertaking the necessary consultation.

5. That it be noted that, subject to the outcomes of this consultation, a further report would be made to Cabinet to confirm the Direction. 

(Report of the Director of Place and Sustainability – to be introduced by the Cabinet Member for the Environment). The report seeks approval of the submission of the Local Implementation Plan (LIP) Annual Spending Submission for 2013/14 to Transport for London (TfL).

Cabinet considered a report, introduced by the Cabinet Member for the Environment, which sought approval for the submission of the Local Implementation Plan (LIP) Annual Spending Submission for 2013/14.

It was noted that Annual Spending Submission for 2013/14 detailed transport schemes within Haringey’s LIP and that 2013/14 formed the final year of a three year cycle of funding. Preparation for the next three year cycle of funding would begin during 2013/14.

RESOLVED:

That the Local Implementation Plan (LIP) Annual Spending Submission for 20113/14, as set out in Appendix A of the report, be approved.

(Report of the Director of Children’s Services – to be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children). The report seeks approval to commence consultation with regard to the closure of the school.

Cabinet considered a report that sought approval to commence consultation on the closure of John Loughborough School.

A deputation was received from Mr Samuel, Acting Chair of the school’s Board of Governors.

Mr Samuel noted that whilst he understood the Council’s concerns with regard to the school’s performance the school had taken significant steps to improve performance over the last two years. These included the employment of a consultant head teacher, with a track record of driving up standards of performance in failing schools, and bringing in teachers with special expertise in Maths to improve standards in that specific area.

Mr Samuel noted that John Loughborough School had a strong Christian ethos and that in addition to providing a good education it also aimed to equip pupils with skills that would enable them to make a significant contribution to society.

Mr Samuel raised concern with regard to the impact that the closure of the school would have upon existing pupils and noted that whilst he appreciated that the Council had a duty to ensure that children in the Borough were provided with the highest standards of education, the disruption and impact upon children at the school also had to be considered.

In conclusion Mr Samuel noted that he hoped that the school and the Council could work together to continue to improve standards at the school and to support the school in its application for Academy status.

The Leader thanked Mr Samuel for his deputation and invited Cabinet Members to put questions to him.

In response to a question, with regard to the falling school roll and the decline in the number of parents and pupils selecting the school as their first preference, Mr Samuel advised that since the school had been placed under special measures by Ofsted in 2009 there had been an understandable fall in the school roll. However, he considered that the steps that the school had taken to drive up standards had made a positive impact and that if the school and the Council continued to work together this would improve further.

The Cabinet Member for Children thanked Mr Samuel for his deputation and acknowledged the work that the school had undertaken to improve its performance. Whilst she understood the school’s position in wanting more time to improve its performance further, she noted that as part of a recent review it had been concluded that the school was only financially viable if it continued to receive extensive and sustained support from the Seventh Day Adventist South of England Conference. Therefore the school was not financially viable from the Council’s perspective.

The Cabinet Member for Children noted that the Council recognised the unique Christian ethos of the school and the emphasis that it placed on its pupil’s spiritual development. However, this was not a sufficient reason not to consider closure against a backdrop of failing education standards and attainment.

In conclusion the Cabinet Member for Children noted that no decision would be made with regard to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 237.

(Director of Adult and Housing Services – to be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing). To approve a waiver of tendering requirements and approve an award of contract with Metropolitan Care and Repair for the Home Improvement Service (HIA) for two years at the current contract value.

Cabinet considered a report, introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing, which sought approval to the waiver of tendering requirements of Contract Standing Order (CSO) 10.01.2 (d) to approve an award of contract with Metropolitan Care and Repair for Homes Improvement Service for two years at the current contract value.  

It was noted that the report contained exempt information that would be considered in the closed part of the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1. That the waiver of tendering requirements of Contract Standing Order (CSO) 10.01.2 (d) be approved.

2. That the award of contract with Metropolitan Care and Repair for Homes Improvement Service (HIA) for two years at the current contract value be approved.

(Report of the Director of Place and Sustainability – to be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Communities). To consider the award of a contract to manage Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, Park Road Leisure Centre, Broad Water Farm Community Centre and Whitehart Lane Sports Centre.

Cabinet considered a report, introduced by the Cabinet Member for Communities, which sought approval to award a twenty year contract to Bidder B (as set out in the exempt part of the report) to manage Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, Park Road Leisure Centre, Broadwater Farm Community Centre and White Hart Lane Community Sports Centre (for up to three years), and to delegate authority to the Director of Place and Sustainability, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities, to finalise and issue the contract.

In response to a question Cabinet was advised that there would be an opportunity for service users to engage with the Council with regard to the services provided on a four monthly basis and that this would be considered in the Council’s monitoring of the contract.

It was clarified that the Council set the prices for concessionary users and that the contractor would only have the flexibility to raise non concessionary prices. 

RESOLVED:

1. That the results of the procurement process and, in particular, the evaluation assessment set out in the ‘exempt’ part of the report, be noted.

2. That a twenty year contract be awarded to Bidder B to manage Tottenham Green Leisure Centre, Park Road Leisure Centre, Broadwater Farm Community Centre and White Hart Lane Community Sports Centre (for up to three years), and to delegate authority to the Director of Place and Sustainability, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Communities, to finalise and issue the contract.

To note the minutes of other bodies as set out below:

Ø      Cabinet Member Signing 18 July 2012

Ø      Cabinet Member Signing 26 July 2012

Ø      Cabinet Member Signing 15 August 2012

Ø      Cabinet Member Signing 16 August 2012

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meetings set out below be noted:

Ø      Cabinet Member Signing 18 July 2012

Ø      Cabinet Member Signing 26 July 2012

Ø      Cabinet Member Signing 15 August 2012

Ø      Cabinet Member Signing 16 August 2012

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive): To inform the Cabinet of delegated decisions and significant actions taken since the last Cabinet meeting on 10 July 2012.

Cabinet received a report that detailed the significant and delegated actions taken by Directors since the previous meeting of Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

(Report of the Assistant Chief Executive) To note urgent actions taken in consideration with Cabinet Members since the previous Cabinet meeting.

Cabinet received a report that detailed urgent decisions taken by Directors, in consultation with Cabinet Members, since the previous meeting of Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To consider any items admitted at Item 2 above.

There were no new items of Urgent Business.

Note from the Head of Local Democracy and Member Services

Items 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23 allow for the consideration of exempt information in relation to Items 4, 12, 13, 14 and 17 respectively, which appear earlier in the agenda. 

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 contained exempt information, as defined under paragraph 3, Part 1, schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

To confirm the exempt minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 10 July 2012 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 10 July 2012 be confirmed as a correct record of the meeting.

To consider exempt information with respect to Item 12 above.

Cabinet considered exempt information relating to this report.

To consider exempt information with respect to Item 13 above.

Cabinet considered exempt information relating to this report.

To note the exempt minutes of the Cabinet Member Signing held on 26 July 2012.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt minutes of the Cabinet Member Signing held on 26 July 2012 be noted.

To consider any items admitted at Item 2 above.

There were no new items of exempt Urgent Business.