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 Deputy 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 Claire Kober, Leader of the Council and Councillor Joe Goldberg. Apologies for lateness were later received from Cllr Ayisi.

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 19 below).

There were no items of urgent business considered.

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 [18] : 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.

There were no representations received.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on the 14^th of June 2016 as a correct record.

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on the 14^th of June 2016 were agreed as a correct record of the meeting.

For Cabinet to note:

The Scrutiny Review of Youth Transition  and agree the  proposed Cabinet responses to the recommendations of the review set out at appendix 2.

The Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel, chaired by Councillor Hearn, has been undertaking a piece of in-depth work regarding the challenges facing young people growing up and reaching adulthood in Haringey.  It began this work in 2014-15 and reported its preliminary findings to the Panel meeting on 9 July 2015.  The Panel commissioned further work with the aim of enabling it to make final conclusions and recommendations. The scrutiny report will outline the outcome of this further work and the findings, conclusions and recommendations that the Panel has made and Cabinet will provide a response to these recommendations.

The Deputy Leader invited Councillor Hearn, Chair of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel to introduce the Scrutiny Review on Youth Transition.

Councillor Hearn started by speaking briefly about young people that have successes in their lives and the difference made by having a support network of: parents, family members, teacher, and mentors. The review had focused on examining the key areas of support that can help young people in Haringey make a success of their lives. It was important to consider that going to university was not the only option to achieving success in life and there was a need to promote the many ways for young people  to achieve goals in life , for example through apprenticeships.

The Panel had understood the importance of schools helping prevent exclusions and stopping young people from becoming NEET [Not in School, Education, Employment and Training]. The Panel noted that often schools had a good internal knowledge of the young people most at risk of leaving school without skills and educational aspirations. Schools were doing some good individual work with these pupils and achieving successes in this area, in turn, making a difference to the young person’s future prospects

During the review, the Panel recognised that, sadly, equality and diversity issues still had an effect on outcomes for young people and these were caused by wider external issues out of the control of the Council and schools.

Cllr Hearn was further interested in finding out why three of the recommendations were partially agreed instead of fully agreed.

The Deputy Leader thanked Councillor Hearn for her presentation and in Councillor Goldberg’s absence, responded to the review recommendations.

The Deputy Leader agreed that the review provided a powerful set of evidence and a steer for how Haringey Council and its partners can enhance and develop the range of services they provide, or facilitate, for young people.  The life chances of young people would be greatly affected by the choices they make while at school and the influences around them. The recommendations of this scrutiny review helped to set out a way of supporting young people to make effective choices and so improve their lives. The Deputy Leader continued to highlight some key positive changes already being achieved to support these choices:

-          Every Post 16 school and college has a  good or outstanding rating with results now the highest they have ever been.

-          Residents taught in Haringey make more progress than those taught out of borough

-          A level exam results are significantly above the national average.

-          The STEM commission will also  publish its findings soon and the Council anticipate this will help Haringey to improve further by proving clear recommendations for targeting those areas vital for the area and country’s growth and for young people’s opportunities.

The Deputy Leader thanked the Scrutiny Panel and all those who participated in the review for their hard work. 

RESOLVED

That the Scrutiny Review be noted and the responses to the review recommendations as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

There were no deputations, petitions or questions put forward.

[Report of the  Assistant Director for Regeneration. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning.]  This report will give the outcome of consultation on the draft Estate Renewal Rehousing and Payments Policy and propose the adoption of a final version

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning introduced the policy which brought together the Council’s commitment to estate renewal and rehousing and set out the approach to be taken forward.

The policy endeavoured to meet the expectation of residents who maybe required to be re-housed in the estate renewal process and brought together all the advice and support currently listed in a range of different documents on rehousing, housing allocations and compensation payments, into one accessible document. Through this policy, residents would be able to access and understand the Council’s position on rehousing and compensation payments for moving from their homes when the estate renewals take place in the future.

The Cabinet Member highlighted that whenever the Council talk to tenants and leaseholders about estate renewal and rehousing situations in the future, they will be at the centre of this process. The policy also makes clear that these residents will be fully consulted in this process with support through independent advice. There will be full package of support and compensation where re housing does happen. The Council were committed to providing right of return to properties, where it can, but this will be subject to individual schemes and viability.

The Cabinet Member concluded that the policy was clear on what residents can expect in a consultation process when an estate is being renewed and rehousing is required. He further reiterated that residents will be fully supported and helped through the process of rehousing.

RESOLVED

1. That the responses to the consultation with tenants, leaseholders and freeholders on the proposed Estate Renewal Rehousing and Payments Policy be noted.

2. That the immediate adoption the Estate Renewal, Rehousing and Payments Policy set out in appendix 2, as amended in the light of consultation and having considered the Equalities Impact Assessment be approved.

3. That delegated authority be provided to the Director of Regeneration, Planning and Development to make any minor changes to the Policy that may be required as a result of legislative change.

Reasons for decision

A decision to adopt the Estate Renewal, Rehousing and Payments Policy was required to ensure that the Council applies a consistent policy across the whole borough for all estate renewal schemes. This will ensure that tenants and leaseholders will have a clear understanding of what they may expect if an estate renewal scheme is proposed for their estate and also ensure that tenants and leaseholders are treated fairly and consistently, wherever they live and whenever the scheme starts.

A delegation to the Director of Regeneration, Planning & Development to make minor amendments to the policy is required. The policy includes statutory provisions that will need to be maintained in line with any legislative changes, which may include matters arising from the Housing and Planning Act.

Alternative options considered

The alternative options of developing an estate renewal rehousing policy only or a set of procedures for staff covering the issues in appendix 2 were considered. It was concluded that it was important to bring together all the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

[Report  of the Assistant Director for Commissioning. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Children and Families.] Cabinet will be asked to consider the options appraisal of the Haslemere Road Centre following a Commissioning Review.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Families introduced the report which provided options for future care at Haslemere Respite Centre, a current specialist unit providing respite accommodation and day services for children with disabilities or other special additional needs.

The Cabinet Member highlighted the consultation undertaken with parents and carers of current service users where Option 2[outlined at appendix 1] was favoured as this ensured local provision continued and would enable more consistent stable standards of service provision.

RESOLVED

1. To approve option 2, as set out at appendix 1, allowing the Council to commission Haslemere Road Respite Centre either under a block contract with a specialist provider, or by renting out the Centre to a specialist provider from whom the Council and parents can spot purchase beds.

2. To provide the Assistant Director of Commissioning, after consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member, with delegated authority to make the decision on whether to commission the Centre under a block contract or by renting out the Centre. 

Reasons for decision

The Council had gone through a robust Commissioning Review of Haslemere Road Respite Centre, through which three options have been appraised (more details can be found in Appendix 1).

By commissioning the Centre (Option 2), the Council would ensure that:  

The Centre would be commissioned to a single specialised provider, which would provide the packages of respite we need under a block contract.

Or

The Centre would be commissioned to a single specialised provider through a rental agreement of the premises, which provider would provide the packages of respite we need on a spot purchasing basis.

This option would offer the possibility of fully utilising the centre on Mondays, and Tuesdays and during the day on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

By commissioning the centre, service users would get better Value for Money (VfM), both in terms of Quality (all the suppliers we engaged have Good or Outstanding Ofsted Ratings) and Price.

Through commissioning the Centre, the Council would keep its service local to the community, thus keeping transport costs down and families happy.

Through block-contracting, the Council would continue to be able to manage the prioritisation of cases and the acceptance criteria for the Centre’s use.

Through renting out the Centre to a specialist provider the Council would:

·        Have more flexibility in reviewing this provision in the future.

·        Offer the supplier the possibility of having a more sustainable model, as they can develop a business model that fully utilises the asset, without relying on the Council for full funding

·        Offer the possibility for other Boroughs to use the centre through spot purchasing (with the possibility of the Council receiving preferential rates from the supplier)

·        Be receiving rent for the building (currently estimated at £71k per annum).

·        Transferring Ofsted accountability to the new provider.

Through commissioning the Centre, the Council has the potential to address the overspend and come back to budget, in time even be able to have a surplus of cc £50k-£121k.

Under this option, the 14 staff assigned to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

[Report of the Assistant Director for Environment and Community Safety. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Environment.] The report  will seek  agreement to the amount of penalty charge to be paid for non compliance of a remedial notice in relation to the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Regulations 2015 and any concession for early payment.

The Cabinet Member for Environment introduced the report which set out the Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm (England) Regulations 2015 which imposed obligations on the Council to inspect premises and enforce the requirements for landlords to provide tenants with smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms in their premises.

It was noted that this fire protection related regulation already applied to HMO’s and was now applied, through the new legislation, to all rented accommodation, including family dwellings, of which, there were a significant number in the borough.

Enforcement of this new policy would have huge resource implications for the Council.

Therefore there would be a sound communications strategy to alert landlords, letting agents and tenants of the statement of principles and penalty charges process for related to these mandatory regulations. During the early stages of the communications strategy, the Cabinet Member was recommending there be limited use of the penalty fines to allow landlords and letting agents the opportunity to be informed of the new legislation and to conform to the new requirements.

The report was also recommending a sliding scale of charges applied, reflecting the type of properties in the occupancies in rental sector.

RESOLVED

1. To adopt the policy statement set out at Appendix 1.

2. To agree that Penalty Charges Notices (PCN) administered follow the Statement of Principles as set out in Appendix 3.

Reasons for decision

A penalty charge of up to £5000 can be imposed for failure to comply with a Remedial Notice served under these regulations. However, as per Appendix 3 and the guidance provided by the legislation, officers were recommending a sanction which is based on a sliding scale and an early discount for not progressing to the review and appeal stage.

In keeping with this it was recommended that each landlord should be charged accordingly based on each individual offence, thus averting any challenges by landlords or variations following First Tier Tribunal hearings.

Any penalty charge should be set at a level which is proportionate to the risk posed by non-compliance with the requirements of the legislation and which will deter non-compliance. It should also cover the costs incurred by the Council in administering and implementing the legislation.  The authority has no other means of recovering the cost of remedial action than by imposition of a penalty charge.

Fire and Carbon Monoxide are two of the 29 hazards prescribed by the Housing Health and Safety Rating System and can result in death and serious injury.  In the case of fire, the absence of working smoke alarms in residential premises is a significant factor in producing worse outcomes.

As previously stated, the provision of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms does not place an excessive burden on a landlord. The cost of the alarms is low and in many cases they can be self-installed without the need for a professional contractor. The impact on occupiers, damage to property and financial costs resulting from a fire or Carbon Monoxide poisoning event are far out of proportion to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

[Report of the Director for Planning, Regeneration and Development. To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning.] The report will seek determination of tenures and rent levels for new homes nearing completion as part of the first phase of the Council's new build programme.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning was pleased to inform  Cabinet that the first phase of new rented Council homes, included in the Council’s new build programme, were nearing completion and would be available for social letting in September 2016. In order for the homes to be let, the Cabinet would need to agree rent levels to be applied which the report set out.

Cabinet were asked to note planned changes to the unit mix and tenure type since the programme had started, two years ago. This was due to significant changes in the  housing landscape, including: decreased housing funding and income for local authorities, a 30% increase in construction inflation. This meant that the cost of this first phase of housing had increased. However instead of selling these units, the Council were keen to keep these units in their much needed housing stock .

Therefore, the rents were proposed to be set in accordance with the guidance in draft Housing strategy; for example the maximum rent levels of 70 % of market rent value for 1 bedroom accommodation instead of 80% of market value would be applied. While the rents were higher than envisaged, the levels were still in the affordability range of residents on benefits who would still be able to afford the rents.

RESOLVED

1. To approve  the setting of rent levels for the Council’s Phase 1 new homes in accordance with the affordable rents guidance set out in the draft Housing Strategy, as set out in paragraphs 6.13 - 6.14.

2. That the revised unit type and tenure mix as described in paragraph 6.11 and detailed in table 3 in appendix B be noted.

Reasons for decision

The Council’s Phase 1 new homes were anticipated to be available in phases between September 2016 and March 2017.  The Council needs to set rent levels on the properties for rent prior to their completion and availability in order to advertise the properties to prospective bidders.

Changes affecting the programme since it was originally approved mean that it will not pay back over thirty years as planned.  Approval of the proposals will contribute to improving the financially viability of this phase of the Council’s new build housing programme.

Alternative options considered

The option of proceeding without any changes to the planned tenure mix, unit sizes and rent levels was considered. This is not favoured because it would not increase the number of units, or improve the bedroom size mix, or make any contribution to reducing the current financial deficit on the programme.

Outright market sale of some units was considered.  This option would reduce the supply of much-needed affordable homes and in addition to this, the Council has already drawn down monies from the GLA through the grant funding agreement with a commitment to deliver these affordable dwellings. Changing to outright sale is thus not considered a viable approach.

[Report of the Director for Planning, Regeneration and Development . To be introduced by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning.]The report will set out the aims, objectives and terms of a Strategic Development Partnership to drive forward the development of a new urban centre at Tottenham Hale.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning outlined the work to date on the Tottenham Hale Housing Zone which had involved important consultation  with residents and having the underpinning Council plans in place bring forward this important regeneration .

The report was confirming a strategic development partnership with Argent Related Limited ,a renowned regeneration partner that had previously worked on the Kings Cross regeneration and the regeneration of Central Manchester and Central Birmingham. They would in partnership, with the Council, take forward comprehensive delivery of a new District Centre at the heart of Tottenham Hale and a significant part of the first phase of the Tottenham Housing Zone. This was a new exciting phase for Tottenham Hale and would ensure that the areas fragmented by rail, water and roads would become connected into a single neighbourhood.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning continued to thank the Regeneration team for their efforts in bringing forward these recommendations and further thanked the Chief Executive for his leadership in bringing this important project to fruition.

RESOLVED

1. That the Council enter into a Strategic Development Partnership Agreement with Argent Related based on the draft Heads of Terms attached in the exempt part of this report and to grant delegated authority to the Director for Regeneration, Planning and Development in consultation with the Chief Operating Officer, the AD Corporate Property and Major Projects and the Assistant Director of Corporate Governance [after consultation with the Lead Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning and the Lead Member for Finance and Health ]to agree the final Heads of Terms and the final contract. 

2. That the following Council owned freehold sites shown edged in red on the plan (“Plan”) in Appendix 1A be declared surplus to requirements and subject to title investigations  be disposed of and for the considerations  as set out in the draft Heads of Terms (attached in the exempt part of this report) Argent Related:

1.   Welbourne Centre Site

2.   4 Ashley Road

3.   5 Ashley Road

4.   Land to rear of 4/5 Ashley Road, along Monument Way

5.   Land at the corner of Station Road and Hale Road

6.   Tottenham Hale Bus Station, Bus Stand lands

7.   Land at corner of The Hale and Hale Road

8.   Land fronting Watermead Way to the east of Ashley Road

9.   Land to the south of Station Road, along Ferry Lane/The Hale

10.                BP Garage Site, Hale Road, Ashley Road

3. That the disposal of the Welbourne Centre site referred to in recommendation 3.2[ Minute item 49 resolution 2] shall comprise both of a cash consideration and a long lease back (terms to be agreed as per recommendation 3.1 –  [Minute item  49 resolution 1) to the Council of the health centre to be constructed on the site (to shell and core) and that a further report be brought back to Cabinet at a later date  once an agreement has been reached with NHS England on the financial and operational arrangements for the health centre. 

4. That  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

To note the minutes of the following:

Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee – 4^th April 2016

Cabinet Member signing on the 21 June 2016

RESOLVED

To note the minutes of the following meetings:

• Corporate Parenting Advisory Committee  - 4^th April 2016
• Cabinet Member Signing on  the 21^st of June 2016

To note the significant and delegated actions taken by Directors in June 2016.

RESOLVED

To note the significant and delegated decisions taken by directors in June 2016.

There were no items of urgent business to consider.

Note from the Democratic Services &Scrutiny Manager

Items 18 and 19 allow for the consideration of exempt information in relation to items,13  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 and 5 Part 1, schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED

That the press and public be excluded from the reminder of the meeting as the items contained exempt information, as defined under Schedule 12, Paragraph 3 and 5 of the Local Government Act 1972.

To consider exempt information relating to item 13.

As per item 49.

To consider any items admitted at Item 3 above.

None