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 those present to agenda Item 1 as shown on the agenda in respect of filming at this meeting and asked that those present reviewed and noted the information contained therein.

The Leader will advise of any items they have decided to take as urgent business.

None.

The report will seek Leader approval for a further extension of the contract with Housing Reviews Limited for the conduct of reviews of allocation and homelessness decisions under Parts VI & VII the Housing Act 1996. The current contract is due to expire  on 31 October 2016 and the extension is for a period of 12 months.

The report sought Leader approval for a further extension of the contract with Housing Reviews Limited for the conduct of reviews of allocation and homelessness decisions under Parts VI & VII of the Housing Act 1996. The contract was due to expire on 31 October 2016 and the extension was for a period of 12 months.

RESOLVED

1. To authorise the extension of the contract with HRL (and consequent contracting out of reviews of allocations and homelessness decisions as set out in that contract) until 31 October 2017

Reasons for decision

The Council has responsibilities under Parts VI and VII of the Act that it can only delegate to third parties under the terms of the Local Authorities (Contracting Out of Allocation of Housing and Homelessness Functions) Order 1996.  The Council has a statutory duty to carry out these functions or to contract them out to a third party.

HfH intends to bring the reviews function back in-house and the transformed service has provision for a Reviews Manager in the structure.  This post was advertised externally with a closing date of 7 August 2016.  Unfortunately, the recruitment did not lead to any candidates being shortlisted for interview and as such the recruitment has been delayed. 

Once the Reviews Manager has been recruited and in a position to take over responsibility for conducting all reviews no further reviews will be passed to HRL.  It will however be necessary to provide for a run-off period to allow HRL to complete all reviews passed to it to avoid disruption in the review process.  A further extension until 31 October 2017 will allows for all reviews contracted to HRL to be determined and for the recruitment of a Reviews Manager in HfH.  As the contractor is paid per review there are no financial implications in regard to approving an extension of this length.

Alternative options considered

If the contract with HRL is not extended, HRL will not be authorised to carry out reviews on behalf of the Council or HfH and any reviews conducted by HRL would be open to legal challenge. The lack of quality candidates for the vacant Reviews Manager post means that HfH cannot yet bring this function back in-house.

The report will seek Leader approval for the extension of the contract term for the legal advisor for Tottenham and Borough wide regeneration, and to approve additional expenditure up to a maximum of £592.400. The report will also seek approval to delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration, Planning and Development after consultation with the Chief Operating Officer to approve further expenditure to a maximum of £200,000 in the event of exceptional circumstances

The report sought approval for the extension of the contract term for the legal advisor for Tottenham and Borough wide regeneration, and to approve additional expenditure, outside the authority of the Director of Regeneration, Planning and Development. 

RESOLVED

1. To extend the contract term for the provision of legal advice by Pinsent Masons for Tottenham and Borough Wide Regeneration to 31^st July 2017.

2. To approve additional expenditure to a maximum of £592,400 including contingency.

3. To delegate authority to the Director of Regeneration, Planning and Development after consultation with the Chief Operating Officer to approve further expenditure to a maximum of £200,000 in the event of exceptional circumstances e.g. withdrawal of the preferred bidder and renegotiation with an alternative bidder.

Reasons for decision

The decision is required to ensure the provision of ongoing effective legal advice to the Council as it procures and establishes the Haringey Development Vehicle. Pinsent Masons have provided the advice so far and continuity of advice is crucial.

Alternative options considered

The alternative option would be to invite further quotations under the CCS Framework, for the provision of legal services to assist the Council in the remaining stages of the procurement and establishment of the HDV. This would itself take a period of some weeks and trigger a delay to the ongoing procurement of the Haringey Development Vehicle.

This would also potentially increase risk to the project, with financial and resource implications due to the comprehensive hand over required and to the fact that documents developed to date would not be warranted by the new providers.

Pinsent Masons LLP has a comprehensive understanding of the project and the parameters in which the legal advice will sit. They are fully integrated into the project delivery team, and have established an effective working relationship with the other appointed advisers. To date they have produced high quality outputs and met the ambitious project timetables.

To consider any items of urgent business admitted under Item 2 above.

N/A

That the press and the public be excluded from the reminder of the meeting as the items below contain exempt information, as defined under Paragraphs 3 & 5, 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 paragraphs 3 and 5, Part 1, schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

As per Item 4.

Noted the information contained within the Exempt Part B of report.

As per Item 2.

N/A