Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, any relevant personal and prejudicial interests and discloseable pecuniary interests in any matter to be considered at this meeting.

None

There were no declarations of interests declared by Members.

RESOLVED:-

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 November 2016 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 November 2016 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

None

There were no matters arising.

None

There were no petitions presented to Cabinet.

RESOLVED:-

      i.        That Councillor Tom Miller, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, be appointed to the Barham Park Trust Committee.

RESOLVED that Councillor Tom Miller, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, be appointed as a full member of the Barham Park Trust Committee.

This integrated Finance and Performance Report aligns both financial and performance information to provide an overview of Council performance in Quarter 2 2016/17 (Q2).  Additional reports in the appendices provide further detail on the Council’s position:

·                Appendix A – Financial Forecast 2016/17

·                Appendix B – Performance Report – Q2 2016/17

·                Appendix C – Performance Scorecard – Q2 2016/17

RESOLVED:-

      i.        Cabinet noted the overall position of the Council in terms of finance and performance and the measures in place to manage budget pressures and improve service delivery.

    ii.        Cabinet noted the overall financial position and the action being taken to manage the issues arising.

   iii.        Cabinet noted the performance information contained in the report and agreed remedial actions as necessary;

   iv.        Cabinet considered the current and future strategic risks associated with the information provided and agreed remedial actions as appropriate;

    v.        Cabinet agreed to challenge progress with responsible officers as necessary.

Councillor McLennan (Deputy Leader of the Council) introduced the report which provided Cabinet with an integrated overview of both the Council’s key financial and performance information for Quarter 2 in 2016/17.

A Member of Cabinet noted the numbers relating to the licensing of Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) properties within the performance sections of the report. It was agreed by Members, that due to the importance of this work, a specific update report would be provided to Cabinet on the progress of the HMO licensing scheme at a future meeting.

Conrad Hall (the Council’s Chief Finance Officer) drew Members’ attention to a correction that was required on page 18 of the public agenda pack, in that the net budget for Regeneration and Environment was £33.6million as opposed to £32.6million as it was listed.

RESOLVED that:

(i)         The overall position of the Council in terms of finance and performance and the measures in place to manage budget pressures and improve service delivery be noted; and

(ii)        A specific update report would be reported to Cabinet on progress of the HMO licensing scheme at a future meeting.

This report seeks Cabinet approval for the Council to work collaboratively with other London boroughs to continue to develop the London Regional Adoption Agency with the intention of joining the agency, when it becomes operational. It is envisaged that it will become operational during 2017/18.

RESOLVED:-

      i.        Cabinet agreed, in principle, to join a London Regional Adoption Agency, subject to detailed financial analysis and business case; and

    ii.        Cabinet authorised the Strategic Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Lead Member for Children’s Services, to progress arrangements relating to the development and implementation of the London Regional Adoption Agency model.

   iii.        Cabinet agreed to progress with option 1 - a Local Authority trading company delivery model with a strategic VAA partnership operating in a hub and spoke structure.

Councillor McLennan (Deputy Leader of the Council) introduced the report which sought Cabinet approval for Brent to work collaboratively with other London Boroughs to continue to develop the London Regional Adoption Agency. The move to regionalise adoption agencies had arisen from a Department of Education paper in 2015 with a view to speed up matching; improve adopter recruitment and adoption support; reduce costs and improve the life chances of vulnerable children. The Education and Adoption Act 2016 reinforced this policy, with the Department of Education’s expectation being that all Local Authorities be part of a regionalised service by 2020. Councillor McLennan outlined that the intention would be that Brent joined the London Regional Adoption agency in 2017/18 when it is expected to become fully operational. 

Members welcomed the report with the view that the concept was a positive one and that it was being developed at a very important time for Children’s Services. A Member of the Cabinet questioned how the success of the scheme was expected to be monitored. Gail Tolley (the Council’s Strategic Director of Children and Young People) responded by stating that the progress of the London Regional Adoption Agency would be included in the Council’s Annual Monitoring Report and would also be included as an item in the Community Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee’s work programme going forward.

RESOLVED that:

(i)         The Council would, in principle, join a London Regional Adoption Agency, subject to detailed financial analysis and business case;

(ii)        The Strategic Director of Children’s Services be authorised, in consultation, with the Lead Member for Children’s Services, to progress arrangements relating to the development and implementation of the London Regional Adoption Agency model; and

(iii)       Cabinet agreed to progress with Option 1 - a Local Authority trading company delivery model with a strategic VAA partnership operating in a hub and spoke structure.

This report concerns provision of voice and data links to the London Boroughs of Brent and Lewisham. The authorities are seeking a single supplier to be responsible for provision of all ICT links between the authorities. The contract for these links will be for 5 years. The service will include installation and maintenance of new links and maintenance of existing links. The report outlines the mini tender process under Crown Commercial Services Framework RM1045 being operated and requests delegated approval to award a contract in respect of supplying links to both Councils.

RESOLVED:-

      i.        Cabinet noted the procurement of a contract for the installation and maintenance of data links using a mini tender process under Crown Commercial Services Framework RM1045 on the basis of the criteria set out in paragraph 3.8 of the report.

    ii.        That Cabinet delegated authority to award a contract for the installation and maintenance of data links to the Strategic Director of Resources in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources for the reasons detailed in paragraph 3.9 of the report.

Councillor McLennan (Deputy Leader of the Council) introduced the report which noted that the London Boroughs of Brent and Lewisham are seeking a single supplier to be responsible for the provision of all IT links between the two authorities. The provision of voice and data links to the Boroughs would be through a proposed five year contract and that the service would include installation and maintenance of new links, plus the maintenance of the already existing links. The objective would primarily be to obtain better pricing of voice and data links and therefore save on costs over the contractual period.

Members welcomed the proposal and outlined that it was crucial that both and Brent and Lewisham got the basis of the contract proposal right before the procurement process was put to potential bidders.

RESOLVED that:

(i)         The procurement of a contract for the installation and maintenance of data links using a mini tender process under Crown Commercial Services Framework RM1045 on the basis of the criteria set out in paragraph 3.8 of the report be noted; and

(ii)        The Strategic Director of Resources be delegated authority by Cabinet, in consultation with the Lead Member for Resources, to award a contract for the installation and maintenance of data links for the reasons detailed in paragraph 3.9 of the report.

Air quality in Brent is poor and requires further intervention to reduce levels of

two key air pollutants known to be harmful to health -Nitrogen Dioxide (NO₂)

and Particulate Matter (PM₁₀). The draft Air Quality Action Plan (2017 – 2022)

outlines measures for local air quality improvement. The purpose of this report

is to seek approval regarding proposed air quality action.

RESOLVED:-

      i.        Cabinet noted the Draft Air Quality Action Plan.

    ii.        Cabinet agreed that the draft action plan can be issued for public consultation.

Councillor Southwood (Lead Member for Environment) introduced the report which sought Cabinet approval for the draft Air Quality Action Plan, aimed at tackling the poor quality levels in Brent between 2017 and 2022. The plan had identified four Air Quality Action Areas (AQAAs) as those in immediate need of targeted action: Neasden Town Centre; Church End; Kilburn Regeneration Area; and Wembley and Tokyngton. It was noted that the Council must demonstrate what action would be taken to tackle local air pollution within specific timescales under the new London Local Air Quality Management System regime which came into effect in May 2016 and that this plan was designed to address this. 

RESOLVED that:

            (i)         The draft Air Quality Action Plan be noted; and

(ii)        The draft Air Quality Action Plan be issued for public Consultation.

This report outlines that the Council is required to estimate the amount of any surplus or deficit on the Collection Fund as at 31 March 2017 and how it is shared amongst the constituent precepting bodies and Central Government. This must be done by 15 January 2017 in relation to Council Tax, and this report asks the Cabinet to approve the estimated balance for Council Tax and Business Rates (NNDR).

RESOLVED:-

      i.        Cabinet agreed the estimated Collection Fund balance relating to Council Tax at 31 March 2017 as a surplus of £2.796m.  (Brent’s share being £2.253m)  

    ii.        Cabinet noted the current estimated balance relating to NNDR at 31 March 2017 as zero (no surplus or deficit).

   iii.        Cabinet delegated to the Chief Finance Officer authority to amend these figures, should material new information, such as significant changes in debt collection performance or business rates appeals, come to light before the legal deadline of 15 January 2017.

Councillor McLennan (Deputy Leader of the Council) introduced the report which outlined the Council’s estimated rate of Council Tax collection and estimated balance for Council Tax and Business Rates (National Non-Domestic Rates – NNDR). It was noted that due to continued improvements in Council Tax collection, some of the estimates on the rates of the collection made by Officers in previous years had been exceeded. 

RESOLVED that:

(i)         The estimated Collection Fund balance relating to Council Tax on 31 March 2017 as a surplus of £2.796million (Brent’s share being £2.253million) be agreed; 

(ii)        The current estimated balance relating to National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) as zero (no surplus or deficit) be noted; and

(iii)       The Chief Finance Officer be delegated authority by Cabinet to amend these figures, should new material information, such as significant changes in debt collection performance or business rates appeals, come to light before the legal deadline of 15 January 2017.

Councillor Mashari (Lead Member for Regeneration, Growth, Employment and Skills) introduced a reference report detailing the call in of a previous Cabinet decision relating to the development options for the Carlton and Granville Centre Site as part of the South Kilburn Regeneration Programme.

Councillor Mashari stated that the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee Members had made constructive points during the meeting regarding the decision. She noted that the Committee had agreed additional recommendations but had ultimately taken a view that Cabinet’s initial decision should stand and that the issue would not be referred back to Cabinet for further review in the future. She outlined that the additional recommendations largely centred on ensuring that there are clear plans for consultation and engagement with relevant stakeholders to the Carlton and Granville Site, such as Granville Plus Nursery School. It was outlined that, specifically, a twelve-month consultation timeframe had been recommended by the Committee and accepted by Officers in response to take forward.   

RESOLVED that the Officer responses to the proposed additional recommendations from the Resources and Public Realm Scrutiny Committee be endorsed by Cabinet.

The following item(s) is/are not for publication as it/they relate to the following category of exempt information as specified in the Local Government Act 1972 namely: Paragraph 3 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding the information).

Not for publication:

·         Link & Telephony Tender – Appendix B

·         Phase 3 Primary School Expansion Programme – Full Report/Additional Information/Appendices

·         Urgent Item – Microsoft Licences – Appendix 1

RESOLVED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of agenda item 10 and the urgent item below. This was on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A, as amended, of the Act:

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding the information).

RESOLVED:-

      i.        Cabinet considered a report from the Strategic Director, Regeneration and Growth. A decision was made in closed session.

Cabinet considered a report from Amar Dave (the Council’s Strategic Director, Regeneration and Growth) and a decision was made in closed session.

Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 64.

RESOLVED:-

      i.        Cabinet agreed to award a contract for Microsoft Licences for a period of three years from 1 June 2017 to Bytes Software Services Ltd.

Urgent Agenda Item – Authority to Award a Contract for Microsoft Licences

RESOLVED that a contract for Microsoft Licences for a period of three years from 1 June 2017 be awarded to Bytes Software Services Ltd.