Agenda and decisions

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Donnelly-Jackson.

Cabinet noted that Rob Mansfield (Head of Communications) was attending to represent Lorna Hughes (Director of Communications, Strategy & Engagement).

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary or personal interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate.

None.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 12 December 2022 as a correct record.

Cabinet RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting, held on Monday 12 December 2022, be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

None.

To discuss any petitions from members of the public, in accordance with Standing Order 66.

5.1     Pedestrian Safety at the Junction Between Sidmouth Road, Milverton Road and Alverstone Road

Cabinet NOTED the comments made by Dr Deborah Eppel, in presenting a petition which contained 232 signatures, speaking on behalf of local residents living in the area surrounding Sidmouth Road, highlighting concerns relating to the safety of pedestrians at the junction between Sidmouth Road, Milverton Road and Alverstone Road, due to fast travelling vehicles from multiple directions, poor visibility and lack of suitable pedestrian crossings.

In addressing Cabinet, Dr Deborah Eppel highlighted the following key issues:

·       Whilst aware there had only been one reported minor collision in the past 3 years, in which a cyclist had been injured, Dr Eppel questioned the number of unreported incidents and near-misses.

·       Concerns had been reported to the Council’s Traffic Engineers who whilst recognising the issues raised had advised that funding was not currently available to install a pedestrian island given the TfL priority criteria for schemes based on collision and injury data.  Dr Eppel was concerned this meant the safety of pedestrians would remain in jeopardy with local residents keen to ensure action was taken prior to any more serious injury or accident occurring at the junction.

·       Whilst the Council’s Transportation Team had advised, in response to the petition, that it would be possible to consider the installation of a pedestrian island at the junction this was unlikely to be until 2025/26 based on TfL funding becoming available and the necessary priority being met.  Any earlier consideration would only be based on additional funding becoming available.

To improve pedestrian safety, Dr Eppel therefore advised Cabinet that the petition was requesting that consideration be given to the provision of the necessary additional funding and review of priorities for 2023/24 to provide for the installation of a pedestrian island on Sidmouth Road, near the junction with Milverton Road and Alverstone Road given the safety concerns identified and proximity of the junction to local schools, nurseries, and other community buildings.

In responding, Councillor Krupa Sheth, as Cabinet member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action, acknowledged the concerns of residents.  In highlighting the Council’s commitment to improving road safety, as set out within the Long Term Strategy Review, she outlined the approach taken which had needed to be focussed on the priority of locations with the most significant accident problems along with the availability of funding to design and install speed reduction and pedestrian safety measures.   Whilst keen to address the concerns identified, Councillor Krupa Sheth felt it important to recognise that the level of TfL funding available to deal with these type of requests was unfortunately insufficient to meet current levels of demand, hence the need to prioritise potential locations for funding.  Whilst an assessment of the latest available personal injury data for the location had recorded only one slight accident she had, however, asked officers (in response to the petition) to undertake a further review of the site based on an assessment of other factors including existing road condition, vehicle speeds,  ...  view the full decision text for item 5.

To consider any reports referred by the Community & Wellbeing and Resources & Public Realm Scrutiny Committees.

There were no references from Scrutiny submitted for consideration at the meeting.

This report concerns the contract award for the Integrated Street Cleansing, Waste Collections and Winter Maintenance Services Contract (‘The Integrated Contract’). The report summarises the process undertaken in tendering this contract along with the proposed service changes to be included and, following completion of the evaluation of tenders, seeks authority to award the final contract.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)      To note the results of the public consultation on future waste collections and street cleansing services held in summer 2022 and the results of the alternate weekly twin stream recycling trial held in autumn 2022.

(2)      To agree the introduction of an intelligence-led approach to street cleansing from 1 July 2023 and an alternate weekly twin stream recycling collection service for street level households from 1 October 2023, together with other specification changes as set out in section 7 of the report.

(3)      To note that modelling would be undertaken in the new year to determine whether any alternate weekly twin stream recycling collection rounds might be better served using an additional wheelie bin for the storing of paper/card rather than a sack; and that such changes to specific rounds could be introduced subject to a proven business case once the new service goes live, as the collection arrangement provided flexibility.

(4)      To approve the award of the Integrated Contract to Veolia Environmental Services UK Ltd for an initial contract period of eight years, with an option to extend for a further eight year contract period in the estimated sum of £17.13m for 2023/24, circa £137m over the initial 8-year term of the contract or circa £274m over the full 16-year contract period.

(5)      To approve the allocation of capital through prudential borrowing of a sum of £21m, comprising £10.8m to finance the purchase of the fleet (including Public Realm Contract rollover assets) required for Year 1 of the contract and a further in principle allocation of £10.2m for vehicle replacements over the remaining term of the contract; and notes that the costs of deployment and maintaining the fleet are included in the contract price.

(6)      To approve the allocation of capital through prudential borrowing of up to £1.52m for the purchase and roll out of wheelie bins on alternate weekly twin stream collection rounds where a business case can be made (in line with (3) above).

(7)      To agree that the Council enters into a Pension Admission Agreement and a Risk Share Agreement or such other Pensions arrangement as appropriate, in respect of any ex-Brent Council staff who TUPE transferred to the current contractor in respect of the Public Realm Contract who may be entitled to retain access to the Local Government Pension Scheme under the Integrated Contract.

(8)      To delegate the resolution of any outstanding Pension issues referred to at (7) above in respect to the Integrated Contract to the Corporate Director, Resident Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment, Infrastructure and Climate Action.

This report concerns the award of a contract for the provision of Grounds Maintenance Services, following approval of Cabinet on 17th January 2022 to tender for the provision of these services.  The report summarises the process undertaken in tendering this contract and, following the completion of the evaluation of the tenders seeks authority to the final award of contract.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)      To note the contents of the report in relation to the award of a contract for Grounds Maintenance Services.

(2)      To approve the award of a contract for the provision of Grounds Maintenance Services to Continental Landscapes Ltd for an initial contract period of eight years, with an option to extend for a further eight year contract period and notes that the value of the contract is estimated to be circa £2.2m per year, or circa £17.6m over the initial 8 year term of the contract or circa £35.2m over the full 16 year contract period excluding VAT, CPI indexation and AWE increases).

(3)      To note that the award of the contract would be subject to consideration of any section 20 leaseholder consultation observations received from leaseholders.

(4)      To delegate the decision to proceed with the award of the contract, as set out in (2) above, to the Corporate Director, Resident Services in consultation with the Cabinet member for Environment, Infrastructure & Climate Action.

This report provides an update on the development of the Green Neighbourhoods pilot project which formed a key tenet of the council’s Climate and Ecological Emergency 2022-24 Delivery Plan.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)      To agree the Green Neighbourhood Action Plans for Church End & Roundwood (Appendix A) and Kingsbury (Appendix B), summarised in section 5 of the report.

(2)      To note the results of community engagement activity undertaken from July to October 2022, outlined in section 4 of the report and detailed in Appendix C of the report.

(3)      To agree the proposals for future engagement with communities in the Green Neighbourhood areas, summarised in section 6 of the report.

This report concerns the award of contracts for the provision Highway Maintenance Services (collectively referred to as “the contracts”) following approval of Cabinet on 7 February 2022 to tender for the provision of these services. The report sets out in detail the aims and objectives of the Redefining Local Services programme, the procurement strategy and contract and service improvements and seeks authority to award the final contracts.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)      To approve the award of the contract “Lot 1” for the provision of Highway Maintenance Services to O’Hara Bros Surfacing Ltd for an initial contract period of seven years, with an option to extend for up to a further three years on an annual basis and to note that the value of the contract is estimated to be circa £4.3m per year, or circa £43m over the 10 year duration of the contract (excluding inflation indexation).

(2)      To approve the award of the contract “Lot 2” for the provision of Highway Maintenance Services to GW Highways Ltd for an initial contract period of Seven years, with an option to extend for up to a further three years on an annual basis and to note that the value of the contract is estimated to be circa £3.5m per year, or circa £35m over the 10 year duration of the contract (excluding inflation indexation).

This report sets out the current forecast of income and expenditure versus the revenue budget for 2022/23 and other key financial data.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)      To note the overall financial position and the actions being taken to manage the issues arising as detailed within the report.

(2)      To note the savings delivery tracker in Appendix A and detailed in section 3.7 of the report.

(3)      To approve the virements detailed in section 3.7 of the report.

This report provides an update on Treasury activity for the first half of the financial year 2022-23.

Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)      To note the 2022-23 Mid-Year Treasury report for reference on to Council, along with the fact that the Council has been fully compliant with the Council’s Treasury Management indicators, in compliance with CIPFA’s Code of Practice on Treasury Management (the Code).

The following items are not for publication as they relate to the category of exempt information set out below, as specified under Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972:

Agenda Item 7:        Authority to Award Contract for Street Cleansing, Waste Collections and Winter Maintenance Services – Appendix 1 (Name of Tenderers) & Appendix 3 (Social Value commitments)

These appendices have been classified as exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, namely: “Information relating to the financial or business affairs of and particular person (including the authority holding that information).”

Agenda Item 8:        Authority to Award for Grounds Maintenance Services Contract – Appendix 1 (Name of Tenderers)

This appendix has been classified as exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, namely: “Information relating to the financial or business affairs of and particular person (including the authority holding that information).”

Agenda Item 10:      Authority to Award for Contract for Highway Maintenance Services – Appendix 1 (Name of Tenderers)

This appendix has been classified as exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, namely: “Information relating to the financial or business affairs of and particular person (including the authority holding that information).”

There were no items that required the exclusion of the press or public.

Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or her representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60.

None.