Agenda and minutes

Cabinet - Tuesday 19 October 2021 11.00 am

Venue: Ground floor meeting rooms, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH

Contact: Paula Thornton and Virginia Wynn-Jones  Email:  paula.thornton@southwark.gov.uk;  virginia.wynn-jones@southwark.gov.uk

Note: This meeting will be livestreamed to the Council's YouTube channel 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

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    To receive any apologies for absence.

    Minutes:

    Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Jasmine Ali.

2.

Notification of any items of Business which the Chair Deems Urgent

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    In special circumstances, an item of business may be added to an agenda within five clear working days of the meeting.

    Minutes:

    There were none.

3.

Notice of Intention to conduct business in a closed meeting, and any representations received

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    To note the items specified which will be considered in a closed meeting.

    Minutes:

    There were none.

4.

Disclosure of Interests and Dispensations

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    Members to declare any interests and dispensation in respect of any item of business to be considered at this meeting.

    Minutes:

    Councillor Darren Merrill disclosed a pecuniary interest in item 9, Driving up standards for the private rented sector, as he owns a rental property in the borough. He withdrew from the meeting for that item.

5.

Public Question Time (15 Minutes)

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    To receive any questions from members of the public which have been submitted in advance of the meeting in accordance with the cabinet procedure rules. The deadline for the receipt of public questions is midnight Wednesday 13 October 2021.

    Minutes:

    No public questions were received.

6.

Minutes

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    To approve as a correct record the minutes of the open section of the meeting held on 14 September 2021.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the minutes of the open section of the meeting held on 14 September 2021 be approved as a correct record and signed by the chair.

7.

Deputation Requests

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    To consider any deputation requests. The deadline for the receipt of deputation requests is midnight Wednesday 13 October 2021

    Minutes:

    No deputation requests were received.

8.

Supporting Active Communities - A Volunteer Strategy for Southwark 2021 - 24

    To adopt the vision for volunteering in the borough and related recommendations.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the following vision for volunteering in the borough be adopted.

     

    We want Southwark to be a place where everyone feels confident to help and support their neighbours and local groups by getting involved in their communities. We want to build a Southwark where everyone has access to volunteering, so individuals and the places where we live, work, worship and visit can thrive.

    2.  The it be agreed that the priority for change we wish to affect through this work over the next three years are increasing diversity among volunteers, improving pathways to work through volunteering and continuing to focus on young adults volunteering. In particular t the following outcomes for the strategy to deliver have been set out: 

     

    ·  More people from our Black Asian and ethnic minority communities engage in volunteering

    ·  The diversity of trustees on voluntary and community sector (VCS) boards increases

    ·  More people accessing employment through the experience gained by volunteering

    ·  More organisations offer opportunities to volunteers

    ·  Improved experience of volunteering through support of host organisations

    ·  Residents feel supported in their neighbourhoods by active communities

    ·  Young adults are active volunteers

     

    3.  That the following key objectives for the strategy for the next three years 2021 to 2024 that will enable us together with our key partners to deliver our vision and these outcomes be approved: 

     

    a)  Increase awareness and knowledge of volunteering: We want to raise the profile of and celebrate volunteering. We know that people cannot take up opportunities if they do not know about them. We want everyone to have access to volunteering, and feel that this is an activity they can take part in, a normal part of life, and gain the benefits from this way of taking part. We want people to feel valued for their contributions to supporting their communities thrive.

     

    b)  Provide appropriate support to organisations that host volunteers: Volunteers are often the backbone to organisations; they provide the much-needed support in so many different areas. Many grass roots organisations and community groups are volunteer led and are only able to function because of volunteers. We want to make sure all groups and organisations who have volunteers are fully supported through best practice and reward and recognition

     

    c)  Make volunteering, inclusive, accessible meaningful and valued: We want to ensure volunteering is open to all.We know that currently the profile of who volunteers does not reflect the profile of the borough and that therefore many people do not access the benefits being a volunteer can bring. We want to change this. People who want to give their time should be able to easily find an opportunity and access volunteering no matter where they are from, live or their protected characteristics. Many look to volunteering to enhance their work skills and we want to support organisations to ensure their volunteering programme can create appropriate pathways into work.

     

    4.  That the action plan that sets out how the strategy will be delivered set out at Appendix 2 of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

9.

Driving up standards for the Private Rented Sector

10.

Southwark Empty Homes Action Plan

11.

Green Buildings Fund

    To agree that all secured carbon offset funding is held and consolidated in a carbon offset fund called the Green Buildings Fund to maximise carbon offsetting opportunities.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That all secured carbon offset funding is held and consolidated in a carbon offset fund called the Green Buildings Fund to maximise carbon offsetting opportunities.

     

    2.  That the Green Buildings Fund is spent to deliver carbon offsetting projects in accordance with the council’s climate change strategy and action plan. The initial focus of offsetting projects will be the decarbonisation and retrofitting of community buildings, schools and council housing.

     

    3.  That officers prepare recommendations with input from relevant cabinet members on which carbon offsetting projects to fund. The relevant delegated officer or the planning committee will approve the release of the funds for carbon offsetting projects using existing s106 processes.

     

    4.  That the funding criteria for carbon offsetting projects to be agreed by officers and relevant cabinet members.

     

    5.  That officers seek other sources of co-funding for the Green Buildings Fund, and review options for a new local carbon offset price in parallel to the New Southwark Plan early review, to encourage greater onsite carbon reduction performance and ensure the carbon offset price fully covers offsetting costs.

12.

Heritage Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

13.

Annual Workforce Equalities Report

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    To note the annual workforce report.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the Annual Workforce Report attached as Appendix 1 to the report, including the Protected Characteristics and Workforce Profile (Section 1), General Workforce Data (Section 2), Pay Gap reports (Section 3) and the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Action plan (Section 4) and the covering report be noted.

     

    2.  That it be noted that officers will continue to develop and deliver the council’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion action plan including the recommendations under Southwark Stands Together – Workforce Work stream to improve EDI  across our workforce.

14.

Appropriation of 86, 88 and 114 Vestry Road SE5 8PQ

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    To approve the appropriation of the land to facilitate the carrying out of the development proposals for the area.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the land shown edged red on the plan at Appendix A of the report that is currently held for housing purposes be confirmed as no longer required for those purposes and the appropriation of the land to planning purposes to facilitate the carrying out of the development proposals for the area in accordance with section 226 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 and section 122(1) of the Local Government Act 1972. be approved.

     

    2.  That following completion of the appropriation at paragraph 1 of the report that the land shown edged red on the plan at Appendix A be confirmed as no longer be required for planning purposes and the appropriation of the land to housing purposes in accordance with section 9 of the Housing Act 1985 and section 122(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 be approved.

15.

Pupil Place Planning Report 2021

16.

Gateway 1 Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) Taxi Framework

    To approve the procurement strategy for Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) taxis for children, young people and vulnerable adults, which is to undertake a competitive tender process for a four-year framework agreement commencing on 1 September 2022 until 31 August 2026.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the procurement strategy outlined in the report for special educational needs and disability (SEND) taxis for children, young people and vulnerable adults, which is to undertake a competitive tender process for a four year framework agreement commencing on 1 September 2022 until 31 August 2026 for an estimated annual cost of £2m making the total for four years £8m be approved.

     

    2.  That gateway 2 award of contract be delegated to the strategic director of children’s and adults’ services for the reasons noted in paragraph 29 of the report.

17.

Response to Cabinet Report of the Education and Local Economy Scrutiny Commission: Education: Children's Experience and Education during the Covid-19 Pandemic

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    To consider the responses to the recommendations in respect of the scrutiny commission report.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the response from the deputy leader and cabinet member for children, young people and education to the 15 June 2021 cabinet report from education and local economy scrutiny commission: education: children's experience and education during the Covid-19 Pandemic be noted.