Agenda and minutes

Cabinet - Tuesday 24 January 2012 4.00 pm

Venue: Ground Floor Meeting Room GO1A - 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

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    To receive any apologies for absence.

    Minutes:

    All members were present.

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:

    The chair gave notice of the following deputation requests which would be considered for reasons of urgency to be specified in the relevant minute:-

     

    • Camberwell After School Project
    • Community Action Southwark
    • Southwark Refugee Communities Forum

     

    Comments received in respect of item 9, housing revenue account – final rent setting and budget report 2012/13 were circulated at the meeting.

3.

Disclosure of Interests and Dispensations

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

    Minutes:

    The following declarations were made:

     

    ·  Item 12. Thames Tunnel - Response to Phase Two Public Consultation. Councillor Catherine McDonald declared a personal and prejudicial interest because she lives in close proximity to Maguire Street Pumping Station.

     

    ·  Item 12. Thames Tunnel - Response to Phase Two Public Consultation. Councillor Peter John declared a personal and non prejudicial interest as he lives in the area near to the Maguire Street Pumping Station and in his capacity as Chair of Governors at Riverside Primary School.

     

    ·  Item 9. Housing Revenue Account - Final Rent Setting and Budget Report 2012/13. Councillor Dora Dixon-Fyle declared a personal and non prejudicial interest as she is currently renting a council garage.

4.

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.

    Minutes:

    There were no public questions.

5.

Minutes

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    To approve as a correct record the minutes of the open section of the meeting held on 13 December 2011.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2011 be approved as a correct record and signed by the chair.

6.

Deputation requests

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    To consider any deputation requests.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    This item had not been circulated five clear days in advance of the meeting. The chair agreed to accept the item as urgent as the requests were all received in line with the constitutional deadline for the receipt of deputation requests and were therefore eligible for consideration by cabinet. Additionally the deputation requests related to an item on the agenda for this meeting.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the following deputation requests be heard in respect of the policy and resources strategy 2012/13-2014/15 revenue budget proposals.

     

    Camberwell After School Project

     

    The spokesperson addressed the meeting and expressed concern about the cuts being proposed to support ‘out of school’ activities and Saturday Schools for local children, when it is considered that such services were vital to the education of children and supports their achievements in main stream schooling.

     

    The deputation advised that after 26 years of delivering what was viewed to be essential services to thousands of local children and their hard pressed families, the Camberwell After School Project was now ‘at risk.’

     

    The project called on the council to:

     

    ·  Undertake a full equality impact analysis of these cuts before implementing this policy

    ·  Provide more, not less, support to such services at this time of financial stress

    ·  Investigate ways that schools could be providing more such support

    ·  Review the impact charges being made by the council for extra rent are having on delivery of these vital services to children and parents, and release appropriate premises to become community managed assets.

     

    Community Action Southwark

     

    The spokesperson addressed the meeting to make representation on behalf of the voluntary and community sector regarding the impact of the budget and to draw attention to the work and contribution that the sector makes in the borough.

     

    The spokesperson outlined three key areas of particular pressure:

     

    ·  Income - competition for non-state funding has increased along with demand

    ·  Workforce – as a result of cuts the voluntary sector workforce has fallen by 8.7%

    ·  Needs - reference to a recent shelter report that outlined there will be 70,000 children without a home in 2012, identification by Age UK of 2 million people with care needs and the impact on legal advice providers in Southwark if proposal to restrict legal aid goes ahead.

     

    Other key issues identified by the deputation included:

     

    ·  Recommendations and comments relating to the transition fund to mitigate the impact of budget cuts on the sector

    ·  Requesting  that the council consider sustainability as a key consideration

    ·  Implementation of a consistent approach to commissioning, tendering and procurement across all council departments

    ·  Moving towards 3 year funding

    ·  Requesting that the council engage the voluntary and community sector as it develops the community infrastructure levy.

7.

Policy and Resources Strategy 2012/13-2014/15 - Revenue Budget

8.

Report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Policy and Resources 2012/13 to 2014/15 - Provisional Local Government Settlement

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    To consider a report from the overview and scrutiny committee held on 9 January 2012 in respect of the policy and resources strategy 2012/13 to 2014/15, provisional local government settlement.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Councillor Catherine Bowman, chair of the overview and scrutiny committee presented the report to cabinet.

     

    Cabinet thanked the committee for their comments and contribution.

     

    A decision on this item was deferred to the cabinet meeting being held on 7 February 2012.  

Motion of Adjournment

At 5.20pm it was moved, seconded and

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the meeting stand adjourned for five minutes.

 

The meeting reconvened at 5.25pm.

9.

Housing Revenue Account - Final Rent Setting and Budget Report 2012/13

10.

London Councils Grants Scheme 2012/13

    To approve Southwark Council’s contribution to the London Councils Grants Scheme for 2012/13.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    That Southwark Council’s contribution to the London Councils Grants Scheme of £421,773 for 2012/13 be approved subject to approval of the budget proposals to be submitted to the council assembly in February 2012.

11.

Sheltered Housing Service Re-modelling

    To consider options available to the council as a result of the proposed loss of supporting people funding, following reductions in council funding as part of the government’s comprehensive spending review.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the proposal to consult on the introduction of a service charge for sheltered housing as a result of the proposed loss of supporting people funding, following reductions in council funding as part of the government’s comprehensive spending round be noted.

     

    2.  That tenants be consulted on the proposal to make a service charge for the sheltered housing service, and on the options available for future provision of a service for sheltered tenants, using an enhanced housing management model, and based on one of the three models set out below:

     

    Option 1 – Restructure of current service model (service hubs call out and warden visiting service).  This would involve a landlord service charge to tenants of £21.91 p/w. 

     

    Option 2 – Reduced service model (call out) based on a call out emergency response service only.  This would involve a basic landlord service charge to tenants of £6.68 p/w. 

     

    Option 3– Enhanced service model (resident warden) based on an on site warden available Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm each day.  This would involve a landlord service charge to tenants of £32.70 p/w. This was confirmed as cabinet’s preferred option.

     

    3.  That the cost of the transitional protection for existing tenants who are not eligible for housing benefit be met from the saving from adult social care budgets and that any new arrangements be put in place from April 2013.

     

    4.  That a review be carried out to consider the conversion of part of the council’s sheltered housing stock to extra care provision.

     

    5.  That the sheltered stock be subject to an updated options appraisal, especially as demand for both sheltered and extra care housing has increased significantly in recent years. The results of the appraisal will be subject to a further review and are likely to require cabinet input in deciding upon the longer term future of the stock.

12.

Thames Tunnel - Response to Phase Two Public Consultation

13.

Canada Water Area Action Plan

14.

Southwark Open Spaces Strategy

15.

Motions Referred from Council Assembly

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    To consider the following motions referred from council assembly held on 29 November 2011:

     

    • Motion on themed debate – housing
    • Retention of school crossing patrols in Dulwich
    • Safer neighbourhood team sergeants
    • Local government pension scheme

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    Motion on Themed Debate - Housing

     

    That the motion referred from council assembly as a recommendation to cabinet, set out below in italics be noted and agreed.

     

    (1)  That council assembly believes Southwark faces immense challenges in relation to its housing stock over the next 30 years that can only be resolved by taking a long-term, strategic approach.

     

    (2)  That council assembly notes that Southwark Council still owns 31% of Southwark’s housing stock (down from 70% in 1981) – around 40,000 homes. Despite this reduction in local authority control, there are nearly 17,000 people on the council’s waiting list.

     

    (3)  That council assembly believes that decent housing – where communities are mixed – is key to securing a better future for our young people, developing stable and vibrant communities, tackling crime and anti-social behaviour and improving public health.

     

    (4)  That council assembly notes the immediate challenge faced on estates with high investment needs including Abbeyfield Estate, Four Squares Estate and Hawkstone low rise and calls for dialogue between council and tenants and leaseholders to continue.

     

    (5)  That council assembly notes the uncertainty many tenants and leaseholders faced under the last housing investment programme, and welcomes the new £326 million, five year programme which will ensure every council home is warm, dry and safe by 2015/16.

     

    (6)  That council assembly also welcomes the review of leaseholder charges to ensure Southwark has an accurate, fair and transparent system of charging leaseholders for the services they receive.

     

    (7)  That council assembly notes the focus of the debate as outlined to all councillors in advance:

     

    ·  How do we balance the increasing demand for the council to supply housing with the need to maintain existing stock and with the limited geographical and financial resources available?

    ·  The proportion of housing stock in the private rented sector has ballooned in the last 30 years to a point where the numbers of private rented, privately owned and council homes are roughly equal.  How do we ensure tenants rights and responsibilities are guaranteed in a sector over which the council has less control?

    ·  What role can other social landlords play in helping to ensure we deliver the housing which Southwark needs?

     

    (8)  That council assembly welcomes the council’s decision to set up an independent housing commission to investigate these issues outlined above and calls on members and residents to contribute their views.

     

    Retention of School Crossing Patrols in Dulwich

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the motion referred from council assembly as a recommendation to cabinet, set out below in italics be noted and agreed.

     

    (1)  That council assembly;

     

    ·  Notes the unprecedented financial situation the council must deal with following estimated Tory/Liberal Democrat government cuts over three years of £90 million to the council’s non-housing budget.

     

    ·  Notes that as part of looking for all possible sources of funding or ways of continuing to run school crossing patrols, senior council officers are currently in discussions with local schools; both private and community and local residents across the borough.

     

    (2)  That council assembly further  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

Exclusion of Press and Public

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in category 3 of paragraph 10.4 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules of the Southwark Constitution.

 

The following is a summary of the decisions taken in the closed session of the meeting.

16.

Minutes

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    To approve as a correct record the closed minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2011.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    The minutes of the closed session of the meeting held on 13 December 2011 were approved as a correct record and signed by the chair.