Agenda and minutes

Cabinet - Tuesday 4 February 2020 4.00 pm

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

Contact: Paula Thornton  Phone: 020 7525 4395 Email:  paula.thornton@southwark.gov.uk

Link: Livestream/Video (YouTube)

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies

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    To receive any apologies for absence.

    Minutes:

    Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Johnson Situ. Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors Vicky Mills and Leo Pollak.

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 late items:

     

    ·  Item 7:  Deputation requests

    ·  Item 16:  Policy and Resources Strategy 2020-21.

3.

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

4.

Disclosure of Interests and Dispensations

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

    Minutes:

    There were no declarations of interest.

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 a public question is midnight Wednesday 29 January 2020.

    Minutes:

    There were no public questions.

6.

Minutes

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    To approve as a correct record the minutes of the open section of the meeting held on 21 January 2020.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the minutes of the open section of the meeting held on 21 January 2020 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 a deputation request was midnight Wednesday 29 January 2020.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the deputations from the Rotherhithe Area Housing Forum, Southwark Group of Tenants Organisations, Tenant Council and Home Owner Council be heard.

     

    The organisations raised concerns with the Southwark Resident Participation Framework, noting issues with the size of the proposed geographical areas, the perceived lack of engagement with current tenant organisations and the council moving away from elected representatives of area groups to individual representation, and the de-emphasis from the scrutiny responsibility of the current tenant organisations.

     

    Councillor Kieron Williams, cabinet member for housing management and modernisation, agreed to meet with the deputations and relevant officer to discuss these matters.  He also tabled an amendment to Item 8, Southwark Resident Participation Framework, to support SGTO’s involvement in the review of the framework.

8.

Southwark Resident Participation Framework

    To note feedback from the resident involvement review consultation and agree related recommendations.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    An amendment to the recommendations set out in the report, to add Resolutions 10 and 11 below, was moved by Councillor Vicky Mills, seconded by Councillor Stephanie Cryan, and agreed.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the feedback from the resident involvement review consultation which ran between July to October 2019 and had over 1,120 responses and can be found in Appendix 1 of the report be noted.

     

    2.  That the actions to reaffirm and further strengthen the council’s support for tenants and residents associations (TRAs), including to work with TRAs to agree a joint plan to update and enhance the support available to them, as set out in paragraph 40 of the report be agreed.

     

    3.  That a new residents participation fund (RPF) with an annual budget of £900,000 be established that directs more resources to grassroots resident involvement activities  that benefit people living in council homes, as set out in paragraph 87, 88 and 89 of the report.

     

    4.  That the updated resident participation framework, including local housing forums, a new digital residents panel, Southwark wide tenants and homeowners forums, and a programme of resident working groups to look in depth at issues of most interest to residents, as set out in paragraphs 50 and 58 of the report be agreed.

     

    5.  The actions to give council tenants and homeowners a central role on the council’s housing scrutiny commission as a further way to hold the council’s housing services to account, as set out in paragraphs 64 and 65 of the report be agreed

     

    6.  The actions to reaffirm and further strengthen the council’s support for tenant management, as set out in paragraph 76.

     

    7.  To extend the existing grants for independent tenant and homeowner support and advice services provided by Southwark Group of Tenants Organisations and the Citizens Advice Bureau for a further six months to the 31 September 2020 to allow time for the procurement of contracts for these services.

     

    8.  The implementation timeline for the above changes, as set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

     

    9.  That a review of the new resident participation framework be undertaken after the first year in order to assess its effectiveness and whether any adjustments are needed, whether it meets the requirement to strengthen the tenants and residents’ voice, and whether it is adequately supported by resources and staff, with a report back to cabinet by September 2021.

     

    10.  That Southwark Group of Tenants’ Organisations will be involved in the review.

     

    11.  That resident scrutiny is a core function of the Tenants’ Forum, Home Owners’ Forum and joint tenants and homeowners’ forum, and therefore the Housing scrutiny commission will have nominated places for tenants council, home owner council, and TMO representatives, who will be able to nominate an item on the agenda.


9.

Review of Grenfell Inquiry Phase 1 Recommendations

10.

Environment Scrutiny Commission Report on the Climate Emergency Road Map - Cabinet Response

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    To note the recommendations made by the environment scrutiny commission and agree the response. To also agree that the recommendations of the commission, and response from cabinet will form part of the consultation on the climate strategy when it is published. 

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the recommendations made by the environment scrutiny commission and agrees the response set out in the report be noted.

     

    2.  That the recommendations of the commission, and response from cabinet, form part of the consultation on the climate strategy when it is published.

11.

Update to the Fairer Future Procurement Framework and the Unite Construction Charter

12.

66 Linden Grove, London SE15 3LL

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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 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 the land shown edged red on the plan at Appendix A of the report 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 confirmed.

13.

Section 75 Agreement 2019-20 - Better Care Fund Pooled Budget

14.

Gateway 1 - Children's Residential Care and Independent Fostering Agencies (IFA)

    To approve the procurement strategy for the delivery of children’s residential care and Independent Fostering Agencies (IFAs), via the West London Alliance’s Framework for a period of 3 years with a start date of March 2020.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the procurement strategy outlined in the report for the delivery of children’s residential care and independent fostering agencies (IFAs), via the West London Alliance’s Framework that operates as a dynamic purchase vehicle (DPV) the estimated value of approximately £13 million per annum, for a period of three years making a total approximate contract value of £39 million with a start date of March 2020 be approved.

     

    2.  That it be noted that the approval of the procurement strategy would also involve joining the West London Alliance, with an estimated cost of £89,000 per annum for an intimal term of three years from 1 March 2020 to 28 February 2023, making an estimated total cost of £252,000 for three years which includes a one-off implementation cost of £12,000 in year 1.

     

    3.  That the award of the decision in the gateway 2 contract be delegated o the strategic director for children’s and adults’ services in consultation with the lead cabinet member for children’s  schools and  adults’ services as detailed in paragraph 51  of the report.

15.

Gateway 2 - Contract Award Approval: Local Community Offer (VCS Hubs)

    To approve the award of Lot 2 contract for the local community offer (information and support bub) for older people and their carers to Age UK Lewisham and Southwark for a period of three years from 1 June 2020 with an option to extend for a further two years (1+1).

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the award of lot 2 contract for the local community offer (Information and Support Hub) for older people and their carers to Age UK Lewisham and Southwark for a period of 3 years from 1 June 2020 with an option to extend for a further 2 years (1+1) for a maximum contract value of £5,444,030 be approved.

     

    2.  That it be noted that the lot 1 contract for local community offer (information and support hub) for all age disabilities and carers approved in the gateway 1 report will not be awarded at this time and a further review of the required service is being explored with a timescale of March 2020 for agreeing next steps.

     

    3.  That it be noted that the current arrangements expire on the 31 March 2020 and will be extended until 31 May 2020 to cover the period until the new contract starts on the 1 June 2020.

16.

Policy and Resources Strategy 2020-21

    To consider recommendations relating to the policy and resources strategy 2020-21.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Councillor Wingfield, chair of overview and scrutiny committee had submitted his apologies to cabinet (due to other council business) but submitted the following comments that were tabled at the meeting:

     

    1.  The recommendations are cross-party

     

    2.  Overview and scrutiny committee recognises and applauds the great amount of work and effort put in by the cabinet member for finance, the strategic director of finance and his officers, and is grateful for the presentations and fulsome answers given to questions by cabinet members and their respective strategic directors at the overview and scrutiny committee meeting

     

    3.  Overview and scrutiny committee  also recognises that this is a stable budget; endorses fully the commitment to the climate emergency fund; and acknowledges that some of overview and scrutiny committee’s recommendations are specific, others more presentational and general having applicability for future budgets (reflecting overview and scrutiny committee discussions)

     

    4.  Overview and scrutiny committee hopes cabinet will recognise that the recommendations are not meant in any way to be critical, and as such will take them on board in good faith.

     

    Cabinet thanked officers and the overview and scrutiny committee for their effort. 

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    That cabinet:

     

    1.  Noted that the 21 January 2020 cabinet report was considered by Overview and Scrutiny committee on 27 and 29 January 2020 and agreed the response to the recommendations arising.

     

    2.  Noted that though the final local government finance settlement had not been published at the time of writing the report, no changes from the provisional settlement published on 20 December 2019 were anticipated.

     

    3.  Noted that the report presented the final balanced general fund budget proposals for 2020-21 including:

     

    ·  Efficiencies and improved use of resources savings of £5.964m

    ·  Income generation proposals of £2.326m

    ·  Savings impacting on services of £0.420m

    ·  Commitments and growth of £19.790m

    ·  Pay awards and contractual inflation of £3.919m (excluding Children’s and Adults Services).

     

    4.  Agreed to submit this balanced one year 2020-21 budget to council assembly for approval.

     

    5.  Noted that in the summer of 2020 cabinet will receive a refreshed outlook of the financial position and specifically an update on local government financing in 2021-22 and beyond.

    NOTE: In accordance with overview and scrutiny procedure rule 16.2 (a) (budget and policy framework), this decision is not subject to call-in.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

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

 

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

17.

Minutes

    To approve as a correct record the minutes of the closed section of the meeting held on 21 January 2020.

Minutes:

The minutes of the closed section of the meeting held on 21 January 2020 were approved as a correct record and signed by the chair.

18.

Gateway 2 - Contract Award Approval: Local Community Offer (VCS Hubs)

Minutes:

The cabinet considered the closed information relating to this item. Please see item 15 for the decision.