Agenda and minutes

Cabinet - Tuesday 16 June 2020 4.00 pm

Venue: Online/Virtual. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting. Please contact constitutional.team@southwark.gov.uk for a link to the online meeting

Contact: Paula Thornton and Virginia Wynn-Jones  Phone: 020 7525 4395/7055 Email:  paula.thornton@southwark.gov.uk;  virginia.wynn-jones@southwark.gov.uk

Note: Link to stream of meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4YUAOcC5Ag 

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 late item:

     

    ·  Item 8a: #SouthwarkTogether: Council response to COVID-19 pandemic (June 2020 update).

     

    Reasons for urgency and lateness will be specified in the relevant minute.

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.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    No representations were received in respect of the items listed as closed business for the meeting.

4.

Disclosure of Interests and Dispensations

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

    Minutes:

    Councillors Evelyn Akoto and Kieron Williams declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in respect of item 12: Gateway 3 – Variation Decision Housing Major Works (as Southwark leaseholders) and confirmed their intention to withdraw from the meeting when this item was being discussed.

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 10 June 2020.

    Minutes:

    1.  Public question from Phil Addison

     

    ''Will Southwark refuse extending Dulwich Hamlet Football Club's lease and undertake an immediate risk assessment of Greendale Fields astroturf site, to ensure its maintenance and its safe use by our community.'' 

     

    Response by Councillor Johnson Situ, Cabinet Member for Growth, Development and Planning

     

    The current lease over the astroturf pitch at Greendale was granted in December 2018 following discussions that unlocked the club’s return to its Champion Hill stadium, from which it had previously been evicted by the stadium owners, and saved the club from the risk of extinction.  The club had advised the council that it is their intention to renew the artificial grass pitch to provide a new playing surface capable of being used by both the club and wider local community, and the lease included provisions allowing for this to happen.  Due to the condition of the existing pitch the lease also restricts use of the pitch to informal use until such time as a new surface has been installed.  The club is party to an application to redevelop both the Champion Hill stadium and the area of the astroturf pitch covered by the above lease, however the timescale for determining this application has been severely impacted by the current emergency resulting from the coronavirus pandemic; It is now anticipated to be determined this summer. 

     

    The club’s ongoing tenure at Champion Hill is, in effect, dependent upon its lease over the astroturf pitch at Greendale being in place, and the lease also included provisions for the club to apply to the council for it to be renewed for a period of one year, annually up to 2023.  The council was approached by the club in March 2020 to request that the lease be renewed.  While the existing lease continues to run to 31 May 2020, the club required that the renewal lease be granted by the end of March in order to meet the FA and National League’s deadlines for confirming the club’s league place for the 2020-21 football season.  Pursuant to the club’s request, the council agreed to grant DHFC the renewed lease and this was completed on 27 March 2020, and in effect extends the existing term by one year to 31 May 2021.  To date, the council has not taken a decision regarding the longer term future of the astroturf pitch site, and it is intended that a decision would be taken by cabinet following resolution of the planning application for the site.

     

    Supplemental question

     

    Phil Addison asked to have a named Southwark councillor or officer in order to take up issues in respect of the Greendale site (to ensure that the terms of the lease in respect of maintenance are kept). Councillor Johnson Situ replied by confirming that he would be the relevant Southwark councillor and Councillor Rebecca Lury in respect of the leisure function. Councillor Situ was happy to have a discussion with Phil Addison and provide an officer contact.

     

    2.  Public question from Larry Broomhead  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Minutes

7.

Deputation Requests

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    To consider any deputation requests. The deadline for the receipt of a deputation request is midnight Wednesday 10 June 2020.

    Minutes:

    None were received.

8.

#Southwark Together: Council Response to COVID-19 Pandemic - Recommendations of Overview and Scrutiny Committee

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    To consider recommendations from overview and scrutiny committee in respect of the council response to Covid-19 Pandemic and to provide a response back to overview and scrutiny committee within eight weeks.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Councillor Ian Wingfield, chair of overview and scrutiny committee presented this report to cabinet.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    That it be noted that cabinet have responded to the recommendations from overview and scrutiny committee in respect of the council response to Covid-19 Pandemic (as set out in item 8a on the agenda).

8a

#SouthwarkTogether: Council response to COVID-19 pandemic (June 2020 update)

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    Minutes:

    The report had not been circulated five clear days in advance of the meeting. The chair agreed to accept the report as urgent so that the council could put in place any further, necessary next steps on policy and resource direction for the council with regards the ongoing response to, and planning for renewal from, the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the borough.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the update on the council’s overall response to COVID-19 pandemic, following the report to cabinet on 5 May, working together with all our communities as part of our #SouthwarkTogether response (see Appendix 1 of the report for departmental summaries) be noted.

     

    2.  That further condolence be expressed to all those who have lost loved ones at this time and welcomes the work underway with partners and the community to support the humanitarian aspect of this pandemic as set out in paragraphs 43 to 46 of the report.

     

    3.  That the risk of COVID-19 related death according to national data among Black ethnic groups is almost twice than among those of white ethnicity and agrees that COVID-19 has exposed some of the most entrenched inequalities in our society be noted.

     

    4.  That it be agreed that racism, injustice, and inequality have no place in Southwark, and commits all in the council to work with our communities to challenge ourselves and others to be better at every opportunity.

     

    5.  That a programme of work to respond to the inequalities exposed by COVID-19 and other recent events, and articulated by the Black Lives Matter protests, reporting back to cabinet in September 2020 is taken forward.

     

    6.  That all residents, staff, partners, volunteers, providers, suppliers and all in our community who continue to patiently observe guidance during lockdown and for their ongoing dedication in supporting our residents through this crisis safely be thanked.

     

    7.  That schools, and parents, carers and guardians, be thanked for their work to support those children who have returned safely to classroom settings in recent weeks whilstalso continuing to support learning at home for the vast majority of children.

     

    8.  That local business be thanked for their continuing support to local communities at this time, welcoming back to our town centres and high streets those establishments that are able to safely re-open; and continues to encourage those in greatest need and not eligible for other government support to apply for a share of the additional £3.4m discretionary funding made available by the council for business hardship

     

    9.  That the effort of all those involved in the community hub in assisting vulnerable residents during the worst impact of the pandemic be supported and officers be instructed to bring forward a report on learning and the longer term approach to cabinet in September 2020.

     

    10.  That the the establishment of a member led COVID-19 oversight board as a sub-board of the health and wellbeing board to monitor the delivery of the Southwark COVID-19 Outbreak Control Plan, as part of our Test and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8a

9.

Policy and Resources Strategy Capital Monitoring Report Outturn 2019-20

10.

Policy and Resources Strategy: Revenue Monitoring Outturn, including Treasury Management 2020-21

    To note the general fund outturn position for 2019-20 and the key adverse variations and budget pressures underlying the outturn position.

     

    To approve and note general fund budget movements.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the general fund outturn position for 2019-20 (Table 1 of the report) be noted.

     

    2.  That the initial tranche of Covid-19 emergency grant funding of £11.1m, received on 27 March 2020 be noted.

     

    3.  That authority be delegated to the strategic director of finance and governance in consultation with the cabinet member for finance, performance and Brexit, to determine the most appropriate allocation of Covid-19 emergency funding, including future tranches, to council priorities.

     

    4.  That the key adverse variations and budget pressures underlying the outturn position be noted:

     

      (i)  The dedicated school grants (DSG) outturn position of an £18m deficit and the significant pressures on the high needs budgets (paragraphs 35-36 of the report)

     

      (ii)  the continuing budget pressures on temporary accommodation (paragraphs 52-53 of the report)

     

      (iii)  the costs of implementing the tree recovery plan (paragraphs 39-40 of the report)

     

      (iv)  emerging financial issues and claims associated with the leisure management contract (paragraph 41 of the report).

     

    5.  That the utilisation of £4m contingency (paragraph 66 of the report) to offset adverse variances on temporary accommodation, tree maintenance and leisure contract be noted.

     

    6.  That the housing revenue account outturn for 2019-20 (Table 2, paragraphs 62-71 of the report) be noted.

     

    7.  That the detailed movements of earmarked reserves as set out in Appendices B, C and D of the report be noted.

     

    8.  That treasury management activity in 2019-20 (paragraph 90-98 of the report) be noted.

     

    9.  That the interdepartmental budget movements that exceed £250k, as shown in Appendix A of the report be approved.

     

    10.  That the interdepartmental general fund budget movements that are less than £250k as shown in Appendix A of the report be noted.

     

    11.  That the outturn position implications for the 2020-21 budgets and beyond (set out in paragraphs 85-89 of the report) be noted.

11.

Former Walworth Town Hall

    To establish a management body for the community space comprising council, developer and community membership.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    Decisions of the Cabinet

     

    1.  That a management body for the community space comprising council, developer and community membership be established.

     

    2.  That a £50,000 grant p.a. towards funding the community space management for an initial three-year period be agreed and to then be reviewed.

     

    3.  That officers be instructed to recruit the community membership through an open selection process.

     

    4.  That officers be instructed to work with the management body to develop the principles set out in the report into an appropriate constitution prior to receiving council funding.

     

    5.  That the management body once constituted selects an operator for the community space based on the principles in the report and is responsible for managing and monitoring the agreement with the operator.

     

    6.  That it be noted that the community arts and culture provision within the Walworth Town Hall and new Southwark Heritage centre and Walworth Library combine to deliver 1,248m2 of publically accessible space which exceeds the pre-fire figure of 660m2 (these figures are based on current available information). This equates to an 89% increase of publically accessible space.

     

    Decision of the Leader of the Council

     

    7.  That authority be delegated to the cabinet member for growth development and planning, in consultation with the relevant chief officer, to make any final decision necessary in relation to the establishment of the management board, in terms of its format and composition.

12.

Gateway 3 – Variation Decision Housing Major Works Contracts

    To approve the variation of contracts for area 3, Camberwell and Peckham, contract area 4, Nunhead, Peckham Rye and Dulwich and area 5, Borough-wide street properties, temporary accommodation and major voids.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Councillors Evelyn Akoto and Kieron Williams having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in respect this item (as Southwark leaseholders) withdrew from the meeting while this item was being discussed.

     

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the variation of contract area 3, Camberwell and Peckham contract to Engie Regeneration Ltd (formerly Keepmoat Regeneration (Apollo) Ltd) (Engie), to extend the term of the contract for a period of two years from 14 June 2020 at an estimated maximum cost of £50m per annum, making a revised contract value of £550m for twelve years be approved.

     

    2.  That the variation of contract area 4, Nunhead, Peckham Rye and Dulwich contract to A&E Elkins Ltd (A&E Elkins) to extend the term of the contract for a period of two years from 14 June 2020 at an estimated maximum cost of £25m per annum, making a revised contract value of £290m for twelve years be approved.

     

    3.  That the variation of contract area 5, Borough-wide street properties, temporary accommodation and major voids contract to Saltash Enterprises Ltd (Saltash) for a period of two years from 14 June 2020 at an estimated maximum cost of £15m per annum, making a revised contract value of £90m for twelve years be approved.

13.

Gateway 2 - Award for Preconstruction Services Abbeyfield Estate HINE (Maydew House) works

    To approve the award of the pre-construction services for Abbeyfield Estate High Investment Need Estate (Maydew House) works.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    1.  That the award of the pre-construction services for Abbeyfield Estate High Investment Need Estate (Maydew House) works to Bouygues UK Ltd for a period of 12 weeks from July 2020 be approved.

     

    2.  That it be noted that a separate gateway 2 report will be presented in autumn 2020 for the award of the main works contract which is highly likely to be the same contractor as detailed in paragraphs 18-19 of the report.

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.

14.

Minutes

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    To approve as a correct record the closed minutes of the meeting held on 7 April 2020.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    The minutes of the meeting held on 7 April 2020 were approved as a correct record and signed by the chair.

     

15.

Gateway 2 - Award for Preconstruction Services Abbeyfield Estate HINE (Maydew House) works

Minutes:

The cabinet considered the closed information relating to this item. Please see item 13 for the decision.