Agenda and minutes
PDF 180 KBVenue: Rooms GO2A, B and C, 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH
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: Please note that cabinet meetings are usually live streamed. If you address the meeting, please do not disclose any information you do not wish to be in the public domain. Livestream at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nc67jKUa_n8 to attend in person please contact the above constitutional officer.
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Notice of Intention to conduct business in a closed meeting, and any representations received
To note the items specified which will be considered in a closed meeting. Minutes: There were none. |
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Apologies
To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jasmine Ali and Helen Dennis. |
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Notification of any items of Business which the Chair Deems Urgent
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 and urgent item:
· Item 15: Creation of a New Senior Management Post: Director, Communications, Engagement and Change.
Reasons for urgency and lateness will be specified in the relevant minute. |
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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: The following members declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in respect of Item 11: Housing Revenue Account – Final Rent and charges report 2024-25 as follows:
· Councillor Evelyn Akoto: leaseholder · Councillor Natasha Ennin: council tenant · Councillor Darren Merrill: has a business that rents a garage · Councillor Martin Seaton: leaseholder. |
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Minutes
To approve as a correct record the minutes of the open section of the meeting held on 5 December 2023. Supporting documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 December 2023 be approved as a correct record and signed by the chair. |
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Public Question Time (15 Minutes)
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 public questions is midnight Thursday 11 January 2023. Minutes: 1. Jeremy Harrington
Council assembly motions on agenda refers to “Southwark stands with the trans community policy. Can this policy be reviewed before it is ratified? In para 3c vi, I suggest … work with local businesses across Southwark to try and improve the provision of gender neutral toilets while maintaining female-only toilets across the borough.
Response by Councillor Stephanie Cryan, Cabinet Member for Communities, Democracy and Finance
It is the council’s position that whilst we want to see improved provision of gender-neutral toilets, both in council buildings and across the borough, that this should be in addition to existing single-sex facilities.
Motions from council assembly set out recommendations for cabinet, which we take into account. In this case our position as a cabinet is that this motion will be implemented on the understanding set out above.
2. Tristan Honeyborne
Please can Cllr McAsh confirm whether controlled parking zones (CPZs) in Southwark will be used to reduce car ownership?
Response by Councillor James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Clean Air and Streets
The purpose of exploring the introduction of controlled parking zones is to secure the expeditious, convenient, safe and free movement of trafficand the provision of suitable and adequate parking facilities. Reduction of car ownership is an ambition of the council, as set out in our Streets for People strategy, but this is not the purpose of controlled parking.
3. Clive Rates
Could Councillor McAsh please confirm that if the public consultation fails to show strong resident support for Southwark’s proposal to install a CPZ in Dulwich Village he will drop the proposal entirely? Will the same apply for the CPZ consultations in Nunhead and Queens Road ?
Response by Councillor James McAsh, Cabinet Member for Climate Emergency, Clean Air and Streets
The consultation remains active at this point and therefore we cannot pre-empt the potential outcome at this stage. We will consider the consultation responses and all other relevant evidence. Any proposals will go through the council’s normal governance and decision-making process. As questioners 2 and 3 were not in attendance, the leader confirmed their questions and responses would be included in the published minutes of the meeting. |
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Deputation Requests
To consider any deputation requests. The deadline for the receipt of deputation requests is midnight Thursday 11 January 2023. Supporting documents: Minutes: The report had not been circulated five clear days in advance of the meeting. The chair agreed to accept this item as urgent (the requests had been received in line with the council’s constitutional deadline for the receipt of deputation requests).
RESOLVED:
1. That the following deputation requests be heard:
· North East Local Housing Forum on Housing Revenue Account - Final Rent and Charges Report 2024-25 · Local residents on controlled parking zone plans for Dulwich.
2. A spokesperson for each deputation addressed cabinet for five minutes and questions were asked of the deputations for a period of five minutes. |
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Corporate Parenting Annual Report 2022-23
To note the progress of corporate parenting strategy, areas of focus for 2024-25 and work of the corporate parenting committee. Supporting documents: Minutes: Rukiya Davenport, Chair of Speakerbox, Southwark Children in Care Council was in attendance to provide her comments on the report and answer questions.
RESOLVED:
1. That progress of the corporate parenting strategy, areas of focus for 2024-25 and work of the corporate parenting committee be noted.
2. That it be noted a child friendly easy read version of the report will be shared widely with children in care and care leavers and made publicly available and easily accessible on the council’s website. |
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Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge - Report and Action Plan
To endorse the action plan which responds to the eleven recommendations from the Corporate Peer Challenge Report.
Supporting documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
1. That the Local Government Association’s Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC) report attached at Appendix 1 of the report be noted.
2. That the action plan set out in Appendix 2 of the report, which responds to the eleven recommendations from the Corporate Peer Challenge report be endorsed. |
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Placement Policy for Temporary Accommodation and Private Rented Sector Offers
To approve the placement policy for temporary accommodation (TA) and private rented sector offers (PRSO). Supporting documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
1. That the placement policy for temporary accommodation (TA) and private rented sector offers (PRSO) (Appendix 1 of the report) be approved.
2. That an annual review of the placement policy which takes account of service user feedback be agreed. |
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Housing Revenue Account - Final Rent and Charges Report 2024-25
To agree recommendations associated with the housing revenue account rent setting and budget for 2024 – 2025. Supporting documents: Minutes: Having declared a disclosable pecuniary interest, Councillors Evelyn Akoto, Natasha Ennin, Darren Merrill and Martin Seaton withdrew from the meeting while this item was being discussed.
Appendix 2 setting out feedback from local housing forum meetings was published and circulated in advance of the meeting.
RESOLVED:
1. That a rent increase of 7.7% for all directly and tenant managed (TMO) housing stock within the council’s housing revenue account be agreed. This is in accordance with the government’s guideline rent formula of CPI+1% (based on the September Consumer Price Index) as set out at paragraphs 12-14 of the report, with effect from 1 April 2024.
2. That a rent increase of 7.7% for the council’s shared ownership stock as set out at paragraphs 15-16 of the report be agreed with effect from 1 April 2024.
3. That the increases to tenant service charges, comprising estate cleaning, grounds maintenance, communal lighting and door entry maintenance as set out in paragraphs 17-18 of the report be agreed with effect from 1 April 2024.
4. That the increase in sheltered housing service charges as set out in paragraph 19 of the report be agreed with effect from 1 April 2024.
5. That the increase in charges for garages and other non-residential facilities as set out in paragraphs 20-21 of the report be agreed with effect from 1 April 2024.
6. That it be noted that a review of garage charging policy including the concessionary scheme will be undertaken and proposals brought forward following consultation with residents to cabinet in the New Year as set out in paragraph 22 of the report.
7. That the increase in tenant heating charges, including metered charges as set out in paragraphs 23-42 of the report be agreed with effect from 1 April 2024. |
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Policy and Resources Strategy: Capital Monitoring Report 2023-24
To approve the virements and variations to the general fund and housing investment capital programme and the new capital bids and note related recommendations. Supporting documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
1. That the virements and variations to the general fund and housing investment capital programme as detailed in Appendix D of the report and the new capital bids in Appendix E of the report be approved.
2. That the significant funding requirement of £263m which needs to be identified for the general fund programme to be fully delivered over the remaining term of the programme, as detailed in Appendix A of the report be noted.
3. That the £1.7bn housing investment programme to be fully delivered over the remaining term of the programme, as detailed in Appendix C of the report be noted.
4. That the mitigating actions to ensure the affordability of the housing investment programme and the sustainability of the housing revenue account be noted. |
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Policy and Resources Strategy: Revenue Monitoring Report, 2023-24
To note the forecast revenue outturn position and approve the interdepartmental budget movements and the approach proposed in principle to reduce the housing revenue account contribution to capital. Supporting documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
That the following be noted:
1. The adverse variance of £3.4m forecast for the General Fund in 2023-24.
2. The continuing budget pressures in:
· Temporary accommodation · No recourse to public funds (NRPF) · Home to school transport.
3. The progress on plans to contain general fund projected overspends since month 4 reporting (Appendix B of the report).
4. The dedicated schools grant (DSG) in-year pressure of £0.4m, an improvement from £0.6m reported at month 4 and consistent with the Safety Valve Agreement.
5. The housing revenue account forecast of £16.8m, an adverse movement of £2.9m since month 4, and the mitigations in place to contain this.
6. The ongoing inclement macro-economic environment, with inflation running at 3.9% in November (6.7% in September), and interest rates remain at 5.25%.
That the following be approved:
7. The interdepartmental budget movements that exceed £250k, as shown in Appendix A of the report (noting those under this threshold).
8. The approach proposed in principle in paragraph 19 of the report to reduce the HRA revenue contribution to capital in order to preserve reserves and to fund any resulting shortfall in the capital asset management programme through borrowing, noting the impact this will have on borrowing headroom and financing budgets. |
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Motions Referred from Council Assembly
To consider the following motions referred from council assembly 22 November 2023:
· Giving our children and young people the best start in life · Protecting Southwark Parks from anti-social behaviour · Homelessness and rough sleeping · Ending violence against women and girls · Towards a greater provision of public toilets · Southwark stands with the trans community. Supporting documents: Minutes: RESOLVED:
That the motion referred from council assembly as a recommendation to cabinet, set out below be agreed.
Giving our children and young people the best start in life
1. The opening statement of the council’s delivery plan is “We will support children and young people to thrive”.
2. We are delivering excellent schools:
a. Under this Southwark Labour administration, our council is delivering the best possible start in life for our children. The recent Ofsted report for our children’s services was rated Good and reported that “Children are at the heart of practice in Southwark”. With 97% of our schools rated good or outstanding, education in Southwark has never been stronger.
b. Today education outcomes for our children and young people are consistently above the national average with many of our schools among the best 10% state-funded schools in the country.
c. Children in our care are also achieving phenomenal results. This year the children in our care achieved straight A’s, B’s, ABC’s, Distinctions and Merits, with one student achieving AAA* to meet (and then accept) their offer from St Hugh’s College, Oxford University. Ten students successfully progressed on to their choice of further education. As corporate parents, we couldn’t be more proud of what children in our care have achieved.
3. We are delivering Free Healthy School Meals:
a. This year marks 10 years since Southwark Council began providing universal free school meals for all primary school children, improving health outcomes for children and reducing the prevalence of obesity.
b. Now we are providing Free Heathy Schools for our nursery settings and this autumn we are piloting Free Heathy School meals for secondary school children in need.
c. This extra support is a lifeline for families through austerity and now the cost of living crisis. Along with our Holiday Fun programme makes sure that children in need have activities through the school holidays.
d. During the pandemic Southwark Council worked with the Teaching Schools Alliance and local residents to raise £500k for laptops and tablets for any child who needs one.
4. We are committed to delivering support for 100% of children and young people with a mental health need, special education needs and or disabilities:
a. In 2020 Southwark council opened The Nest, our free mental health drop-in for children and young people. We invested £2 million into schools as part of our commitment to support 100% of children and young people with a diagnosable mental health need.
b. Southwark is home to 9,000 Children with Special Education Needs, 3,000 of those children are on Education Health and Care plans. We have special needs schools, and have launched a SEND strategy for faster assessments and more opportunities for children and young people with special needs and or disabilities.
5. We are delivering justice for our young people:
a. Our Youth Justice Team shows a consistently lower reoffending rate than the national average, and lower than London as a whole.
b. Our service rated Good and the lead ... view the full minutes text for item 14. |
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Creation of a New Senior Management Post: Director, Communications, Engagement and Change
To approve the creation of a new post, director, communications, engagement and change. Supporting documents: Minutes: It was not possible to circulate the report five clear days in advance of the meeting. The chair agreed to accept the item as urgent because a decision was required to approve the new director role and so move forward with the timeline for implementation of the reorganisation of senior management arrangements for the strategy and communities department as set out to staff.
RESOLVED:
That the creation of a new post, director, communications, engagement and change be approved. |