Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the extraordinary and ordinary meetings held on 25 November 2014 were confirmed as correct.

The minutes of the JNC Appointments Panel held on 25 November 2014 were noted.

Councillor Rodwell presented a verbal statement updating the Assembly on the arrangements being put in place to celebrate the 50th anniversary of becoming a London Borough. This was kick started with the raising of a new celebratory flag designed by a local student at both the Town Hall and Civic Centre. The flag will fly throughout 2015 and will act as a symbol of being one Borough and one Community.

Councillor Rodwell referred to the varied programme of activities and events that will be taking place across the borough over the year. He emphasised that residents will be leading on many of the projects championed through former councillor Milton McKenzie, the aim being to showcase to everyone r that this is the growth borough in London to do business with. The Council is anticipating local businesses will sponsor many of the events. Councillor Rodwell concluded his statement that despite the challenges facing this Council he is confident that the collaboration of the Council facilitating, the community leading and local business sponsoring will engender a sense of Borough pride and create social responsibility towards each other in Barking and Dagenham over the coming year.

The Assembly noted with deep regret that former Councillor Val Rush had passed away on 22 December 2014 following a long illness. Her funeral took place on 10 January 2015 at Forest Park Crematorium in Hainault and was attended by a number of councillors.

Councillor Rodwell led the tributes to Val with further reflections from the Chair and other Councillors who all commented on her hard work and dedication both to the Council and her constituents, as well as being a tireless political campaigner.

The Assembly stood for a minute's silence as a mark of respect.

The Assembly resolved to appoint Councillors Fergus, Haroon, Keller and Kangethe to make up a pool of four non-Cabinet Members to serve on various JNC Panels.

The Assembly received a report from the Cabinet Member for Finance setting out proposals to establish a revised Local Council Tax Support Scheme (LCTSS) from April 2015.

The Cabinet Member explained that the LCTSS was introduced from April 2013 following the abolition of Council Tax benefit as a consequence of the Welfare Act 2012.  Support through the local scheme attracted central funding by way of a fixed two year grant, based on prevailing expenditure set in 2012/13 but with a factored reduction of 10%.  The existing local scheme had included and replicated annual uprating of social security rates for housing benefit and it was proposed that this would continue in 2015/16.  In addition, the new scheme would continue to include many of the features of the existing scheme including those discretionary elements as detailed in the report.

The proposed changes to the current scheme were summarised as:

·  Support for working age recipients would be capped at 75% as opposed to 85% under the current scheme meaning that, as a minimum, recipients would need to make a 25% contribution of their Council Tax charge;

·  Removal of the second Adult rebate scheme as an alternative award of support;

·  Removal of backdated claims for working age residents;

·  Reducing the maximum capital threshold for working age residents for CTSS eligibility from £16,000 to £6,000.

The Cabinet Member explained that as there were proposed changes to the existing LCTSS an extensive consultation exercise was carried out.  Disappointingly, of the 16,000 residents who were written to only 147 responses were received and there was a relatively low turnout at two public meetings.  A full report on the consultation was appended to the report together with a detailed equalities impact assessment that was undertaken in the light of the public consultation.  

It was noted that the Public Accounts and Audit Select Committee had also considered the changes to the scheme as part of the budget savings exercise.  The Committee had supported the proposals subject to a review as to whether any additional funds could be made available to top up the Discretionary Housing Payments scheme in order to provide support to those most vulnerable sections of the community.  The Cabinet Member confirmed that some funding had been identified which would act as a financial safety net and this would be closely monitored, as would the collection rates which had proved higher than was expected.

In response to the report Councillor Gill asked the Cabinet Member to clarify:

(a)  The criteria that would be applied to the use of the discretionary monies and the estimated cost of administering the scheme; and

(b)  How the changes would affect the most vulnerable, also bearing in mind a possible Council Tax increase in the coming year.

The Cabinet Member explained the approach that would be adopted, including a close alignment to the discretionary housing support policy criteria but added that the amount of discretionary funding that would be available would be limited and therefore it was important to ensure that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 42.

Question 1

From Councillor McCarthy

“The Cabinet Member for Regeneration stated at the last Assembly meeting on 25 November 2014 that £190m had been brought in for the London Overground extension to Barking Riverside.  However, the Chancellor George Osborne only announced a government loan of £55m to support the scheme at the last Autumn Statement.  Could the Cabinet Member for Regeneration please explain the shortfall in funding and how the financial gap will be addressed?”

Response from Councillor Geddes, Cabinet Member for Regeneration

“Cllr. McCarthy is correct in that, when the Chancellor announced in the Autumn Statement that he was providing funding for the project, it was on the basis of providing a loan for only £55m of the project's total costs of around £190m.  Nevertheless, this sum bridges the remaining funding gap and means that progress can take place.

The Government contribution constitutes roughly 30% of the total project costs. The GLA via TfL are contributing about 45% of the costs, Barking Riverside Ltd. are putting in another 20%, whilst Barking and Dagenham's loan of £9m provides the remaining 5%.”

Supplementary question from Councillor McCarthy

“What written guarantees does the Cabinet Member have that the £55m will be forthcoming?”

Response from Councillor Geddes

“Although there is not to my knowledge any formal sign off of the monies from the GLA to which I will seek to secure, I am confident they will honour the funding commitment they have made. Furthermore I and officers are continuing to make representations to attract more funding for Barking Riverside for a range of new facilities such as health as the housing development grows apace.”

Question 2

From Councillor P Waker

“Could the relevant Cabinet Member tell the Assembly if Council officers have been given delegated powers that allow officer bodies such as Departmental Management Teams etc. to set new fees and charges for residents?”

Response from Councillor Twomey, Cabinet Member for Finance

“Not to my knowledge nor approved at any Cabinet meeting I am aware of.”

Supplementary question from Councillor Waker

“I have been told that a Divisional Management Team has set charges for car parking for flatted communal areas. Can I ask that going forward where such considerations arise that the views of ward councillors be taken into account?”

Response from Councillor Twomey

“I am happy to look into the specifics of the issue highlighted by Councillor Waker.”

Question 3

From Councillor Gill

“What actions is the Cabinet Member for Housing taking to deal with the urgent problems such as the deteriorating condition of the service roads and continuous daily fly-tipping at the Council owned Longbridge Road flats?”

Response from Councillor Ashraf Cabinet Member for Housing

“Following a visit by the Interim Director of Housing to Longbridge Estate in December Housing have commissioned a survey from Highways that will provide up to date condition information on estate service roads across the Borough The Highways report will assess roads and pavements on housing land and submit recommendations on what works are needed and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

The Chair announced that this would be the last meeting of the Assembly of the Chief Executive, Graham Farrant, before he returned to his full-time position as Chief Executive of Thurrock Council, having held the position of Chief Executive of the two Councils since July 2012.

The Chair thanked Graham on behalf of the Council for leading Barking and Dagenham for a second time, having previously served as Chief Executive between 2000 and 2004.  The Chair commented that during his second term, Graham had brought stability to the Council during a period of financial uncertainty.

The Leader of the Council added that it was with sadness but respect that the Council bid farewell to Graham, praising him on his achievements and, in particular, the support and guidance Graham had provided to the new leadership.

Other Members paid their own tributes and reflected on Graham’s time with the Council, expressing their thanks, both personally and on behalf of residents, for his kindness, resilience, support, openness, honesty and straightforward approach.

In response, Graham stated that he had been privileged to serve Barking and Dagenham as its Chief Executive for a second time.  He added that the Council had successfully dealt with significant change and challenge and he expressed his thanks for the support he had received from Members, fellow officers and the trade unions.  He acknowledged that the Council had significant financial challenges ahead and extended his best wishes to the Council and its new Chief Executive, Chris Naylor.