Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2016 were confirmed as correct.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Growth and Investment introduced a report on the Council’s capital and revenue position for the 2016/17 financial year, as at 31 August 2016.

The General Fund showed a projected end of year spend of £156.1m against the approved budget of £150.3m.  The projected overspend of £5.786m was almost £1m lower than the estimate provided at last month’s Cabinet meeting, largely attributable to a further reduction in the pressures within the Children’s Social Care service.  However, the pressures within the Homelessness service were continuing, with the projected overspend increasing to £3.1m.  The Cabinet Member commented that although a range of measures were being put in place to mitigate that position, the cumulative effect of the Government’s cuts to the Council’s budget and the impact of its austerity measures on the local community would mean that the Council would be getting very close to its minimum reserves threshold level of £15m by the year end.  In that respect, the Cabinet Member encouraged his colleagues to continue to maximise efficiencies within all service areas in order to minimise the in-year call on reserves, bearing in mind that the Cabinet was committed to using some reserves in order to achieve a balanced budget for 2017/18.  The Leader also referred to the Government’s austerity measures and the documentary entitled “No Place to Call Home” that was to be broadcast the next evening on BBC2.  The documentary would reflect the pressures on housing in Barking and Dagenham and the ways that the Council was trying to help the local community into housing, against the backdrop of the severe Council housing shortage and ever-increasing demands.

The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) showed an increased revenue surplus of approximately £1m, which would increase the HRA reserve to £9.75m at the year end, while the forecast outturn for the revised Capital Programme was £202m.

With regard to directorate savings targets, the Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene advised that there had been a positive response so far to the green waste collection public consultation and it was hoped that some of the £110,000 target could be achieved in the current financial year.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Note the projected outturn position for 2016/17 of the Council’s General Fund revenue budget at 31 August 2016, as detailed in section 2 of the report;

(ii)  Note the overall position for the HRA at 31 August 2016, as detailed in section 4.4 of the report;

(iii)  Note the progress made on budgeted savings to date, as detailed in section 5 and Appendix B of the report; and

(iv)  Note the projected outturn position for 2016/17 of the Council’s capital budget as at 31 August 2016, as detailed in section 6 and Appendix C of the report.

The Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety introduced the proposed five-year Parking Strategy for the Borough.

The Cabinet Member advised that the vision of the Strategy was “to provide safe, fair, consistent and transparent services” and the vision was supported by the five main priorities:

- Reduce congestion caused by parked vehicles and improve road safety;

- Make best use of the parking space available;

- Enforce parking regulations fairly and efficiently;

- Provide appropriate parking where needed; and

- Ensure that the low emissions and air quality strategy for London is at the heart of decision-making.

The Strategy responded to residents’ concerns through an area-based approach to parking controls while other new measures would include the introduction of a carers parking permit scheme by April 2018 and free parking periods at on-street shopping locations and Council-owned parks.  The Cabinet Member advised that a report on parking fees and charges would be presented to the November Cabinet meeting, although it was proposed that the 30 minute free parking at on-street shopping locations and 60 minutes free parking at park car parks be agreed at this evening’s meeting in order for the arrangements to be in place in the lead up to Christmas.

Cabinet Members spoke in support of the Strategy, which they felt represented a good balance between the needs of the local community and the Council’s wider interests, and particularly welcomed the introduction of the use of enforcement cameras outside schools to discourage inconsiderate parking that put other children at risk.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Approve the Parking Strategy 2016 - 2021 at Appendix A to the report;

(ii)  Authorise the Strategic Director of Customer, Commercial and Service Delivery, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, to agree minor amendments to the Strategy prior to its publication; and

(iii)  Agree to the implementation of 30 minutes free parking at on-street shopping locations and 60 minutes free parking at Council park car parks, with effect from 1 December 2016.

The Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety presented a report on the proposed introduction of a policy to publicise cases of enviro-crime, also referred to as ‘grime crime’, and anti social behaviour.

The Cabinet Member explained that enviro-crime and anti social behaviour affected the quality of life for residents and businesses, often blighting an area and costing thousands of pounds to address.  The policy set out a clear framework for the publication of cases and images of those who committed enviro-crime and anti social behaviour, including images from closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras.  It also included safeguards to ensure that any publicity was proportionate and took into account vulnerabilities of victims, offenders or businesses.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene welcomed the use of cameras by the Council’s Street Enforcement and CCTV services to help tackle the £190,000 annual cost of dealing with fly-tipped and other unlawfully disposed waste.

The Leader commented that he believed that the policy would be very welcomed by all of the responsible residents in the Borough and he hoped that they would get involved in the Council’s campaign by sending in their images of enviro-crime and anti social behaviour.

The Cabinet resolved to approve the policy for publicising cases of enviro-crime and anti social behaviour, including CCTV images of offenders, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

Further to Minute 84 (27 January 2015), the Cabinet Member for Economic and Social Development presented a report on the redevelopment options for the Sebastian Court site at the corner of Upney Lane and Ripple Road, Barking, and the arrangements for appointing contractors.

The Cabinet Member advised that the area had been prioritised in the Council’s Estate Renewal Programme due to the extensive and urgent maintenance issues affecting the existing 65 flats / maisonettes at the site.  A high-level review of redevelopment options had been undertaken and the preferred option would see the creation of 33 shared ownership and 57 affordable rent properties, to be delivered via the Barking and Dagenham Reside structure. 

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree the indicative tenure and unit mix for the Sebastian Court site, as set out in section 4 of the report and the site area shown edged in red in the plan at Appendix 1 to the report;

(ii)  Agree to use an existing entity within the Barking & Dagenham Reside structure (or the establishment, if required, of a new Special Purpose Vehicle within that structure) to develop / sell / own properties and procure the construction, management and maintenance of common parts and structure for the affordable rent units and the borrowing of approximately £13.1m within the General Fund to finance the construction and on-costs;

(iii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Growth and Homes to sign off the final procurement strategy for the appointment of a main contractor and associated consultants for the project following its endorsement by the Procurement Board, in accordance with the Council’s Contract Rules, the European Tendering Regime and Public Contract Regulations;

(iv)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Growth and Homes, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Finance, Growth and Investment and Economic and Social Development, the Strategic Director of Finance and Investment and the Director of Law and Governance, to negotiate terms and agree the contract documents to fully implement and effect the Sebastian Court redevelopment project;

(v)  Agree to use an existing entity within the Barking & Dagenham Reside structure (or the establishment, if required, of a new Special Purpose Vehicle within that structure) to develop, sell, own and procure the construction, management and maintenance of common parts and structure of the shared ownership units on the Sebastian Court site;

(vi)  Agree to the principle of borrowing up to £5.8m within the General Fund to finance the development and ownership of the shared ownership homes unsold equity via a loan agreement made between the Council and the Shared Ownership Special Purpose Vehicle; and

(vii)  Authorise the Director of Law and Governance, or an authorised delegate on her behalf, to execute all of the legal agreements, contracts and other documents on behalf of the Council.

Appendix 1 to the report is in the exempt section of the agenda at Item 14.

Further to Minute 97 (16 February 2015), the Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration presented a report on the latest proposals relating to the future of the Council’s leisure service. 

The Cabinet Member clarified that the Council had originally intended to transfer its leisure services into a locally established trust.  However, subsequent legislative changes meant that it was no longer possible to pursue that option and a further options appraisal was therefore commissioned to revisit and update the original study and assumptions.  That review had identified an alternative option of transferring the leisure services to an established not for profit provider, via a Service Concession contract, as the best approach to achieve the Council’s aspirations for the service going forward. 

The Cabinet Member advised that the contract would be for a 10-year term with a five-year extension option and the successful operator would be required to keep prices at affordable levels and to maintain concessions, unless otherwise agreed by the Council.  The contract would also include a five-year no fault break clause in order to give the Council appropriate safeguards and flexibility.  The Cabinet Member confirmed that she would provide her Cabinet colleagues with periodic updates on the progress of the proposals.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Approve the procurement of an established operator to manage and operate the Council’s leisure services at Abbey Leisure Centre, Becontree Heath Leisure Centre and Jim Peters Stadium, in accordance with the Council’s Contract Rules and the strategy set out in the report;

(ii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Service Development and Integration, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration, the Strategic Director of Finance and Investment and the Director of Law and Governance, to negotiate, award and enter into all contracts, agreements and any documents necessary to fully implement and effect the project; and

(iii)  Delegate authority to the Director of Law and Governance to execute all of the legal agreements, contracts, agreements and other documents on behalf of the Council.

Further to Minute 118 (19 April 2016), the Cabinet Member for Finance, Growth and Investment presented a report on the Select Committees’ consideration of the recommendations made by the independent Growth Commission’s in its report “No-one left behind: in pursuit of growth for the benefit of everyone”.

The Living and Working, Children’s Services and Public Accounts and Audit Select Committees had reviewed the 90-plus recommendations over the summer and had identified their key priorities from the full list.  The Cabinet Member commented that he was very grateful for the work of the Select Committees and had invited the respective Lead Members to attend this evening’s meeting to speak on the priorities. 

The Cabinet Member advised that the Select Committees’ priorities covered a wide range both in terms of the subject matter and the timescales in which they could be achieved.  The priorities included the tunnelling of the A13, stronger regulation of private landlords, the creation of a multi-agency early intervention strategic partnership to help children’s early years development, the expansion of peer support schemes in the Borough and attracting major institutions to the Borough.  With regard to the latter, the Leader confirmed that significant progress was already being made in that area with the Dagenham Civic Centre being chosen by Coventry University as the location for its London campus, as well as the recent announcement by the Mayor of London of potential plans for major new film studios at the former Sanofi site in the Dagenham East area.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Note the feedback from the Select Committees following their consideration of the Growth Commission recommendations; and

(ii)  Agree the responses to the Select Committees’ comments and recommendations as set out in section 3 of the report and that a further report updating the Select Committees on progress against the priorities and the wider Growth Commission recommendations shall be presented in 12 months time.

The Cabinet Member for Social Care and Health Integration presented an overview of safeguarding and looked after children activity and performance during 2015/16 which included annual reports for the adoption and fostering services.

The Cabinet Member referred to the considerable pressures that were, and continued to be, faced within the Children’s Social Care service both in terms of the complex needs of many of the children and the increasing demand for support.  The Borough was experiencing a 2% to 3% increase in its child population each year and Central Government cuts to funding meant that resources were becoming ever more stretched.  A key focus was therefore on preventative work at a very early stage and that approach, together with the implementation of all of the recommendations made by OFSTED following its inspection of safeguarding and social care services in May 2014, meant that considerable progress had been made during the last year.  In that respect, the Cabinet Member referred to several of the graphics within the report which reflected the reduction in the number of children requiring a protection plan and the 20% fall in the number of contacts that required progression to a statutory social care referral. 

The Cabinet Member commented that although the services were going in the right direction, the high proportion of vulnerable children that were being placed in Barking and Dagenham would likely mean that those levels of improvement would level out.  It was also noted that while the Council’s Social Care Ambition and Financial Efficiency (SAFE) programme had resulted in better spending controls the increasing demand for services and the resultant pressures on finances would require a review of the programme and a report to Cabinet in due course.

Cabinet Members commended the work within the Children’s Social Care service that was helping to keep the Borough’s children safe and commented on the integrity of the reports which highlighted failings and areas of concern as well as the positive aspects.  Particular reference was made to the 28 adoption decisions, many involving children with special needs, that were achieved in 2015/16 which placed Barking and Dagenham amongst the top 3 performing authorities in London.  The Cabinet Member for Corporate Performance and Delivery suggested that future reports should include more comparative data for the wider London area as well as for neighbouring Boroughs.  It was also noted that the annual reports of the Local Safeguarding Children Board and the Corporate Parenting Board would be presented to the Assembly on 30 November 2016.

The Cabinet resolved to note the report and, in particular:

(i)  The service improvements and challenges referred to in the report, as well as the actions taken last year in response to local demand and the financial pressures experienced by the service; and

(ii)  The areas identified as priorities for 2016/17 following analysis and review of 2015/16.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Growth and Investment presented a report relating to the procurement of new framework agreements for the supply and installation of modular building systems.

The Cabinet Member advised that modular building systems were commonly used as part of school expansion projects and often resulted in reduced construction costs and time delays.  It was further noted that the new framework agreements would be made available to other local authorities and organisations across the area.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree to proceed with the procurement of framework agreements for the supply and installation of modular building systems, in accordance with the strategy set out in the report; and

(ii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Growth and Homes, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Growth and Investment, the Strategic Director of Finance and Investment and the Director of Law and Governance, to award the Framework Agreements to the successful tenderer(s) once a compliant procurement exercise had been conducted, in accordance with the strategy set out in the report.