Agenda and decisions

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Note the projected break-even revenue forecast at Period 2 for the General Fund for the 2024/25 financial year, as set out in sections 2 and 3 and Appendix A of the report;

(ii)  Approve the net projected year-end drawdown of £11.95m reserves to support the in-year position;

(iii)  Note the projected £0.374m revenue underspend forecast for the Housing Revenue Account, as set out in section 6 and Appendix A of the report;

(iv)  Note the projected returns for the Investment and Acquisition Strategy as set out in section 4 and Appendix A of the report;

(v)  Note the movement in Reserve drawdown as indicated in section 5 of the report and that the Cabinet shall be asked to approve the drawdown of reserves to support any overspends at final outturn (post March 2024), subject to finalisation of the actual spend against budget; and

(vi)  Note the period 2 Capital Monitoring update as set out in section 7 and Appendix A of the report.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Note the latest MTFS projections and forecast budget gap for 2025/26 of £25.9m;

(ii)  Note the assumptions set out in the report underlying those forecasts as well as the financial risks and uncertainties;

(iii)  Note the outline budget setting timetable for 2025/26 as set out in section 10 of the report; and

(iv)  Approve the Budget Strategy and approach to setting the 2025/26 budget as set out in section 9 of the report.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Note the Property Licensing Consultation 2024 Proposal and Evidence Report, the Property Licensing Consultation 2024 Outcome Report, the Proposed Council Response to Consultation Representations Report and the Supplementary Supporting Data for Final Proposals Report, as set out at Appendices 1, 2, 3 and 4 to the report;

(ii)  Agree the licensing designations and proposal for a five-year Borough-wide Selective Licensing Scheme, as detailed in Appendix 5 to the report, and to submit the application to the Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC);

(iii)  Agree to introduce a five-year Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO’s) Scheme across all wards;

(iv)  Agree that the Borough-wide Selective Licensing Scheme shall be cited as the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham Designations for Areas for Selective Licensing 2024;

(v)  Agree that the Additional Licensing of HMO’s Scheme shall be cited as the London Borough of Barking & Dagenham Designation of an Area for Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation 2024;

(vi)  Agree the licence fee structure as set out at Appendix 7 to the report and delegate authority to the Operational Director, Enforcement and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety, to periodically review the fee structure and determine any change for the duration of the Selective and Additional HMO licensing schemes;

(vii)  Agree the proposed licence conditions that shall accompany any granted Selective Licence in Designations 1-3, as set out in Appendix 5 to the report.

(viii)  Agree the proposed licence conditions that shall accompany any granted Additional HMO Licence, as set out in Appendix 6 to the report; and

(ix)  Delegate authority to the Operational Director, Enforcement and Regulatory Services, to:

a)  agree the final application requesting confirmation of the Selective Licensing designation from DLUHC;

b)  agree minor changes to the proposed implementation and delivery of the schemes, including their general administration and any changes to licence fees and conditions where necessary, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety; and

c)  ensure that all statutory notifications are carried out in the prescribed manner for the licensing designations.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Note the actions being taken by officers to manage school places across the Borough and to meet the demand for specialist places;

(ii)  Approve the proposed projects, allocations of funding and procurement routes as set out in sections 8 and 9 of the report, to support the provision of new specialist places and school improvements; and

(iii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Children and Adults, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement and the Head of Legal, to conduct the procurements and award the respective project contracts.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Endorse Model 2, as detailed in section 4 of the report, as the Council’s draft proposed CTS scheme for 2025/26;

(ii)  Agree the commencement of public consultation on the proposed amendments to the CTS scheme for 2025/26; and

(iii)  Note that following the public consultation, the final proposed CTS scheme for 2025/26 shall be determined by the Assembly in early 2025.

Cabinet resolved to approve the Council’s Productivity Plan as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

Cabinet resolved to note the performance during quarters three and four of the 2023/24 financial year in respect of the Council’s Corporate Plan Outcomes Framework, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Agree that the Council proceeds with the procurement of a contract for a Community Healthy Weight Development Partner in accordance with the strategy set out in the report; and

(ii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Children and Adults, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health Integration and the Head of Legal, to conduct the procurement and award and enter into the contract and all other necessary or ancillary agreements, including periods of extension, to fully implement and effect the proposals.

Cabinet resolved to note the action taken by the Chief Executive, in accordance with the Urgent Action procedures set out in Part 2, Chapter 16, paragraph 4 of the Council Constitution, in relation to:

(i)  Agreeing the allocation of £650,000 High Needs Capital Grant funding to support the conversion of an existing building at Barking and Dagenham College campus to create additional post-16 SEND places for local students; and

(ii)  Authorising the Strategic Director, Children and Adults, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Educational Attainment and School Improvement, the Strategic Director, Resources and the Head of Legal, to enter into all necessary or ancillary agreements to fully implement and effect the proposals.

Appendix 2 to the report is exempt from publication as it contains commercially confidential information (exempt under paragraph 3, Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended)).

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Approve the sale of the Council-owned land at the front of 25 Trefgarne Road, as shown edged red in the site plan 1 at Appendix 1 to the report, on the terms set out in Appendix 2 to the report;

(ii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director, My Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, Growth and Core Services and the Head of Legal, to agree the final terms to fully implement the sale of the site; and

(iii)  Authorise the Head of Legal, or an authorised delegate on her behalf, to execute all the legal agreements, contracts and other necessary documents on behalf of the Council.