Agenda and minutes

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Members are asked to declare any interest they may have in any matter which is to be considered at this meeting.  Members are reminded that the provisions of paragraph 12.3 of Article 1, Part B in relation to Council Tax arrears apply to the "Budget Framework 2014/15" report at item 8.

There were no declarations of interest

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 December 2013 were confirmed as correct.

Assembly noted with deep regret that following a short illness, former Councillor Mrs Patricia Northover had passed away on 25 January 2014.

The Chair led tributes from the Assembly, noting that Mrs Northover had been a very able servant of both this borough and the London Borough of Newham.

She was a kind and helpful person and it was testament to her that so many Members of this Council had attended her funeral.

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

The Assembly received and noted this report introduced by Councillor Gill, Deputy Leader, relating to the award of MBE in the New Year's Honours List 2014 to Jeremy West in recognition of his professional work and services to the community.

Councillor Gill commended Jeremy's support for the young people of the borough and stated that he was a good friend to this Council.  On a personal note, Councillor Gill recalled the care shown by Jeremy when he lost his father last year.

In recording their congratulations to Jeremy on this well deserved award, Members commended the dignity with which he conducts his professional business in the borough and his work as a school governor at Eastbrook Comprehensive and as a trustee of the "Living the Dream" trust.

The Assembly received this report introduced by the Chief Executive, relating to the formation of the UK Independent Party Group with effect from 20 January 2014 and the allocation of seats to committees in accordance with the political balance requirements of Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

Assembly received a verbal update from the Labour Group Secretary nominating Councillor L Rice as the Lead Member of the Children's Services Select Committee and to the vacancy on the Public Accounts and Audit Select Committee.

The Assembly agreed to:

1.  note the formation of the UK Independence Party Group with effect from 20 January 2014;

2.  approve the appointment of Councillor R Douglas as a member of the Living and Working Select Committee and Councillor G Letchford as a member of the Children’s Services Select Committee; and

3.  approve the nomination of the Labour Group of Councillor L Rice as Lead Member of the Children’s Services Select Committee and to the vacancy on the Public Accounts and Audit Select Committee.

The Chair welcomed the Barking and Dagenham Youth Forum representatives to the Chamber, namely:

Viroshan Gnanapandithan - Chair

William Haggis

Ramat Ojetola

Jade Ramsey

Bethany Dowding

Roshelle Mitchell

Danielle Mitchell

Jessica Matovu

Faraz Hanif – Deputy Youth Parliament

Assembly received and noted the report introduced by the Corporate Director of Children's Services, who before giving the floor to the Youth Forum representatives, announced that last year's Chair, Paul Cox, had been awarded a place at Oxford University.

Jade Ramsey, who has been a Forum member for five years, introduced the presentation, stating that through the Forum she had built up her self-confidence.

Each of the Forum representatives spoke in turn about the work of the Forum over the last year:

The Media Sub-group:

This sub-group had wanted to raise awareness of stereotyping and developed their project by videoing the reactions of young people to a number of scenarios they were presented with.

The aim of the video was to challenge people's negative stereotypes and to get them to think more about how they view different groups of people in society.  It will be toured to various youth groups and shared with schools, as well as being uploaded to YouTube.

The Education Sub-group

This sub-group considered it vital to improve communication between the schools in the borough and the Forum, to promote working together to enable young people to have a voice and make a difference.  The sub-group was invited to deliver an icebreaker and workshop at the School Council Summit.

The sub-group also focussed on the content of Personal Social Health Education lessons and Citizenship and considered that the lessons should include information on:

·  how to open a bank account

·  budgeting

·  writing a CV

·  how to vote

They developed a survey/questionnaire which was sent to all secondary schools in the borough.  A third of the schools responded (285 responses in total) and the findings have been presented to the Advisory Teacher for Health, Jo Caswell.

Young Inspectors

In its second year as a sub-group, they carried out the following inspections:

·  Come Correct condom distribution – 10 pharmacies

·  Becontree Leisure Centre

·  Four inspections in partnership with London & Quadrant Housing Association

·  Subwize substance misuse service

·  Review of the Youth4Us website

·  One Patient Participation Group with one more in the process of completion

Young Inspectors have begun planning an inspection of the 14-19 Service, commissioned by Council Officer, Helen Richardson.

The Consultation Sub-Group

This sub-group undertook the following one-off consultations, in collaboration with council officers and external partners:

·  Jackie Chamberlain (Children's Commissioning and Procurement) - Borough transport operation

·  Shola Akala (Joint Strategic Needs Assessment Consultant) - Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy & Health Strategies in the Borough - Elizabeth Winnett (LSCB Business Support Manager) - LSCB Website Feedback

·  Kid space - Kid space Online Survey for Anti-Bullying

·  Manisha Modhvadia (Healthwatch) - Pharmacy services offered in the Borough

·  Simona Daniel (New Media Advisor)- Effectiveness of StreetBase Local Facebook page

·  Chris O’Connor (OFSTED stakeholder Engagement Manager) -  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

Assembly received this report presented by Councillor Gill, the Cabinet Member for Finance, which set out the:

•  Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2014/15 to 2017/18;

•  Proposed General Fund budget for 2014/15;

•  Proposed level of Council Tax for 2014/15;

•  Financial outlook for 2015/16 onwards;

•  Three year draft capital investment programme.

The Cabinet Member announced that the key messages from this budget were:

·  Council Tax freeze for the sixth year in a row

·  Protection of front line services as much as possible and a budget that listened to residents

·  An ambitious capital programme investing in the future of the Borough

and that in setting the budget, the emphasis throughout had been, as far as possible, on protecting front line services and, in particular, prioritising the retention of those services most important to the residents and the future of Barking & Dagenham. 

Despite the financial challenges, the Council had taken the lead in supporting its lowest paid staff, many of whom are local residents, by introducing a £9 per hour minimum wage, and for the sixth consecutive year, as a further means of helping local residents, the Council would again be freezing Council Tax.  However, the Council's success in achieving the highest number of new homes built had resulted in the receipt of additional grant monies, and additional income would also be achieved through increasing the Council Tax base as a result of these new homes.

The budget had been set in the context of further large cuts in core funding from central government and the Council remains underfunded by approximately £2.5 million, due to the way in which central government calculates the funding formula.

The Cabinet Member went on to say that savings in support functions and corporate costs continued to be a priority for the Council, and this was reflected in sharing a Strategy and Policy Team with Thurrock Council, the joint venture with Elevate and by reducing the number of buildings used by the Council for the delivery of services.

The Council would continue to make significant capital investment in the Borough with over £300m of expenditure planned over the next three years.  However, it was important to note that these decisions had not been made without considering their affordability and leaving the Council with unaffordable financing costs to pay in the future.

Significant work has been done at both Member and officer level to lobby central government for more resources and this has been hugely successful and wherever possible, external funding was sought and bidding for additional monies encouraged at every opportunity.

The Council’s asset register is regularly reviewed to identify any surplus items which can then be sold for a fair price in order to reduce the authority’s level of debt and in addition to Council resources, innovative solutions had been implemented such as the use of private sector finance to build 477 new homes at King William Street Quarter and Eastern End Thames View, many of which had now been let with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

Assembly received this report, introduced by the Chief Finance Officer, setting out the Council's Treasury Management Annual Strategy Statement for 2014/15 (TMSS).

Assembly noted that the overall TMSS included details of the proposed borrowing limit for the year and a range of other aspects aimed at ensuring that the Council had prudent and robust arrangements in place to meet all of its financial commitments and responsibilities, in line with the requirements of Section 15(1) of the Local Government Act 2003. 

Assembly agreed to:

(i)  Adopt the Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2014/15 attached as Appendix 1 to the report and, in doing so, to:

(a)  Note the current treasury position for 2013/14 and prospects for interest rates, as referred to in sections 6 and 7 of Appendix 1;

(b)  Approve the Council’s Borrowing Strategy, Debt Rescheduling Strategy and Policy on borrowing in advance of need for 2014/15 as referred to in sections 9 - 12 of Appendix 1;

(c)  Approve the Authorised Borrowing Limit (General Fund and HRA) of £500m for 2014/15, representing the statutory limit determined by the Council pursuant to section 3(1) of the Local Government Act 2003, as set out in Appendix 1B;

(d)  Approve the Treasury Management Indicators and Prudential Indicators for 2014/15, as set out in Appendix 1B;

(e)  Approve the Minimum Revenue Policy Statement for 2014/15, representing the Council’s policy on repayment of debt, as set out in Appendix 1C; and

(f)  Approve the Annual Investment Strategy and Creditworthiness Policy for 2014/15 outlining the investments that the Council may use for the prudent management of its investment balances, as set out in Appendix 1D.

Assembly received this report relating to the Pay Policy Statement 2014/15 (the Policy), introduced by the Divisional Director of Human Resources and Organisation Development (DDHROD).

In presenting the report, the DDHROD referred Assembly to an amendment to be made to the table set out in paragraph 5.3.3 of the Policy (page 106 of the agenda at Appendix A to the report), in that the Divisional Director of Regeneration's Grade of Post should be CO2, with a salary cost of £89,763.

Assembly noted that it is a requirement of the Localism Act 2011 for a pay policy statement covering chief officer posts and above to be agreed before the commencement of the new financial year and that the following matters must be included:

·  The level and elements of remuneration for each chief officer.

·  The remuneration of its lowest-paid employees (together with its definition of “lowest-paid employees” and its reasons for adopting that definition).

·  The relationship between the remuneration of its chief officers and other officers.

·  Other specific aspects of chief officers’ remuneration: remuneration on recruitment, increases and additions to remuneration, use of performance-related pay and bonuses, termination payments and transparency.

Assembly approved the Pay Policy Statement for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham for 2014/15 as set out at Appendix A, subject to the amendment to the table set out in paragraph 5.3.3 of the Policy referred to above, for publication with effect from 1 April 2014 on the Council’s website.

Assembly received this report, introduced by Councillor Alexander, the Cabinet Member for Crime, Justice and Communities, relating to the proposal to introduce a Private Rented Property Licensing Scheme which would ensure that all private rented sector housing in the Borough would be covered by compulsory licensing.

The Cabinet Member said that the Scheme had been designed to protect vulnerable members of the community and would provide greater interaction between the Council and private landlords by increasing the responsibility of the private landlords to deal with issues such as anti-social behaviour.

Members spoke in support, and paid tribute to the work carried out by the Living and Working Select Committee in 2012 in relation to the borough's private rented sector residents and the conditions that they were living in.

It was noted that many residents were living in overcrowded conditions in houses in multiple occupation, which had an adverse effect on the children of the families both in terms of their health and education.

Assembly considered the representations received in response to the consultation on the proposed introduction of additional licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and selective licensing of other private rented property and resolved:

(a)  To designate a selective licensing area of the district of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham as delineated and edged red on the map at Appendix 1A to the report;

(b)  To designate an additional licensing area of the district of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham as delineated and edged red on the map at Appendix 1B to the report;

(c)  That the selective licensing scheme shall be cited as the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Designation for an Area for Selective Licensing No 1, 2014;

(d)  That the selective licensing designation shall come into force on 1 September 2014;

(e)  That the additional licensing scheme shall be cited as the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Designation for an Area for Additional Licensing of Houses in Multiple Occupation No 2, 2014;

(f)  That the additional licensing designation shall come into force on 1 September 2014;

(g)  That the schemes be known collectively as the Barking and Dagenham Private Rented Property Licensing Scheme;

(h)  To adopt the Private Rented Property Licensing Scheme Conditions as set out in Appendix 2 to the report;

(i)  That the fees and charges set out in Appendix 3 to the report be applied to the Private Rented Property Licensing scheme;

(j)  To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Housing and Environment to make changes to the proposed implementation where necessary and ensure that all statutory notifications are carried out in the prescribed manner for each designation; and

(k)  To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Housing and Environment to grant licences under the Council’s Private Rented Property Licensing Scheme.

Assembly received this report, introduced by Councillor Alexander, the Cabinet Member for Crime, Justice and Communities, relating to a proposed byelaw to ban skateboarding in Arboretum Place and the Town Square, Barking.

In presenting the report, the Cabinet Member thanked officers, ward Councillors and residents for their work and support and advised that a number of options had been investigated to resolve the issue of young people using the area as an informal skateboarding park but these had not produced workable solutions.

Assembly agreed to support the proposal to put in place a byelaw under Section 235 of the Local Government Act 1972 stating that no person shall skate, slide or ride on rollers, skateboards or other self-propelled vehicles in such a manner as to cause danger or give reasonable grounds for annoyance to other persons in the area shown on the map at Appendix 1 to the report.

Assembly received this report introduced by the Legal Practice Group Manager, relating to the appointment of Independent Persons to carry out an advisory role as part of arrangements the Council must have in place to investigate and determine complaints regarding the Councillors' Code of Conduct, as required by Section 28(6)(a)&(B) and 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011.

Assembly agreed:

1.  the retention of Mr Michael Carpenter and Mr Brian Little as Independent Persons in accordance with Section 28(7) of the Localism Act 2011until the next Assembly meeting following the Annual Assembly in 2016;  and

2.  that the Monitoring Officer be authorised to engage an additional Independent Person to be retained on the same terms as the current Independent Persons, for subsequent appointment by the Assembly.

Assembly received this report relating to the review of the Council Constitution, introduced by the Legal Practice Group Manager.

Assembly agreed to:

1.  adopt the Employees’ Code of Conduct as set out at Appendix 1 to the report;

2.  adopt the Protocol for Councillor/Employee Relations as set out at Appendix 2 to the report; and

3.  approve the inclusion within the Chief Executive’s Scheme of Delegation (Section P of Part C of the Constitution) of the following provision:

“in exceptional circumstances, such as a civil emergency, during a void in political leadership or to maintain the efficient and effective governance of the Council, to take any decision on behalf of the Council (after consultation with the Leader where feasible)”

The Chair noted that this was the last Assembly meeting of this municipal year and wished good luck to those Members who would not be standing for re-election in May 2014.

The meeting closed at 8.35 pm.