Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Caluori and Webbe.

None.

Noted.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting on 8 December 2016 be confirmed as a correct record and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

That the Council’s Corporate Health and Safety Policy at Appendix 1 to the report be agreed.

Reasons for decision – to comply with section 2(3) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report.

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

The General Fund Budget 2017-18 and MTFS (Section 3)

1.    That the 2017-18 net Council cash limits as set out in Table 1 (paragraph 3.1.3 of the report) and the MTFS at Appendix A of the report, which includes the revenue savings in Appendix B of the report, be agreed.

2.    That the requirement to report on the number of maintained schools that have completed the Schools Value Financial Standard (SVFS) by 31^st March to the Department for Education by 31^st May each year (paragraph 3.2.17 of the report) be noted.

3.    That the fees and charges policy and the schedule of 2017-18 fees and charges be agreed, and that authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Children's Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Children and Families,  to agree new childcare charges following consultation in the summer term (paragraphs 3.2.18-21 of the report and Appendices C1 and C2 of the report) be agreed.

4.    That the Council’s policy on the level of General Fund balances and the estimated use of the Council’s earmarked reserves be agreed.  That the redundancy reserve is estimated to be fully spent by the end of 2016-17, and that, from 2017-18, redundancy costs are to be funded within departmental budgets (paragraphs 3.2.23-26 and Table 3 of the report) be agreed.

The HRA Budget and MTFS (Section 4)

5.    That the balanced HRA 2017-18 budget within the HRA MTFS at Appendix D1 of the report and the 2017-18 HRA savings at Appendix D2 of the report be agreed.

6.    That the 2017-18 HRA rents and other fees and charges (Tables 5-8 and Appendix D3 of the report) be agreed.

The Capital Programme 2017-18 to 2019-20 (Section 5)

7.    That the 2017-18 capital programme be agreed and the provisional programme for 2018-19 to 2019-20 be noted (paragraph 5.1, Table 9 and Appendix E of the report).

8.    That the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources applies capital resources to fund the capital programme in the most cost-effective way   (paragraph 5.2 of the report) be agreed.

Treasury Management Strategy (Section 6)

9.     That the Treasury Management Strategy that will initially be considered by Audit Committee on 24^th January 2017 and then included for agreement within the final budget report to Executive on 9^th February 2017 and Council on 23^rd February 2017 be noted.

Council Tax 2017-18, including Statutory Calculations (Section 7)

10.  That the proposal to exempt all care leavers under the age of 25 from council tax, to be considered in a separate report to the 9^th February Executive be noted.  The discount, if agreed, would be available from 1^st April 2017 and cost £28k a year.  That the cost would be shared with the GLA, via the Collection Fund  (paragraphs 7.1 to 7.2 of the report) be noted.

11.  That the General Fund budget has been prepared on the basis that the basic amount of council tax in Islington will increase by 1.99% in 2017-18, with,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 351.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

1.1.        That the forecast revenue outturn for the General Fund (Table 1 and Appendix 1 of the report ) of a gross overspend of £2.35m, including corporate items (Section 3 of the report) be noted. 

1.2.        That the actions to reduce the forecast gross General Fund overspend, and that any remaining overspend at year-end will be covered by drawing down from the £3m corporate contingency budget (Paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3 of the report) be noted.

1.3.        That the net HRA forecast is a break-even position (Section 5, Table 1 and Appendix 1 of the report) be noted.

1.4.        That the latest capital position with forecast capital expenditure of £109.8m in 2016-17 be noted and the re-profiling of capital budgets from the financial year 2016-17 to 2017-18 (Section 6, Table 2 and Appendix 2 of the report) be agreed.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – To allow Councillors to monitor the budget

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive responses to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee as set out in section 4 of the report be agreed.

Reasons for decision – to allow the Executive to respond to the scrutiny

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive responses to the six recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee as set out in section 4 of the report be agreed.

 
Reasons for decision – to allow the Executive to respond to the scrutiny

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the proposed development following the conditions imposed by the Education Funding Agency (EFA) of the RCS site and AEC site (as shown on the Site Location Plan (Appendix 2 of the report) by CoLC to provide a mixed development of an estimated 70 but not less than 40 new social housing units, a 2FE primary school with places for 420 pupils, a 30 place nursery class and 8 two year old places be agreed. 

2.    That the new school will operate in temporary accommodation at the recently completed Moreland Primary School and Children’s Centre from 1^st September 2017 to 31st July 2019 be noted.

3.    That the target to develop the maximum possible social housing units subject to planning with a mix of 1, 2 and 3 beds with 50% nominations rights for Islington will nominate to a maximum of 30% of the one bedroom properties with the balance being made up of two and three bedroom properties as stipulated in the Heads of Terms (Exempt Appendix 1 of the report) be agreed.

4.    That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources, in consultation with the Executive Members for Children and Families and Finance and Resources, the Corporate Directors’ of Children’s Services and Housing and Adult Social Services and the Interim Director of Law and Governance, to conclude the negotiation and final terms of disposal and development of the RCS site in accordance with the principles set out in the updated Heads of Terms and School Heads of Terms set out in Exempt Appendix 1 be agreed.

5.    That the Executive decision of 27 November 2014 to authorise the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources to dispose of the freehold of the RCS site to CoLC on the terms agreed be noted and to instruct the Interim Director of Law and Governance to enter into all necessary legal documents to give effect thereto be agreed.

6.    That authority be delegated to the Interim Director of Law and Governance to apply to the Secretary of State for consent to dispose of the RCS site (and in relation to the Temporary  Accommodation) under Para.4 of Schedule 1 of the Academies Act 2010 and any consent necessary under S123 of the Local Government Act 1972 be agreed.

Reasons for decision – to provide additional social housing units and good quality school places

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the consultation report at Appendix 2 of the report be noted.

2.         That the adoption of the Urban Design Guide Supplementary Planning
            Document attached at Appendix 1 of the report be agreed.

3.         That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Environment and
            Regeneration, in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing and
            Development, to make any minor changes to the SPD as might be considered
            necessary be agreed.  

Reasons for decision – to provide greater certainty about the design quality of development that is likely to be acceptable to the Council as a Local Planning Authority.

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the council will join the London Counter Fraud Hub as a Participating Authority be agreed.

2.    That the procurement process undertaken by the London Borough of Ealing on behalf of the Participating Authorities to procure a contract with a third party provider to design, build and run the pan London Counter Fraud Hub be noted.

3.    That the contract be awarded to CIPFA Business Ltd to deliver the London Counter Fraud Hub for a term of 9 years] be agreed.

4.    That authority be delegated to the Head of Internal Audit to provide data to the London Counter fraud Hub for the purposes of preventing and detecting fraudulent or erroneous activity subject , where necessary and appropriate to conducting privacy impact assessments on a case by case basis be agreed.

5.    That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director Finance and Resources to implement arrangements for Islington’s participation in the London Counter Fraud Hub be agreed.

Reasons for decision – to allow the council to participate in the pilot scheme

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report  

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – as specified in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the procurement strategy for redevelopment works at Charles Simmons
            House as outlined in this report be agreed.
 

2.         That authority to award the contract be delegated to the Corporate Director of
            Housing Adult and Social Services in consultation with the Executive Member
            for Housing and Development.

Reasons for decision – to provide a new commercial unit, community centre and 25  residential flats, 14 of which will be for social rent.

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none.

Noted.

That the information in the exempt appendix to Agenda item E9 be noted (see Minute 355 for details of the decision).

Noted.

That the information in the exempt appendix to Agenda item F11 be noted (see Minute 357 for details of the decision).