Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Shaikh.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Shaikh.

Councillor Lukes declared a personal interest in Item C7, Private Rented Sector - Response to the Housing Scrutiny Committee's Review, as she was the Vice-Chair of the Housing Scrutiny Committee at the time the report was written.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 25 November 2021 be agreed as a correct record and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

This report also incorporates the annual budget for the London Boroughs Grants Committee.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – to agree draft proposals in respect

of the council’s 2022/23 budget and level of council tax and the latest assumed mediumterm financial position.
Other options considered - none
Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted - none

RESOLVED:

The General Fund Budget 2022/23 and MTFS (Section 3 of the report)

a)              That the latest assumed MTFS and balanced 2022/23 budget, including the underlying principles and assumptions, be agreed and recommended to Full Council. (Paragraphs 3.1-3.38, Table 1 and Appendix A of the report) 

b)              That the proposed 2022/23 net budgets by directorate be agreed and recommended to Full Council. (Paragraph 3.3, Table 2 and Appendix A of the report)

c)              That the annual budget for the London Councils Grants Committee be agreed and to note that this will be reported to the VCS Committee on 25 January 2022 for information. (Paragraph 3.22-3.23 of the report)

d)              That the 2022/23 savings be agreed and recommended to Full Council, and to note that individual savings may be subject to individual consultation before they can be implemented. (Paragraphs 3.39-3.43, Table 5, and Appendix B of the report)

e)              That the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) settlement for 2022/23 and related funding assumptions be noted. (Paragraphs 3.44-3.49 of the report)

f)                That the fees and charges policy and the General Fund fees and charges for 2022/23 be agreed (Paragraphs 3.50-3.57 and Appendix C of the report)

g)              That the policy on General Fund contingency and reserves be agreed and recommended to Full Council, and the movements to/from earmarked reserves assumed as part of the 2022/23 revenue budget be agreed. (Paragraphs 3.58-3.67 and Table 6 of the report)

h)              That the Section 151 Officer be delegated responsibility for any technical adjustments required for the 2022/23 budget (in line with the council’s Financial Regulations) be agreed and recommended to Full Council.

i)                That centrally held gross demographic growth be allocated to service budgets if and when the need materialises and be approved by the Section 151 Officer, be agreed and recommended to Full Council.  (Paragraph 3.14 of the report)

The HRA Budget and MTFS (Section 4 of the report)

j)                That the balanced HRA 2022/23 budget be agreed and recommended to Full Council, and the latest estimates over the 3-year MTFS period be noted. (Paragraphs 4.1-4.3, Table 7 and Appendix D1 of the report)

k)              That the HRA rents and other HRA fees and charges for 2022/23 be agreed. (Paragraphs 4.4-4.29, Tables 8-10 and Appendix D2 of the report)

l)                That the introduction of a points-based apportionment method from April 2022 to revise the way in which Housing Leaseholder Service Charges are calculated be agreed. (Paragraph 4.9, and Appendix D3 of the report)

m)            That it be noted that the HRA 30-year business plan will be updated (Paragraph 4.2 of the report)

Capital Investment and Treasury and Investment Management (Section 5)

n)              That the proposed 2022/23 to 2024/25 capital programme be agreed and recommended to Full Council, and the latest indicative capital programme for 2025/26 to 2031/32 be noted. (Paragraphs 5.3, Table 11 and Appendix E1  ...  view the full minutes text for item 859.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – to ensure the financial resilience of the council
Other options considered - none
Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted - none

RESOLVED:

a)           That the forecast 2021/22 General Fund budget variance be noted. (Section 3, Table 1 and Appendices 1-2 of the report)

b)          That the forecast in-year budget variance on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) be noted. (Section 4 of the report)

c)           That the latest estimated calls on the corporate transformation fund in 2021/22 be reviewed and noted. (Section 3.55, Table 2 and Appendix 3 of the report)

d)          That the 2021/22 capital expenditure forecast of £122.546m be noted, and that slippage of £63.395m to future financial years be agreed, and that there is a significant risk of further slippage over the remainder of the financial year be noted. (Section 5, Table 3 and Appendix 4 of the report)

Reasons for decision – to ensure the financial resilience of the council
Other options considered - none
Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted - none

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – to support the council’s ambitions to improve the energy efficiency and reduce carbon in some of the most challenging street property homes
Other options considered - none
Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted - none

RESOLVED:

a)     That should the council’s bid for funds for energy measures to 32 street properties to the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund be successful, that the council enter into the necessary Memorandum of Agreement with the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to access this funding.

b)     That the council should enter into a MoU with BEIS to accept the funding available, should the council’s bid, submitted on behalf of Peabody Housing, for energy works to four buildings (totalling 66 dwellings) they own in Islington, be successful.  That the council will enter into a related MoU with Peabody Trust to pass the funding and responsibility for delivery to Peabody Trust and any funding payback requirements stipulated by BEIS.

Reasons for decision – to support the council’s ambitions to improve the energy efficiency and reduce carbon in some of the most challenging street property homes
Other options considered - none
Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted - none

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – to respond to the Housing Scrutiny Committee
Other options considered - none
Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted - none

RESOLVED:

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

b)     That officers report on progress to the Housing Scrutiny Committee in 12 months’ time be agreed.

Reasons for decision – to respond to the Housing Scrutiny Committee
Other options considered - none
Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted - none

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – to set out how Islington can start to move towards a circular economy as part of its objective of becoming net zero carbon by 2030
Other options considered - none
Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted - none

RESOLVED:

That the Circular Economy Action Plan be agreed as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

Reasons for decision – to set out how Islington can start to move towards a circular economy as part of its objective of becoming net zero carbon by 2030
Other options considered - none
Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted - none

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – to ensure that the budget more closely reflects spending
Other options considered - none
Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted - none

RESOLVED:

a)     That the reconfiguration of the pooled budget be agreed as detailed in the report.

b)     That the establishment a new partnership agreement, under section 75 of the National Health Service Act 2006, with Whittington Health and the North Central London Clinical Commissioning Group (NCL CCG), to formalise the new pooled budget arrangement, be approved.

Reasons for decision – to ensure that the budget more closely reflects spending
Other options considered - none
Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted - none

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – to provide the appropriate level of professional services consultancy design advice and documentation to support the appointment of a construction partner and the ultimate delivery of the scheme

Other options considered - none
Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted - none

RESOLVED:

a)     That the design team procurement strategy for the Finsbury Leisure Centre scheme be approved as outlined in the report.

b)     That the risk mitigation strategy for design and construction phases of the scheme be noted.

c)     That the intention to seek early construction sector advice including the option of a Pre Contract Services Agreement, to provide additional cost and delivery risk mitigation, be noted.  

d)     That proposed governance arrangements, including dedicated member engagement, be noted.

e)     That authority to award the contract be delegated to the Corporate Director of Community Wealth Building following consultation with the Executive Member for Finance & Performance and the Executive Member for Housing and Development.

Reasons for decision – to provide the appropriate level of professional services consultancy design advice and documentation to support the appointment of a construction partner and the ultimate delivery of the scheme

Other options considered - none
Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted - none

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for decision – to take advantage of grants available to deliver projects that are focused on the council’s objectives and priorities
Other options considered - none
Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted - none

RESOLVED:

a)     That the proposed programmes for the Local Implementation Plan Delivery Plan 2022/23 to 2024/25 (Appendix 1 of the report), the Cycle Improvement Programme 2022/23 to 2024/25 (Appendix 2 of the report) and the Bus Priority Programme 2022/23 to 2024/25 (Appendix 3 of the report) be agreed.

b)     That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Environment, following consultation with the Executive Member for Environment and Transport, to make any necessary changes to the Local Implementation Plan Delivery Plan 2022/23 to 2024/25, the Cycle Improvement Programme 2022/23 to 2024/25, and the Bus Priority Programme 2022/23 to 2024/25.  

Reasons for decision – to take advantage of grants available to deliver projects that are focused on the council’s objectives and priorities
Other options considered - none
Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted - none