Agenda, decisions and minutes

Received from Councillors Santiago Bell-Bradford and Angelo Weekes.

None.

Confirmed.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2025 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Executive is asked to agree the following recommendations:

1.1. To note known allocations to/from General Fund (GF) Earmarked Reserves and note that these forecasts will be reviewed throughout 2025/26 budget monitoring processes.

The Executive is asked to note and endorse the following recommendations which will be referred to Full Council for approval:

The General Fund Medium-Term Financial Strategy

1.2. To?agree and recommend to Full Council?the?proposed?Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)?and 2025/26 budget, including the underlying?MTFS principles, latest in-year monitoring position and the budget assumptions.

1.3. To?agree and recommend to Full Council the?proposed?2025/26 net budgets by directorate.

1.4. To agree and recommend to Full Council the 2025/26 savings and note that individual savings may be subject to individual consultation before they can be implemented.

1.5. To note?the?Dedicated?Schools?Grant (DSG)?settlement for 2025/26 and related funding assumptions following the Final Local Government Finance Settlement on the 3 February 2025 (‘the settlement’).

1.6. To note that the fees and charges policy and the General GF fees and charges from 1 January 2025 are as agreed by Executive on 28 November 2024.

1.7. To agree the proposed fee increases for parking permits, and suspensions, commercial waste, cemeteries and fixed penalty notices.

1.8. To?agree and recommend to Full Council?that the Section 151?Officer is delegated responsibility for any technical adjustments required for the?2025/26?budget (in line with the?council’s Financial Regulations).

1.9. To agree and recommend to Full Council that centrally held demographic growth is allocated to service budgets in-year 2025/26, only once a more evidenced assessment is available and has been approved by the Section 151 Officer.

General Fund Contingency and Reserves

1.10. To?agree and recommend to Full Council?the proposed Minimum GF Balance and Earmarked reserves level at 25% of Core Spending Power, and to agree the?movements to/from earmarked reserves assumed as part of the 2025/26 revenue budget.

1.11. To note the Balance Sheet Analysis to support the MTFS.

1.12. To note the assessment of compliance against the CIPFA Financial Management (FM) Code and that this will be re-visited at least annually as part of the budget process, with any actions or recommendations implemented on an ongoing basis.

The Housing Revenue Account Budget and MTFS

1.13. To agree and recommend to Full Council, the balanced 2025/26 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and note the latest estimates over the 3-year MTFS period. 1.14. To agree and recommend to Full Council the 2025/26 savings and note that individual savings may be subject to individual consultation before they can be implemented.

1.15. To agree and recommend to Full Council the HRA 30-year business plan.

Capital Investment and Treasury and Investment Management

1.16. To agree and recommend to Full Council, the proposed 2025/26 to 2029/30 capital programme and indicative capital programme for 2030/31 to 2034/35.

1.17. To agree and recommend to Full Council the funding of the 2025/26 to 2034/35 capital programme and to delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer,  ...  view the full decision text for item 320.

RESOLVED:

(a) To note known allocations to/from General Fund Earmarked Reserves, as detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Finance and Performance, and noted that these forecasts would be reviewed throughout the 2025/26 budget monitoring processes.

(b) To note and endorse the following recommendations for approval by Council, all as detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Finance and Planning:

The General Fund Medium-Term Financial Strategy

1. To?agree and recommend to Council?the?proposed?Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)?and 2025/26 budget, including the underlying?MTFS principles, latest in-year monitoring position and the budget assumptions.

2. To?agree and recommend to Council the?proposed?2025/26 net budgets by directorate.

3. To agree and recommend to Council the 2025/26 savings, noting that individual savings might be subject to individual consultation before they could be implemented.

4. To note?the?Dedicated?Schools?Grant (DSG)?settlement for 2025/26 and related funding assumptions, following the Final Local Government Finance Settlement on 3 February 2025 (‘the settlement’).

5. To note that the fees and charges policy and the General Fund (GF) fees and charges from 1 January 2025 were as agreed by Executive on 28 November 2024.

6. To agree the proposed fee increases for parking permits, suspensions, commercial waste, cemeteries and fixed penalty notices.

7. To?agree and recommend to Council?that the Section 151?Officer be delegated responsibility for any technical adjustments required for the?2025/26?budget (in line with the?council’s Financial Regulations).

8. To agree and recommend to Council that centrally held demographic growth be allocated to service budgets in-year 2025/26, only once a more evidenced assessment was available and had been approved by the Section 151 Officer.

General Fund Contingency and Reserves

9. To?agree and recommend to Council?the proposed Minimum General Fund Balance and Earmarked reserves level at 25% of Core Spending Power, and to agree the?movements to/from earmarked reserves assumed as part of the 2025/26 revenue budget.

10. To note the Balance Sheet Analysis to support the MTFS.

11. To note the assessment of compliance against the CIPFA Financial Management (FM) Code and that this would be re-visited at least annually as part of the budget process, with any actions or recommendations implemented on an ongoing basis.

The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget and MTFS

12. To agree and recommend to Council the balanced 2025/26 Housing Revenue Account, noting the latest estimates over the 3-year MTFS period.

13. To agree and recommend to Council the 2025/26 savings and note that individual savings might be subject to individual consultation before they could be implemented.

14. To agree and recommend to Council the HRA 30-year business plan.

Capital Investment and Treasury and Investment Management

15. To agree and recommend to Council the proposed 2025/26 to 2029/30 capital programme and indicative capital programme for 2030/31 to 2034/35.

16. To agree and recommend to Council the funding of the 2025/26 to 2034/35 capital programme and to delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer, where necessary, to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 320.

RECOMMENDATION

To review the performance report (App.1), note performance issues and discuss any further actions

DECISIONS:

AGREED RECOMMENDATION

Reasons for the decision – as detailed in the report

Other options considered – as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RESOLVED:

To note the corporate performance update and performance issues, as detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Finance and Performance.

Reasons for the decision – To review information and assurance,against the Delivery Plan 2024-26, on how the Council was performing against corporate priorities, in order to consider areas of improvement if necessary

Other options considered – all as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS:

2.1. To agree the co-ordinated schemes and timetables for admission to Islington primary, secondary schools, and academies in 2026-27, and in-year admission protocols for 2026-27 as set out in Appendices 1, 4, and 7.

2.2. To agree the policy and oversubscription criteria for admission to community primary and secondary schools and Highbury Fields Sixth Form for 2026-27 as set out in Appendices 2, 5, 8 and 9.

2.3. To agree the admission numbers for Islington community primary and secondary schools and for external applicants to Highbury Fields Sixth Form for 2026-27 as set out in Appendices 3, 6 and 10

DECISIONS:

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for the decision – as detailed in the report

Other options considered – as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RESOLVED:

(a) To agree the co-ordinated schemes and timetables for admission to Islington primary, secondary schools, and academies in 2026-27, and in-year admission protocols for 2026-27 as set out in Appendices 1, 4, and 7 of the report of the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families.

(b) To agree the policy and oversubscription criteria for admission to community primary and secondary schools and Highbury Fields Sixth Form for 2026-27 as set out in Appendices 2, 5, 8 and 9 of the report.

(c) To agree the admission numbers for Islington community primary and secondary schools and for external applicants to Highbury Fields Sixth Form for 2026-27 as set out in Appendices 3, 6 and 10 of the report

Reasons for the decision – The proposed admission arrangements for both primary and secondary community schools and Highbury Fields Sixth Form promoted fair access to educational opportunity and were compliant with the mandatory provisions of the School Admissions Code 2021.

Other options considered – a wide range of options was considered, all as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.1. Note the responses to the consultation on proposed closure of St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School.

1.2. Approve the issue of a statutory notice to close St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School on 31 August 2025

DECISIONS:

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for the decision – as detailed in the report

Other options considered – as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

A range of questions on the proposals were posed by members of the public and Councillors and responded to by the Executive Member for Schools, Young People and Families, the Corporate Director for Children’s Services and the Director of Learning and Achievement.

RESOLVED:

(a) To note the responses to the consultation on the proposed closure of St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School, detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families.

(b) To approve the issue of a statutory notice to close St Jude and St Paul’s Church of England Primary School on 31 August 2025.

Reasons for the decision – St Jude and St Paul’s CofE Primary School had been significantly impacted by falling rolls over several years. As at the end of autumn term 2024, the school had 210 places from Reception to Year 6 but 114 pupils, meaning that 46% of places were not filled.  School budgets were to a large extent driven by numbers of pupils on roll, meaning schools with excessive surplus places tended to face financial difficulties, as was the case for St Jude and St Paul’s CofE Primary School.  Schools operated most efficiently when full or nearly full and any surplus places should be kept to a minimum to ensure the financial viability of schools and the ability of schools to provide a high quality, broad and balanced curriculum for all pupils.

Other options considered–  a wide range of options were considered, all as detailed in the report.

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.1. Note the responses to the consultation on proposed closure of Highbury Quadrant Primary School.

1.2. Approve the issue of a statutory notice to close Highbury Quadrant Primary School on 31 August 2025

DECISIONS:

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for the decision – as detailed in the report

Other options considered – as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

A range of questions on the proposals were posed by members of the public and Councillors and responded to by the Executive Member for Schools, Young People and Families, the Corporate Director for Children’s Services and the Director of Learning and Achievement.

The Executive received a deputation from Ms Becky Hunter, a parent of a child at Highbury Quadrant School, requesting the Executive not to make a decision on the proposals in the report, in view of queries raised by persons present about flawed data in the report.

The Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families assured Ms Hunter and all present that no decision had yet been made on the future of the School and that the proposals in the report were about the next stage of consultation.

RESOLVED:

(a) To note the responses to the consultation on proposed closure of Highbury Quadrant Primary School, as detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families.

(b) To approve the issue of a statutory notice to close Highbury Quadrant Primary School on 31 August 2025

Reasons for the decision – Highbury Quadrant Primary School pupil numbers had been declining for a number of years. As at the end of autumn term 2024, the School had 360 places from Reception to Year 6 but 159 pupils on roll, meaning that 56% of places were not filled. Projections of future pupil numbers in the local area and across the borough provided no confidence that the School’s position would improve sufficiently, with numbers entering Reception forecast to decline by 20% up to 2028/29 in the Northeast Planning Area and by 11% borough-wide. School budgets were to a large extent driven by numbers of pupils on roll, meaning schools with excessive surplus places tended to face financial difficulties, as was the case for St Jude and St Paul’s CofE Primary School.  Schools operated most efficiently when full or nearly full and any surplus places should be kept to a minimum to ensure the financial viability of schools and the ability of schools to provide a high quality, broad and balanced curriculum for all pupils.

Other options considered – as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.1. To approve the extension of the contract from 01 April 2025 until 30 September 2025.

1.2. To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Homes and Neighbourhoods to propose a future extension up to a period of 6 months, at which point a further (delegated decision) report would be brought forward for approval detailing the length, value and terms of any such further extension.

DECISIONS:

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for the decision – as detailed in the report

Other options considered – as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RESOLVED:

(a) To approve the extension of the contract to the existing parking enforcement services contract, NSL Ltd,  from 1 April 2025 until 30 September 2025.

(b) To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Homes and Neighbourhoods to propose a future extension, for a period of up to 6 months, at which point a further (delegated decision) report would be brought forward for approval, detailing the length, value and terms of any such further extension.

Reasons for the decision – The extension to the contract was necessary to provide time for the procurement of a new parking contract for the Council

Other options considered – Two options in total were considered

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATION:

To approve the procurement strategy for the buying process of a call-off contract for cashless parking from the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation (ESPO) Framework 509-23 Agreement Lot 3 Cashless Parking (mobile) Solutions to RingGo Limited for the period 01 April 2025 until 31 March 2026

DECISIONS:

AGREED RECOMMENDATION

Reasons for the decision – as detailed in the report

Other options considered – as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RESOLVED:

To approve the procurement strategy for the buying process of a call-off contract for cashless parking from the Eastern Shires Purchasing Organisation Framework 509-23 Agreement Lot 3 Cashless Parking (mobile) Solutions, to RingGo Limited, for the period 1 April 2025 until 31 March 2026.

Reasons for the decision –  To ensure that a contract for a parking services was in place by 1 April 2025 and to provide time for the procurement of a new parking services contract which would include a cashless parking requirement alongside other parking services.

Other options considered – five options in total were considered

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS:

2.1 To agree in principle to appropriate the land to planning purposes

2.2 Subject to Executive granting approval for the scheme to proceed to construction supported by a full business case, to authorise the Corporate Director Community Wealth Building, in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer, to appropriate the land (shown edged green on the plan at Appendix 1) to planning purposes when that land is no longer required for the purposes for which it is currently held, pursuant to section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972, SUBJECT TO the land being declared surplus, the Council providing advance notice of its intention to appropriate, and the Council considering any objections to the proposed appropriation prior to the appropriation.

2.3 Subject to Executive granting approval for the scheme to proceed to construction supported by a full business case, to authorise the Corporate Director Community Wealth Building, following consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer, to settle, in line with relevant legislation, any Rights of Light and Rights of Way claims with persons/parties whose rights/interests are likely to be infringed as a result of the proposed redevelopment of the Finsbury Leisure Centre. 2.4 To note that professional advice has been received by the Council (as summarised in Exempt Appendix 3) on the potential compensation liabilities which may arise as a result of the proposed redevelopment of the Finsbury Leisure Centre, and that the associated potential costs will need to be included in the project budget before it can be approved

DECISIONS:

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for the decision – as detailed in the report

Other options considered – as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RESOLVED:

(a) To agree in principle to appropriate the land comprising the Finsbury Leisure Centre, its football pitches and the pathways between, all as detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods, to planning purposes.

(b) That, subject to the Executive granting approval for the scheme to proceed to construction supported by a full business case, to authorise the Corporate Director Community Wealth Building, following consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer, to appropriate the land (shown edged green on the plan at Appendix 1 to the report) to planning purposes, when that land was no longer required for the purposes for which it was currently held, pursuant to section 122 of the Local Government Act 1972 and, subject to the land being declared surplus, the  Council providing advance notice of its intention to appropriate, and the Council considering any objections to the proposed appropriation prior to the appropriation.

(c) Subject to the Executive granting approval for the scheme to proceed to construction supported by a full business case, to authorise the Corporate Director Community Wealth Building, following consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer, to settle, in line with relevant legislation, any Rights of Light and Rights of Way claims with persons/parties whose rights/interests were likely to be infringed as a result of the proposed redevelopment of the Finsbury Leisure Centre.

(d) To note that professional advice had been received by the Council (as summarised in Exempt Appendix 3 of the report) on the potential compensation liabilities which might arise as a result of the proposed redevelopment of the Finsbury Leisure Centre, and that the associated potential costs would need to be included in the project budget before it could be approved

Reasons for the decision – To allow the proposed development of the Finsbury Leisure Centre to proceed, subject to planning and viability, as well as providing the basis to make any compensation payments related to Rights to Light.

Other options considered – as detailed in the report.

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

Noted.

Noted.

Noted

Noted

Noted.

Noted.