Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Caluori.

None.

Noted.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting on 19 January 2017 be confirmed as a correct record of the meeting 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:

1.    That the amendments to the RSS scheme set out in Appendix 1 to the report, which create a class of council tax charge payer for the purposes of a reduction to their council tax to be known as “Care Leavers”, be agreed.

2.    That this class of charge payers will be awarded a local council tax discount, by virtue of an award of RSS that will reduce their council tax bill to nil, be agreed.

3.    That this class of reduction will be applied in accordance with the Islington Care Leaver Relief Scheme which is contained in Appendix 2 of this report be agreed.

Reasons for decision – to remove the vulnerability to council tax debt amongst young people leaving local authority care.

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.

In introducing the report, the Councillor Hull advised that the government may not confirm the final local government grant settlement in time for the Budget Council meeting on 23 February 2017 and therefore proposed the following amendment:

Additional recommendation, to be numbered 2.2:

2.2       That, in the unlikely event that the final local government settlement differs
            from the provisional settlement already notified by the government, to        delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Resources to make any          adjustments necessary to balance the Council’s Budget for 2017/18, in      consultation with the Executive Member for Finance, Performance and     Community Safety.

The proposed additional recommendation was agreed and the meeting therefore

RESOLVED:

The General Fund Budget 2017-18 and MTFS (Section 3 of the Main
Report)

2.1         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 include the revenue savings in Appendix B of the report, be agreed.

2.2         That, in the unlikely event that the final local government settlement differs from the provisional settlement already notified by the government, authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Resources to make any adjustments necessary to balance the Council’s Budget for 2017/18, in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance, Performance and Community Safety, be agreed.

2.3         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.

2.4         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 and Appendices C1 and C2 of the report) be agreed.

2.5         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 be noted and that from 2017-18 redundancy costs are funded within departmental budgets (paragraphs 3.2.23 to 3.2.26 and Table 3 of the report) be agreed.

The HRA Budget and MTFS (Section 4 of the Main Report)

2.6         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.

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

The Capital Programme 2017-18 to 2019-20 (Section 5 of the Main
Report)

2.8         That the 2017-18 capital programme be agreed and the provisional programme for 2018-19 to 2019-20 (paragraph 5.1, Table 9 and Appendix E1 of the report) be noted.

2.9         That the Corporate Director of Finance  ...  view the full minutes text for item 365.

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 £2.3m, including corporate items (paragraph 3.1 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 £112.5m in 2016-17 (Section 6, Table 2 and Appendix 2 of the report) be noted.

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.

Councillor Watts noted the Executive’s thanks to the Scrutiny Committee for the work undertaken and the very helpful recommendations.

RESOLVED:

2.1       That the findings of the Alternative Provision Scrutiny Review be welcomed.

2.2       That the responses to the recommendations of the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee as set out in section 4 of this report be agreed.

2.3       That officers report back on progress to the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee in one year’s time be agreed.

Reasons for decision – to allow Executive Members to respond to the Scrutiny Committee recommendations

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 has granted the HRA £1,083,000 funding towards the delivery of the new community centre building be noted.

2.    That it be noted that the Corporate Director for Environment and Regeneration, in consultation with the Corporate Director for Finance and Resources and the Corporate Director for Housing and Adult Social Services, has taken the decision to waive the Funding Condition and Vacant Possession Condition set out in the Conditional Development Agreement and Agreement for Lease between the Council and The Highbury Roundhouse Association Ltd.

3.    That granting the Highbury Roundhouse Association Ltd a 99 year lease of the land at the rear of 71 Ronalds Road, shown edged red on the site plan at Appendix 1 of the report and on the terms set out in exempt Appendix 3 of the report, subject to the Council and the Highbury Roundhouse Association Ltd agreeing a delivery plan to transfer all services from Sotheby Mews to the new community centre building, be agreed.

Reasons for decision – to support HRA in providing valuable services to the local community.

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:

1.1.         That the co-ordinated schemes and timetables for admission to Islington primary and secondary schools and academies in 2018/19, and in-year admission protocols for 2018/19, as set out in Appendices 1, 4 and 7 of the report, be agreed.

1.2.         That the policy and oversubscription criteria for admission to community primary and secondary schools and Islington Sixth Form Consortium for admission in 2018/19, as set out in Appendices 2, 5, 8 and 9 of the report, be agreed.

1.3.         That the proposed admission numbers for Islington community primary and secondary schools, and for external applicants to the Islington Sixth Form Consortium in 2018/19, as set out in Appendices 3, 6 and 10 of the report, be agreed.

Reasons for decision – to promote fair access to educational opportunity and comply with the mandatory provisions of the School Admissions Code.

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, in principle, to join a London Regional Adoption Agency, subject to detailed financial analysis and business case be agreed.

2.    That the Corporate Director of Children’s Services be authorised, in consultation with the Executive Member for Children Young People and Families, to progress arrangements relating to the development and implementation of the London Regional Adoption Agency model be agreed.

Reasons for decision –to participate in planning for this process, to ensure good adoption outcomes for Islington children

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 Integrated Community Equipment Services as outlined in this report be agreed.

2.    That the contract award for Integrated Community Equipment Services to Medequip Assistive Technology Ltd via the London Community Equipment Consortium framework agreement be agreed.

3.    That decisions relating to any subsequent call-off from the framework be delegated to the Corporate Director for Housing and Adult Social Services be agreed.

Reasons for decision – to achieve the best value for money for the borough.

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 the High Rise Insulation project as outlined in this report be agreed.

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

Reasons for decision – to improve the living standards and reduce the cost of living for residents in 304 homes.

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 the contract to supply all contingent workers, both agency workers and interims via Lot 1 of the HR Services and Solutions (Temporary and Permanent Recruitment, Consultancy and Related HR Services) framework agreement number 569, provided by Yorkshire Purchasing Organisation (YPO) be agreed.

2.    That authority to award the contract be delegated to the Corporate Director of Resources in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance, Performance and Community Safety be agreed.

Reasons for decision – to achieve the best value

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 D8 be noted (see Minute Minute 368 for decision).