Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Joe Caluori.

None.

Noted.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting on 13 July 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

An additional recommendation was agreed:

Recommendation 2.4:
To note that the Executive recognises that some children in Islington care had been subject to abuse during the 1970s, as well as the 1980s and early 1990s and to extend the apology given to all victims who suffered child abuse whilst in the borough’s care.

SUBJECT TO THE ABOVE ADDITION, THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE AGREED.

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Councillor Richard Watts welcomed everyone present, particularly the members of the Islington Survivors Network and introduced the item with the following statement:

“Tonight’s meeting includes a report relating to abuse of children in Islington’s care homes in the 1980s and 1990s. It is no exaggeration to say that this was the darkest chapter in the council’s history. Children, placed in our care, were subjected to terrible physical and mental abuse which, understandably, has had a deeply traumatic effect on those who are now adults and continue to suffer.

As Leader of Islington Council I want to say again we are deeply sorry for the council’s past failure to protect vulnerable children. Although the word ‘sorry’ feels inadequate, I offer this apology to every single person who has been scarred by the events of that terrible time. Today it is our duty as a council to do the right thing and to try to address the failings of the past.  The report recommends that the Executive as a whole formally apologises for past failures, and I am sure all my colleagues will strongly support this recommendation.

In recent years, we have worked closely with many survivors of this abuse. We are grateful for the help we have received from the Islington Survivors Network, and for the support they offer to survivors. We also want to thank Liz Davies for her dedication to the survivors and for her ongoing work with the council.

The Council has helped people to report allegations to specialist police officers without the need to visit a police station.  We’ve also helped survivors to get extra priority for council housing, and advice about legal representation, and we are commissioning a specialist counselling service for abuse survivors.

The council appointed James Goudie QC and Holly Stout to examine the issues raised in May this year by the Islington Gazette about former mayor, Ms Sandy Marks.  We said at the time that they would be free to follow any line of inquiry they felt appropriate, and that the council would be bound by their recommendations. 

In 1995 the Council received a report of an investigation by Ian White and Kate Hart – known as the White Report – into the council’s management of allegations of abuse of children in Islington’s care.  This report is very much of its own time, and some of the language used is insensitive by today’s standards.  The report was deeply critical of the council and led to profound changes in the council’s management of childrens’ services.

Tonight, the Executive receives the Joint Opinion of James Goudie QC and Holly Stout as to whether the Islington Gazette’s information about Sandy Marks could reasonably be said to call into question the integrity of the White Report.  Their conclusion is that the new allegations do have an impact, albeit a limited one, and that a new, independent investigation should examine the issues the White Report would have covered had the allegations about Sandy Marks been known at that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 427.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

2.1       That the award of Pub Relief of up to £1,000 to qualifying public houses in occupation of premises which have a Rateable Value of less than £100,000 for the financial year 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 only, be agreed.

2.2       That the award of Supporting Small Business (SSB) Relief to cap any increase in rates payable to £50.00 per month for those companies who have lost small business rate relief as a result of the 2017 Revaluation be agreed.  That SSB will be awarded for 5 successive financial years starting from 1 April 2017 and ending in March 2022 be agreed.

2.3       That the Pub Relief and SSB Relief will both be applied in accordance with the guidance provided by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) in their “Business Rates Information Letter (4/2017): Spring Budget Update” which is contained in Appendix A of this report be noted and that the awards will be made to the affected businesses automatically and as soon as is practicably possible following approval by the Executive be noted.

2.4       That the creation of a local discretionary relief scheme, known as Revaluation Relief, as detailed in Section 5 of the report, be agreed.

2.5       That the Council’s Revaluation Relief scheme does more than the
            government’s national transitional relief scheme to further reduce business
            rates bill rises, with tiered amounts based on the size of the business, be
            noted. 

2.6       That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Resources, in
            consultation with the Executive Member for Economic Development, to vary
            the discounts and/or make individual awards of relief, if it appears that there
            will be unspent funds at the end of the financial year, which would otherwise
            have to be returned to central government, be agreed.

2.7       That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Resources, in
            consultation with the Executive Member for Economic Development, to adjust
            scheme awards proportionately or stop applications so as not to exceed the
            funding provided by government and to assess further awards of relief by
            reference to the sum that remains available, be agreed.

Reason for decision – to reduce the financial burden for a significant number of local businesses.

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

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

2.1       That the forecast revenue outturn for the General Fund (Table 1 of the report)
      of a gross overspend of £9.4m, including corporate items (Paragraph 3.1 of
      the report) be noted.

2.2       That the actions to reduce the forecast gross General Fund overspend be
      noted, and that any remaining overspend at year-end will be covered by
      drawing down from the corporate contingency budget in the first instance
      (Section 4, Paragraph 3.2 and Table 2 of the report) be noted.

2.3        That the breakdown of the forecast General Fund outturn by key variance at
      Appendix 1 of the report and by directorate at Appendix 2 of the report be
      noted.

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

2.5          That the latest capital position with forecast capital expenditure of £132.5m in 2017-18. (Section 6, Table 3 and Appendix 3 of the report) be noted.

Reason for decision – to allow members to monitor the budget.

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

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Councillor Greening, Chair of the Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee, presented the report and thanked all the organisations and individuals that assisted local residents and businesses during the burst water main on 5 December 2016 and those who contributed to the scrutiny.

Councillor Watts thanked the Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee for all their work.

RESOLVED:

2.1       That the report of the Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee be
            received.

2.2       That the Executive Member’s response be reported to a future meeting of the Executive,  including having due regard to any relevant implications of the Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations.

Reason for decision – to receive the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee.

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

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

This item was deferred to the Executive meeting on 19 October 2017.

This item was deferred to the Executive meeting on 19 October 2017.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Councillor Watts thanked the Housing Scrutiny Committee for all their work.

RESOLVED:

2.1       That the report of the Housing Scrutiny Committee be received.

2.2       That the Executive Member’s response be reported to a future meeting of the Executive, including having due regard to any relevant implications of the Housing Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations.

Reason for decision – To receive the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee.

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

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Councillor Watts thanked the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee for all their work.

RESOLVED:

2.1       That the report of the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee be received.

2.2       That the Executive Member’s response be reported to a future meeting of the Executive, including having due regard to any relevant implications of the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations.

Reason for decision – To receive the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee.

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

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Councillor Watts thanked the Environment & Regeneration Scrutiny Committee for all their work.

RESOLVED:

2.1       That the report of the Environment & Regeneration Scrutiny Committee be
            received.

2.2       That the Executive Member’s response be reported to a future meeting of the Executive, including having due regard to any relevant implications of the Environment & Regeneration Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations.

Reason for decision – to receive the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee.

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

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

2.1     That the introduction of dockless cycle schemes in the borough, subject to the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, be agreed.

2.2     That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director for Environment and Regeneration in consultation with the Executive Member for Environment & Transport to agree and finalise the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) be agreed.

Reason for decision – to enable increased cycling, encourage residents to have healthier lifestyles, promote the uptake of more sustainable travel and help improve local air quality.

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

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

That the revised Terms of Reference for the Shared ICT and Digital Service Joint Committee attached to this report as Appendix 1 to come into effect from 1 October 2017 be agreed.
 

Reason for decision – to agree the changes to the Shared ICT and Digital Service Joint Committee’s Terms of Reference.

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

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

2.1       That the procurement strategy for Door Entry and Access Control Systems
            Testing Servicing and Repairs Contract as outlined in this report be agreed.

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

Reason for decision –  to ensure service continuity and increased value for money. Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

2.1       That the procurement strategy for Housing Capital Programme Major Works
            as outlined in this report be agreed.

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

Reason for decision – procure contractors to carry out major works to the Council’s housing stock from 1 April 2019.

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

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

2.1       That the procurement strategy for Building Materials, Equipment, Tool Hire
            and Plant Hire supply contract as outlined in this report be agreed.

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

Reason for decision – to procure cost effective materials supply contracts.

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

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

2.1       That the procurement strategy for Supported Accommodation for Young

            People as outlined in this report be agreed.

2.2       That authority to award the contract be delegated to the Corporate Director
            for Housing and Adult Social Services, in consultation with the Corporate
            Director of Children’s Services and the Executive Member for Health and
            Adult Social Care, be agreed.

Reason for decision – to provide an improved service.

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

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

RESOLVED:

That the decision detailed in Point 3.2 of this report be noted.

Reason for decision – to receive notice of an urgent key decision, taken by a Corporate Director, in accordance with the Constitution.

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

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.