Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Received from Councillor Santiago Bell-Bradford.

None.

Confirmed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2024 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.To note the breakdown of the forecast General Fund  outturn by variance at Appendix 1 and service area at Appendix 2 of the report of the Executive Member for Finance and Performance.

2.To note the forecast outturn 2024/25 General Fund position.

3.To note, and where necessary agree, the virements and budget adjustments.

4.To note the Collection Fund estimated outturn position for council tax and national non-domestic rates.

5.To note progress on delivering the 2024/25 agreed budget savings.

6.To note the HRA forecast outturn.

7.To note the forecast capital outturn at Q1 of £291.627m for 2024/25 which includes an overspend of £0.300m on the revised 2024/25 budget and the revised multi-year capital programme and how it will be financed.

8.To agree the requested capital reprofiling with future financial years and budget adjustments, and to note the further capital reprofiling and budget adjustments which will be reported to Full Council for agreement via the paper Capital Programme 2024/25 Quarter 1 Budget Changes on 19th September 2024.

9.To agree changes in capital financing for ongoing schemes which will lead to a net reduction in the borrowing requirement of the capital programme by £0.135m.

10.To note, and where necessary, agree to debt write-offs

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 note the breakdown of the forecast General Fund outturn by variance at Appendix 1 and service area at Appendix 2, as detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Finance and Performance.

(b) To note the forecast outturn 2024/25 General Fund position.

(c)To note, and where necessary agree, the virements and budget adjustments.

(d) To note the Collection Fund estimated outturn position for council tax and national non-domestic rates.

(e) To note progress on delivering the 2024/25 agreed budget savings.

(f) To note the HRA forecast outturn.

(g) To note the forecast capital outturn at Q1 of £291.627m for 2024/25, which included an overspend of £0.300m on the revised 2024/25 budget and the revised multi-year capital programme and how it would be financed.

(h) To agree the requested capital reprofiling with future financial years and budget adjustments, and to note the further capital reprofiling and budget adjustments which would be reported to Council for agreement via the paper “Capital Programme 2024/25 Quarter 1 Budget Changes” on 19th September 2024.

(i) To agree changes in capital financing for ongoing schemes which would lead to a net reduction in the borrowing requirement of the capital programme by £0.135m.

(j) To note, and where necessary, agree to the debt write-offs set out in paragraph 7 of the report.

Reasons for the decision – to enable members to monitor the Council’s budget.

Other options considered – all as detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Finance and Performance.

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.Agree the continued strategic approach to School Organisation as detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families.

2.Agree the following proposals to progress with corporate colleagues:

(a)Agree a principle to prioritise development of the expanded childcare offer on school sites.

(b)Align Additionally Resourced Provision and review of Alternative Provision to the School Organisation programme.

(c)Continue developing a set of principles of engagement with Headteachers for the agreed expectations of how to engage with school closures/amalgamations in a way that is professional and supportive.

(d)Align the School Organisation Plan with our corporate commitment to greener schools.

(e)Align the developing Strategic Asset Management Plan, specifically the education chapter, to agree a process for vacated school sites and alternative uses of vacant premises managers’ houses.

(f)Embed the implementation of the School Organisation Plan within a corporate communication plan that sets out the compelling vision to drive educational excellence through an inclusive, financially viable school estate. This will support the goals of ‘Putting Children First’, the Education Plan agreed at Executive in October 2022 alongside the SEND Strategy and School Organisation Plan.

3. To approve the recommendations in exempt Appendix A. 

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 continued strategic approach to School Organisation, as detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Families.

(b) To agree to progress the following proposals with corporate colleagues:

(i) Agree a principle to prioritise development of the expanded childcare offer on school sites.

(ii) Align Additionally Resourced Provision and review of Alternative Provision to the School Organisation programme.

(iii) Continue developing a set of principles of engagement with Headteachers for the agreed expectations of how to engage with school closures/amalgamations in a way that was professional and supportive.

(iv) Align the School Organisation Plan with the Council’s corporate commitment to greener schools.

(v) Align the developing Strategic Asset Management Plan, specifically the education chapter, to agree a process for vacated school sites and alternative uses of vacant premises managers’ houses.

(vi) Embed the implementation of the School Organisation Plan within a corporate communication plan that sets out the compelling vision to drive educational excellence through an inclusive, financially viable school estate. This would support the goals of ‘Putting Children First’, the Education Plan agreed at Executive in October 2022 alongside the Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Strategy and School Organisation Plan.

(c) To approve the recommendations in exempt Appendix A. 

Reasons for the decision – The School Organisation Plan, alongside the Education Plan and the SEND strategy agreed at Executive in October 2020, would drive the vision of educational excellence for all children, in financially viable, inclusive schools. Phase 3 sets out further changes to complement this vision.

Other options considered – all as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.To recommend the approval of the Fair, Inclusive and Accessible Service Commitment for implementation in the delivery of the council’s housing services,  as appended to the report of the Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods.

2.To delegate to the Acting Corporate Director of Homes and Neighbourhoods, the agreement of a reasonable adjustments procedure, which will compliment this commitment in describing how services will deliver the objectives of this commitment.

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:

1.To approve the Fair, Inclusive and Accessible Service Commitment for implementation in the delivery of the council’s housing services, as appended to the report of the Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods.

2.To authorise the Acting Corporate Director of Homes and Neighbourhoods to agree a reasonable adjustments procedure, which would complement this commitment, in describing how services would deliver the objectives of the commitment.

Reasons for the decision – The Fair, Inclusive and Accessible Services Commitment had been developed to capture the Council’s commitment to support residents, many of whom experienced periods of additional need or experienced specific challenges in their lives. This aligned with the Council’s ambition for a more equal future and ensured achievement of the right outcomes for residents. The service commitment also set out how services would be delivered to ensure they were fair, inclusive and accessible and plans for achieving this, meeting the expectation on the Council as a social landlord from the Regulator of Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman.

Other options considered – as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATION:

1.To approve the Anti-Social Behaviour policy for implementation in the delivery of the council’s housing services, as appended to the report of the Executive Member for Homes and Communities. 

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 Anti-Social Behaviour  (ASB) Policy, as appended to the report of the Executive Member for Homes and Communities, for implementation in the delivery of the Council’s housing services,. 

Reasons for the decision – The ASB Policy was part of a wider programme of work to improve the Council’s approach to ASB across the Borough, following the recommendation arising from a review of the service area. A priority from that review was that, as a local authority, Islington should have a single, corporate ASB policy which would inform a streamlined approach to ASB procedure.  The policy would inform the Council’s approach to ASB procedure and was part of the broader mission to create a safe place to call home for Islington residents.  

Other options considered – all as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATION:.

1. To approve the Good Neighbourhood Policy for implementation in the delivery of the council’s housing services, as appended to the report of the Executive Member for Homes and Communities.

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 Good Neighbourhood Policy, appended to the report of the Executive Member for Homes and Communities, for implementation in the delivery of the Council’s housing services.

Reasons for the decision – The Policy had been developed to capture the Council’s commitment to support residents, many of whom experienced issues of anti-social behaviour, setting expectations of resident behaviour and how to be a good neighbour and the expectations of Islington Council. This aligned with the Council’s ambition for a more equal future.  In addition, the service commitment set out how Islington would deliver services to ensure they were fair, inclusive and accessible and plans for achieving this, meeting the expectation on the Council as a social landlord from the Regulator of Social Housing and the Housing Ombudsman.

Other options considered – all as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS:

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

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

Committee’s recommendations.

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:

1.That the report of the Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee on “Complex Anti-Social Behaviour” be noted.

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 Committee’s recommendations.

Reasons for the decision – The overall aim of the review was to review the local arrangements for managing anti-social behaviour, particularly in relation to complex cases that involved joint-working between Council services, Police, housing providers, social care, mental health services and other agencies.

Other options considered – all as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS:

To authorise the Corporate Director for Community Wealth Building, following consultation with the Executive Member for Finance and Performance and the Corporate Director of Resources, to enter into the arrangements for the letting of the space on the terms set out in exempt Appendix 1 of the report of the Executive Member for Finance and Performance.

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 authorise the Corporate Director for Community Wealth Building, following consultation with the Executive Member for Finance and Performance and the Corporate Director of Resources, to enter into the arrangements for the letting of the land and premises at 16-34 Graham St N1 8JX and comprising Islington Boat Club, on the terms set out in exempt Appendix 1 of the report of the Executive Member for Finance and Performance.

Reasons for the decision – Islington Boat Club had operated from the site for over 40 years, providing a unique set of activities for Islington’s residents.  Given their unique community value contribution, last year’s capital investment, a change in leadership, and the production of a new business plan, it was recommended that the Council enter into a lease with Islington Boat Club, subject to ongoing joint monitoring.  This was in order to support the Club to  re-establish itself to enable residents and young people to use the facilities.  The lease would include break clauses to protect the Council should the Club fall into financial difficulties

Other options considered – all as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS: 

1.That the report of the Health and Care Scrutiny Committee be received.

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

Committee’s recommendations.

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) That the report of the Health and Care Scrutiny Committee be received.

b) 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 Committee’s recommendations.

Reasons for the decision – The overall aim of the review was to consider

whether residents were able to access health and care services in Islington

effectively; specifically, GP appointments, and the Adult Social Care ‘front

door’ and to consider what themes or recommendations could improve service

delivery. In considering the evidence received, the Committee concluded that,

while some residents had positive experiences of accessing health and care

services, others had been having trouble in accessing services and there were

several ways that access to services could be improved.

Other options considered – as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

Noted.

RESOLVED:

To note the report of the Director of Law and Governance and Monitoring Officer, detailing action taken by the Corporate Director of Community Wealth Building, to make a decision using the urgency procedures on ‘Old Street lease surrender” on 25 July 2024.

Reasons for the decision - To comply with the rules in the Council’s Constitution.

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

Noted.

Noted.

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded during discussion of the remaining items on the agenda, in view of their confidential nature, in accordance with Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

As detailed in the exempt appendix.

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:

To agree the recommendations detailed in the exempt appendix.

Reasons for the decision – as detailed in the report

Other options considered – as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none