Agenda, decisions and minutes

Received from Councillors Santiago Bell-Bradford, Sheila Chapman and Flora Williamson.

None.

Confirmed.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 October 2024 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.1. To note the overall forecast GF outturn position. (Table 1)

1.2. To note the breakdown of the forecast General Fund (GF) outturn by variance at Appendix 1 and service area at Appendix 2. (Section 3, Table 1, and Appendices 1 & 2)

1.3. To note the changes in forecast since Quarter 1, notably including a significant pressure in Housing General Fund directorate regarding Temporary Accommodation costs. (Paragraph 3.51)

1.4. To note the virements and budget adjustments posted up to Q2 and to approve an ongoing virement in Environment and Climate Change which is required to realign budgets to reflect income and expenditure levels. (Appendix 2 and Section 3)

1.5. To note progress on delivering the 2024/25 agreed budget savings. (Appendix 3) 1.6. To note the forecast Collection Fund outturn position for council tax and national non[1]domestic rates (NNDR). (Paragraphs 3.85-3.96)

1.7. To note the forecast Housing Revenue Account (HRA) outturn. (Section 4 and Appendices 1 & 2)

1.8. To note the forecast capital outturn of £248.441m in 2024/25 which includes an overspend of £1.178m on the revised 2024/25 budget (Section 5, and Appendix 4) and the revised multi-year capital programme and how it will be financed. (Appendix 5)

1.9. To agree the requested capital reprofiling with future financial years and budget adjustments

1.10. To note the further capital budget adjustment which will be reported to Full Council later in the financial year for agreement, due to it being higher than the Executive’s authority under the financial regulations. (Paragraph 5.41, Section 5 and Appendix 4)

1.11. To note, and where necessary, agree to debt write-offs (Section 6)

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 overall forecast General Fund outturn position, detailed in the report of the Executive member for Finance and Performance.

(b) To note the breakdown of the forecast General Fund outturn by variance at Appendix 1 and service area at Appendix 2 of the report.

(c) To note the changes in forecast since Quarter 1, notably including a significant pressure in Housing General Fund directorate regarding temporary accommodation costs. 

(d) To note the virements and budget adjustments posted up to Q2 and to approve an ongoing virement in Environment and Climate Change which was required to realign budgets to reflect income and expenditure levels.

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

(f) To note the forecast Collection Fund outturn position for council tax and national non-domestic rates 

(g) To note the forecast Housing Revenue Account outturn.

(h) To note the forecast capital outturn of £248.441m in 2024/25 which included an overspend of £1.178m on the revised 2024/25 budget and the revised multi-year capital programme and how it would be financed.

(i) To agree the requested capital reprofiling with future financial years and budget adjustments.

(k) To note the further capital budget adjustment which would be reported to Council later in the financial year for agreement, due to it being higher than the Executive’s authority under the financial regulations. 

(l) To note, and where necessary, agree to debt write-offs 

Reasons for the decision – To enable members to monitor the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account and capital programme up to the end of quarter 2.

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

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.1. To note the latest Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) assumptions contained in Section 3 of this report and the changes since the Summer MTFS Update, as summarised in Table 2.

1.2. To note the latest General Fund (GF) revenue reserves forecast over the medium term. (Section 4)

1.3. To note the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) update. (Section 5)

1.4. To note the 2025/26 budget setting timeline. (Section 6)

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 latest Medium-Term Financial Strategy assumptions contained in Section 3 of the report of the Executive Member for Finance and Performance and the changes since the Summer update, as summarised in Table 2 of the report.

(b) To note the latest General Fund revenue reserves forecast over the medium term.

(c) To note the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) update.

(d) To note the 2025/26 budget setting timeline.

Reasons for the decision – To enable members to monitor the budget.

Other options considered – all as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATION:

2.1. To note the Treasury Mid-Year Review to September 2024.

DECISIONS:

AGREED RECOMMENDATION and expressed thanks to the Resources Team for their work

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 Treasury Mid-Year Review to September 2024, as detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Finance and Performance.

(b) To express thanks to the Resources Team for their work in ensuring that the Council’s borrowing was managed efficiently.

Reasons for the decision – Good Treasury management enabled the Council to discharge its responsibility to make arrangements for the proper administration of its financial affairs.

Other options considered – as detailed in the report

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.To agree the fees and charges policy (paragraph 3.3)

2.To agree the General Fund fees and charges detailed at Appendix A1-3

3.To agree the removal of all public use fees and charges for the use of Automated Public Conveniences (APCs) and delegate the charging of APCs to the Corporate Director of Community Wealth Building, provided the income is expected to be less than £10k pa based on use and charging rates per visit. (paragraph 3.9)

4. To note the proposed fee increases for parking permits, peak charging, and suspensions will be included in the Council's Budget report to the Executive in January 2025, except for universal permit charges which are included in this report.  5. To note that the childcare fees and charges detailed at Appendix A4 were agreed by the Executive on 18 May 2023.

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 fees and charges policy detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Finance and Performance.

(b) To agree the General Fund fees and charges detailed at Appendix A1-3 of the report.

(c) To agree the removal of all public use fees and charges for the use of automated public conveniences (APCs) and to delegate the charging of APCs to the Corporate Director of Community Wealth Building, provided the income was expected to be less than £10k pa, based on use and charging rates per visit.

(d) To note that the proposed fee increases for parking permits, peak charging, and suspensions would be included in the Council's Budget report to the Executive in January 2025, except for universal permit charges which were included in this report.  (e) To note that the childcare fees and charges detailed at Appendix A4 of the report were agreed by the Executive on 18 May 2023.

Reasons for the decision – Discretionary General Fund fees and charges were to be increased by the September 2024 CPI of 1.7% on 1 January 2025, in line with the Council’s fees and charges policy. In setting the fees and charges policy, consideration was given to the current level of inflation in the economy and the forecasted inflation for the upcoming financial year to ensure the council’s fees and charges were fair and aligned with the economic environment.

Other options considered – all as detailed in the report, ensuring that fees and charges were fair and aligned with the economic environment.

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS:

1.1 To approve additional spend for the remaining contract period and contract extension period with Matrix SCM for the provision of agency workers.

1.2 To note that the extension period starts on the 1 April 2025 and expires on the 31 March 2026.The contract extension estimated spend is £43.4m

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 additional spend for the remaining contract period and contract extension period with Matrix SCM for the provision of agency workers.

(b) To note that the extension period would start on the 1 April 2025 and expire on 31 March 2026, with the contract extension estimated spend at £43.4m

Reasons for the decision – There were significant benefits in having the Council’s agency and interim worker spend through one contract, which included reduced margins, greater transparency and visibility and better integrated management information.

Other options considered – Two options were considered, as detailed in the report.

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATION:

1.1. To approve the Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy attached as Appendix 1 to this report.

DECISIONS:

AGREED RECOMMENDATION and thanked all contributors to the production of the report.

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 Homelessness Prevention and Rough Sleeping Strategy attached as Appendix 1 to the report of the Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods.

(b) To thank all contributors to the production of the Strategy.

Reasons for the decision – The council was required to develop and publish a strategy that set out the work undertaken to prevent homelessness and tackle rough sleeping in the Borough.

Other options considered – none.

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS:

2.1. To approve the findings of the multi-agency response to complex anti-social behaviour report.

2.2. To agree the Executive responses to the recommendations of the Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee as set out in section 4 of this report.

2.3. To agree that officers report back on progress made to the Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee at an agreed future date.

DECISIONS:

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS and thanked the Scrutiny Committee for their report.

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 findings of the multi-agency response to complex anti-social behaviour, as detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods.

(b) To agree the Executive response to the recommendations of the (former) Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee as set out in section 4 of the report.

(c) That officers report back on progress made to the Homes and Communities Scrutiny Committee at an agreed future date.

(d) That the (former) Policy and Performance Scrutiny Committee be thanked for their report.

Reasons for the decision – To formally consider and respond to the recommendations of the scrutiny report. The review was undertaken to assess the strengths of the Council’s current approach and to consider how this could be developed further to understand and address the challenges faced in managing complex cases to the benefit of residents.

Other options considered – all as detailed in the report. Joint working between council services such as the Police, housing providers, social care, mental health services, and other agencies would assist in better management of issues going forward.

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.1. To note the outcome of work undertaken to compile a private sector evidence base.

1.2. To agree that there be a public consultation upon proposals to redesignate the borough wide additional (HMO) property licensing scheme for a further 5 years and expansion of our selective licensing scheme to include the 9 further wards identified as areas that could be subject to selective licensing.

1.3. To note the outlined approach for consultation.

1.4. To delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Homes and Neighbourhoods to agree the final Consultation programme and questionnaire with the Executive Member for Homes & Neighbourhoods.

1.5. To note that the Executive will receive a further report on the outcome of the consultation and final recommendations for the proposed redesignation additional and expansion of selective licensing property licensing schemes.

1.6. To note that, following an executive decision to expand selective licensing, a submission would need to be made to the Secretary of State for Housing for approval.

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 outcome of work undertaken to compile a private sector evidence base, as detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods.

(b) To agree that there be a public consultation upon proposals to redesignate the borough wide additional HMO property licensing scheme for a further 5 years and expansion of the selective licensing scheme to include nine further Wards identified as areas that could be subject to selective licensing.

(c) To note the outlined approach for consultation, as detailed in the report.

(d) To delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Homes and Neighbourhoods to agree the final Consultation programme and questionnaire, following consultation with the Executive Member for Homes and Neighbourhoods.

(e) To note that the Executive would receive a further report on the outcome of the consultation and final recommendations for the proposed redesignation and expansion of selective licensing property licensing schemes.

(f) To note that a submission would need to be made to the Secretary of State for Housing for approval.

Reasons for the decision – Licensing schemes were more effective than relying on tenant complaints, as they outlined the standard which properties were required to meet. Property licensing schemes also improved communication between renters and the Council and made it more likely that renters would contact the Council in the future.

Other options considered – all as detailed in paragraph 4 of the report.

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.1. To approve the proposed programmes for Islington’s three-year Transport for London (TfL) funded Local Implementation Plan (LIP) 2025/26 to 2027/28.

1.2. To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Community Wealth Building, in consultation with the Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality & Transport to make any necessary changes to the Local Implementation Plan programmes 2025/26 to 2027/28

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 proposed programmes for Islington’s three-year Transport for London funded Local Implementation Plan for 2025/26 to 2027/28, detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Transport, be approved.

(b) To delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Community Wealth Building, following consultation with the Executive Member for Environment, Air Quality and Transport, to make any necessary changes to the Local Implementation Plan programmes 2025/26 to 2027/28.

Reasons for the decision – The Council had a duty under Section 145 of the Greater London Authority Act (1999) to produce a three-year Local Implementation Plan containing its costed proposals that would support the delivery of the outcomes included in Islington’s Transport Strategy and the Mayor’s Transport Strategy.

Other options considered – all as detailed in paragraph 4 of the report.

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

Confirmed.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt minutes of the meeting held  on 24 October 2024 be confirmed as an accurate record of proceedings and the Chair be authorised to sign them.