Agenda, decisions and minutes
Venue: C1, 1st Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG
Contact: Matthew Mannion, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4651, E-mail: matthew.mannion@towerhamlets.gov.uk
Media
No. | Item | |
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Stephen Halsey (Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture). Roy Ormsby (Service Head, Public Realm) was deputising.
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DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS PDF 70 KB To note any declarations of interest made by Members, including those restricting Members from voting on the questions detailed in Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992. See attached note from the Monitoring Officer.
Additional documents: Minutes: None were declared.
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UNRESTRICTED MINUTES PDF 111 KB The unrestricted minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 4 April 2016 are presented for approval. Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED
1. That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 5 April 2016 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of proceedings.
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OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE Additional documents: |
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Chair's Advice of Key Issues or Questions Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) to report on any issues raised by the OSC in relation to unrestricted business to be considered.
Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor John Pierce, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC), updated Members on the OSC meeting the previous evening. He reported on a number of issues that had been considered including: · A report looking at lessons learnt in relation to the sale of Poplar Town Hall and how those lessons would be taken forward. · Consideration of the OSC’s annual report which highlighted a number of successes including the publication of the transparency protocol. · A report agreeing to set up a Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee to lead on scrutinising issues relating to this important area.
Councillor John Pierce thanked the Mayor for his engagement with the Committee, having attended five meetings throughout the year.
The Mayor thanked Councillor John Pierce for the work the OSC had undertaken throughout the year in particular highlighting the transparency review and the report relating to issues around the sale of Poplar Town Hall.
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Any Unrestricted Decisions "Called in" by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Under provisions of Article 6 Para 6.02 V of the Constitution). Additional documents: Minutes: Nil items.
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Planning Policy Explanatory Note on Tall Buildings PDF 94 KB Additional documents: Decision: DECISION
1. To note the Planning Policy Explanatory Note on Tall Buildings.
Action by: CORPORATE DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT AND RENEWAL (A. DALVI) (Strategic Planning Manager (A. Maher)
Minutes: Councillor Rachel Blake, Cabinet Member for Strategic Development, introduced the report summarising the Council’s policy on tall buildings. She explained that this was being presented as a reminder to the development industry of the Council’s desire to ensure that tall buildings were only built in appropriate locations.
Councillor Andrew Wood, Ward Councillor for Canary Wharf, welcomed the statement as a useful summary but highlighted that the Local Plan policy carried more weight and he urged the Council to bring forward the relevant part of that Plan for consultation at the earliest possible opportunity.
The Mayor welcomed the report as he stated that it sent out a clear message that the Council wanted to restrict tall buildings to appropriate locations. He also highlighted that the policies of the new Mayor of London would be important in guiding appropriate levels of development. He agreed that the Local Plan was an important document in relation to this issue and asked officers to ensure the relevant consultation processes could begin as soon as possible. The Mayor agreed the recommendation as set out in the report.
RESOLVED
1. To note the Planning Policy Explanatory Note on Tall Buildings.
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Substance Misuse Commissioning (1) PDF 121 KB Additional documents:
Decision: The Mayor noted the exempt appendix.
DECISION
1. To approve contract awards as recommended by the tender panel and set out in Appendix 3 for:
a. Tower Hamlets drug / alcohol outreach and referral service b. Tower Hamlets drug / alcohol treatment service c. Tower Hamlets drug / alcohol recovery support service
Action by: CORPORATE DIRECTOR, COMMUNITIES, LOCALITIES AND CULTURE (Service Head, Safer Communities (A. Bamber)
Minutes: Note – this item was considered at the same time as Agenda Item 5.3 (Substance Misuse Commissioning (2)) and the combined minute is presented here.
The Mayor agreed that the Appendix should be considered as an exempt document due to the financial information it contained. However, discussion of the issue would continue in public session unless any Member wished to specifically raise an exempt matter.
Councillor Shiria Khatun, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, introduced the reports. She highlighted the competitive tendering processes that had been undertaken and the resulting proposed contract awards. The second report proposed the decommissioning of certain services where other alternatives were available. She took Members through the services that would be available and the way the new model of provision was developing.
In considering the report the Mayor noted that where facilities were being closed there were other treatment options available. In respect of the tendering process he noted the excellent work existing suppliers had performed and that if there were changes of supplier TUPE processes would be available for staff. He agreed the recommendations in both reports.
RESOLVED
1. To approve contract awards as recommended by the tender panel and set out in Appendix 3 for:
a. Tower Hamlets drug / alcohol outreach and referral service b. Tower Hamlets drug / alcohol treatment service c. Tower Hamlets drug / alcohol recovery support service
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Substance Misuse Commissioning (2) PDF 147 KB Additional documents:
Decision: DECISION
1. To agree the proposal to decommission the Harbour Recovery Centre.
2. To agree the recommendation that the Council pursue a restricted competition process with the potential provider routes being those set out in paragraph 3.2.6
3. To agree the recommendation for a direct award to ELFT for the Health E1 Homeless Substance Misuse service.
4. To agree the recommendation to pursue a section 75 agreement with Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for the commissioning of the Specialist Midwifery Service and the Hospital Alcohol and Drugs Service.
Action by: CORPORATE DIRECTOR, COMMUNITIES, LOCALITIES AND CULTURE (Service Head, Safer Communities (A. Bamber)
Minutes: Note – this item was taken alongside Agenda Item 5.2 (Substance Misuse Commissioning (1)) and the combined minute is presented under that item.
RESOLVED
1. To agree the proposal to decommission the Harbour Recovery Centre.
2. To agree the recommendation that the Council pursue a restricted competition process with the potential provider routes being those set out in paragraph 3.2.6
3. To agree the recommendation for a direct award to ELFT for the Health E1 Homeless Substance Misuse service.
4. To agree the recommendation to pursue a section 75 agreement with Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for the commissioning of the Specialist Midwifery Service and the Hospital Alcohol and Drugs Service.
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Housing Policy and Affordability Commission PDF 248 KB Additional documents:
Decision: DECISION
1. To agree the recommendations of the Affordability Commission as set out in Appendix 1 to this report taking account of the constraints within the Housing Revenue Account and pending Housing legislation, in particular the Housing and Planning Bill.
Action by: CORPORATE DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT AND RENEWAL (A. DALVI) (Strategic Housing Manager (M. Ling)
Minutes: Councillor Rachel Blake, Cabinet Member for Strategic Development, introduced the report. She thanked everyone who had been involved in the affordability commission with particular reference to the expert panel and to all those individuals and groups who had submitted evidence.
She then took Members through the report highlighting a number of sections including those on affordable housing, salaries against rent levels and shared ownership models. She noted that some of the recommendations would be taken forward in the Housing Strategy which was under development.
During discussion of the report the Mayor agreed that monitoring housing need was important. He also noted the limitations caused by central government policies. He agreed the recommendation as set out in the report.
RESOLVED
1. To agree the recommendations of the Affordability Commission as set out in Appendix 1 to this report taking account of the constraints within the Housing Revenue Account and pending Housing legislation, in particular the Housing and Planning Bill.
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Hostels Commissioning Plan PDF 429 KB Additional documents: Decision: DECISION
1. To approve that officers commence discussion and engagement with service users, providers, stakeholders and landlords as to the future model of the hostel sector to inform the commissioning plan for 2016-2019 including:
· Reducing the level of service provision for women and those in need of abstinent hostel provision, in line with local needs. Currently it is estimated that the reduction in units for women could be from 118 units to 81, whilst for abstinent beds, the reduction could be from 51 units to 35.
· Focus on providing a range of hostel services for those with high and complex needs.
· Reducing the overall size of the hostel sector by approximately 120 beds. This is in recognition that:
o a new hostel move-on service has been developed from Feb 2016, which it is anticipated will provide an additional 60 move on opportunities per annum o there are estimated to be at least 35 people who are living in hostels who no longer require support, who can be sensitively moved on (with support if required) o there is lower demand from women and those needing abstinent provision as outlined above o the Council needs to achieve savings across the portfolio of commissioned services in adult social care
2. To authorise officers in Adult Services Commissioning to liaise with colleagues in legal and procurement to:
· Consider the potential to exclude services for a defined period, if significant capital is being invested to enable effective management of the programme of works and ensure continuity of both staff and provision throughout the period and minimise any adverse effects on provision and clients going forward.
· Explore such arrangements with hostel landlords to invest in the sector and make improvements to the living environment.
3. To receive a further Cabinet report detailing the proposed hostel contracts to be competitively tendered and details of any exemptions from this.
Action by: DIRECTOR, ADULTS’ SERVICES (D. RADLEY) (Interim Service Head, Commissioning and Health, Adult Services (K. Sugars)
Minutes: Councillor Amy Whitelock Gibbs, introduced the report. She highlighted that hostel provision was a vital part of providing services for vulnerable people. The report reviewed current services and provided proposals for reshaping provision. The report recommended that officers commence discussions with stakeholders and service users to inform the preparation of the hostels commissioning plan. She took Members through the report including highlighting specific changes proposed around reducing the number of beds provided for certain groups based on service use.
The Mayor welcomed the report and agreed the recommendations as set out.
RESOLVED
1. To approve that officers commence discussion and engagement with service users, providers, stakeholders and landlords as to the future model of the hostel sector to inform the commissioning plan for 2016-2019 including:
· Reducing the level of service provision for women and those in need of abstinent hostel provision, in line with local needs. Currently it is estimated that the reduction in units for women could be from 118 units to 81, whilst for abstinent beds, the reduction could be from 51 units to 35.
· Focus on providing a range of hostel services for those with high and complex needs.
· Reducing the overall size of the hostel sector by approximately 120 beds. This is in recognition that:
o a new hostel move-on service has been developed from Feb 2016, which it is anticipated will provide an additional 60 move on opportunities per annum o there are estimated to be at least 35 people who are living in hostels who no longer require support, who can be sensitively moved on (with support if required) o there is lower demand from women and those needing abstinent provision as outlined above o the Council needs to achieve savings across the portfolio of commissioned services in adult social care
2. To authorise officers in Adult Services Commissioning to liaise with colleagues in legal and procurement to:
· Consider the potential to exclude services for a defined period, if significant capital is being invested to enable effective management of the programme of works and ensure continuity of both staff and provision throughout the period and minimise any adverse effects on provision and clients going forward.
· Explore such arrangements with hostel landlords to invest in the sector and make improvements to the living environment.
3. To receive a further Cabinet report detailing the proposed hostel contracts to be competitively tendered and details of any exemptions from this.
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Children Looked After Strategy 2015-18 PDF 141 KB Additional documents:
Decision: DECISION
1. To note that the overall strategic responsibility for Corporate Parenting lies with the Lead Cabinet Member for Children Services and the Corporate Director for Children Services. The needs of children and young people in and leaving care are also represented on each Children and Families Plan theme group by a Service Manager and/or Service Head, Children’s Social Care.
2. To confirm that Tower Hamlets Council believes that an effective corporate parent needs a comprehensive strategy and joint working arrangements with clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
3. To note the contents of the Children Looked After Strategy, and in particular the desired direction of travel and associated cost pressures within Children’s Social Care.
4. To note the action strategy included within the Strategy.
Action by: CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN’S SERVICES (D. JONES) (Service Manager, Children’s Specialist Services (K. Khan) (Community Insight, Quality and Policy Manager, Children and Adults Resources (W. Hedger)
Minutes: Councillor Rachael Saunders, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services, introduced the report. She explained that providing for looked after children was hugely significant to Cabinet Members and so it was important that this report was presented at Cabinet to highlight what the Council was looking to do to support these children. She especially highlighted the work of the Corporate Parenting Steering Group (CPSG) in overseeing this area.
A particular feature of the CPSG was the active role of the young people themselves and this helped to shape understanding of their needs.
The Children Looked After Strategy set out what the Council intended to do over the next few years and the Lead Member thanked everyone who had worked to help prepare the document.
The Mayor welcomed the report and noted in particular the desire to improve educational outcomes. He agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.
RESOLVED
1. To note that the overall strategic responsibility for Corporate Parenting lies with the Lead Cabinet Member for Children Services and the Corporate Director for Children Services. The needs of children and young people in and leaving care are also represented on each Children and Families Plan theme group by a Service Manager and/or Service Head, Children’s Social Care.
2. To confirm that Tower Hamlets Council believes that an effective corporate parent needs a comprehensive strategy and joint working arrangements with clearly defined roles and responsibilities.
3. To note the contents of the Children Looked After Strategy, and in particular the desired direction of travel and associated cost pressures within Children’s Social Care.
4. To note the action strategy included within the Strategy.
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The Tower Hamlets Education Partnership (THEP) PDF 143 KB Additional documents: Decision: DECISION
1. To welcome the establishment of the Tower Hamlets Education (THE) Partnership and the potential of its role in establishing a school-led system of improvement which adds value to the whole Tower Hamlets’ education system;
2. To ask the Corporate Director for Children’s Services in consultation with the Director of Law, Probity and Governance to consider which of the Council’s current school improvement services might be delivered from THE Partnership in 2017 and identify appropriate mechanisms accordingly;
3. To endorse the role of the Council in education, as set out in paragraphs 3.24 - 3.38, of this report and to ask officers to explore how the Council’s partnership and scrutiny function might develop in support of this role;
4. To ask THE Partnership to report on progress towards these outcomes in a comprehensive annual review of the quality of education in schools in Tower Hamlets, with the first report to be produced in November 2016;
5. To agree that the Council establishes an earmarked reserve from general fund balances of up to £300,000 per annum to THE Partnership for a period of three years to enable it to become self-sustaining and to maintain a tight focus on improvement, as evidenced by progress in the outcomes described in paragraph 3.32 of the report; and
6. To agree that THE Partnership is able to receive services in kind from the Council in support of its progress towards sustainability.
Action by: CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN’S SERVICES (D. JONES) (Service Manager Policy, Programmes and Community Insight (L. Richards) (Finance Business Manager (S. Patni)
Minutes: Note – this item was taken alongside Agenda Item 5.8 (Maintaining Educational Excellence in Tower Hamlets) and the combined minute is presented here.
Councillor Rachael Saunders, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services, introduced the reports. She explained that report 5.8 set out the overarching legislative context and in particular it therefore highlighted the need to lobby the government over future schools funding, whilst report 5.7 detailed proposals to set up a partnership organisation led by schools and how the Council could support this development. It was noted that funding was being requested to support the setting up of the partnership and that the Commissioners would need to be involved in grants decision making.
A key reason behind the partnership plan was the desire to ensure that Tower Hamlets schools continued to work together and with the Council for the benefit of all students even if they ended up being part of separate academy chains.
The Mayor welcomed the report and stated it was important to ensure the community felt a strong sense of ownership and to that end he agreed with comments made by Councillor Joshua Peck, Cabinet Member for Work and Economic Development, which noted the concerns raised about the need to ensure the partnership Board reflected the community it would serve. The need to ensure the Council had a strong relationship with the partnership was also noted. The Mayor agreed the recommendations as set out in both the reports.
RESOLVED
1. To welcome the establishment of the Tower Hamlets Education (THE) Partnership and the potential of its role in establishing a school-led system of improvement which adds value to the whole Tower Hamlets’ education system;
2. To ask the Corporate Director for Children’s Services in consultation with the Director of Law, Probity and Governance to consider which of the Council’s current school improvement services might be delivered from THE Partnership in 2017 and identify appropriate mechanisms accordingly;
3. To endorse the role of the Council in education, as set out in paragraphs 3.24 - 3.38, of this report and to ask officers to explore how the Council’s partnership and scrutiny function might develop in support of this role;
4. To ask THE Partnership to report on progress towards these outcomes in a comprehensive annual review of the quality of education in schools in Tower Hamlets, with the first report to be produced in November 2016;
5. To agree that the Council establishes an earmarked reserve from general fund balances of up to £300,000 per annum to THE Partnership for a period of three years to enable it to become self-sustaining and to maintain a tight focus on improvement, as evidenced by progress in the outcomes described in paragraph 3.32 of the report; and
6. To agree that THE Partnership is able to receive services in kind from the Council in support of its progress towards sustainability.
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Maintaining Educational Excellence in Tower Hamlets PDF 174 KB Additional documents: Decision: DECISION
1. To note the contents of this report and to agree to receive further reports as developments in relation to the White Paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, and the National Funding Formula occur.
Action by: CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN’S SERVICES (D. JONES) (Service Manager, Policy, Programmes and Community Insight (L. Richards) (Finance Business Manager (S. Patni)
Minutes: Note – this item was taken alongside Agenda Item 5.7 (The Tower Hamlets Education Partnership (THEP)) and the combined minute is presented there.
RESOLVED
1. To note the contents of this report and to agree to receive further reports as developments in relation to the White Paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, and the National Funding Formula occur.
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2016-19 Children and Families Plan PDF 122 KB Additional documents:
Decision: DECISION
1. To approve the Children and Families Plan 2016-19 and its implementation.
Action by: CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN’S SERVICES (D. JONES) (Community Engagement, Quality and Policy Manager (J. Starkie) (Service Manager, Policy, Programme and Community Insight (L. Richards)
Minutes: Councillor Rachael Saunders, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services, introduced the report. She reported that it was no longer required by statute to have a Children and Families Plan but that the Council found it a very useful document and so it was proposed to continue to develop the Plan.
The Plan was the collective vision of the Council and key partners including local agencies, the police, the voluntary sector and others. This had produced a comprehensive plan which challenged everyone to think of new ways of providing services to ensure that Children’s voices were at the centre of building that provision.
The Mayor agreed the recommendation as set out.
RESOLVED
1. To approve the Children and Families Plan 2016-19 and its implementation.
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Public Health Grant 2016-17 and 2017-18 - savings proposals PDF 108 KB Additional documents: Decision: DECISION
1. To agree for the proposal to go out consultation from the 11th May 2016 until 8th June 2016.
Action by: DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH (S. BANERJEE) DIRECTOR OF ADULT SERVICES (D. RADLEY)
Minutes: Councillor Amy Whitelock Gibbs, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services, introduced the report on public health grant savings proposals. She explained that the announcement of the public health grant cuts had been made out of synch with the normal budget processes and so decisions were now required on the necessary savings. Analysis showed that London councils were being hit particularly hard.
A number of key considerations included the need to protect mandatory services and the desire to preserve as much early years provision as possible. However, the cuts were going to be difficult and so a full consultation was important to help determine final proposals.
A typographical error was noted on page 428 of the agenda pack that the 2017/18 budget reduction for Fit 4 Life Groups should read 31% not 631%.
The Mayor agreed the recommendation as set out in the report.
RESOLVED
1. To agree for the proposal to go out consultation from the 11th May 2016 until 8th June 2016.
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Corporate Directors' Decisions PDF 83 KB Additional documents: Decision: DECISION
1. To note the Corporate Directors’ decisions set out in Appendix 1 to the report.
Action by: CORPORATE DIRECTOR, RESOURCES (Z. COOKE) (Accountant – Financial Planning (A. Kadir)
Minutes: The Mayor agreed the recommendation as set out.
RESOLVED
1. To note the Corporate Directors’ decisions set out in Appendix 1 to the report.
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List of Individual Executive Mayoral Decisions PDF 82 KB Additional documents: Decision: DECISION
1. To note the Individual Mayoral Decisions set out in Appendix 1 to the report.
Action by: COMMITTEE SERVICES MANAGER (M. MANNION)
Minutes: The Mayor agreed the recommendation as set out.
RESOLVED
1. To note the Individual Mayoral Decisions set out in Appendix 1 to the report.
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ANY OTHER UNRESTRICTED BUSINESS CONSIDERED TO BE URGENT Additional documents: Decision: Nil items.
Minutes: Nil items.
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EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC In view of the contents of the remaining items on the agenda, the Committee is recommended to adopt the following motion:
“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act, 1985, the Press and Public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting for the consideration of the Section Two business on the grounds that it contains information defined as Exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government, Act 1972”.
EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL SECTION (PINK)
Additional documents: Decision: Nil items.
Minutes: Nil items.
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EXEMPT / CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES Nil items.
Additional documents: Decision: Nil items.
Minutes: Nil items.
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OVERVIEW & SCRUTINY COMMITTEE Additional documents: |
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Chair's Advice of Key Issues or Questions in Relation to Exempt / Confidential Business Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) to report on any issues raised by the OSC in relation to exempt/confidential business to be considered.
Additional documents: Decision: Nil items.
Minutes: Nil items.
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Any Exempt / Confidential Decisions "Called in" by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee (Under provisions of Article 6 Para 6.02 V of the Constitution). Additional documents: Decision: Nil items.
Minutes: Nil items.
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ANY OTHER EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS CONSIDERED TO BE URGENT Additional documents: Decision: Nil items.
Minutes: Nil items.
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