Apologies for absence were received on behalf of:

·         Councillor Abu Chowdhury (Cabinet Member for Jobs, Skills and Growth)

·         Janet Fasan (Director of Legal and Monitoring Officer) for whom Jill Bayley (Head of Lead Safeguarding and Deputy Monitoring Officer) was deputising.

·         James Thomas (Corporate Director, Children and Culture)

Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest, identified in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine; whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take. For further details, see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

Members are also reminded to declare the nature of the interest at the earliest opportunity and the agenda item it relates to. Please note that ultimately it is the Members’ responsibility to identify any interests and also update their register of interests form as required by the Code.

If in doubt as to the nature of an interest, you are advised to seek advice prior to the meeting by contacting the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services.

There were no Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.

For clarity Councillor Ohid Ahmed confirmed he did not have an Interest in Agenda Item 11.1 (Blackwall Reach Regeneration: Update and GLA Proposal Phase 4).

The unrestricted minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday 28 September 2022 are presented for approval.

RESOLVED

1.    That the unrestricted minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday 28 September 2022 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of proceedings.

The Mayor highlighted to Cabinet the importance of Education and the opportunities it gave to young people to pursue their aspirations. He was therefore really pleased that reports presented on today’s agenda signalled the realisation of key mayoral priorities in reintroducing Education Maintenance Allowances and University Bursaries.

He was immensely proud that the Council was again investing in the education and ambition of local young people.

Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) to report on any issues  raised by the OSC in relation to unrestricted business to be considered.

Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were tabled in respect of Agenda Item 6.4 (Contracts Forward Plan 2022/23 – Quarter 2). They were considered during discussion of the relevant Agenda Item.

In addition it was noted that Councillor Musthak Ahmed, the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, would be providing the Mayor with a written update on the Committee’s recent meeting and activities.

(Under provisions of Section 30, Rule 59 of the Constitution).

Nil items.

An additional recommendation was agreed.

DECISION

1.    To agree to make discretionary awards in respect of students who are over compulsory school age particularly for students who are most in need of support based on household incomes for the financial year 2022/23.

2.    To recommend that further discretionary awards for future financial years will be a priority in the setting of the 2023-2026 MTFS but can only proceed beyond 31 March 2023 once that budgetary approval has been secured.

3.    To approve the proposed outline delivery plan for the Mayor’s Education Maintenance Allowance and University Bursaries.

4.    That the application deadline of 30 November 2022 (set out in Paragraph 8.1 of the report) be extended to 2 January 2023.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND CULTURE (J. THOMAS)

(Director of Education (S. Nyakatawa)

Councillor Maium Talukdar, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Education, Youth and Lifelong Learning, introduced the report on the introduction of Education Maintenance Allowances and University Bursaries. He thanked officers for their hard work in bringing this paper to Cabinet so quickly after the election to meet key Mayoral Priorities. He explained that this support was extremely important to help young people achieve their aspirations.

During discussion, Cabinet noted that:

·         The Council had prepared a communications strategy to make sure residents were aware of the new funds.

·         There will be an audit trail of decisions and the scheme has been designed to be fair and to support those most in need.

The Mayor welcomed the report and the huge difference it will make to residents. He also thanked officers for their work on this issue. Finally, he asked that the deadline to submit applications be extended to 2 January and with this amendment he agreed the recommendations.  

RESOLVED

1.    To agree to make discretionary awards in respect of students who are over compulsory school age particularly for students who are most in need of support based on household incomes for the financial year 2022/23.

2.    To recommend that further discretionary awards for future financial years will be a priority in the setting of the 2023-2026 MTFS but can only proceed beyond 31 March 2023 once that budgetary approval has been secured.

3.    To approve the proposed outline delivery plan for the Mayor’s Education Maintenance Allowance and University Bursaries.

4.    That the application deadline of 30 November 2022 (set out in Paragraph 8.1 of the report) be extended to 2 January 2023.

DECISION

1.    To agree to forward the Gambling Policy to Council for adoption.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

(Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards (D. Tolley)

Councillor Kabir Hussain, Cabinet Member for Environment and the Climate Emergency, introduced the report setting out the proposed Gambling Policy for 2022-25 which set out how the Council would be managing its responsibilities under the Gambling Act. It was noted that as it was part of the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework it would need to be presented to Council for final agreement.

He noted that there had been a 38% reduction in physical gambling sites in the borough since 2019 and also that the policy only covered physical gambling as online gambling was dealt with nationally.

The Mayor welcomed the report. He noted that even though the Council didn’t support gambling, it was important that it currently undertook its duties. He also noted the consultation which had taken place. He agreed the recommendation that the report should proceed to Council for adoption.

RESOLVED

1.    To agree to forward the Gambling Policy to Council for adoption.

DECISION

1.    To approve the Air Quality Action Plan 2022-2027 for publication.

2.    To note the Equalities Impact Assessment / specific equalities considerations as set out in Paragraph 4 of the report.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

(Head of Environmental Health and Trading Standards (D. Tolley)

Councillor Kabir Hussain, Cabinet Member for Environment and the Climate Emergency, introduced the report on the proposed Air Quality Action Plan. He drew Cabinet’s attention to the consultation that had taken place.

The plan would cover the Council’s activities for the next 5 years covering a number of broad themes such as on development and public awareness.

The Mayor welcomed the report and highlighted the importance of working to improve the borough’s air quality. Following discussion which focussed on a number of different methods of improving air quality through transport management, he agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.

RESOLVED

1.    To approve the Air Quality Action Plan 2022-2027 for publication.

2.    To note the Equalities Impact Assessment / specific equalities considerations as set out in Paragraph 4 of the report.

The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted.

DECISION

1.    To note the contract summary at Appendix 1 to the report and confirm that all contracts set out can proceed to contract award after tender.

2.    To authorise the Director of Legal and Monitoring Officer to execute all necessary contract documents in respect of the awards of contracts referred to at Recommendation 1.

3.    To note the procurement forward plan 2022-2027 schedule detailed in Appendix 2.

Action by:

INTERIM CORPORATE DIRECTOR, RESOURCES (K. BARTLE)

(Interim Head of Procurement (P. Maskell)

Councillor Saied Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cost of Living, introduced the report setting out planned contract procurement coming up.

The Mayor welcomed the report and in particular highlighted how useful the Victoria Park income generation was. He noted the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses and agreed that all contracts listed in Appendix 1 could proceed to contract award. He also noted the schedule set out in Appendix 2.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the contract summary at Appendix 1 to the report and confirm that all contracts set out can proceed to contract award after tender.

2.    To authorise the Director of Legal and Monitoring Officer to execute all necessary contract documents in respect of the awards of contracts referred to at Recommendation 1.

3.    To note the procurement forward plan 2022-2027 schedule detailed in Appendix 2.

Nil items.

Should the Mayor in Cabinet consider it necessary, it is recommended that the following motion be adopted to allow consideration of any exempt/restricted documents.

“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)

RESOLVED

1.    “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.”

Nil items.

Nil items.

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.

Nil items.

(Under provisions of Section 30, Rule 59 of the Constitution).

Nil items.

The recommendations set out in the report were agreed.

The Mayor and Cabinet considered the report on Blackwall Reach Regeneration: Update and GLA Proposal Phase 4. Following discussion, the Mayor agreed the recommendations set out in the report.

Nil items.