During the meeting the Mayor agreed to change the order of business to take Agenda Item 5.1 at the top of the meeting. All other agenda items were taken in order. For clarity, the minutes are presented in the order the items were set out on the agenda.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor Amy Whitelock Gibbs, Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services.

There were no Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.

The unrestricted minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday 19 September 2017 are presented for approval.

RESOLVED

1.    That the unrestricted minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday 19 September be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of proceedings.

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 were received on the following agenda items:

• Item 5.5 (Approval and allocation of S106 and CIL funding)
• Item 5.7 (Statement of Licensing Policy Review)
• Item 5.9 (Contract Forward Plan)
• Item 5.12 (School Place Investment Planning)

The questions and responses were considered during discussion of each relevant agenda item.

In addition, Councillor Dave Chesterton, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, provided Cabinet with an update on their meeting the previous week. He highlighted a number of issues that had been examined, including:

·         A Spotlight session on the Medium Term Financial Strategy, with the Committee particularly examining the Strategic Investment plans, Children’s and Adult Care spending, the Better Care Fund and the Council Tax reduction scheme.

·         There was an update on the Scrutiny review of disabled and ethnic minority staff representation at senior management levels of the Council.

·         Christabel Shawcross the Independent Chair of the Safeguarding Adults Board had presented their annual report which highlighted the focus on personalising safeguarding and empowering the vulnerable.

·         The Community Safety Partnership Plan had been considered and endorsed by the Committee, although a number of suggested improvements were raised.

Councillor Dave Chesterton also thanked all those, including Cabinet Members who had presented at the meeting.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Chesterton for his update and welcomed the engagement of Cabinet Members in the work of Scrutiny.

Nil items.

DECISION

1.    To note that a mayoral priority growth bid was passed and an air quality fund has been approved in the last budget. The fund is for £200,000 over a two year period of 17/18 and 18/19. The fund is intended for ‘prospective bidders to support activities aligned to the Council priorities in improving air quality’. Criteria for the proposed projects include:

·        be related to either reducing emissions of, reducing exposure to or increasing awareness of air pollution;

·        be directly relevant to actions in our AQAP;

·        have a measurable impact; and

·        have wider community benefits

2.    To approve the Air Quality and Climate Change Strategy.

3.    To approve the Air Quality Action Plan.

Action by:

ACTING CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

(Service Manager for Energy and Sustainability (A. Khan)

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

Councillor Rachel Blake, Cabinet Member for Strategic Development introduced the report. She welcomed the report as a vital step in tackling the poor air quality suffered across the Borough. She explained that the Council had consulted widely on the planned Strategy which had been particularly beneficial in highlighting areas where awareness raising would be effective. She highlighted that a number of the specific actions set out, such as developing charging points for electric vehicles, were already being progressed.

Kate Hand, Hackney and Tower Hamlets Friends of the Earth, addressed the Cabinet meeting. She welcomed the report as a big step forward for the Borough. She urged the Council to pursue the most ambitious targets possible and, in particular, requested the Council review some of the existing targets to make sure they were specifically measurable.

Following discussion of the report, the Mayor thanked everyone for their contributions and welcomed the report. He also welcomed action being taken by the Mayor of London to tackle this issue. He stated that he would be monitoring progress and then agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.

RESOLVED

1.    To note that a mayoral priority growth bid was passed and an air quality fund has been approved in the last budget. The fund is for £200,000 over a two year period of 17/18 and 18/19. The fund is intended for ‘prospective bidders to support activities aligned to the Council priorities in improving air quality’. Criteria for the proposed projects include:

·        be related to either reducing emissions of, reducing exposure to or increasing awareness of air pollution;

·        be directly relevant to actions in our AQAP;

·        have a measurable impact; and

·        have wider community benefits

2.    To approve the Air Quality and Climate Change Strategy.

3.    To approve the Air Quality Action Plan.

The recommendations were amended and then agreed.

DECISION

1.    To recommend that Full Council approve the Community Safety Partnership Plan 2017-21 (Appendix 1 to the report), as per the Council Constitution.

2.    To delegate to the Corporate Director, Health, Adults and Community authority to make minor changes to the Plan before submission to Council.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, HEALTH, ADULTS AND COMMUNITY (D. RADLEY)

(Divisional Director, Community Safety (A. Corbett)

Councillor Asma Begum, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, introduced the report. She briefly took Cabinet through the key points of the Plan and highlighted that there had been 1,400 responses during the consultation from residents and workers in the Borough.

During discussion, the Mayor noted the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and the discussions that had taken place at the recent Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting. He agreed to allow delegated authority to the Corporate Director, Health, Adults and Community to make minor changes to the Plan where required. With that change he agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.

RESOLVED

1.    To recommend that Full Council approve the Community Safety Partnership Plan 2017-21 (Appendix 1 to the report), as per the Council Constitution.

2.    To delegate to the Corporate Director, Health, Adults and Community authority to make minor changes to the Plan before submission to Council.

DECISION

1.    To approve the allocation to the Youth Service of £300,000 additional funding from Council reserves on the items set out in the main body of the report.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN’S SERVICES (D. JONES)

(Divisional Director, Youth and Commissioning (R. Martins-Taylor)

(Head of Integrated Youth and Community Services (C. Belgard)

Councillor Abdul Mukit, Cabinet Member for Culture and Youth, introduced the report. He explained that the report set out the Youth Service Outcomes Framework as well as specific proposals for funding a number of additional services for young people. He was particularly pleased with the innovation shown in some of the proposals, for example in the setting up of a youth innovation fund to allow young people to bid for funds for particular projects/ideas.

The other proposals were to extend youth service provision down to eleven year-olds and a specific proposal to support A Team Arts and these were also welcomed.

A number of members of the Youth Council (Shaiam Islam, Milly Parvin, Said Uddin, Mazha Alam and Imad Ali) were present and they took Cabinet through their key target outcomes of Accountability, Accessibility, Trust, Safety and Agency as set out in the Outcomes Framework. They also commented on how well they felt they had been engaged by officers to help develop the Framework.

The Mayor thanked them for coming along and giving their views. He welcomed the report and agreed the recommendation as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To approve the allocation to the Youth Service of £300,000 additional funding from Council reserves on the items set out in the main body of the report.

DECISION

1.    To note thereport and recommendations of the Scrutiny Challenge Session on Youth Services as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

2.    To approve the action plan in Appendix 2 to the report, which sets out the Council’s response to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Challenge Session.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN’S SERVICES (D. JONES)

(Interim Divisional Director, Youth and Commissioning (R. Martins-Taylor)

Councillor Abdul Mukit, Cabinet Member for Culture and Youth, introduced the report. He explained that the proposed action plan was in response to an Overview and Scrutiny Committee challenge session.

The Mayor reviewed the report and agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To note thereport and recommendations of the Scrutiny Challenge Session on Youth Services as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

2.    To approve the action plan in Appendix 2 to the report, which sets out the Council’s response to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Challenge Session.

The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and verbal response were noted.

DECISION

1.    To approve the allocation of £3,267,241 in Section 106 (S106) funding to the proposals set out in the “King Edward Memorial Park Masterplan Delivery” Project Initiation Document (PID), which is attached to the Cabinet report at Appendix A and Table 1.

2.    To approve the allocation of £3,119,421 in Section 106 (S106) funding to the proposals set out in the “Aberfeldy Village Health Centre” Project Initiation Document (PID), which is attached to the Cabinet report at Appendix B and Table 1.

3.    To approve the allocation of £2,937,287 in Section 106 (S106) and £182,091 in Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding to the proposals set out in the “Suttons Wharf Health Centre” Project Initiation Document (PID), which is attached to the Cabinet report at Appendix C and Table 1.

4.    To approve the allocation of £1,493,700 in Section 106 (S106) funding to the proposals set out in the “Wellington Way Health Centre” Project Initiation Document (PID), which is attached to the Cabinet report at Appendix D and Table 1.

5.    To approve the allocation of £4,000,000 in Section 106 (S106) funding to the proposals set out in the “Raines Foundation School” Project Initiation Document (PID), which is attached to the Cabinet report at Appendix E and Table 1.

6.    To approve the adoption of a capital estimate for the five projects described in this document and the attached PIDs and incorporate them into the Council’s capital programme.

Action by:

ACTING CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

King Edward Memorial Park

(Interim Parks Manager (A. Bigelow)

(Interim Parks Manager (A. Dickens)

Aberfeldy Village, Suttons Wharf and Wellington Way Health Centres

(Associate Director of Public Health (A. Knight)

Raines Foundation School

(Corporate Director, Children’s Services (D. Jones)

(Head of Building Development (J. Beck)

The Mayor introduced the report and briefly reminded everyone present how decisions of this nature were progressed.

Councillor Andrew Wood, Ward Councillor for Canary Wharf Ward, addressed Cabinet. He highlighted concerns that additional infrastructure spending was required on the Isle of Dogs considering the large scale developments that were expected. The Mayor reported that he was monitoring infrastructure investment across the Borough and that indeed some of the investments being proposed would bring benefits across the area and not just to the locality in which they were based.

The Mayor reviewed each of the proposals in turn, considered the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and responses and then agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To approve the allocation of £3,267,241 in Section 106 (S106) funding to the proposals set out in the “King Edward Memorial Park Masterplan Delivery” Project Initiation Document (PID), which is attached to the Cabinet report at Appendix A and Table 1.

2.    To approve the allocation of £3,119,421 in Section 106 (S106) funding to the proposals set out in the “Aberfeldy Village Health Centre” Project Initiation Document (PID), which is attached to the Cabinet report at Appendix B and Table 1.

3.    To approve the allocation of £2,937,287 in Section 106 (S106) and £182,091 in Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding to the proposals set out in the “Suttons Wharf Health Centre” Project Initiation Document (PID), which is attached to the Cabinet report at Appendix C and Table 1.

4.    To approve the allocation of £1,493,700 in Section 106 (S106) funding to the proposals set out in the “Wellington Way Health Centre” Project Initiation Document (PID), which is attached to the Cabinet report at Appendix D and Table 1.

5.    To approve the allocation of £4,000,000 in Section 106 (S106) funding to the proposals set out in the “Raines Foundation School” Project Initiation Document (PID), which is attached to the Cabinet report at Appendix E and Table 1.

6.    To approve the adoption of a capital estimate for the five projects described in this document and the attached PIDs and incorporate them into the Council’s capital programme.

The exempt appendix was noted.

The recommendations were amended and then agreed.

DECISION

1. To defer consideration of the report to a future Cabinet meeting to allow for further discussion on potential disposal processes.

ACTING CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

(Divisional Director, Property and Major Programmes (R Chilcott)

Councillor David Edgar, Cabinet Member for Resources, introduced the report. He explained that there had been further discussions with the Friends of Trinity Green and that he proposed that consideration of the report be deferred to allow these discussions to conclude.

He explained that he expected the report would return at an upcoming Cabinet meeting and that the recommendations may not change but that it was important to ensure the discussions were concluded before a decision was taken.

The Mayor noted the proposal. He agreed to defer consideration of the report to a later Cabinet meeting.

RESOLVED

1. To defer consideration of the report to a future Cabinet meeting to allow for further discussion on potential disposal processes.

The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Question and Response were noted.

DECISION

1.    To agree the forward programme for consulting on the proposed Statement of Licensing Policy.

2.    To agree, that the consultation should be based on the proposed changes detailed in Appendix Two to the report.

3.    To delegate to the Corporate Director, Place authority to make any pre consultation amendments to the policy deemed necessary following consultation with the Corporate Director Governance.

4.    To consult whether to retain the current Cumulative Impact Zone in the Brick Lane area at Appendices 1 and 3 to the report.

5.    To consider whether to consult on a further Cumulative Impact Zone for Bethnal Green Road/ Cambridge Health Road to Old Bethnal Green Road that forms part of the Licensing Policy.

Action by:

ACTING CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

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

Councillor Asma Begum, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, introduced the report. She highlighted that since the introduction of the policy there had been a reduction in anti-social behaviour and in licensing applications. The report considered a proposal to extend the Cumulative Impact Zone (CIZ) in the Brick Lane area but concluded there was insufficient evidence for that expansion. However, the report did provide evidence that it could be worth considering a new CIZ in the Bethnal Green area and so it was proposed to consult on that option.

Councillor Peter Golds, Leader of the Conservative Group, addressed the meeting. He confirmed his view that the Council had a robust licensing policy and the Licensing Committee received good advice from officers which ensured very few decisions had been successfully challenged. He stated it was important to review the CIZ areas as a duty to residents who were impacted by the problems highlighted in the report.

The Mayor welcomed the comments received and noted the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Question and Response. He suggested that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee may wish to take on a role of monitoring the effectiveness of the Council’s licensing policies should they wish. He noted the public expectation that new applications would normally be refused in CIZ areas. He agreed the recommendations including to consult on a potential new CIZ in Bethnal Greeen.

RESOLVED

1.    To agree the forward programme for consulting on the proposed Statement of Licensing Policy.

2.    To agree, that the consultation should be based on the proposed changes detailed in Appendix Two to the report.

3.    To delegate to the Corporate Director, Place authority to make any pre consultation amendments to the policy deemed necessary following consultation with the Corporate Director Governance.

4.    To consult whether to retain the current Cumulative Impact Zone in the Brick Lane area at Appendices 1 and 3 to the report.

5.    To consult on a further Cumulative Impact Zone for Bethnal Green Road/ Cambridge Health Road to Old Bethnal Green Road that forms part of the Licensing Policy.

DECISION

1.    To agree to continue to operate within the existing Passenger Transport Contact Framework for a period of 1 year and 6 months to ensure continuity of service.

2.    To authorise the Corporate Director of Place (or in the Corporate Director’s absence the Divisional Director) after consultation with the Corporate Director, Governance, to agree the final terms and conditions of any agreement to implement this decision; and

3.    To authorise the Corporate Director, Governance, to execute all necessary contract documents to implement this decision.

4.    To amend the estimated value of contract spend for the re-procurement of the Passenger Transport Framework shown on the contracts forward plan and presented to the Mayor in Cabinet on the 26^th July 2016 to read £10.8 million

Action by:

ACTING CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

(Interim Head of Development, Compliance and Commissioning (B. Akinfolarin)

Councillor Amina Ali, Cabinet Member for Environment, introduced the report. She highlighted that the Council had a responsibility to provide transport services to certain groups and that it was important to ensure the provision could continue uninterrupted.

The Mayor highlighted the importance of making progress on the new contract arrangements and agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To agree to continue to operate within the existing Passenger Transport Contact Framework for a period of 1 year and 6 months to ensure continuity of service.

2.    To authorise the Corporate Director of Place (or in the Corporate Director’s absence the Divisional Director) after consultation with the Corporate Director, Governance, to agree the final terms and conditions of any agreement to implement this decision; and

3.    To authorise the Corporate Director, Governance, to execute all necessary contract documents to implement this decision.

4.    To amend the estimated value of contract spend for the re-procurement of the Passenger Transport Framework shown on the contracts forward plan and presented to the Mayor in Cabinet on the 26^th July 2016 to read £10.8 million.

The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Question and Response were noted.

DECISION

1.    To note the Contracts Forward Plan at Appendix 1 to the report.

2.    To confirm that all contracts can proceed to contract award after tender.

3.    To authorise the Divisional Director, Legal Services to execute all necessary contract documents in respect of the awards of contracts referred to in recommendation 2 above.

4.    To note the procurement forward plan 2017-22 schedule detailed in Appendix 2 to the report.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, RESOURCES (Z. COOKE)

(Head of Procurement (Z. Ahmed)

Councillor David Edgar, Cabinet Member for Resources, introduced the report. He explained that the report was provided to give an opportunity for Members to request that a more detailed report be presented to Cabinet on any of the contracts listed. However, all Cabinet Members were involved in discussions with relevant Corporate Directors anyway and he was not aware of any requests to bring forward specific reports to Cabinet.

The Mayor agreed that he would expect all his Cabinet Members to be on top of the arrangements for contract awards in their areas. He noted the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Question and response and he agreed that all contracts listed could proceed to award following tender.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the Contracts Forward Plan at Appendix 1 to the report.

2.    To confirm that all contracts can proceed to contract award after tender.

3.    To authorise the Divisional Director, Legal Services to execute all necessary contract documents in respect of the awards of contracts referred to in recommendation 2 above.

4.    To note the procurement forward plan 2017-22 schedule detailed in Appendix 2 to the report.

DECISION

1.    To agree to the removal of Councillor John Pierce from the Board of the Norton Folgate Almshouses Charity.

2.    To agree to the removal of Councillor Andrew Cregan from the Board of East End Homes.

3.    To agree to the appointment of Councillor John Pierce to serve on the Board of East End Homes, to serve until further notice.

4.    To agree to the removal of Councillor Rachael Saunders from and the appointment of Councillor Denise Jones, to serve until further notice on:

a.    East London & The City University Mental Health NHS Trust (East London NHS Foundation Trust),

b.    East London Nursing Trust and

c.    the role of Older People’s Member Champion.

5.    To agree to the appointment of Councillor Amy Whitelock-Gibbs to serve on the Tower Hamlets Education Partnership Advisory Council, to serve until further notice.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, GOVERNANCE (A. HUSSAIN)

(Committee Services Manager (M. Mannion)

The Mayor introduced the report and agreed its recommendations.

RESOLVED

1.    To agree to the removal of Councillor John Pierce from the Board of the Norton Folgate Almshouses Charity.

2.    To agree to the removal of Councillor Andrew Cregan from the Board of East End Homes.

3.    To agree to the appointment of Councillor John Pierce to serve on the Board of East End Homes, to serve until further notice.

4.    To agree to the removal of Councillor Rachael Saunders from and the appointment of Councillor Denise Jones, to serve until further notice on:

a.    East London & The City University Mental Health NHS Trust (East London NHS Foundation Trust),

b.    East London Nursing Trust and

c.    the role of Older People’s Member Champion.

5.    To agree to the appointment of Councillor Amy Whitelock-Gibbs to serve on the Tower Hamlets Education Partnership Advisory Council, to serve until further notice.

DECISION

1.    To note the Individual Mayoral Decisions set out in the Appendices.

Action by:

COMMITTEE SERVICES MANAGER (M. MANNION)

The Mayor introduced the report and agreed its recommendation.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the Individual Mayoral Decisions set out in the Appendices.

The Mayor introduced the report and agreed the reasons for urgency as set out, namely that:

“The report is being brought to Cabinet outside of the usual process as a consequence of recent redrafting to ensure decisions are informed by the most recent data so the Council meets its Best Value Duty with regard to significant capital investment.”

The report was then discussed and a number of issues were noted including:

·         The challenges in predicting the total number of school places required.

·         Whether existing buildings were suitable for the proposed uses and whether repairs were required.

·         Whether the Bow Boy’s School site was suitable for high needs provision.

·         How the Council were undertaking longer term planning on the future best use of school buildings.

Councillor Andrew Wood, Ward Councillor for Canary Wharf Ward, addressed Cabinet, commenting on a number of the points raised and in particular expressed concern that if parents did not see a suitable school near to them then they may simply leave the Borough.

The Mayor welcomed all the contributions to the discussion and, taking the recommendations in turn, agreed the recommendations as set out.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the contents of this report and the anticipated out-turn for the 2016/17 Children’s Services Capital Programme and proposed allocation of the funding available in 2017/2020 as set out in Appendix A.1 and 2 (paragraph 3.2) to the report;

2.    To note the deferral of the scheme to create a new primary school on the Bromley Hall School site (paragraph 3.5 of the report);

3.    To note that discussions are ongoing regarding the future use of the former Bow Boys’ School site to meet primary place needs in the area and wider high needs special provision requirements (paragraph 3.10 of the report)

4.    To approve the adoption of a capital estimate of £5m for the opening of a primary school at Wood Wharf (paragraph 4.3 to the report);

5.    To agree that the Council should enter into an Agreement for Lease with Canary Wharf Group for the proposed school (paragraph 3.27 of the report) and authorise the Corporate Director, Governance to finalise the terms of the lease and agreement for lease;

[Note – at the Cabinet Meeting held on 28 November 2017 – it was agreed that the above recommendation should be altered to state that the delegation was to the Corporate Director, Place, following consultation with the Corporate Director, Governance.]

6.    To approve the adoption of a capital estimate of £9m for works at Langdon Park and George Green’s Schools to provide additional 6^th Form accommodation and also the replacement of the temporary classroom block at George Green’s School (paragraph 4.4 of the report);

7.    To approve the adoption of a capital estimate of £3m for works at Bow School to provide additional accommodation (paragraph 4.5 of the report);

8.    To agree that authority is delegated to  the Corporate Director, Children’s Services, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Resources, to agree tenders for projects in respect  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.12

Nil items.

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)

Nil items.

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 Article 6 Para 6.02 V of the Constitution).

Nil items.

Nil items.