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.

The unrestricted minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 4 January 2023 are presented for approval.

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

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

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s response to the draft budget presented at Cabinet on 4 January 2023 was noted.

DECISION

1.      Propose a General Fund Revenue Funding Requirement of £446.205m for 2023-24 subject to remaining changes arising from the final Local Government Finance Settlement and any other necessary adjustments.

2.      Propose to freeze the Tower Hamlets element of Council Tax and to levy a 2% Adult Social Care precept for 2023-24.

3.      Propose that the Interim Corporate Director Resources uses £22.3m from reserves in 2023-24 to support the budget as set out in section 3.9.8 of the report given the shortfall emerging as part of the 2023-24 budget setting process.  

4.      Propose that the Interim Corporate Director Resources be authorised to make any changes required to the budget following receipt of the final Local Government Finance Settlement (LGFS) in consultation with the Mayor and Cabinet Member for Resources and the Cost of Living.

5.      Authorise the Corporate Director Resources to continue the Council’s participation in the 8 Authority Pool for Business Rates with seven other London Local Authorities for 2023-24, subject to due diligence.

6.      Note the latest draft position of the Council’s reserves, subject to final audit of the statements of accounts.

7.      Propose the 2023-24 Housing Revenue Account budget as set out in Appendix 7 to be referred to Full Council for approval.  Additionally this will be reviewed during 2023-24 with a view to reducing in year expenditure where possible and finding further efficiencies.

8.      Propose the HRA housing rent and service charge increases as outlined in section 3.11 of the report.  This includes increasing housing rents for existing tenanted properties and shared-ownership properties by 7% for 2023-24 and for new build properties by CPI +1% for 2023-24 (as per paragraph 3.11.19 of the report).

9.      Propose the 2023-24 Management Fee payable to Tower Hamlets Homes (THH) of £35.530m as set out in paragraph 3.11.38 of the report.  Additionally this will be reviewed during 2023-24 in partnership with THH with a view to reducing in year expenditure where possible and finding further efficiencies.

10.   Note that under the Management Agreement between the Council and THH, THH manages delegated HRA income and expenditure budgets on behalf of the Council.  In 2023-24, THH will manage delegated income budgets totalling £110.216m and delegated expenditure budgets totalling £43.307m.  Additionally this will be reviewed by the Mayor and Cabinet Member during 2023-24 with a view to reducing in year expenditure where possible and finding further efficiencies.

11.   Propose the 2023-24 Schools Budget.

12.   Propose that the National Schools Funding Formula (NSFF) adopted by Tower Hamlets originally in 2019-20 continues for 2023-24. The only changes included are increases to the factor values in line with the NSFF.

13.   Propose that the Minimum Funding Guarantee (the mechanism that guarantees schools a minimum uplift in per-pupil funding) is set as close to 0.5% as affordable, the maximum allowed after consideration for growth and factor changes in School allocations.

14.   Propose that the  ...  view the full decision text for item 6.2

DECISION

1.    Agree the Local Authority Relevant Area (geographical area) for admissions purposes.

2.    Agree the admission policy for admission to Community Nursery Schools/Classes in 2024/25, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

3.    Agree the admission policy for admission to Community Primary Schools in 2024/25, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

4.    Agree the admission policy for admission to Community Secondary Schools in 2024/25 as set out in Appendix C to the report.

5.    Agree the schemes for co-ordinating admissions to the Reception Year and Year 7 for 2024/25, as set out in Appendix F to the report.

6.    Agree the scheme for co-ordinating ‘In-Year’ Admissions for 2024/25, as set out in Appendix G to the report.

7.    Agree the planned admission number (PAN) for each school in Tower Hamlets in 2024/25, as set out in Appendix H to the report.

8.    Note the specific equalities considerations as set out in Paragraph 4.of to the report.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN AND CULTURE (J. THOMAS)

Service Head Pupil Access and School Sufficiency (T. Bryan)

DECISION

1.    Agree the following revisions to the implementation of Traffic Management Orders on LBTH estates, subject to resident consultation:

•   That individually numbered bays will be introduced on all off street car parking places under Section 32 and 35 of the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 (RTRA).

•   That estate roads that meet the definition of a highway under Section 45 of the Road Traffic Amendment Act will comply with the requirement that generic resident bays are provided.

2.    Authorise the Divisional Director of Public Realm to undertake consultation under the provisions of the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 and Section 105 of the Housing Act 1985 as set out in sections 3.18 – 3.26 of the report.

3.    Approve the Non-Residential Assets Policy set out in Appendix 1 to the report which has been amended to add a fourth and fifth tier to the qualifying criteria for access to parking spaces as summarised in 3.49 of the report.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, PLACE (A. SUTCLIFFE)

Director of Public Realm (D. Jones)

DECISION

1.    Approve the insourcing of the Baby Feeding and Wellbeing Service into the Council. This service would sit within the Early Help and Children & Family Service, in the Children and Culture Directorate. A smaller element of the existing service (specialist training and volunteer peer support network) would continue to be subcontracted to a specialist external organisation identified through an RFQ procurement process.

Action by:

ACTING CORPORATE DIRECTOR, HEALTH, ADULTS AND COMMUNITY (S. BANERJEE)

Associate Director of Public Health (K. Cole)

This report was withdrawn.

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, subject to Social Value accounting for 10% overall weighting in the tender evaluation process where Social Value weighting is applicable;

2.    Any contracts in Appendix 1 where, in the opinion of the Corporate Director Resources, the Social Value weighting above presents a significant risk or cannot be achieved can proceed to contract following consultation with the Mayor and Lead Member;

3.    Authorise the Director Legal Services (Monitoring Officer) to execute all necessary contract documents in respect of the awards of contracts referred to at resolution 1 above subject to the award decision referred to in resolutions 1 and 2 above;

4.    Review the procurement forward plan 2022-2027 schedule detailed in Appendix 2 to the report and identify any contracts about which further detail is required in advance of the quarterly forward plan reporting cycle.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, RESOURCES (C. HOLLAND)

Head Finance Procurement and Audit (N. Visram)

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)

The exempt / confidential minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on xxxxxx are presented for approval.

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.

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