Agenda and minutes

The meeting observed a minutes silence in memory of Piotr Mikiewicz. Piotr, who worked as a street cleaner, had tragically passed away the previous week after being stabbed whilst trying to prevent a burglary in Shepherds Bush.

That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 23 July 2012 be confirmed and signed as an accurate record of the proceedings, and that the outstanding actions be noted.

There were no apologies for absence.

If a Councillor has a disclosable pecuniary interest in a particular item, whether or not it is entered in the Authority’s register of interests, or any other significant interest which they consider should be declared in the public interest, they should declare the existence and, unless it is a sensitive interest as defined in the Member Code of Conduct, the nature of the interest at the commencement of the consideration of that item or as soon as it becomes apparent.

At meetings where members of the public are allowed to be in attendance and speak, any Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest or other significant interest may also make representations, give evidence or answer questions about the matter.  The Councillor must then withdraw immediately from the meeting before the matter is discussed and any vote taken.

Where Members of the public are not allowed to be in attendance and speak, then the Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest should withdraw from the meeting whilst the matter is under consideration. Councillors who have declared other significant interests should also withdraw from the meeting if they consider their continued participation in the matter would not be reasonable in the circumstances and may give rise to a perception of a conflict of interest.

Councillors are not obliged to withdraw from the meeting where a dispensation to that effect has been obtained from the Audit, Pensions and Standards Committee. 

There were no declarations of interest.

That the changes to the General Fund revenue budgets as set out in Appendix 1 of the agenda report be approved.

1. To note that the Council has not undertaken any borrowing for the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012.

2. To note the investment activity for the period 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012.

The Cabinet gave detailed consideration to a report which set out the terms of a Conditional Land Sale Agreement (CLSA) which would grant an option to the Capital and Counties Properties PLC group of companies (Capco) to include Council owned land including the West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates in a comprehensive redevelopment scheme. At the same time Members also received and considered the final analysis of consultation responses and the equalities impact assessment in respect of the proposals.

The Chairman invited the Executive Director of Housing and Regeneration, Melbourne Barrett, to introduce the report.

Mr Barrett emphasised that the decision before Members was very significant for the Authority. Recommending that the Cabinet should agree that it was willing to enter into the Conditional Land Sale Agreement, Mr Barrett acknowledged the disturbance and disruption to residents but considered that this needed to be balanced against the very significant benefits to the local community and the wider area provided by such a major opportunity for growth and development. The 10m sq ft mixed use development would yield 7,500 new homes, including 760 new replacement homes, 2m sq ft of commercial space, 36,000 temporary construction jobs and 9,500 permanent jobs, a park, playgrounds and other facilities for children. The development was expected to bring in £99m pa of additional expenditure in the local economy.

Mr Barrett outlined details of the CLSA and the advantages and safeguards for tenants and leaseholders. It was noted that the Conditional Land Sale Agreement provided for the transfer of the Council’s land in phases with replacement homes provided by the developer prior to any transfer. It was anticipated that the first phase of replacement housing would be provided on Capco’s land at Seagrave Road, facilitating a ‘one move only approach. Existing Council tenants, resident leaseholders and freeholders would be guaranteed a brand new replacement home within the development, compliant with the Mayor of London’s design guidance standards.

Tenants would remain secure tenants of the Council paying Council rents. They would also receive a statutory home loss payment of £4,700, a disturbance payment to cover moving costs and new white goods, carpets and curtains. Resident leaseholders/freeholders would receive market value plus 10% statutory home loss payment (subject to a maximum £47,000) and a further 10% early purchase discount on a replacement property. If necessary the Council would bridge the gap in value between the resident leaseholders and freeholders old and new properties and hold the value as equity so no additional borrowing would be required.

It was emphasised that as the housing stock was not being transferred there was no requirement for a tenant ballot. The phased nature of the development would enable whole communities to be moved together. Dedicated re-housing officers would be available on site to offer advice and support to residents on a one to one basis.

Mr Barrett explained that the proposals also offered substantial benefits to the Council, enabling existing housing stock to be replaced on a new for old  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.

1.   That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Transport and Technical Services, in conjunction with the Executive Director for Transport and Technical Services, to enter into an agreement with Transport for London to extend the Mayor of London’s Cycle Hire Scheme into the borough.

2.   That the Council makes a contribution of up to £2 million to the extension, to be recovered by developer contributions, as detailed in Section 4 of the agenda report.

1.         That  approval be given to the re-let strategy for the contract for provision of carer services across the three boroughs as set out in this report.

2.         That the tender be comprised of the following lots:

·      Lot 1 – A Carers’ Hub - Advice, Information, Advocacy and Support Service

·      Lot 2 – A Young Carers’ Support Service

·      Lot 3  - A Home Support and Short Breaks Service for Adults, and Children with Disabilities

3.         That Westminster City Council (WCC) lead the procurement of a new Tri-Borough Carers’ Services Contract and award the contract, which will come into effect in October 2012 in replacement of the current carers’ services. 

The Forward Plan was noted.

The summary was noted.

The summary was noted.

The Cabinet is invited to resolve, under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, that the public and press be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business, on the grounds that they contain the likely disclosure of exempt information, as defined in paragraph 3of Schedule 12A of the said Act, and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption currently outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the remaining items of business on the grounds that they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of a person (including the authority)] as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act, and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption currently outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

[The following is a public summary of the exempt information under S.100C (2) of the Local Government Act 1972.  Exempt minutes exist as a separate document.]

That the recommendations contained within the exempt report be approved.

That the recommendations contained within the exempt report be approved.

That the report be noted.

The summary was noted.

The Summary was noted.