Agenda and minutes

That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 3^rd February 2014 be confirmed and signed as an accurate record of the proceedings, and that the outstanding actions be noted.

That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 10^th February 2014 be confirmed and signed as an accurate record of the proceedings, and that the outstanding actions be noted.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Helen Binmore and Greg Smith.

Cabinet was informed that the strategy document required Full Council approval before publication.

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the publication of the draft strategy document, subject to agreement by Full Council.

1.         That approval be given to the 2014/2015 Corporate Planned Maintenance Programme and scheme budgets (as set out in Appendices A and B), subject to any amendments as agreed for operational reasons by the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Governance and the Director for Building and Property Management.

2.         That the Corporate Planned Maintenance Programme will be monitored, incorporating operational changes made by the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Governance and the Director for Building and Property Management, via progress reports to the Leader, be noted.

That approval be given to the continuation of this ICT Programme Manager role at the total costs of £140,000 to be funded from the IT enablers fund, with the resulting cost to H&F, after recovering the agreed contribution from the other two boroughs being £46,667.

That approval be given to the budget virements as at quarter 3 for 2013/14 as set out in the report.

That authority be given to vary the contract between Agilisys Ltd and the Council in relation to Enhanced Revenue Collection by way of a Deed of Variation from the earliest possible date to include services in relation to Council Tax, NNDR  and Council Rent  and to enter into any associated contract documentation to implement the variation.

1.1.        That a waiver from the Council's Contract Standing Orders (under CSO 3) be approved in respect of seeking tenders and that authority be given to the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Governance (in consultation with the Bi-borough Director of Law) to negotiate a new short term contract for a duration of five months with Office Depot (UK) Ltd for the supply of office stationery from 1 April 2014 to 31st August 2014.

1.2.        That the Council participates in the retendering arrangements being led by the London Borough of Havering for a London & Surrey wide framework agreement for the supply of stationery for a four year period commencing on 1 September 2014, be approved.

1.3.        That the Leader awards a contract for the supply of stationery from 1 September 2014 for a four year period to be based upon the proposed tendering exercise for a London & Surrey wide framework agreement to be undertaken by the London Borough of Havering, be approved.

1.1       That the Cabinet notes:

(i)         The Local Government Ombudsman’s report, findings and recommendations and endorses the actions already undertaken by officers as a result, in particular (a) the Council prioritising arrangements to correct the system for reselling water services to residents which will be fully implemented during the current financial year; (b) the action taken by officers in July 2013 to write to all residents at Meadowbank Close who have been overcharged advising them of refund; and (c) a written apology issued.

(ii)        That the Council has advised residents at Meadowbank Close in July 2013 that all water charges for the financial year beginning 1 April 2013 are currently being reviewed, and that these will be reset in accordance with the estimated levels of usage and cost for the remainder of the year.

(iii)       That any difference between the amount paid to Thames Water and the amount charged to all residents will be corrected at the end of the year via an adjustment to their rent account.

(iv)       That the officers involved in this case no longer work for the Council.

1.2       That, on the basis of these actions, the Cabinet takes no further action in relation to the matter for the reasons set out in the report.

1.3       That this report be adopted as the Cabinet’s formal response as required under S5A of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 and distributed to all Members of the authority and the Monitoring Officer.

1.4       That this report be adopted as the Council’s formal response under s.31 of the Local Government Act 1974 and the Local Government Act 1974 and the Local Government Ombudsman be notified of the action the Council has taken.

That approval be given to the appointment of Shepherds Bush Housing Group (SBHG) and ADVANCE (Advocacy Project) to deliver the Impact Project in Hammersmith & Fulham from 2013/14 to 2016/17 at a year one cost of £188,000 (£752,000 over 4 years), all of which is to be funded from external sources.

That Cabinet supports the Transport, Environment and Residents Services Select Committee recommendation as listed below:-

1.1.         That approval be given to the publication of the Hammersmith Flyunder feasibility study for issue to TfL. The key findings and recommendations to TfL from the study are below and detailed further in the select committee report attached as appendix 1 to this report.

Key Findings

·                     There is a high level of local public support for removing the flyover, alongside concerns around traffic disruption and the local road network.

·                     Both long and short tunnels were found to be geotechnically feasible to construct at a cost of £200m to £1700m

·                     The degree to which Hammersmith Town Centre can be reimagined is dependent on the removal of the flyover but also on addressing the gyratory

·                     The longer the tunnel the less traffic is likely to use it

·                     Junctions from a main tunnel increase its use but considerable environmental and economic issues arise

·                     Neighbouring Councils have been involved in the study from the outset and are broadly supportive of the Council’s vision.

Recommendations to TfL

·                     To establish strategic aspirations and concerns

·                     To continue and take forward the feasibility study allowing a more strategic view and detailed analysis of such matters as alignment, portal location and junctions

·                     To build on the collaborative work undertaken by the flyunder taskforce 

·                     To develop an appraisal framework in order to inform investment decisions with regards to road infrastructure projects.

1.2.      That the Council recommends that TfL take full account of the     environmental benefits for residents and the restoration of community links that the project would achieve in reaching their decision.

1.1.        That approval be given to launch a Right to Buy Part Scheme Pilot as set out in section 5 of the report, and with consideration to the implications detailed in the subsequent sections.

1.2.        That a further report be brought before Cabinet to consider the findings from the Right to Buy Part Pilot and consider its wider implementation, be approved.

1.1.        That approval be given to the Council accessing the fully flexible framework awarded by LASER to EDF in October 2012 for the renewal of the NHHQ contracts for large size quarterly supplies over 50,000kwh hours for a period of 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2016.

1.2.        That approval be given to the Council accessing the new Flexible light framework to be awarded by LASER to EDF from 1 April 2014 for the renewal of NHHQ contracts for all staircase and landlord lighting housing supplies for a period of 30 months from 1 April 2014 to 30 September 2016, initially for mid-size electricity supplies with annual consumption between 10,000-50,000 kwh.

1.3.        That authority be delegated to the Director of Building and Property Management to enter into contracts with utility companies with supplies on the new fixed term fixed price framework to be awarded by LASER to commence on 1 April 2014 for a period of 30 months to 30 September 2016 for small consuming sites (including some housing, corporate stock and school supplies) under 10,000kwh at a current estimated contract value of £800,000 per annum .

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 minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 3^rd February 2014 be confirmed and signed as an accurate record of the proceedings, and that the outstanding actions be noted.

That the report be noted.