Agenda and minutes

The Leader thanked every person who voted and took part in the local elections in May. He stated that it was a great privilege to be re-elected as the Leader of the Council and introduced the new Cabinet Members.

That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 7 March 2022 be confirmed and signed as an accurate record of the proceedings, and that the outstanding actions be noted.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Frances Umeh.

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 Standards Committee.

Councillor Alex Sanderson introduced the report seeking approval to establish an additional team in Contact and Assessment Service (CAS)  for a fixed period of two-years. She stated that CAS was integral to the safeguarding of children and support of vulnerable families. The increased staff capacity would enable CAS to meet the increased need and latent level of demand following the pandemic. It was imperative that additional resource was in place by the start of July, and recruitment commenced as soon as possible.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

To approve an additional investment of £551,266 per year to fund an additional team in CAS and two additional workers in Early Help (FS) specialising in attendance support to schools for a time limited two-year period (total funding of £1,147,500), funded from Covid reserves.

Councillor Andrew Jones introduced the report seeking approval of a procurement strategy to procure a principal construction contractor and other recommendations critical to enable the successful delivery of the construction phase of the development.

Councillor Adronie Alford stated that there had been some problems with the dates given to councillors at the beginning of the consultation process, but that had improved. However, she expressed concerns for residents of Chasemore House, a building located in the centre of the development. She stated that residents were feeling isolated and neglected and this report did not mention any steps to be taken to mitigate their situation. Councillor Alford asked for reassurance of some constructive and proactive work on their behalf.

Councillor Jones acknowledged that there had been some problems initially with the consultation, but the vast majority of residents were happy with the consultation process.  He stated that he would discuss with Councillor Frances Umeh, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness, the issues faced by the residents of Chasemore House. This would be addressed at the development stage after the appointment of the contractor.

The Leader stressed that under no circumstances the residents of Chasemore House would be forgotten and they would be focused during the development stage.

Councillor Wesley Harcourt stated that the proposals for the Hartopp and Lannoy site would target operational net zero for the new development and would aim to promote the climate emergency via a variety of different methods measured using the council’s sustainability tool kit. Through-out the design process the project team had designed clear ways in which to insulate buildings and use recyclable material where possible.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS :

That the Cabinet:

1.    Approves that Appendix 6 is not for publication on the basis that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) as set out in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

2.    Approves the Procurement Strategy, as set out in Appendix 1, to procure a construction contractor on a design and build basis for the Development.

3.    Endorses the Planning Application that has been submitted for the Site.

4.    Delegates authority to the Strategic Head of Regeneration & Development, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to take any necessary steps to resolve matters arising from the grant of planning permission referenced in Recommendation [3], including the authority to enter into any associated legal agreements arising from the delivery of the development and enabling deeds and agreements with statutory utility providers and third parties including the surrender and re-grant of a lease on existing sub-station, the granting of a new lease and any necessary appropriation of land which is surplus to requirements to expediate and secure the best use of the land.

5.    Delegates authority to the Strategic Director for the Economy, inconsultation with the Director of Resources, to progress the appropriation of the Site for planning purposes and the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Councillor Wesley Harcourt introduced the report setting out the procurement strategy for Vehicle Removal & Pound Services contract. He stated that a vehicle removal and pound services contract was essential to support the enforcement of parking restrictions in the Borough.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

To approve the procurement of a contract for vehicle removal and pound services as set out in this strategy. The term of the contract will be for five (5) years starting 3^rd of July 2023, with the option to extend for two separate periods of two (2) years each at an annual value of approximately £577,000, making a total of £2,885,000 over 5 years or £5,193,000 if the extensions are fully utilised over the 9-year period.

The Key Decision List was noted.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 - ACCESS TO INFORMATION

Proposed resolution:

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 3 of Schedule 12A of the said Act, and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption currently outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.       

There was no discussion of exempt elements.