Agenda and draft minutes

That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 18 July 2022 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 Standards Committee.

Councillor Bora Kwon declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of item 9, Business Objectives 2022/23, as a Governor at Flora Gardens Primary School. She considered that this did not give rise to a perception of a conflict of interests and, in the circumstances it would be reasonable to participate in the discussion and vote thereon.

Councillor Rowan Ree introduced the report looking at the spending against budget over the previous financial year. The General Fund was in a good position and progress was being made to reduce deficits. Pressures on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) were being currently addressed.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

1.            To note the General Fund underspend of £6.7m.

2.            To note that the draw down from the Housing Revenue Account general balance of £2.0m which was £2.4m less than budgeted.

3.            To note the in-year reduction in the Dedicated Schools Grant High Needs Block cumulative overspend of £4.9m and remaining cumulative deficit of £11.8m.

Councillor Rowan Ree stated that over the last two years Covid-19 had caused delays in several schemes. In addition the rising inflation had affected a number of projects which meant the original capital budget would have to be reviewed. This report proposed a number of changes to future budgets.

The Leader expressed concerns regarding the continuous rise in inflation which would affect the Council on large capital programmes.

Councillor Ree agreed that this serious issue would need to be faced until at least next year. The inflation was often higher in the construction sector, therefore having a major impact on several Council’s projects.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

1.    To approve the proposed budget variations to the capital programme as summarised in Table 1 and detailed in Appendix 2.

2.    To approve £1.75m additional capital budget for the Civic Campus commercial property cinema site fit out, as detailed in the paragraphs 10-13 of the report.

3.    To note the capital outturn for the year.

Councillor Rowan Ree stated that this report outlined the forecast spend and action plans to reduce overspend for Month 2, May 2022.  All departments were constantly looking at ways to reduce spend and identify new savings throughout the year.

Councillor Adrian Pascu-Tulbure stated that paragraph 4 on the report described the £10m provision for inflation, which included provision for a 2.3% pay award for 2022/23 and corporate inflation contingency of £1.5m. He asked what the plans were to address those figures.

Councillor Ree replied that there were contingency plans built in all budgets and the Council was constantly looking for savings within budgets.

The Leader added that there was a variety of financial pressures due to the rising inflation and the 2.3% pay award was actually a pay cut. He hoped the Government would come forward with a generous approach to help front line staff dealing with the cost of living.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

1.            To note General Fund forecast overspend of £4.334m.

2.            To note that the forecast draw down from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) general balance is £4.453m, £0.403m more than budgeted.

3.            To note the in-year Dedicated Schools Grant High Needs Block forecasted surplus of £0.582m, reducing the cumulative deficit.

4.            To approve General Fund virements totalling £4.494m and HRA virements totalling £0.377m as detailed in appendix 10.

Councillor Rowan Ree stated that there had been no additional borrowing undertaken over the period of 2021/22.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

That Cabinet note the annual Treasury Management Outturn Report for 2021/22.

The Leader stated that affordable workspace was a key part to the Council’s Industrial Strategy. They were aiming to create a stronger local economy that would provide training and job opportunities for local people and promote employment and innovation.

Councillor Andrew Jones noted that the original report was approved by Cabinet in March. This report was addressing technical changes in light of the financial pressures changing the dynamics in office and commercial market landscape.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

1.      ThatCabinet considersthe technicalchanges tothe SPDdetailed inAppendix 1.

2.      ThatCabinet approvesthe adoptionof the SPD(Appendix 2)which includesthe technical changes.

3.      That Cabinet gives delegated authority to the Chief Planning Officer, in consultationwith theCabinet Memberfor Economy,to makeany furtherminor changes to the SPD prior to adoption, should they be necessary.

Councillor Bora Kwon declared a non-pecuniary interest as a Governor at Flora Gardens Primary School. She considered that this did not give rise to a perception of a conflict of interests and, in the circumstances it would be reasonable to participate in the discussion and vote thereon.

With the Leader’s permission Richard Farthing, Chairman of The Hammersmith Society, addressed the Cabinet for 5 minutes, having submitted a valid deputation request. He spoke on behalf of:  The Hammersmith Society,  The Avonmore Residents’ Association, The Avonmore and Brook Green Ward Action Group, Ravenscourt Action, Palace Mansions Residents’ Association, Friends of Ravenscourt Park, The Brackenbury Residents Association.

Mr Farthing confirmed their opposition to the Communities Schools Programme, as they did not agree that building housing on school grounds was the right way to finance schools. They supported the redevelopment of Avonmore and Flora Gardens Primary Schools, but not at any loss of open spaces. His predecessor had written several letters to the Council raising a number of specific points of concerns but had received no written response. They were not convinced that the financial case for building on school land had been demonstrated. The provision of more affordable housing was welcome but would create a need for more school places. Education was liable to change over time and they believed better economic values could be achieved by looking at the way school was designed and using it for a wider range of purposes, not just for primary school. They believed that there were more economic, environmental, and cost-effective ways to build a replacement for those schools, such as using offsite wood construction.

The Leader stressed that there had been continuous dialogue with the former Chairman of The Hammersmith Society and understood that many of the issues raised had been dealt with. But he acknowledged that a formal written letter would be a more appropriate response.

Councillor Jones replied that he had attended four meetings with diverse groups, including the Hammersmith Society, and had done a great deal of engagement with the communities to address their views over several years, including a consultation of the original proposal and another one in 2021. They were on the process of bringing back a revised proposal after having listened to the community’s views and concerns. The valid points raised around carbon, scale and use of school space had now been incorporated on the schools redesigns. He stressed that currently there were no alternative sources of finance for the funding for those schools. The Council remained committed to provide affordable housing and they would continue to engage with the community to discuss the revised proposals of the redevelopment of the schools. He added that he would submit a written response to the Hammersmith Society addressing their concerns.

The Leader asked whether Mr Farthing‘s only concerns were about the environment and sustainability of the development in addition to the financing, or whether he also objected to affordable housing on the sites.

Mr Farthing replied that the sites, especially at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

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.