Agenda and decisions

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.

That Cabinet agreed the following recommendations to be approved by Full Council:

1. That the Council Tax Support Scheme in operation in 2025/2026 (included at Appendix 1) shall continue in 2026/2027.

2. That the Council shall apply the annual uprating of allowances, applicable amounts and income, set out in the DWP Housing Benefit circular, to the Council Tax Support scheme for 2026/2027.

1. That Cabinet agreed to refer this report to Full Council and recommend approval by Full Council for the financial year 2026/27 of:

a.    The estimated numbers of properties for each Valuation Band as set out in this report.

b.    An estimated collection rate of 98.0%.

c.    The Council Tax Base of 91,726 Band “D” equivalent properties.

d.    The delegation of authority to the Executive Director for Finance & Corporate Services to determine the business rates tax base for 2026/27.

1. To approve a new H&F service, as part of the H&F ‘Healthy Homes’ programme, to help residents design and install measures including insulation, solar PV, heat pumps and energy storage to their homes. A proposed small grant scheme, administered by H&F, is linked to this to help less well-off residents to pay for measures.

2. To approve the selection of the portion of Wormholt and College Park & Old Oak wards that is H&F social housing as a social housing place-based decarbonisation scheme, including solar energy, batteries, heat pumps, insulation and innovative money saving energy tariffs.

3. To approve the selection of Wendell Park as a private housing place-based decarbonisation scheme, using intensive, targeted communications and engagement, alongside innovative measures such as thermal drone scans, to drive clean energy measures in the neighbourhood. The European Horizon 2020 programme, which covers leading innovative climate initiatives, has shown an interest in this. H&F proposes to work with an engagement partner who will support on research, development, implementation and measurement of this hyper-localised approach to engagement.

4. To note the other schemes already underway and expanding, including the HFCE green energy co-op, feasibility studies for large scale clean energy networks, support for residents in fuel poverty, and social housing retrofit projects in the West Kensington and White City estates among others.

This item includes appendices that contain exempt information. Discussion of the appendices will require passing the proposed resolution at the end of the agenda to exclude members of the public and press.

1. To note that Appendix 1 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. That Cabinet approves the procurement strategy proposing a mini-competition via the Pretium Building and Fire Safety Framework (Lot 8 – External Wall Works) to source a contractor to undertake external façade safety works at Norland House, Stebbing House, Poynter House Edward Woods estate W11.

3. That Cabinet notes that the procurement will be a two-stage design and build process with the Council entering into a pre-construction services agreement (“PCSA”) with a preferred supplier. Following completion of the design phase the Council will seek to enter into a works contract with the preferred supplier.

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 an item of business, on the grounds that it contains 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.