Agenda and minutes

The Leader welcomed everyone to the second virtual Cabinet meeting held by the Council and introduced each Cabinet Member in turn.

Prior to moving to the first item on the agenda the Leader invited the Chief Executive, Kim Smith, to update on the Council’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kim Smith provided and account of the infection and death rates in the borough. On a positive note she reported on the successful work being done by the volunteer Community Aid Network (CAN), launched by the Council to support residents in need since the beginning of the pandemic. They had over 100 volunteers dealing with calls from residents daily and offering support. There were in total 2,500 volunteers registered with CAN.

Kim Smith added that in light of the latest government guidance and confusion with regards to shielded people, the Council was currently contacting all shielded residents concerned about the easing of the lockdown to offer advice.

The Leader stated that everyone in the Council was deeply saddened by every single death as a result of this virus. On behalf of the Council he sent his deepest sympathies to all the families grieving for their loss.

The Leader added that the Council’s response to the pandemic had been swift and effective, with the community coming together to support each other. The figures provided by Kim Smith were regretful, but the Council had the advantage of being one of the first Council’s in the country to provide an emergency response to support residents during an unprecedent pandemic outbreak.

The Leader stressed that there had been a high degree of alarm across many boroughs in London about the Government’s approach in lifting the lockdown. Particularly shielded people were told over the weekend that they could leave home but were given no guidance on how to protect themselves. There was also no guidance on other matters such as wearing masks or testing.

Testing was supposed to rely on the Government’s track and trace app that had not been released so far. Therefore, the Council’s message was still to stay safe at home if possible, but if there was need to go out to maintain social distancing and wear masks. The Council would continue with a people first approach to help keep people safe. The expectation was that there could be a second spike.

Councillor Coleman endorsed the Leader’s words and praised the Council’s efforts in protecting their residents despite the Government’s lack of direction, especially to residents in care homes. On a happier note he wanted to recognize the extraordinary work done by the community groups coming together spontaneously to support their fellow residents.

That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11 May 2020 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.

This report has one appendix which contain information exempt within the meaning of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and is not for publication. The appendix has therefore been circulated to Cabinet Members only.

Any discussions on the contents of an exempt appendix will require Cabinet to pass the proposed resolution identified at the end of the agenda to exclude members of the public and the press from the proceedings for that discussion.

The Leader informed that regretfully the Park Commission’s interim report contained confidential financial information and therefore had to be made exempt from the public agenda. However, he invited the Chair of The Independent Parks Commissioners, Tim Prager, to give a brief summary of what the report entailed. He thanked the commissioners for their excellent work done out of civic duty as none of them had been paid for their services.

Tim Prager stated that it had been a privilege to work on this report with extraordinary committed people from all different backgrounds and representing most parts of the borough.  The interim report was focused on providing recommendations to Cabinet as they consider their procurement strategy for the Ground Maintenance of Parks, Public Open Spaces and Housing Estates. He added that all the  commissioners were available to answer any questions that may arise from Cabinet Members.

Councillor Harcourt thanked Tim Prager and the other commissioners for producing an excellent interim report during very difficult times in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis. The Council would certainly consider the report’s recommendations. He added that he was looking forward to seeing part two of the report which would look broader at parks and open spaces strategy.

Tim Prager added that the second part of their work would be looking at democracy in the parks and how local residents were engaged. They would also be looking at different models of funding for parks, as it was such an important part of the community.

The Leader put the recommendations to the vote and a roll-call was undertaken.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY CABINET:

1.    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), be agreed.

2.    To note the findings and recommendations listed below of the Parks Commission in their interim report attached as Appendix 1.

3.    To consider recommendations 4, 6, 10, 11 and 12 of the Park Commission’s interim report when considering the Parks Commission’s final report.

4.    To instruct officers to have due regard to the recommendations of the Park Commission’s interim report which relate to the Grounds Maintenance Procurement Strategy when preparing said Strategy.

This report has one appendix which contain information exempt within the meaning of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and is not for publication. The appendix has therefore been circulated to Cabinet Members only.

Any discussions on the contents of an exempt appendix will require Cabinet to pass the proposed resolution identified at the end of the agenda to exclude members of the public and the press from the proceedings for that discussion.

Councillor Harcourt stated that this report followed on from the previous one on the agenda. It recommended to approve the outline procurement strategy for the tendering of grounds maintenance operations in parks and public open spaces (including Wormwood Scrubs and council housing sites). It recommended to delegate authority to finalise the detail following receipt of the Parks Commissions Final Report in the autumn. It also recommended to extend the original contract until 31 January 2022, after which the new contract would commence.

Councillor Homan added that she welcomed the opportunity for the residents on the housing estates to be involved on how to take this strategy forward.

The Leader put the recommendations to the vote and a roll-call was undertaken.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY CABINET:

1.     To note that Appendix 3 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.    To approve the outline procurement strategy set out in Appendix 1 for the tendering of grounds maintenance operations in parks and public open spaces (including Wormwood Scrubs and council housing sites. The latter to be subject to the outcome of consultation with Tenants and Residents Associations).

3.    To delegate to the Strategic Director of Environment, in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member, the ability to modify the procurement strategy in Appendix 1(including any amendments to the evaluation criteria) following; receipt of the Parks Commission’s Final Report, consultation with the Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust Committee, consultation with Residents and Tenants Associations in relation to the maintenance of Housing land.

4.    To approve that the existing contract with Quadron Services Ltd (trading as Idverde Ltd) be extended within the original contract time frame, by ten months until 31 January 2022, after which the new contract will commence.

5.    To approve the use of £150k invest to save funding from one-off council resources, to fund the site mapping of parks and open spaces to inform the contract specification. The associated savings (£3.7m) will be included in the Council’s medium-term financial plans (payback period of less than one year).

6.    To take note and give full consideration of the ongoing work of the Parks Commission in developing the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy.

This report has one appendix which contain information exempt within the meaning of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and is not for publication. The appendix has therefore been circulated to Cabinet Members only.

Any discussions on the contents of an exempt appendix will require Cabinet to pass the proposed resolution identified at the end of the agenda to exclude members of the public and the press from the proceedings for that discussion.

Councillor Connell introduced the report and stated that it was seeking approval to award a contract relating to a managed service provision for temporary agency resources, with effect from 1 July 2020 for a term of one year with the option to extend for a further year. Following an assessment of the Council’s future requirements and the impact of Covid-19, this contract would deliver potential savings to the Council and provide continuity of services.

The Leader put the recommendations to the vote and a roll-call was undertaken.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY CABINET:

1.    Appendix 1 attached to this report is not for publication on the basis that it contains sensitive information relating to the financial or business affairs of any 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.    To approve the award of a contract to Pertemps Recruitment Partnership Ltd relating to a managed service provision for temporary agency resources, with effect from 1 July 2020 for a term of one year with the option to extend for a further year providing for a maximum contract period of 2 years. The maximum value of this contract is £47,000,000.

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.       

The Leader stated that he had written to the Leader of the Opposition and Greg Hands, MP for Chelsea and Fulham at the start of the pandemic. Only Greg Hands responded positively.

The Leader expressed his disappointment that given the nature of the pandemic crisis this Council was facing, none of the Members of the Opposition were present at this Cabinet meeting tonight.