Agenda and minutes

That the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 1 November 2021 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 Larry Culhane.

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.

The Leader stated that following the UK’s departure from the EU the Council declared its intention to establish meaningful, cultural, industrial, and educational twinning links with towns within countries of the EU. This report proposed to strengthen the current links with existing twin towns and to establish new links with European partners in order to gain access for our residents to the most cutting-edge innovations in industry and civic society available in the European Continent.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS PRESENT:

That Cabinet approves the objectives to progressing our European collaboration ambitions as set out in paragraph 1 in the report.

Councillor Sharon Holder stated that this was the final report and recommendations of the resident-led Parks Commission. The commission launched in January 2020, chaired by Timothy Prager, proposed excellent recommendations following a year of extensive engagement with council officers, residents, and stakeholders.

Timothy Prager, Chair of the resident-led Parks Commission, summarised the report virtually.

The Leader added that moving forward, this report would be developed by the Cabinet Member and the Policy and Accountability Committee. The recommendations would be approved and implemented following a democratic debate and the governance process.

The Leader thanked all commissioners, including Rosemary Mortimer and Judy Hargadon, who were present at the Cabinet meeting, for their excellent voluntary work. He also thanked Sharon Lea and Stephen Hollingworth on their outstanding work delivering more value for less money.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS PRESENT:

That cabinet notes, and comment, on the final report and recommendations of H&F’s resident-led Parks Commission (Appendix A).

Councillor Ben Coleman introduced the report seeking approval for a Procurement Strategy for the re-procurement of 2 contracts: an adults integrated substance misuse and alcohol service and a young people’s integrated substance misuse and sexual health service. The idea was to integrate adults and young people’s services with contract terms of 3 + 2 +2 years in order to evaluate their performance along the years.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS PRESENT:

To approve the Procurement Strategy for the re-procurement of two contracts commencing October 2022 as follows:

·           Lot 1 - an adults integrated substance misuse service, with a contract value up to £2,925,000 per annum. The total value of the contract is £20,475,000 over 7 years

·           Lot 2 - a young peoples integrated substance misuse and sexual health service, with a contract value up to £200,000 per annum. The total value of the contract is £1,400,000 over 7 years.

·           The contracts are reviewed by the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care after two years.

Councillor Wesley Harcourt presented the joint report with Councillor Lisa Homan, who was in attendance virtually. The report was seeking approval to implement new property licensing schemes from June 2022 for a further 5 years, focussing on the types of properties and streets where there were the most significant problems. Those were Additional Licensing for Houses and Flats in Multiple Occupation (“HMOs”) and Selective Licensing for rented dwellings in 24 specified streets.

In response to a question asked virtually by Councillor Adronie Alford regarding simplifying the licensing process that may overwhelm some people, Councillor Harcourt asked Councillor Alford to send him the details of her concerns and he would ask officers to look into it to resolve the issue.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS PRESENT:

That Cabinet approves:

1.    Designation of an Additional HMO Licensing scheme from 5 June 2022 in accordance with the designation document in Appendix 1.

2.    Designation of a Selective Licensing scheme for rented houses and flats which are not HMOs from 5 June 2022 in accordance with the designation document in Appendix 2.

3.    Delegation of authority to the Strategic Director of Environment to set licence fees, and to amend these fees from time to time as is necessary to reflect the actual costs of administering and managing the schemes.

4.    Delegation of authority to the Strategic Director of Environment (in relation to licensed dwellings) to set (and amend from time to time)

a.    minimum standards for amenities and management, and

b.    licence conditions

This report has two appendices which contain information exempt within the meaning of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and are not for publication. The appendices have 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 the proceedings for that discussion.

Councillor Harcourt introduced the report and stated that the bridge was closed to motor vehicles in April 2019 and to all users in August 2020 on public safety grounds. Following extensive monitoring, it re-opened to pedestrians, cyclists and river traffic in July 2021. At the time of closure it was estimated by Transport for London (TfL) that the cost of stabilisation was £46m and would be £141m for stabilisation, strengthening and restoration. This report was about stabilisation of the bridge to avoid having to close it once again. The next stage would be the strengthening which would come back to Cabinet for approval in the future.

In answer to a question asked virtually by Councillor Brocklebank-Fowler, Councillor Harcourt replied that the Steve Denton report was about the strengthening of the bridge, which was still currently being considered and would be released to the public shortly. He stressed that the report on this Cabinet agenda was about the first stage, which was the stabilisation of the bridge. The Steve Denton report was about the second stage, which was the strengthening.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS PRESENT:

1.         To note that Appendices 1 and 2 are not for publication on the basis that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of a particular person (including the authority holding that information) and/or information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings as set out in paragraphs 3 and 5 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

2.         To approve an additional capital budget of £2.9m to reflect the revised cost, to be funded by Council borrowing (increase to the Capital Financing Requirement).

3.         To approve the procurement of the stabilisation works by means of a task order to the preferred contractors (as set out in paragraph 5).

This report has one appendix which contains 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 the proceedings for that discussion.

Councillor Harcourt introduced the report which considered making the South Fulham TCPR East Experimental Scheme permanent based on the evidence base, engagement and feedback gathered and conducted during the trial. There had been a clear reduction in traffic and air pollution across the area, which had significant health and wellbeing benefits for residents.

Councillor Harcourt  added that initially, in September 2020, the majority of residents were against the new traffic scheme introduced. However, one year later, over  90% of residents supported the scheme. The change in sentiment demonstrated how the scheme had gained support once its positive impacts were fully appreciated by residents.

Councillor Coleman stated that, after initial mistakes, extensive consultation and engagement process was carried out during the experiment with residents.  Following initial concerns, the consensus in the local area was now positive for the scheme and there was a growing drive to expand the scheme to the west. The scheme had the largest consultation and engagement process the Council had undertaken for a traffic scheme. In addition to the statutory requirements, ongoing engagement was carried out. A series of online Zoom meetings attended by hundreds of residents, five residents’ associations and local Ward Councillors, including Councillor Matt Thorley, took place. Subsequently, the five associations sent a joint letter of support for the scheme on the east on the condition that the scheme would also be considered for extension to the west, and traffic reduction and public realm improvements should be introduced on Wandsworth Bridge Road. He thanked the Ward Councillors Matt Thorley, Mark Loveday and Frances Stainton for their support.

The Leader reiterated that the Council did make a mistake initially but now had overwhelming support for this scheme. There would be further extensive engagement exercise with residents and Ward Councillors (beyond the statutory consultation requirements) to implement any additional extension to the scheme. The Leader commendedCouncillor Matt Thorley for supporting the scheme and Sharon Lea, Bram Kainth and John Galsworthy for their excellent work.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS PRESENT:

1.            To note that Appendix 5 is not for publication on the basis that it contains information relating to any individual, information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual, or information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) as set out in paragraphs 1 to 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

2.            That Cabinet notes and carefully considers the consultation responses received during the South Fulham TCPR East scheme attached at Appendix 5.

3.            That Cabinet approves the making of a permanent traffic management order for the South Fulham TCPR East Scheme (as detailed in the section the Experimental East Scheme) along with any necessary associated highway works subject to the outcome of the statutory consultation process.

4.            That Cabinet approves the making of an experimental traffic order for the South Fulham TCPR West Scheme following a further engagement exercise with residents.

5.  ...  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.       

RESOLVED:

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 a brief discussion around some elements of the exempt appendix.