Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bora Kwon and Andrew Jones.

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.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2025.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 May 2025 were agreed as an accurate record.

1. That Cabinet agree to adopt the H&F Food Plan 2025 – 2030 principles and framework for delivery, attached at appendix one.

2. That Cabinet support the development of a detailed local action plan which will enable the H&F Food for All Partnership to drive forward key initiatives based on our sphere of influence and the resources available to us.

Councillor Alex Sanderson (Deputy Leader) introduced the report that recommended adopting a 5-year Food Plan, created by the Council and the H&F Food for all Partnership and building on the H&F Food Matters: Action Plan 2019-2024. The plan aimed to promote healthier lifestyles, enhance access to nutritious food for the community, and cut waste.

Councillor Wesley Harcourt (Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Ecology) added that the plan also contributed to the Council’s environmental and climate goals. He noted that 30% of waste in the borough was food waste and the plan would help reduce that.

RESOLVED

1. That Cabinet agree to adopt the H&F Food Plan 2025 – 2030 principles and framework for delivery, attached at appendix one.

2. That Cabinet support the development of a detailed local action plan which will enable the H&F Food for All Partnership to drive forward key initiatives based on our sphere of influence and the resources available to us.

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.

That Cabinet:

1.    Notes that Appendix 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this report are not for publication on the basis that they contain 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 a procurement strategy for the provision of genitourinary medicine (GUM) sexual health services using Direct Award Process C under the Provider Selection Regime pursuant to The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

3.    Approves a collaborative approach (in respect of evaluation) to the procurement with Westminster City Council and The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

4.    Delegates to the Executive Director of People the decision to award the contract at the conclusion of the procurement.

Councillor Alex Sanderson (Deputy Leader) introduced the report that sought approval for the Council's ongoing participation in the pan-London sexual health programme’s clinic-based genito-urinary medicine (GUM) service.

Councillor Florian Chevoppe-Verdier (Cabinet Member for Public Realm) highlighted the work of 10 Hammersmith Broadway distributing vaccines in the community. The clinic accounted for the largest proportion of activity for residents in the borough (over 54% of the total in 2023).

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

1.    Notes that Appendix 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this report are not for publication on the basis that they contain 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 a procurement strategy for the provision of genitourinary medicine (GUM) sexual health services using Direct Award Process C under the Provider Selection Regime pursuant to The Health Care Services (Provider Selection Regime) Regulations 2023.

3.    Approves a collaborative approach (in respect of evaluation) to the procurement with Westminster City Council and The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.

4.    Delegates to the Executive Director of People the decision to award the contract at the conclusion of the procurement.

That Cabinet:

1.    Adopt the H&F Council Housing Retrofit Strategy (Appendix 1) and action plan (Appendix 2).

2.    Note the housing retrofit projects already delivered and underway.

Councillor Frances Umeh (Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness) introduced the report that recommended Cabinet adopted a retrofit strategy and action plan for the Council’s homes that would be delivered through the updated Housing Revenue Account Asset Management Plan.

Councillor Umeh said the Council wanted residents to live in decent, safe and warm homes and the strategy would improve the energy efficiency of council housing stock, reduce carbon emissions, and reduce fuel poverty.

Councillor Adronie Alford noted that leaseholders were worried about additional costs, and she asked the Council to ensure costs were carefully monitored and there were no excessive charges for leaseholders. Careful monitoring of the costs. Councillor Umeh said the Council had carried out extensive consultation and were looking at ways to be as cost effective as possible, including using Government funding. In response to a question about extended payment plans, Councillor Umeh said the Council would consider all viable options.

Councillor Stephen Cowan (Leader of the Council) said the issue of leaseholder charges was important and assured that, though there had been high costs in previous eras, there had been a cultural shift to tackle those costs and get value for money. He said retrofitting was about reducing overall costs, and cost was at the centre of the Council thinking for both leaseholders and tenants.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

1.    Adopt the H&F Council Housing Retrofit Strategy (Appendix 1) and action plan (Appendix 2).

2.    Note the housing retrofit projects already delivered and underway.

The Key Decision List was noted.

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.      

There was no discussion of exempt elements.