Agenda and minutes

This is the time for Members to declare any interest they may have in any matter being considered at this meeting.  Advice is attached.

There were no declarations of interest.

Decisions of the Mayor in consultation with the Cabinet made on 20 October 2011

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 20 October 2011 were agreed as a correct record.

The Chair will agree with Members the arrangements for management of the meeting, including the order of business, confirmation of Agenda items, including late reports and apologies for absence.

The Mayor agreed to take the items in the order as set out on the agenda.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and said that it was the last meeting that Helen Fisher would attend. He thanked Helen for her contribution to the meeting and for her remarkable achievements relating to the Canning Town and Custom House regeneration projects.

Report of the Director of Finance

The Council agreed a 2011/12 Treasury Management Strategy Statement and the Annual Investment Strategy on 28 February 2011. The Director of Finance provided a mid year update on the strategy, treasury activities and compliance with the Prudential Code Indicators.

Decision

The Mayor in consultation with Cabinet agreed to:

1.  note the content of the report; and

2.  recommend the Council adopt the change to a Prudential Indicator set out in paragraph 3.7.2 of the report attached to the Agenda.

Reasons for the Decisions

The Treasury Management Update is a requirement of the council’s reporting procedures and recommended by both the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management and the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities. The council is required to comply with both codes through regulations issued under the Local Government Act 2003.

The second recommendation is about setting the fixed rate debt prudential indicator at a level that ensures the lower limit does not exceed the upper limit in earlier time periods.

The report and decision have complied with Part 4.5, paragraph 16 of the Constitution.

The decision is not subject to the Call-In process and may be implemented immediately.

Report of the Executive Director Resources.

The Mayor in consultation with Cabinet considered a report seeking to advise Members on how the East London sub-region is moving forward shared services. Since its creation, numerous joint procurements are being progressed and boroughs are also taking forward shared service opportunities as well as having improved communications.

The Leaders and Chief Executives of each borough have met to review progress and given the proof of concept, have now agreed to raise the ambitions of the sub-region and take forward some bigger collaborative projects which enable greater outcomes and savings. The Partnership arrangements are embodied within a Memorandum of Understanding which is in the process of being signed by the Leaders/Mayors.

Decision

The Mayor in consultation with Cabinet noted:

1.  the content of the report; and

2.  that the Memorandum of Understanding is in the progress of being re-signed.

The report and decision have complied with Part 4.5, paragraph 16 of the Constitution.

The decision is not subject to the Call-In process and may be implemented immediately.

Report of the Divisional Director of Customer Services and Transactions.

The Mayor in consultation with Cabinet was asked to consider a report presenting the new model for advice, consistent with the Council’s resilience policy and developed through the corporate Information Advice and Guidance (IAG) project.

Agreement was sought to develop a new problem solving package service delivered by the Council for residents and to gain agreement on which services should be in scope to consider including in this service.

Decision

The Mayor in consultation with Cabinet agreed:

1.  that officers develop a new service delivery model for one to one “problem solving package” advice service for residents;

2.  the potential scope of the services to be included in this new service delivery model, as set out in this report, including (but not exclusively) the Housing Options Team, Housing Registration Team and Allocation Team for consideration as part of the new model’s problem solving package, along with advice on debt problems and benefits.  The scoping process will enable consideration of the functions and processes within these teams, including consideration of those aspects to be aligned within the IAG model;

3.  that the Mayor noted that following the development of the “problem solving package” the proposal will be brought back to Cabinet for approval by the Mayor in consultation with Cabinet;

4.  to note that other services may be added to the problem solving package at a later date, as required, subject to further reporting back; and

5.  agree that in accordance with the Council’s previous strategic decision on its service delivery model, the problem solving package should be the most intensive level of help for residents developed through the IAG project.  The full offer will provide three tiers of service:

• Tier 1 - Quality online self-help information, advice and guidance on debt, benefit and housing issues for residents able to self help.

• Tier 2 - Direction from Council officers, where required, in using the above online self-help.

• Tier 3 - A one-to-one problem solving package advice service where Council officers deal with immediate crises and work with clients to identify root causes of problems, address these problems and enable future self-help.

Reasons for the Recommendations

Historically, different parts of the Council have delivered a range of information, advice and guidance for residents on debt, benefit and housing issues - directly and through commissioned services, stand alone and as part of wider support. 

Characteristics of this spread have been:

·  individual services having different levels of intervention

·  individual services providing different levels of help

·  inter-related personal issues, such as those involving money management, debt, income, worklessness and/or housing, not always being identified and dealt with

·  service users capable of dealing with issues themselves not always being enabled to do so - because the issue is not identified, is outside the service’s experience or because resources (such as user-focused written information) are simply not there

·  delivery not consistent with the Council’s approach to supporting resilience for residents.

The model developed through the IAG project aims to be a more joined up method of delivery,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Report of the Executive Director Customer Services.

The Mayor in consultation with Cabinet considered a report providing an update on progress made with the reduction in LSC based cash offices from 4 to 1, as agreed by Cabinet in December 2010.  The report sought to gain approval for the removal of the remaining (fourth) Local Service Centre (LSC)-based cash office in order to:

·  Realise the Council’s aim to shift as many customer transactions as possible through more cost effectives channels; and

·  deliver savings and a reduction in transaction costs through new operating model

The Equalities Impact Assessment was tabled at the meeting and considered by Members.

Decision

The Mayor in consultation with Cabinet agreed to approve the removal of the fourth Local Service Centre based cash office by 31 March 2012.

Reasons for the Decision

·  To accelerate the channel shift to using less expensive automated payment channels, thus enabling resources to be expended on the services and facilities most important to residents.

·  To provide customers with safer methods of making payment to the Council.

·  To provide residents with alternative ways to pay and in doing so, enhance their personal and economic resilience.

·  To enable to rationalisation of Council buildings to take place.

·  To support delivery of savings identified by the Customer Access Programme.

This is consistent with Cabinet approval on 16th December 2010 to accelerate the channel shift of transactions towards the web, thereby reducing the need for face to face services.

The report and decision have complied with Part 4.5, paragraph 16 of the Constitution.

The decision is not subject to the Call-In process and may be implemented immediately.

Report of the Divisional Director of Regeneration.

The Mayor in consultation with Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to replace the current Canning Town and Custom House Regeneration Programme’s Residents’ Charter with a revised version prepared following a review of the Charter.

Decision

The Mayor in consultation with Cabinet approved the adoption of the revised Canning Town and Custom House Regeneration Programme Residents’ Charter.

Reasons for the Recommendations

The regeneration of Canning Town and Custom House directly affects residents of regeneration sites within the regeneration boundary. The revised Charter is an improved document that reiterates existing Council commitments to residents and includes appropriate updates and clarifications and brings together arrangements for community involvement in one place within the Charter. The adoption of the revised Charter is recommended to ensure residents have a clear, up to date statement of the Council’s commitments to them that reflects current practice and circumstances.

The report and decision have complied with Part 4.5, paragraph 16 of the Constitution.

The decision is not subject to the Call-In process and may be implemented immediately.

Report of the Divisional Director of Regeneration.

Exempt Appendix 2 attached as Agenda item 14.

The Mayor in consultation with Cabinet considered a report following the signing of Heads of Terms with Bouygues Development (BYD) in June 2010. Negotiations have continued on the legal and commercial agreement for the development of the Area 7 &1c (Town Centre) scheme. With a commercial agreement between LBN and BYD now nearly concluded, permission was sought to agree the principles underpinning the Principal Development Agreement (PDA), and also the necessary delegations required to finalise the detail of the agreement.

Decision

The Mayor in consultation with Cabinet agreed to:

1.  grant delegated authority for the Executive Director of Regeneration, Planning and Property (in consultation with the Mayor, Executive Adviser for Regeneration together with the Divisional Director Regeneration, Director Finance, Divisional Director of Property, Divisional Director Legal & HR, and the Programme Director) to negotiate with Bouygues (UK) Limited and such companies within their group as required (Bouygues Associates) to agree the detailed commercial terms and the detailed terms of the Principal Development Agreement for Canning Town and Custom House Town Centre (Area 7 and 1C) (the PDA) and such other related agreements as are necessary (the Related Agreements);

2.  approve the principles of the PDA as set out;

3.  approve that the Council shall enter into the PDA and the Related Agreements with Bouygues (UK) Limited and if required Bouygues Associates subject to the Executive Director of Regeneration, Planning and Property (in consultation with the Mayor, Executive Adviser for Regeneration together with the Divisional Director Regeneration, Divisional Director of Property, Divisional Director Finance, Divisional Director Legal & HR, and the Programme Director) being satisfied as to the terms of such agreements;

4.  limit the period in which the delegated authority to the Executive Director of Regeneration, Planning and Property to agree the terms of the PDA and Related Agreements and the approval for the Council to enter into the PDA and Related Agreements to the period before 1 April 2012;

5.  note that prior to the Council entering into the PDA and Related Agreements officers shall seek certification confirming that the proposed disposal by the Council of land in Canning Town and Custom House town centre is at not less than the best consideration which it could reasonably be obtained;

6.  note that subject to the approval of full Council, officers will subsequently seek the Secretary of State's consent for the disposal of land at Canning Town and Custom House town centre;

7.  note that officers are discussing with Bouygues (UK) Limited an option for the Council to buy back any land or properties acquired by them (as part of the land assembly for this project) in certain circumstances. If this is agreed this will be one of the Related Agreements mentioned and officers will submit a further report setting out the detail of this; and

8.  note that a further report may be submitted on the use of ground rents to support the costs of estate management of the scheme in the first phase. This is dependent on the outcome  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Report of the Chair of the Crime and Disorder Scrutiny Commission.

The Mayor in consideration with Cabinet considered a report summarising the findings and conclusions of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Scrutiny Commission’s final report of the Stop and Search Procedures in Newham.  The Commission set itself the following terms of reference:

• to examine the perceptions that young people in Newham have of the police in the context of stop and search;

• to explore the opportunities for tackling negative perceptions (if and where these are identified) and strengthening relationships between police and young people in the borough, and

• to make recommendations to the Mayor, in consultation with the Cabinet, for any actions that the Council could take, or which could be taken forward through the Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership to improve perceptions of the police by young people in the borough.

The Final Report of the Commission included their recommendations to the Mayor.

Decision

The Mayor in consultation with Cabinet agreed the recommendations of the Crime and Disorder Reduction Scrutiny Commission’s final report of the Stop and Search Procedures in Newham.

Set out in the attached report is a list of those items scheduled for this meeting which have not been submitted and a list of those items scheduled to be considered at the next meeting.

The Mayor noted:

1.  the items originally scheduled for this meeting of Cabinet but which were not submitted, together with the reason for the delay and the rescheduled date; and

2.  those items listed on the Forward Plan scheduled to be considered at the next meeting of Cabinet.

In accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Committee is asked to resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for specific items of business on the grounds that they may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraph of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act, as amended.

Exempt Appendix 2 for Agenda Item 10.