Petition Hearing

_________________________________________________________________________ - Page 1 - Minutes Cabinet Thursday, 27 May 2010 Meeting held at Committee Room 6 - Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge UB8 1UW Published on: 28 th May 2010 Come into effect on: 7th June 2010 Cabinet Members present: Councillors Ray Puddifoot (Chairman) David Simmonds (Vice-Chairman) Jonathan Bianco Keith Burrows Philip Corthorne Henry Higgins Sandra Jenkins Douglas Mills Scott Seaman-Digby Members also present: Councillor Brian Crowe Councillor Jazz Dhillon Councillor Mo Khursheed Councillor Kuldeep Lakhmana Councillor Edward Lavery Councillor Anita MacDonald Councillor Michael Markham Councillor Brian Stead 161. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE All Cabinet Members were present. 162. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST IN MATTERS COMING BEF ORE THIS MEETING None. 163. TO CONFIRM THE MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING HELD ON 15 APRIL 2010 The minutes of the last meeting were confirmed. 164. TO CONFIRM THAT THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS MARKED P ART 1 WILL BE CONSIDERED IN PUBLIC AND THAT THE ITEMS OF BUSINESS MARKED PART 2 IN PRIVATE This was confirmed. _________________________________________________________________________ - Page 2 - 165. EDUCATION AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES POLICY OVERV IEW COMMITTEE MAJOR REVIEW: HOW THE COUNCIL WORKS WITH PARTNER AGENCIES TO PROVIDE SAFEGUARDING FOR CHILDREN AT HEATHROW AIRPORT AS A PORT OF ENTRY The Committee’s report, presented by Councillor Brian Crowe (Vice-Chairman), was warmly endorsed by the Cabinet. Cabinet placed on recor d its thanks and appreciation for the efforts of the Children and Families Service at the Council. DECISION That Cabinet: 1. Note that the Committee has commended the servic e and its performance. 2. Welcome the report from the Education and Childr en’s Services Policy Overview Committee and note the general consensus i t found in favour of improving the current arrangements and future pl ans for safeguarding children at Heathrow Airport; and 3. Endorses the following recommendations of the Po licy Overview Committee report as ways to enhance current arrange ments and future plans for safeguarding children at Heathrow Airport, as set out below: Policy Overview Committee Recommendations: 1. A specialised training programme be developed for f oster carers and residential staff who provide care for this group of vuln erable children; carers must be made aware of the dangers of those children wh o go missing after being placed in their care. Safeguarding issues must be explained clearly and carers should be made fully aware of the issue of traffick ers who contact children after they have been placed in their care. 2. Officer inspections take place at the foster homes of trafficked children – this can be performed through supervising social worker visits t o foster carers to review the safeguarding arrangements. 3. The communication link between partner agencies and i nter agency working be developed further through the work of the Traffickin g Sub Group of the Hillingdon Safeguarding Children’s Board and that na tional and international links be further developed and strengthened. 4. Cabinet invite the Education and Children's Services P olicy Overview Committee to review the council's approach to safeguardin g trafficked children, should national policy and/or legislation be modified, so that Cabinet are kept fully aware of national policy changes that coul d impact on our policies and resources and therefore compromise the Coun cil’s safeguarding arrangements. _________________________________________________________________________ - Page 3 - 5. Information of missing children to be regularly moni tored by the Education and Children’s Services Policy Overview Committee and that all instances of missing children reported to the Hillingdon’s Safeguard ing Children Board will be used to form part of future Safeguarding reportin g arrangements to the Education and Children’s Services policy Overview Committee. Reasons for decision Cabinet’s decision to endorse the Committee’s recommendat ions will build upon Hillingdon’s current arrangements and future plans for safeguarding children at Heathrow Airport. Alternative options considered and rejected None. Officer to action: Merlin Joseph, Deputy Director of Education and Children’s Services 166. RESIDENTS' AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES POLICY O VERVIEW COMMITTEE REVIEW: ILLEGAL COSMETICS AND ILLEGALLY IMPORTED FOODS The Committee’s report, presented by Councillor Michael Markham (Chairman), was warmly endorsed by the Cabinet. DECISION: That Cabinet: 1. Note that the Committee’s recommendations are no t the result of a comprehensive review, but recommendations designed to improve measures the Council has in place for combating the potentially dangerous issues of illegal cosmetics and illegally imported foods. 2. Welcome the report from the Residents’ & Environ mental Services Policy Overview Committee and endorse the recommend ations which seek to enhance the measures already in place as set out below: Policy Overview Committee recommendations: 1. The Committee recognises the efforts made by Council a nd UK Border Agency (UKBA) Officers to tackle illegal goods being sold i n the Borough and recommends that a public information campaign be launch ed to raise residents’ awareness of how to identify illegally import ed cosmetic and illegally imported foods and of reporting procedures. _________________________________________________________________________ - Page 4 - 2. The Committee is of the view that closer working bet ween the Council and UKBA is essential. The Committee therefore recommends t hat, as a matter of urgency a clear, accountable and robust Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or protocol be set up between the Council (Tradi ng Standards and Port Health) and UKBA, in order to exchange informat ion freely and securely and that a joint database of offending exporters be de veloped. Provision for a back up system should also be put in place to ensue IT system s at Port Health Heathrow are available 24 hours a day to maint ain the continuity of the critical process of information exchange. 3. The Committee recommends that Officers make efforts to identify external funding in support of more joint operations. 4. The Committee recommends that the ‘Score on Doors’ scheme continues to be published through the appropriate communication channels. 5. During its deliberations, the Committee briefly consi dered the problems of the use of the drug Khat and its legal status. The Committe e therefore recommends this as a future review topic in 2010/11. Reasons for decision Cabinet’s endorsement of the Committee’s recommendation s enhanced measures already in place for combating the issue of illegal cosm etics and illegally imported foods at Border Controls and Wholesale/Retail. Alternative options considered and rejected. None. Officer to action: Sue Pollitt, Environment and Consumer Protection 167. HILLINGDON LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK - CONSU LTATION DRAFT CORE STRATEGY DECISION: That Cabinet:- 1. Notes the contents of the Local Development Fram ework Consultation Draft Core Strategy. 2. Approves the Local Development Framework Consult ation Draft Core Strategy for public consultation. 3. Grants delegated authority to the Director of Pl anning and Community Services to agree, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Planning _________________________________________________________________________ - Page 5 - and Transportation, to make any minor editing and t extual changes to the Consultation Draft Core Strategy, before it is formally published. 4. Grants delegated authority to the Director of Pl anning and Community Services to agree, in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation, the Sustainability Appraisal fo r the Consultation Draft Core Strategy, before it is formally published. 5. Approves the Local Development Framework Consult ation Draft Core Strategy as a material consideration for the purpos es of development management. 6. Instructs officers to carry out a minimum 6 week public consultation on the Core Strategy and the Sustainability Appraisal in compliance with the approved Statement of Community Involvement, a nd for officers to report back to a future meeting of Cabinet the outc ome of public consultation and recommendations for changes to the Core Strategy prior to its formal submission. 7. Agrees that previous draft Development Plan Docu ments of the Local Development Framework, summarised in paragraph 3 of the report, are rescinded to the status of background documents for the purposes of the preparation of the Local Development Framework. 8. Agrees the arrangements to revise the Local Deve lopment Scheme as set out in paragraph 11 of the report. Reasons for decision Cabinet approved the recommendations in the report to enable the Council to make meaningful progress on the Local Development Framework Core Strategy in order to meet targets approved by the Government Office for Lo ndon in the council’s Local Development Scheme. Alternative options considered and rejected The Cabinet could have decided not to approve the Consultation Draft Core Strategy for consultation or requested that officers make changes to the Core Strategy for its subsequent approval prior to public consultation. Officer to action: Jales Tippell, Planning & Community Services _________________________________________________________________________ - Page 6 - 168. REQUIREMENTS FOR ADDITIONAL PRIMARY SCHOOL PLA CES DECISION: That Cabinet: 1. Instructs officers to begin the statutory consul tation process on proposals for permanent additional places at school s identified as Phase 1 of the primary expansions programme. 2. Instructs officers to identify suitable sites fo r a new three form of entry primary school in the Hayes area. Reasons for decision Cabinet was aware that the Council had a statutory dut y to provide sufficient school places for Children and Young People. Given the record number of applications for September 2010 reception places and robust data and pop ulation projections gathered, Cabinet therefore agreed the necessary action to seek to avoid a shortage of school places over the next few years. Alternatives considered and rejected Cabinet could have decided not to undertake any school e xpansion programme at this time and thereby face a severe and sustained pressu re for school places in future years. Officer to action: Sarah Harty, Education and Children’s Services 169. REVIEW OF THE LOCAL LIST OF BUILDINGS OF ARCHI TECTURAL OR HISTORIC IMPORTANCE Cabinet had received a letter from English Heritage r egarding the former RAF Uxbridge site, which was duly noted. RECOMMENDATIONS: That Cabinet: 1. Agrees the proposed Local List of Buildings of A rchitectural or Historic Importance as attached in Appendix 1; 2. Instructs officers to notify all the owners/occu piers of the buildings included in the list, and; 3. Instruct officers to update the GIS to include t he new entries and to provide this information as an online database, ava ilable to council staff, councillors, the public and other users. _________________________________________________________________________ - Page 7 - Reasons for decision In considering the report, Cabinet recognised the build ings that are considered to be of local architectural and historical importance that con tribute significantly to the unique character and sense of local distinctiveness of the B orough. Following wide public consultation, Cabinet formally agreed the Local List. Alternative options considered and rejected Cabinet could have decided not to have a Local List or not seek to revise the existing Local List, leaving buildings worthy of local designation unrecognised and vulnerable to insensitive development and the concerns of residents and Members unaddressed. Officers to action: Nairita Chakraborty/ Sarah Harper, Planning and Community Services 170. SUPPORTING PEOPLE PROGRAMME AND SHELTERED HOUS ING DECISION: That Cabinet enter into a new Service Level Agreeme nt with Hillingdon Homes for the housing related support that they provide a s part of their sheltered housing service in their current 21 sheltered housi ng schemes for an annual sum of £742,106 pro rata for the period 1 st August 2010 until the operation is brought in-house on 1st October 2010. Reasons for decision Cabinet noted that there were two months between th e cessation of the current service level agreement with Hillingdon Homes for the housing support services that it provides at the council’s sheltered housing schemes and when the council absorbs Hillingdon Homes’ operation. Cabinet therefore gave its authority for an interim arrangement for this period. Alternative options considered and rejected Cabinet could have tendered the services or let the se rvice lapse after July. However, Cabinet considered it more effective for all of Hillingdon Homes’ operations to be brought in-house at the same time. Officer to action: Barry Newitt, Adult Social Care, Health and Housing _________________________________________________________________________ - Page 8 - 171. RUISLIP GARDENS PRIMARY SCHOOL - TENDER ACCEPT ANCE FOR ROOFING WORKS AND INTERNAL ALTERATIONS DECISION That the tender from MP Building limited in the sum of £310,650.06 (ex VAT) is accepted. Reasons for decision Cabinet was aware that part of the school was affected by serious roof leaks and much of the toilet accommodation was old and in need o f refurbishment. The school was meeting most of the cost of the project from its own resources, and Cabinet therefore agreed the contractor so that essential that work could be commenced on site in mid July this year. Alternative options considered and rejected None. Officer to action: Venetia Rogers, Education and Children’s Services Exempt Information This report was included in Part II as it contained inf ormation relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) and the public interest in withholding t he information outweighed the public interest in disclosing it (exempt information und er paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government (Access to Informatio n) Act 1985 as amended. 172. CONTRACT FOR THE SUPPLY OF A DOUBLE BASE CLASS UNIT AT EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SCHOOLS: BROOKSIDE, RABBSFARM AND WILLIAM BYRD PRIMARY SCHOOLS DECISION: That Cabinet agree the appointment of the Contracto r (Terrapin Limited) recommended within this report following a competit ive tendering exercise to facilitate the expansion programme for Brookside, R abbsfarm and William Byrd Primary Schools. Reasons for decision Cabinet agreed to enter into a contract or the appoin tment of a Contractor to design and supply a mobile double base class unit at Brookside, Rabbsfarm and William _________________________________________________________________________ - Page 9 - Byrd Primary Schools, in order to ensure that these school s had sufficient classrooms for their admission numbers and that the project was designed within budget and programme from inception to completion. Alternative options considered and rejected Cabinet could have decided to provide permanent accomm odation, however, this could not have been achieved within the required time scale. Officers to action: Bill King, Graham Davies, Planning & Community Services Exempt Information This report was included in Part II as it contained inf ormation relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) and the public interest in withholding t he information outweighed the public interest in disclosing it (exempt information und er paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government (Access to Informatio n) Act 1985 as amended. 173. RUISLIP LIDO - TOILETS AND CHANGING ROOM FACIL ITIES DECISION: That Cabinet: 1. Note the contents of this report 2. Instruct officers to finalise clarifications and contractual matters with Wernick Building Ltd as the Council’s preferred con tractor for the project 3. Agree to the appointment of Wernick Buildings Li mited as the Councils preferred contractor to replace the existi ng Ruislip Lido toilets and the construction of a new changing bloc k subject to a satisfactory outcome of recommendation 2 4. Increase the Councils financial contribution by a further £202,000 to enable officers to proceed with the project subject to the agreement by the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Business Services 5. Agree to the appointment of the professional adv isers as identified in the body of the report _________________________________________________________________________ - Page 10 - Reason for decision Cabinet agreed these new facilities at Ruislip Lido to progress its commitment to enhance the existing provision of its Green Spaces and recreational activities. Alternative options considered and rejected Cabinet could have decided not to proceed with the ne w facilities or re-tender the procurement of the works. Officers to action: Jean Palmer, Alan Dalton, Mohamed Bhimani – Planning & Community Services. Exempt Information This report was included in Part II as it contained inf ormation relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) and the public interest in withholding t he information outweighed the public interest in disclosing it (exempt information und er paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government (Access to Informatio n) Act 1985 as amended. 174. 1 & 2 MERRIMANS, WEST DRAYTON ROAD, HILLINGDON DECISION: Cabinet agree: 1. That 1 & 2 Merrimans are declared surplus to req uirements. 2. That Cabinet authorises officers to submit a pla nning application for conversion of the properties to provide four one be droom flats to be used for supported housing for adults with learning disabilities. 3. That Cabinet authorises officers to sell 1 & 2 M errimans on a long lease through a competitive tendering exercise to a Regis tered Social Landlord with the condition that the successful tenderer converts the properties into four one bedroom flats to provide supported housing for adults with learning disabilities nominated by the Council, all in accor dance with the planning permission. Reasons for decision Cabinet approved the recommendations to enable the re development of 1 & 2 Merrimans, given that it is no longer required by Chi ldren’s Services and provide new supported housing to adults with learning disabilities. _________________________________________________________________________ - Page 11 - Alternative options considered and rejected Cabinet could have decision to retain the properties in the Council’s ownership, use them to meet other housing needs, amalgamate the prop erties with the adjacent Respite Care Home or dispose on the open market. Officer to action: Mayur Patel, Planning and Community Services Exempt Information This report was included in Part II as it contained inf ormation relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) and the public interest in withholding t he information outweighed the public interest in disclosing it (exempt information und er paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government (Access to Informatio n) Act 1985 as amended. 175. BARNHILL PFI - NEW CONTRACTUAL ARRANGEMENTS This item was deferred to the next Cabinet meeting. 176. OTHER ITEMS WHICH THE CHAIRMAN DECIDES ARE REL EVANT OR URGENT None. The meeting closed at 7.30pm DECISION AUTHORITY These Cabinet decisions were not called-in by the Executive Scrutiny Committee and therefore come into effect from Monday 7 th June 2010. Delegated authority in this decision notice to the Director of Planning and Community Services will be to the Director of Planning, Environment and Community Services with effect 1 June 2010.