Agenda, decisions and minutes

1.1  Apologies were received from Cllr Nicholson and Cllr McKenzie.

Members are invited to consider the guidance which accompanies this agenda and make declarations of interest as appropriate.

2.1  There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Unrestricted Business which will be considered under the agenda item where they appear.

3.1  There was no urgent business for consideration.

On occasions part of the Cabinet meeting will be held in private and will not be open to the public if an item is being considered that is likely to lead to the disclosure of exempt or confidential information. In accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 (the “Regulations”), members of the public can make representations about why that part of the meeting should be open to the public.

This agenda contains exempt items as set out at the Exclusion of the Press and Public agenda item. No representations with regard to these have been received. 

This is the formal 5 clear day notice under the Regulations to confirm that this Cabinet meeting will be partly held in private for the reasons set out in this Agenda.

4.1  No representations were received.

At the time of the agenda publication no questions or deputations had been received.

5.1  No questions were received.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting of Cabinet held on 25 September 2023 as a correct record.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet held on 25 September 2023 be agreed as a true and accurate record of proceedings.

Due to the rescheduling of the Cabinet Procurement and Insourcing Committee (CPIC) minutes will be noted at the next meeting of Cabinet.

7.1  Due to the rescheduling of the Cabinet Procurement and Insourcing Committee (CPIC), minutes were not available to be noted at this meeting.

To follow.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the scheme for Finance & Corporate Resources as set out in section 11 be given approval as follows:

Millfield Waste Depot Rectification Works: Resource and spend approval of £897k (£65k in 2023/24, £772k in 2024/25 and £60k in 2025/26)is requested to enable Council officers to proceed with the rectification works associated with various long standing, latent ground defects at the site.

2.  That the scheme for Climate, Homes & Economy Directorate as set out in section 11 be given approval as follows:

Olive School: Resource and spend approval of £391k (£274k in 2023/24 and £117k in 2024/25) is requested to enable Council officers to carry out Highway Works at this school site.

3.  That the s106 Capital scheme summarised below and set out in section 11 be approved:

4.  That the s106 Capital scheme summarised below and set out in section 12 be noted:

5.  That the capital adjustments of the budgets outlined in section 12 be noted and summarised below be noted:

6.  Authorise entering into an agreement to lease (“the Agreement”) with the Old Fire Station Stoke Newington CIO to grant a lease of up to 25 years for 61 Leswin Rd, London, N19 7NX (“the Property”) as is shown edged red on the plan attached at Appendix 1.

7.  To agree that the terms of the agreement be that, prior to the grant of the lease, the Old Fire Station Stoke Newington CIO should:

a.  Submit a viable project plan which details the development plans and the associated fundraising strategy, to be agreed by the Council, within 6 months from the date of the Agreement.

b.  Submit a business plan setting out how the OFS will operate for the benefit of local residents, which includes provision for full maintenance of the premises, to be agreed by the Council.

c.  Provide evidence that planning permission has been granted for the proposed scheme within 18 months from the date of the Agreement.

d.  Provide written confirmation from funders, within 18 months from the Agreement, that all finance for the development is available to proceed to a start on site.

e.  Submit final construction plans to the Council for approval prior to commencement of works.

f.  Submit relevant documents certifying the practical completion of construction works within 2 months of completion.

g.  Enter into a Community Agreement with the Council which will set out services and benefits to be delivered to local residents and include provision for ongoing monitoring and reporting.

h.  To commence and complete the  ...  view the full decision text for item 8.

8.1   Deputy Mayor Bramble, Chair of Cabinet and Cabinet Member for Education, Young People and Children’s Social Care, confirmed the Council’s continued investment into capital assets to support communities, businesses, and residents.

8.2  Cllr Robert Chapman, Cabinet Member for Finance, Insourcing and Customer Service, introduced the report and highlighted the extension of the lease for the Old FIre Station in Stoke Newington, enabling it to continue as a valuable community asset; the highway works on Clapton Road, to benefit children accessing the Olive School; and the redevelopment works at Millfields Depot.

8.3  Cllr Mete Coban, Cabinet Member for Climate Change, Environment and Transport, and Cllr Susan Fajana-Thomas, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Regulatory Services, both spoke in support of the measures in the report.

Cllr Coban left the meeting before the vote and returned for agenda item 10.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the scheme for Finance & Corporate Resources as set out in section 11 be given approval as follows:

Millfield Waste Depot Rectification Works: Resource and spend approval of £897k (£65k in 2023/24, £772k in 2024/25 and £60k in 2025/26)is requested to enable Council officers to proceed with the rectification works associated with various long standing, latent ground defects at the site.

2.  That the scheme for Climate, Homes & Economy Directorate as set out in section 11 be given approval as follows:

Olive School: Resource and spend approval of £391k (£274k in 2023/24 and £117k in 2024/25) is requested to enable Council officers to carry out Highway Works at this school site.

3.  That the s106 Capital scheme summarised below and set out in section 11 be approved:

4.  That the s106 Capital scheme summarised below and set out in section 12 be noted:

5.  That the capital adjustments of the budgets outlined in section 12 be noted and summarised below be noted:

6.  Authorise entering into an agreement to lease (“the Agreement”) with the Old Fire Station Stoke Newington CIO to grant a lease of up to 25 years for 61 Leswin Rd, London, N19 7NX (“the Property”) as is shown edged red on the plan attached at Appendix 1.

7.  To agree that the terms of the agreement be that, prior to the grant of the lease, the Old Fire Station Stoke Newington CIO should:

a.  Submit a viable project plan which details the development plans and the associated fundraising strategy, to be agreed by the Council, within 6 months from the date of the Agreement.

b.  Submit a business plan setting out how the OFS  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To follow.

RESOLVED:

To note the overall financial position of the Council as at August 2023 as set out in this report.

REASONS FOR DECISION

To facilitate financial management and control of the Council's finances.

DETAILS OF ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONDSIDERED AND REJECTED

This budget monitoring report is primarily an update on the Council’s financial position

9.1  Deputy Mayor Bramble reminded attendees of the requirement upon the Council to set a balanced budget, and that rising costs and demand for services had been putting pressure on finances.  Although Officers, under Cllr Chapman’s leadership, had worked hard to resolve this, local authorities would also require long term solutions from the Government. 

9.2  Cllr Chapman introduced the report noting the small increase in the overspend to £9.3m, and thanked colleagues and Officers for their hard work.  Deputy Mayor Bramble also highlighted the important role that Scrutiny had played.

RESOLVED:

To note the overall financial position of the Council as at August 2023 as set out in this report.

REASONS FOR DECISION

To facilitate financial management and control of the Council's finances.

DETAILS OF ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONDSIDERED AND REJECTED

This budget monitoring report is primarily an update on the Council’s financial position

10.1  Deputy Mayor Bramble restated the Council’s ambition to achieve Net Zero, as reflected in the Council’s declaration of a climate emergency in 2019 and the adoption of the Climate Action Plan.

10.2  When introducing the report, Cllr Coban welcomed the work of the Scrutiny Panel, whose insights had assisted the Council develop its plans in a more cross-cutting way.  Cllr Coban also highlighted the focus on social justice and that this would be a continually evolving workstream.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet approves the Executive response, found in Appendix 1, to the Scrutiny Panel Overarching Review into Net Zero.

REASONS FOR DECISION

Hackney Council is required to produce an Executive response to the Scrutiny Panel Overarching Review into Net Zero. The response draws on work underway or planned and is in line with principles, values and priorities held by Hackney Council.

DETAILS OF ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

Scrutiny Reviews follow a set process that involves recommendations and responses by officers resulting in a report to Cabinet and hence there are no alternative options to be considered.

11.1  Deputy Mayor Bramble introduced the report confirming the important role that Governors play in assisting the Council to deliver high standards of education to Hackney’s children and young people, and that 97% of Hackney’s schools are ‘good’ and ‘outstanding’.

RESOLVED:

To approve the following nominations as set out below:

Note from the Governance Team Leader:

Items 13 - 14 allow for the consideration of exempt information.

Proposed resolution:

That the press and public be excluded during discussion of the remaining items on the agenda, on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED: THAT the press and public be excluded from the proceedings of the Cabinet during consideration of Exempt items 13 - 14 on the agenda on the grounds that it is likely, in the view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that were members of the public to be present, there would be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended.

13.1  The Cabinet agreed that no further consideration of the exempt appendices in relation to agenda item 8 was required.

The Chair will consider the admission of any late items of Urgent Exempt Business

14.1  There were no new exempt items for consideration.