Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED-

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2013 be agreed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Robert Rams.

There were none.

The following public questions were received and the answers given as set out below. Those members of the public who had asked the questions and who were present asked supplementary questions, to which the answers were given.

FROM MS THERESA MUSGROVE

Re. Item 5: Former Church Farmhouse Museum

1. In my view, and the view of many residents, the closure and ransacking of the Church Farmhouse Museum was an act of cultural vandalism, and a shameful indictment of the present Tory administration's disregard for the heritage of this borough.
The library was closed in order to sell the building and land for capital profit: it has not sold, and it is now being leased to Middlesex University: my question therefore is do the councillors not agree that the closure of the Museum was unjustifiable, and that the building should be given back to the use of the community for the purpose it was intended to serve?

RESPONSE:
Members of this committee do not agree that the closure of the museum was unjustifiable given the cuts to the Council's funding.  The lease to Middlesex University allows an element of community use.  Interested community groups include HADAS, the Hendon and District Archaeological Society whose volunteers also run community educational courses. 

2. Over a year ago, there was a rather muted consultation with residents regarding the use of the grounds surrounding the Museum. Despite two requests I have not received any information about the result of this consultation: please provide a response now as to the number of residents' replies, and the data that was provided by this consultation.

RESPONSE:

Following the S123 (A) advertising in January and February 2012, the Council received  8 responses which involved some 83 residents. Many of the points raised were in relation to future concerns over development and loss of amenity land, which is strongly protected under planning law, or could be protected by a covenant on the land.  

Under the current proposal which is for 4 years only, the surrounding grounds will be available to the public as an amenity area, but the cost to manage this land will be covered by the University.

3. Point 9.6 of this item is of concern to anyone who worries about the fragile condition of this beautiful listed building: references to 'improvements' would appear to be completely inappropriate in this context. What consultation has the council taken with English Heritage over the proposed improvements?

RESPONSE:

None as of yet, however, any improvements will require planning permission which will bring the opportunity of public consultation. At this stage the University has indicated it will improve the heating, utility connections and other health and safety matters, for example, safer floor loadings. These will need to go through the planning process, including Listed Building Consent which will include consultation with the public and English Heritage.  English Heritage will not permit changes which may be detrimental or not in character of this heritage building.

FROM MR. GERRARD ROOTS

Re. Item 5; Former  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

For the reasons set out in the Cabinet Member’s report,

RESOLVED

That the Committee agree to grant a lease of the former Church Farm House Museum, as shown red on the plan attached with the papers no. 24323/1, to Middlesex University Higher Education Corporation on the terms set out in Appendix 1 to this report and in Section 9.3 of the accompanying Exempt report.

For the reasons set out in the Cabinet Member’s report, 

RESOLVED

1. That authorisation be given to the Assurance Director to proceed on a procurement activity with a number of boroughs, with London Borough of Islington as lead, to procure a new contract for systems based Internal Audit Services.

2. That the value of the current contract be extended by £140,000.

For the reasons set out in the Cabinet Member’s report,

RESOLVED

That the Committee approve the write off of Council Tax debts as set out in this report.

For the reasons set out in the Cabinet Member’s report,

RESOLVED

That the Committee note the decisions taken by the Director of Commercial Services to:

(i) waive the tendering and competition requirements of the Contract Procedure Rules on the grounds of urgency as set out in Contract procedure Rule 5.7; and

(ii) enter into a short term contract with Capita for the provision of an interim IT infrastructure support service.

For the reasons set out in the Cabinet Members report,

RESOLVED

That the Committee agree to:

1.      Grant a lease of Friern Barnet Library, as shown edged red on the attached plan no.24389, to Friern Barnet Community Library on the terms set out in this report and in Appendix 2 to the report.

2.      Award grant funding of £25,000 per year for each of the financial years 2013/14 and 2014/15 to Friern Barnet Community Library to run Friern Barnet Library as a community library to be funded from council reserves.

3.      Ensure that officers respond, within a period of not more than two months, to any proposals from a formally constituted community group for the longer term use of the former Friern Barnet Library building.

For the reasons set out in the Cabinet Member’s report,

RESOLVED

1. That the committee approve the Outline Business Case for the future of the CCTV service and authorise the procurement of a fully outsourced service.

2. That the committee approve a budget of £247,000 for the implementation of the fully outsourced CCTV service in (1) , as detailed in paragraph 6.3 of the report from the transformation reserve.

3. That the Committee approve that a Full Business Case will be reported to the committee with a recommendation on appointment of the successful tenderer in the autumn 2013.

The Director for People issued a number of corrections to the paragraph numbering in the report. In addition to those that have been incorporated in the decision below, those changes were:

Paragraph 9.2.3.2- reference to para 10.2.1.2 to read 9.2.1.2;

Paragraph 9.2.3.4- reference to para 10.2.1.4 to read 9.2.1.4.

For the reasons set out in the Cabinet member’s report,

RESOLVED

That the Committee :

1. note the contracts extended under Delegated Powers, as set out in Appendix A to the report;

2. waive the Contract Procedure Rules outlined in sections 6 and 9 to enable the contracts identified in Groups A to D of this report to be extended for a limited time until longer term plans are in place;

3. authorise the development of an overarching Section 75 agreement between London Borough of Barnet and Barnet Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) to jointly commission children’s services, as set out in section 9.3 of the  report;

4. authorise the development of a Section 75 agreement to commission speech and language therapy services ahead of the development of an overarching Section 75 agreement, if necessary;

5. delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Resources and Performance and the Cabinet Member for Education, Children and Families to agree the full scope and finances of the Section 75 agreements.

For the reasons set out in the Cabinet Member’s report,

RESOLVED

That the Committee approve the award of 13 contracts for early intervention and prevention services to 8 providers for 33 months, commencing from 1 July 2013 to the value of £2,547,095.

For the reasons set out in the Cabinet Member’s report,

RESOLVED

That the Committee:

1. Authorise the carrying out of tender processes for the following items:

• New waste containers (kitchen waste both internal and external and dry recycling) including distribution
• Recycling reward scheme
• Communications activity
• Disposal outlets for Recyclates
• Purchase of Household Waste and Recycling Centre (HWRC) equipment
• Waste and recycling fleet

2.      Delegate acceptance of tenders to the Cabinet Member for Environment, in accordance with the council’s Contract Procedure Rules, for the items in 1.1 above.

3.      Authorise further spend of up to £400,000 with May Gurney associated with the end of the contract to ensure any May Gurney assets required by the Council transfer to the Council’s ownership.

4.      Allocate £1,551,000 from the Transformation Reserve for the delivery of the project.

5.      Approve the addition to the Capital Programme of up to £8,500,000 funded by Revenue Contribution from the StreetScene Budget over five years.

For the reasons set out in the Cabinet Member’s report,

RESOLVED

That the Committee:

1        note that the Development Partners wish to apply to modify the existing planning consent to allow re-phasing.     

2        agree that the Director for Place begin preparations to enable the Council to procure a development partner to deliver the regeneration of the southern parts of Brent Cross Cricklewood Regeneration Area.

3        confirm the continued appointment of the external advisors for the Brent Cross Cricklewood Regeneration project, and the procurement of appropriate additional advice, and to delegate authority to the Director for Place to deal necessary contractual issues or arrangements.

For the reasons set out in the Cabinet Member’s report,

RESOLVED:

That the Committee:

1. agree the Heads of Terms for the Deed of Variation to the West Hendon Principal Development Agreement as set out in Appendix 5.

2. authorise the Director for Place in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Chief Operating Officer to agree the final terms to the Deed of Variation to the Principal Development Agreement between the Council and Barratt Metropolitan Limited Liability Partnership, Metropolitan Housing Trust, Metropolitan Living Limited, Barratt Home Limited and Barratt Developments Plc for the regeneration and redevelopment of the West Hendon Regeneration Scheme.

3. authorise the Director for Place to notify secure tenants affected by the proposed regeneration of West Hendon to enable the same to make representations to the Council in accordance with the requirements of Part V of schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1985.
4. authorise the Director for Place in consultation with the Leader of the Council to consider any representations made by secure tenants received under the process and if as a consequence of such representations, she believes it appropriate, to seek relevant changes to the proposed regeneration of West Hendon.
5. authorise the Director for Place in accordance with provisions of Section 122 (2A) Local Government Act 1972, to advertise the intention to appropriate the freehold of York Park and any other open space within the red line boundary from the purpose for which it is currently held to planning purpose reporting ant representations / objections received to a future Cabinet Resource Committee meeting for consideration.
6. authorise the Director for Place in accordance with provisions of Section 123 (2A) Local Government Act 1972, to advertise the intention to appropriate the freehold of York Park and any other open space within the red line boundary from the purpose for which it is currently held, to planning purpose reporting any representations/objections received to a future Cabinet Resource Committee meeting for consideration. of the West Hendon Regeneration Scheme to Barratt Metropolitan Limited Liability Partnership (BMLLP), in keeping with the terms of the PDA for the scheme, /reporting any representations / objections received to a future Cabinet reporting any representations received to a future Cabinet meeting for consideration.

7.      authorise the Director for Place to approve the service of demolition notices as required, for the delivery of the regeneration project, pursuant to schedule 9 and section 182 of the Housing Act 2004.

8.      authorise the Director for Place to grant a temporary works licence to Barratt Metropolitan Limited Liability Partnership (BMLLP) in advance of land transfer, in order for BMLLP to carry out preliminary works including demolition of existing structures to enable the commencement of the next phase of the West Hendon Regeneration.

For the reasons set out in the Cabinet member’s report,

RESOLVED

That the committee approve the revised council housing capital programme as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, which includes:

·         An increase in the value of electrical works by a total of £25m over the next 10 years

·         An increase in the value of fire safety works by £6.75m over the next 10 years with a £2m increase in years 11 to 30 of the programme

·         Decent Homes works to Ramsay Close following its omission from the West Hendon Regeneration Scheme at a cost of £474,000 in 2013/14, with a further £272,000 allocated in years 11- 30

·         A more focused programme on the regeneration estate including a reduction in the value of works  by £5.4m as set out in the report at 9.15 to 9.17.

·         Various minor additions and omissions to other budget headings resulting in a increase of £1.55m

·         Expenditure of £60,000 to complete an assessment of the accessibility of the council’s housing stock for people with physical disabilities

There were none.

That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended):

RESOLVED

That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 9 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended).

RESOLVED

That the exempt information set out that relates to the item for consideration at the meeting in public session be noted.

RESOLVED

That the Committee approve the award of 13 contracts for early intervention and prevention services to 8 providers for 33 months, commencing from 1 July 2013 to the value of £2,547,095.

There were none.