Agenda and minutes

Venue: Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BQ

Contact: Kirstin Lambert; 02083592177 Email: kirstin.lambert@barnet.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of last meeting pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting of the meeting held on 17 May 2016 be approved as a correct record.

2.

Absence of Members

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Dean Cohen. Councillor Melvin Cohen attended as a substitute.

3.

Declaration of Members' Disclosable Pecuniary interests and Non Pecuniary interests (If any)

Minutes:

The following interests were declared:

 

Councillor

Agenda Item

Interest Declared

Councillor Richard Cornelius

Item 6b – Members Item in the name of Cllr Barry Rawlings

Non pecuniary interest as was a member of the Local Authority Pension Scheme

Councillor Daniel Thomas

Item 6b – Members Item in the name of Cllr Barry Rawlings

Non pecuniary interest as was a member of the Local Authority Pension Scheme

Councillor Sachin Rajput

Item 6b – Members Item in the name of Cllr Barry Rawlings

Non pecuniary interest as was a member of the Local Authority Pension Scheme

Councillor Joan Scannell

Item 6b – Members Item in the name of Cllr Barry Rawlings

Non pecuniary interest as was a member of the Local Authority Pension Scheme

Councillor Melvin Cohen

Item 6b – Members Item in the name of Cllr Barry Rawlings

Non pecuniary interest as was a member of the Local Authority Pension Scheme

Councillor Barry Rawlings

Item 6b – Members Item in the name of Cllr Barry Rawlings

Non pecuniary interest as was a member of the Local Authority Pension Scheme

Councillor Ross Houston

Item 6b – Members Item in the name of Cllr Barry Rawlings

Non pecuniary interest as was a member of the Local Authority Pension Scheme

Councillor Paul Edwards

Item 6b – Members Item in the name of Cllr Barry Rawlings

Non pecuniary interest as was a member of the Local Authority Pension Scheme

Councillor Anthony Finn

Item 6b – Members Item in the name of Cllr Barry Rawlings

Non pecuniary interest as was a member of the Local Authority Pension Scheme

Councillor Dean Cohen

Item 6b – Members Item in the name of Cllr Barry Rawlings

Non pecuniary interest as was a member of the Local Authority Pension Scheme

Councillor Alison Moore

Item 6b – Members Item in the name of Cllr Barry Rawlings

Non pecuniary interest as was a member of the Local Authority Pension Scheme

Councillor Barry Rawlings

Item 9 – Community Benefit Assessment Tool

A pecuniary interest as is a trustee of the Friern Barnet Community Library Board and there was an upcoming decision on a lease due fore renewal. Cllr Rawlings noted he would leave the room for consideration and voting on this item.

Councillor Ross Houston

Item 6b – Members Item in the name of Cllr Barry Rawlings, and Item 8 –  Business Planning

Non pecuniary interest as he is a Council appointed representative on the Barnet Group Board

Councillor Sachin Rajput

Item 10 – Barnet Draft Corporate Enforcement and Prosecution Policy

Non pecuniary interest as he is a practicing barrister with the potential for work in this area. He noted he does not take any prosecution work from Barnet.

 

4.

Report of the Monitoring Officer (if any)

Minutes:

There was none.

5.

Public Questions and Comments (if any)

Minutes:

A public comment was received from Ms Julia Hines on agenda item nine, Community Benefit Analysis Tool.  Members asked questions which were answered in the meeting.

6.

Members' Items (if any)

6a

Members Item - Cllr Ross Houston - Retirement and sheltered housing pdf icon PDF 297 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Ross Houston introduced the Member’s Item in his name which considered the matter set out at paragraph 1.1 of the report.

 

The Commissioning Director, Cath Shaw provided the committee with background on current policies and practice. With regards to the request for an inspecting and monitoring regime, it was noted that when the Council purchases care and support services for vulnerable people, it will agree a contract with the provider of the service. This confers rights and obligations onto the Council enabling it to monitor the service being provided and hold the provider to account. As the Council does not purchase retirement or sheltered accommodations it has no right of entry or powers to oversee, inspect or intervene unless safeguarding concerns are raised with respect to an individual resident.

 

Councillor Houston noted there would be benefit to clarifying how people can access advice and guidance on these matters, including relevant information on the council’s website such as access to relevant regulatory bodies, and what the council is and is not empowered to do.

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee request Adults and Safeguarding Committee consider a short report on these matters.

6b

Members Item - Cllr Barry Rawlings - Creative Resourcing of Affordable Housing to Benefit Barnet pdf icon PDF 254 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Barry Rawlings introduced the Member’s Item in his name which considered the matter set out at paragraph 1.1 of the report.

 

The Committee discussed the matters raised in the report.

 

Councillor Barry Rawlings moved a motion that was duly seconded that:

 

“A report to come back to the 5 October Policy and Resources Committee meeting on the feasibility of:

 

A)     using the council’s pension fund; and

 

B)     joining the UK Municipal Bond Agency - public body aiming to facilitate long term borrowing for local authorities below PWLB rates

 

in order to help the council fund the building of more affordable homes for home ownership and rent including at social rents in the borough which in turn will:

 

·         help with the recruitment and retention of key frontline workers like teachers, social workers, street sweepers, refuse workers, carers, nurses and many others,

·         reduce spend on the temporary accommodation budget,

·         reduce the housing benefit bill,

·         create more jobs and apprenticeships,

·         tackle child poverty,

·         improve the health of those otherwise living in substandard private rented accommodation,

·         tackle increasing homelessness in the borough

·         ensure a mixed, sustainable community.”

Having been put to the vote the Committee voted:

 

For: 5

Against: 7

Abstain: 0

 

The motion was therefore lost.

7.

Resolution of Full Council - 4 April - Opposition Motion in the name of Councillor Alon Or-bach - EU Referendum pdf icon PDF 257 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Alon or-back introduced the report which considered the council motion as set out in paragraph 1.1 of the report.

 

The committee discussed the potential implications of the ‘vote leave’ result of the referendum including reports of racial tension in the borough. The Committee noted there were several areas of potential change which could have impact on the council and its partners, but that much was unknown at this stage.

 

Councillor Alon Or-bach moved a motion which was duly seconded that:

 

1.    The Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition issue a joint statement reassuring Barnet residents of all backgrounds of their welcome in the borough.

 

2.    The council work with the Mayor of London to ensure continued access to the single market and ensure London gets a seat on the negotiation table.

 

3.    That Policy and Resources Committee receive regular reports, as information becomes available to officers, on matters arising from the referendum such as the impact on Barnet, including budget, of government funding; regeneration products; what our lobbying position is; the impact of data from the European Union on Barnet pension funds; and the impact on prices, jobs and growth in Barnet.

 

With regard to recommendation three, Councillor Richard Cornelius agreed that regular monitoring at Policy and Resources would be helpful. He noted additional matters which Barnet would need to look at very carefully and develop a lobbying position including:

·         Influencing the development of new procurement directives to replace the European procurement directives

·         The EU social fund replacement, what will the new UK model look like and making sure that it does not adversely affect the outer London boroughs such as Barnet, Enfield and Harrow

·         The landfill directive and how it comes forward with waste charges

·         The continuing derogation of the Edmonton incinerator to make sure it can continue operating.

 

A vote was taken on each of the recommendations in Councillor Ross Houston’s motion.

 

On recommendation one being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

 

For:                 5

Against:         7

Abstain:         0

 

Recommendation one was therefore lost.

 

On recommendation two being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

 

For:                 5

Against:         7

Abstain:         0

 

Recommendation two was therefore lost.

 

On recommendation three being put to the vote, the committee unanimously agreed the recommendation and it was therefore carried.

 

Immediately following the vote, Councillor Alon Or-bach, supported by three other members, moved that recommendations one and two be referred up to the next meeting of Full Council. The Committee was advised by officers that the Constitution, Responsibility for Functions, paragraph 6.5 states that “a report may not be referred up unless it is key” and that as this did not apply for these recommendations a referral could not be made.

 

RESOLVED – That Policy and Resources Committee receives regular reports, as information becomes available to officers, on matters arising from the referendum such as the impact on Barnet, including budget, of government funding; regeneration products; what the council’s lobbying position  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

8.

Business Planning 2017-20 pdf icon PDF 366 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report and the amended information as set out in the Addendum report.

 

Councillor Barry Rawlings noted that with regards to recommendation three, it would be appropriate that the Efficiency Plan come back to Policy and Resources Committee on 5 October in the event of changes to the MTFS which could result in significant change. The Committee agreed this was appropriate and that recommendation three should be amended to reflect this.

 

A separate vote was taken on recommendation four.

 

On recommendations one, two, three (as amended), five and six being put to the vote, the recommendations were unanimously agreed and declared carried.

 

On recommendation four being put to the vote the votes were declared as follows:

 

For:                 7

Against:         5

Abstain:         0

 

The recommendation was carried.

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee

 

1.    Notes the updated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) to 2020 as set out at appendix A and the assumptions underpinning this in para 1.3.3;

 

2.    Approves the proposal to engage with DCLG to seek a multi-year funding settlement to 2020, which requires the council to submit an ‘Efficiency Plan’ to DCLG by 14 October 2016, as set out in para 1.2.18-22;

 

3.    Delegates authority to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Chairman of Policy and Resources Committee, to submit the ‘Efficiency Plan’ on the basis of the existing MTFS, noting that that if there are changes to the existing MTFS the Efficiency Plan will require approval by Policy and Resources Committee on 5 October;

 

4.    Notes the distribution of savings across Theme Committees for the period 2017-20, which have previously been agreed, and the process to confirm delivery and achievement of these savings during the autumn, ahead of a draft budget report being presented to Policy and Resources Committee in December 2016;

 

5.    Approves the budget amendments in respect of 2016/17 as shown in section 1.4; and

 

6.    Approves the amendments to the current capital programme as shown in section 1.6.

 

9.

Community Benefit Assessment Tool pdf icon PDF 367 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Barry Rawlings left the room for consideration and voting on this item.

 

The Committee considered the report. 

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee agree that the business case and community benefit assessment tool approach including individual equality impact assessments to rent subsidies and leases, including  renewals and new leases,  set out in this report should be rolled out to all VCS organisations, as and when their leases are due for renewal or on  first grant.

 

The Committee noted that the community benefit assessment tool approach should be kept under review by officers and requested that there be an update report to Policy and Resources Committee or Assets Regeneration and Growth Committee after a year.

 

 

 

 

10.

Barnet Draft Corporate Enforcement and Prosecution Policy pdf icon PDF 307 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report.

 

The Committee requested wording amendments for accuracy to:

·         The correct terminology for ‘formal cautions’ in paragraph 1.10 of the committee report is ‘cautions’, as noted in Section 13.1 (f) of the policy.

·         Section 13.1 (f) of the policy should be amended to clarify that ‘Where a simple caution is offered and declined, the Council will consider prosecution’, rather than ‘is likely to consider prosecution’

·         Section 14 should clarify that the policy will be reviewed periodically by the Policy and Resources Committee.

 

Councillor Richard Cornelius noted that paragraph 4.1 of the report sets out the next steps for consultation process, including consideration and report back, and that for clarity the report should contain a recommendation to note that the Policy will come back to Policy and Resources Committee following consultation.  This was duly agreed by the Committee.

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee

 

1.    Note the need for and confirm its support for a Corporate Enforcement and Prosecution Policy.

 

2.    Agree the consultation approach proposed, as set out in paragraph 4.1.

 

3.    Agree the proposed approach to the implementation of this policy.

 

4.    Note that the Policy will come back to Policy and Resources Committee following consultation.

 

11.

Customer Access Strategy pdf icon PDF 312 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report.

 

Councillor Joan Scannell requested a wording change to the Strategy under the first bullet point in paragraph 5.1.5, to change the word ‘drive’ to ‘encourage’. This was duly agreed by the committee.

 

The Committee noted there were reports of complaints from individuals regarding requests raised via the website which had not been acknowledged or dealt with, and complaints of difficulty in accessing council services via the telephone.  

 

Stephen Evans, the Interim Chief Operating Officer stated that there is a Customer Service Improvement Plan and that work to improve customer services would be continuing, including improvements to the telephone system and to the functionality of the website. The Committee were encouraged to submit any example cases they had received to officers to assist in the work to improve services.

 

The recommendations in the report were put to the vote, and the votes were as follows:

 

For:                 7

Against:         0

Abstain:         5

 

The recommendations were declared carried.

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee

 

1.    Approves the Customer Access Strategy as attached at Appendix 1 as the final version of the Strategy.

 

2.    Approves the plan to bring a detailed business case, updated equalities impact assessment and Digital Inclusion strategy for the Customer Access Strategy to this committee for approval in October 2016.

 

12.

Draft Sustainable Design and Construction and draft Residential Design Guidance Supplementary Planning Documents pdf icon PDF 273 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report.

 

Officers advised that the words ‘for adoption’ should be removed from the end of the recommendations, as Full Council would be the final decision making body. The Committee duly agreed.

 

RESOLVED –

 

1.    That the consultation draft Sustainable Design and Construction Supplementary Planning Document (attached at Appendix 1) is approved for consultation for 6 weeks and then reported back to Policy and Resources Committee.

 

2.    That the consultation draft Residential Design Guidance Supplementary Planning Document (attached at Appendix 2) is approved for consultation for 6 weeks and then reported back to Policy and Resources Committee.

13.

Annual Equalities Report 2015/16 pdf icon PDF 282 KB

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report.

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee approve the Annual Equalities Report 2015/16 for publication on the council website.

 

14.

Area Committee Budgets Update pdf icon PDF 342 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the report and the addendum report.

 

RESOLVED – That the Committee

 

1.    Note the contents of the report including the attached appendices which provide a full analysis of the allocated Area Committee funding.

 

2.    Instruct Officers, if the Area Committee’s support the continuation, for the transfer of £17,000 from each Area Committee’s current budget for 2016/17 to the Corporate Grants programme budget. This is to be allocated through, and using the existing and established Corporate Grants application process and reported to the next meeting of each Area Committee.

 

15.

Committee Forward Work Programme pdf icon PDF 235 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee noted the work programme.

16.

Any other item(s) the Chairman decides are urgent

Minutes:

There were none.