Council decisions

To seek authorisation to apply to the Secretary of State for use of powers under Ground 10A of Part II of Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1985 on the Whitefield Estate (Part I and Part 2 in the Brent Cross Cricklewood Scheme).

That an application be made to the Secretary State for use of Ground 10A powers under Schedule 2 of the Housing Act 1985 in respect of the Brent Cross Cricklewood Scheme and, if approved, implement use of these powers where necessary to obtain possession of Council dwellings occupied on secure tenancies.

This report seeks authorisation to enter into a contract with Wagstaff Interiors Group, to provide the delivery and installation of furniture for the new Council Offices located at Colindale.

The Council are constructing a new office building consisting of 90,000 sq. ft. over eight floors, which will be the main office base for most staff currently located at North London Business Park and Barnet House. This contract will provide the delivery and installation of the furniture required for the building including desks, office chairs, soft furnishing, office storage and meeting room furniture.

The final contract price will depend on both reuse of existing furniture and exact quantities of furniture ordered.

A revised senior management structure will be implemented by 1^st April 2019.  Several interim arrangements have been put in place to ensure that services are delivered up until the new structure goes live. 

In accordance with the ARG Committee approvals on 24 April and 27 November 2017, this report details the Procurement Strategy to deliver the Waste Transfer Station (WTS) as part of the Phase 1B (South) Thameslink Station Works being delivered by the Council to support the comprehensive regeneration of Brent Cross Cricklewood (BXC).  The Procurement Strategy recommends that Graham Construction as the strategic construction partner to deliver the facility and Conway Aecom through the London Highways Alliance Contract (LoHAC) framework to undertake the associated highways works.  The report also details the works required to commence in January 2018 to ensure that early works start in July 2018 and the main build contract in November 2018.  Commencement of works will be subject to a separate Delegated Powers Report.

Decision:

To procure Graham Construction as the Strategic Construction Partner to deliver the Waste Transfer Station (WTS) and Conway Aecom through the London Highways Alliance Contract (LoHAC) frameworkto undertake the associated highways works to deliver the WTS requirements subject to further authorisations as may be necessary as identified in this report.

1.    Decision to award a refurbishment contract for the old Church End Library to Vinci Construction Ltd at a contract sum of £710,576+ VAT.

2.    Decision for the Network be re-located from Castle Road to Church End so that disposal of the Castle Road site can be investigated. Any subsequent land transaction will be conducted in accordance with Article 10 of the constitution and be presented for approval separately.

The Mayor moved to the vote on Councillor Hart’s Motion.  It was unanimously AGREED.

RESOLVED that:

Council notes and welcomes the initiative to extend in all Commonwealth countries the protection in each of them, of an area of woodland, jungle or new plantation to be known as the Queen`s canopy and thereby saved in perpetuity for the benefit alike of humans and wildlife.

Council considers that the United Kingdom, as mother country of the Commonwealth, should be seen to support this green initiative and offer an area of woodland, open space or forest planting to be known forever, as the Queen`s Canopy.

Council instructs the Leader to write in support of this initiative to the appropriate bodies from Barnet.

Councillor John Marshall moved the motion in his name.  Councillor Kath McGuirk moved the amendment in her name.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Kath McGuirk was put to the vote. The amendment was unanimously AGREED.

The substantive motion as amended by Councillor Kath McGuirk was put to the vote. It was unanimously AGREED.

RESOLVED that:

Council notes the Finchley Road entrance to Golders Green Station has been closed for many years. This has been an inconvenience for passengers. Increased passenger congestion at the station and in the forecourt needs to be ameliorated. 

Council instructs the Deputy Chief Executive to write to TfL requesting a meeting between LB Barnet, the relevant ward councillors, including Childs Hill, and TfL to discuss an early re-commissioning of this entrance.

Councillor Ross Houston moved the motion in his name.  Councillor Barry Rawlings moved the amendment in his name.  Councillor John Marshall moved the amendment in his name.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Barry Rawlings was put to the vote.  Votes were recorded as follows:

The amendment was declared LOST.

The amendment in the name of Councillor John Marshall was put to the vote.  Votes were recorded as follows:

The substantive motion as amended by Councillor John Marshall was put to the vote.  It was unanimously agreed. 

RESOLVED that:

Council notes that 62 per cent of Barnet residents that voted in the EU Referendum voted toremain in the EU, but the overall UK decision was to leave the EU.

Council celebrates Barnet's cultural and religious diversity, and its long history of welcoming refugees and migrants from all over the world, including the European Union.

Council notes that over 31,000 EU citizens live in Barnet and puts on record its appreciation of the contribution they make to the civic, economic and cultural life of the borough, and the role many play in delivering our public services.

Council notes that the Borough has already agreed to support our staff, who are EU citizens through the registration process and had indicated that it would pay the fees.  These fees are now being waived by the government.

Council expresses concern about the current situation within Parliament and any problems that may ensue within Barnet. Council instructs Policy and Resources Committee to receive a report at its next meeting detailing LB Barnet`s contingency plans in order to ensure service continuity, provide re-assurance and support for Council employees, residents and businesses at this time.

Councillor Peter Zinkin moved the motion in his name.  Councillor Alan Schneiderman moved the amendment in his name. 

The amendment in the name of Councillor Alan Schneiderman was put to the vote.  Votes were recorded as follows:

The amendment was declared LOST.

The motion in the name of Councillor Peter Zinkin was put to the vote.  Votes were recorded as follows:

RESOLVED that:

Council believes that all who live in Barnet are entitled to breathe fresh air.  The many main roads running through our borough are a source of pollution that is difficult to deal with.  All our goods are carried by motor vehicle and our transport system is dependent on the Motor car. Undoubtedly there are trade-offs to be considered. A large car with many passengers produces less pollution per passenger journey, than a smaller one with just the driver. An elderly vehicle making the occasional short journey will pollute less than a small car sitting for a long period on a very congested road.

The arbitrary siting of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone at the interior of the North Circular can only make the outer London situation worse as dirtier vehicles avoid venturing within the A406. Charging in a blanket way within the restricted zone is fundamentally unfair.

Council calls on the Leader to write to the Mayor expressing its concerns and ask that there is an early revision to the scheme

Councillor Barry Rawlings moved the motion in his name.  Councillor Gabriel Rozenberg moved the amendment in his name.  Councillor Ross Houston moved the amendment in his name. 

The amendment in the name of Councillor Gabriel Rozenberg was put to the vote.  The amendment was unanimously AGREED.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Ross Houston was put to the vote.  Votes were recorded as follows:

The amendment was declared LOST.

The substantive motion as amended by Councillor Gabriel Rozenberg was put to the vote. It was unanimously AGREED.

RESOLVED that:

Council notes the clear evidence that where Universal Credit has been rolled out more people are made homeless because of rent arrears. The main causes of arrears are the five-week delay in first payment of Universal Credit and other delays caused by Department of Work and Pensions error.

Council notes that as of October 85 per cent of Barnet Homes’ 321 Universal Credit claimants were in rent arrears and 20 per cent of their arrears had accrued since they transferred to Universal Credit.

Council calls on LB Barnet to Council to learn from Camden and other authorities in order to avoid evictions caused by rent arrears as a result of the adoption of Universal Credit.

Councillor Alan Schneiderman moved the motion in his name.  Councillor Dean Cohen moved the amendment in his name.  Councillor Anne Clarke moved the amendment in her name.  Debate ensued.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Dean Cohen was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

The motion in the name of Councillor Dean Cohen was declared CARRIED.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Anne Clarke was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

The motion in the name of Councillor Anne Clarke was declared LOST.

The substantive motion as amended by Councillor Dean Cohen was put to the vote.

It was unanimously AGREED.

RESOLVED that:

Council knows how important a clean environment is to local residents, as well as how a neglected street scene can have a detrimental impact on levels of crime, disorder, and how safe people feel.

Council notes that the cleanliness of Barnet's streets has been deteriorating, with increasing complaints to local councillors about litter and detritus on pavements and roads, overflowing and uncollected street and park litter bins, fly-tipped rubbish and uncollected autumn leaves.

Council notes that this has been made significantly worse by the thousands of missed bin collections across the borough since 4 November.

Council notes that in 2007/08 every residential street in Barnet was swept 13 times a year, with regular cleaning of town centres and regular street litter bin collections. 

Council notes that LB Barnet's street cleaning policy for residential streets is now entirely re-active, and streets are only inspected or swept if someone reports an issue to the Council.

Council believes an urgent review of street cleaning and environmental enforcement is needed within the budget envelope

Council instructs the Environment Committee to:

·       review all current policies on street cleaning and environmental enforcement, together with the impact these are having on the level of litter and fly-tipping across the borough;

·       consider best practice in other boroughs including regular monitored community skips for bulky waste, closer working with private landlords and tenants on disposal of bulky waste, and ways to make it easier for residents to report issues to the Council - through a mobile device app for example;

·       improve engagement with the community on environmental issues, including more systematic support for community groups that are concerned about the state of our streets, and working with businesses, especially fast food outlets, to ensure they are minimising litter on surrounding streets;

·       and following this review, make recommendations to improve the cleanliness of Barnet's streets within the budget envelope; and

·       Consider developing a timed, alternate side, mechanical cleansing pilot with an appropriate parking initiative.

Councillor David Longstaff moved the motion in his name. Councillor Sara Conway moved the amendment in her name. Debate ensued.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Sara Conway was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

The motion was declared LOST.

The motion in the name of Councillor David Longstaff was put to the vote.  Votes were recorded as follows:

The motion was AGREED.

RESOLVED that:

Council rejoices that our borough is a nice place to live, where communities co-exist and residents live peacefully. It is important that Barnet residents can be confident in their own safety.  When crime increases or when fear of crime becomes more prevalent, that lifestyle is at risk.

Our police force is important to us and a visible police presence remains an effective deterrent to criminals. Efficient investigation and detection are fundamental to our justice system. All this costs money and Barnet pays more into the system than any other borough.  However, we have fewer police per capita than elsewhere.

Council calls on our GLA representative and Leader of the council to write to the Mayor insisting, that the Mayor provides more police resource in Barnet.

The Worshipful the Mayor moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report. Debate ensued.

On the recommendations in the report being put to the vote, the recommendations were unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED that:

1.     The Council of the London Borough of Barnet reaffirms the Municipal Link between the London Borough of Barnet and Kreis Siegen Wittgenstein which has been established for the purposes of furthering good will between the two communities through the exchange of views and ideas and by personal contact among the citizens of the two towns, and that the Council sincerely hope that the link will prosper and flourish in the coming years.

2.     An engrossment on vellum of the foregoing resolution over the Common Seal of the Corporation be presented to the representatives of the Kreis Siegen Wittgenstein.

The Worshipful the Mayor moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report.

On the recommendations in the report being put to the vote the recommendations were unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED that:

1.     The recommendation of the London Councils Leaders’ Committee for an overall level of expenditure of £6,909,000 in 2019/20, involving total borough contributions of £6,668,000 and a levy on Barnet of £293,021, be approved.

2.     The Director of Finance be instructed to inform the Chief Executive of London Councils accordingly.

Councillor Melvin Cohen, Chairman of the Constitution and General Purposes Committee, moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report.

On the recommendations in the report being put to the vote, the recommendations were unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED that:

1.     Council approve the recommendations contained in the report from the Committee at Annexe 1, and the track change versions attached at Appendix A to Appendix B.

2.     The Monitoring Officer and Chief Legal Advisor be authorised to implement these revisions and publish a revised Constitution.

3.     Council note that the Constitution & General Purposes Committee agreed the following amendment to Article 7 (Committees, Forums, Working Groups and Partnerships) for the Monitoring Officer to implement using delegated authority:

Add to the terms of reference of theme committees and Planning Committee: “To consider recommend for approval fees and charges for those areas under the remit of the Committee.”

Councillor Melvin Cohen, Chairman of the Constitution and General Purposes Committee, moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report.

On the recommendations in the report being put to the vote the recommendations were unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED that Council approves the Annual Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2019/20 (Annex A).

Council noted that an amended Appendix 2 had been circulated.

Councillor Caroline Stock, Chairman of the Barnet Health and Wellbeing Board, moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report. Debate ensued. 

On the recommendations in the report being put to the vote the recommendations were unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED that Council:

1.     Note the Local Government Declaration on Sugar Reduction and Healthier Eating Action Areas, as set out in Appendix 1, which were agreed by the Health & Wellbeing Board on 15 November 2018.

2.     Endorse the Local Government Declaration on Sugar Reduction and Healthier Eating as set out in Appendix 2 (as amended) which was signed by the Health & Wellbeing Board on 15 November 2018.

3.     Note the Barnet Healthier Weight Approach as set out in Appendix 3 as reported to the Health & Wellbeing Board on 15 November 2018

The Head of Governance introduced the report.  Appendix A detailed a vacancy to an Outside Body which had arisen.  Appendix B detailed a change to the calendar of meetings.  Appendix C detailed the nominations referred to in Appendix A and a change to the Membership of the Financial Performance & Contracts Committee.

The Worshipful the Mayor moved to the vote on the two nominations received for the vacancy on the Valentine Pool Charity as set out in Appendix C.  Votes were recorded as follows:

Councillor Julian Tearewas duly appointed to the vacancy on the Valentine Pool Charity. 

RESOLVED that:

1.     Council appoint Councillor Julian Teare to the vacancy on the Valentine Pool Charity.

2.     Council note the changes to the Calendar of Meetings as set out in Appendix B.

3.     Council approves the changes to the membership of the Financial Performance & Contracts Committee as set out in Appendix C.

The minutes of the meeting dated 18 December 2018 were agreed as a correct record.

The re-opening of the list incorporated two lots, The Services were divided into the following Lots:

• Lot 1 – Best Interest Assessors

Award places on the approved supplier list for Best Interest Assessors to:

• Lot 2 – Mental Health Assessors

There was 1 bid submission for lot 2 which did not qualify for the following reasons;

Mental Health Assessors must be either:

• approved under Section 12 of the Mental Health Act 1983 with a license to practise; or
• a registered medical practitioner with at least three (3) years post registration experience in the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorder with a license to practise.

Therefore, there will be no additional Mental Health Assessors on the approved list for this re-opening.

a.      The Barnet Schools Budget 2019/20

IH clarified that this section required decisions by Schools Forum on recommendations i – iv.  The decisions are needed to enable submission of the Authority Proforma Tool by the deadline of 21 January, confirming Barnet’s formula funding proposals for 2019/20.

IH explained that, following the announcement that an additional £0.964m HN allocation funding will be received in 2019/20, Barnet council has chosen to withdraw the request submitted to the Secretary of State to transfer 0.5% of the Schools block allocation to the High Needs block.

IH went on to highlight that now the transfer to the HN block is no longer required, the Minimum Funding Guarantee (MFG) can be set at 0%, ensuring no school in Barnet will receive less money per pupil in 2019/20 than it did in 2018/19.  To ensure this level of MFG protection is affordable, the cap on gains has been set at 0.5% per pupil for those school gaining from the National Funding Formula.

Schools Forum needs to agree the funding rates shown in Table 2, the 0% MFG and 0.5% cap as proposed, and also must agree the local criteria applied for growth and split site funding.

IH then explained the figures shown in Appendices I and II. Appendix I shows the Minimum Funding Guarantee per pupil funding in 2018/19, and shows the top-up or cap value applied to schools in 2019/20 in line with the 0% protection/+0.5% cap proposed.  Appendix II then shows the indicative school level formula funding, the de-delegation (£0.582m) and the £1m de-delegation for Education Functions (former ESG services) which the Secretary of State has now approved. 

As a result of SoS approval for services formerly funded from the ESG to be charged to the budgets of maintained primary and secondary schools, the modelling shown in Appendices III & IV are no longer relevant.

ML queried the lump sum value for 2019/20 in the National Funding Formula.  CG confirmed it remains the same as 2018/19 - £120,783.

KN asked about Dollis Infant and Junior schools being shown as a primary school in the models and asked if the merger had been confirmed.  IH confirmed that the figure was dependent on the final decision following consultation and would be changed to 2 separate schools if the merger does not go ahead.

SV asked if there were any proposed changes to the hourly funding rate for 2 year olds. CG confirmed that the rate will remain the same as in 2018/19 - £6 per hour.

SH drew attention to the level of Minimum Funding Guarantee protection applied because of the 0% MFG proposal, with a total cost of £8.666m.  IH replied that the National Funding Formula rates adversely affect the majority of Barnet schools, and the NFF affects London areas more significantly than elsewhere.  Barnet has decided to protect schools by offering a 0% MFG, but the standard MFG under the National Funding Formula would allow schools to lose a maximum of -1.5% per pupil against 2018/19 levels.

IK sought clarification on when the High Needs block position will be finalised and what the final position may look like. CG responded by saying that the anticipated position will not be vastly different to the current (gross) figure of £49.977m. There are likely to be 2 main changes to the block allocation, the first being a reduction in commissioned ARP places at London Academy; the second is the number of HN pupils imported to Barnet.  As a result, it is anticipated that the High Needs block will increase marginally.

IK queried if there would be any increase in top-up band values this year. CG replied that, in line with the Minimum Funding Guarantee of 0% for mainstream schools and as a result of reported pressures in the High Needs Block, it is not possible to increase top-up rates.

LH requested clarification on the multiplier applied to the split site travel factor for secondary schools.   CG confirmed that if there is more than one mile between sites, the multiplier is 1.4; for those schools with split sites under a mile apart, the multiplier is 0.2.

GK then asked members to vote on proposals i – iv.  Proposal v is withdrawn in light of the Secretary of State approval for the Education Function de-delegation.

Proposal i - To note and agree the 2019/20 draft budget proposals as shown.

Voting: Agreed unanimously.

Proposal ii – To agree the 2019/20 formula factor rates for the APT submission.

Voting: Unanimously in favour.

Proposal iii – To agree the 2019/20 Growth funding criteria as proposed.

Voting: Agreed unanimously.

Proposal iv – To agree the split site criteria as proposed.

Voting: Agreed unanimously.