Agenda and draft minutes

Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Partnerships, Economy and Effective Council welcomed all attendees to the meeting.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 2024 be approved as a correct record.

None.

Councillor Ammar Naqvi declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to agenda item 17 by virtue of being a Trustee of Arts Depot.

Councillor Sara Conway declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to agenda item 17 by virtue of being appointed to Arts Depot Trust as Council representative on an Outside Body.

The Leader welcomed Councillor Dean Cohen and Councillor Richard Cornelius and to the meeting.

Questions were raised in relation to the items listed on the agenda which were responded to verbally at the meeting by Cabinet Members.

None.

None.

None.

Cabinet Members introduced and welcomed the three Council Motion which were carried at Full Council on 9July 2024 and referred to Cabinet for consideration as matters falling within the powers of the Executive.

Motions:

1. Motion – Leaving Care Covenant
2. Motion – Increasing Barnet’s Biodiversity
3. Motion – Speedy Broadband for Barnet Residents

RESOLVED that Cabinet noted the referred motions and endorsed the resolutions made at Full Council on 9 July 2024 in relation to the three motions.

The Chair noted the published addendum which contains the comments and recommendations from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee in relation to Agenda Items 17 and 19 and considered them as part of the discussions as set out below.       

Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Partnerships, Economy and Effective Council introduced the report.

DECISION:

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet noted the contents of Our Plan for Barnet – Delivery and Outcomes Framework, End of Year (EOY) 2023-24 Report.

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.

Councillor Ammar Naqvi, Cabinet Member for Financial Sustainability and Reducing Poverty introduced the report.

DECISION:

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet noted:

1. The final outturn for 2023/24 against the Council’s revenue budget;.
2. The current use of reserves.
3. The expenditure against capital budgets in the year;
4. The current debt position and related actions.

That Cabinet approved:

5. HRA Tenant arrears write off (section 4.6)
6. The changes to the existing 2024/25 Capital Programme in relation to slippage from 2023/24 and new additions as set out in section 6 (6.27)

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.

Councillor Ammar Naqvi, Cabinet Member for Financial Sustainability and Reducing Poverty introduced the report.

DECISION:

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

In respect of business planning for 2025-30:

1. Noted the refreshed Medium-Term Financial Strategy shown in Appendix A. The MTFS sets out likely budget changes over the period 2025-30, including assumptions around inflation, pressures, savings and government funding. It is the model around which the council’s financial strategy is based.
2. Noted the proposed approach to the financial strategy in section 2.9.
3. Noted the delivery timetable and the process in section 2.18-2.35 which will take place for 2025/26 and future years in order to achieve a balanced budget for 2025/26 and a sustainable financial plan for future years.
4. Where officers come to the view that any existing 2025/26 MTFS savings are deemed to be unachievable, Cabinet instructs officers to immediately start to develop alternative budget proposals for 2025/26.

In respect of the Productivity Plan

5. Noted the approach the council is taking towards the production of its Productivity Plans (as set out in Sections 2.6- 2.8).
   
   

In respect of routine financial matters for 2024/25:

6. Noted the contingency budget and allocations earmarked from it in section 3.1-3.4.
7. Delegated to the Chief Finance Officer (S151 Officer) the authority to allocate the non-pay inflation contingency budget for 2024/25 to departments. This approval is subject to the final virement being no more than the £7.444m set aside when the 2024/25 budget was set.
8. Delegated to the Chief Finance Officer (S151 Officer) the authority to approve virements up to £1.0m relating to services that have been bought back in-house following the transition to Oracle as set out in section 3.6.
9. Noted the changes to 2024/25 budgets and updated 2024/25 departmental budgets as set out in 3.7-3.8.

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.

Councillor Sara Conway, Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resident Participation introduced the report.

DECISION:

RESOLVED:

1. That Cabinet approved the Modern Slavery Strategy (2024-27) as set out in Appendix A.
2. That Cabinet delegated authority to the Executive Director for Strategy and Innovation, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Resident Partnership to make minor amendments to the Modern Slavery Strategy and any future action plans. This is likely to include developing a range of case studies from the Council and partners.

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.

Councillor Ross Houston, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration presented the report.

DECISION:

RESOLVED:

1. Noted the contents of the report.
2. Confirmed support to continue to engage with specialist consultants and organisations appointed to provide advice and input to enable ongoing delivery of the Brent Cross development, as set out in paragraphs 1.20-1.21.

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.

Councillor Ross Houston, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration presented the report.

DECISION:

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet agreed to approve the draft Planning Obligations Supplementary Planning Document for public consultation. (Appendix A).

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.

Councillor Ross Houston, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration presented the report.

Cabinet Members raised a query in relation to communications to residents and management of customer care matters. Officers informed Members regarding the customer focus approach, training and staffing as well as improvements put in place towards effective communications.

DECISION:

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

1. Noted the complaints performance and service improvement report.
2. Provided a response to the report for publication.
3. Approved the Complaint Handling Code self-assessment.
4. Authorised submission of the Cabinet’s response and any updates to the published complaints information to the Housing Ombudsman.

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.

Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Partnerships, Economy and Effective Council presented the report and noted the relevant addendum with comments and recommendations from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

Following discussion, Officers informed Members about the discussions with the Arts Depot in respect of the considerations as set out in the Overview & Scrutiny Committee addendum.

In response to a query on the number of trustees on the Arts Depot Board, Councillor Ammar Naqvi noted that the lease gave a number of additional controls beyond those offered by trustee status.  On that basis he proposed that the trustee arrangements were appropriate.

Following discussion, the Chair moved to vote on the recommendations.

DECISION:

RESOLVED:

That subject to the comments or recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

1. That Cabinet approved the grant of a renewal lease to Arts Depot Ltd for a term of 50 years at a peppercorn rent in accordance with the Heads of Terms with minor amendments.
2. That Cabinet delegated authority to the Lead Officer and Head of Property and Portfolio Management in consultation with the Leader to apply to the relevant Secretary of State for permission to grant this lease.
3. That Cabinet noted and endorsed the comments and recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as set out in the addendum. 

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.

Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Strategic Partnerships, Economy and Effective Council presented the report.

DECISION:

RESOLVED:

1. The Cabinet approved the updated Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) Policy (Appendix A).
2. The Cabinet approved the updated Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) terms and conditions (Appendix B).
3. The Cabinet approved the introduction of the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) Legal Eligibility Proforma (Appendix C).

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.

Councillor Ross Houston, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Homes and Regeneration presented the report and noted the relevant addendum in respect to this item from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

DECISION:

RESOLVED:

1. That Cabinet considered the contents of the report, the options appraisal as set out in paragraphs 1.24 – 1.71 and noted the comments and recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (as set out in the addendum).
2. That, having considered the comments and recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Cabinet agreed the option to retain Barnet Homes and for a review of the Management Agreement to commence following the outline approach, timetable and scope of the review, set out in paragraph 1.73 – 1.75.

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.

Cabinet noted the Forward Plan – Key Decision Schedule.

None. As there was no requirement for further discussion on the exempt part of the agenda, the Chair declared the meeting closed.