Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting dated the 20 July 2021 be agreed as a correct record.

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At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Alison Moore introduced the Member’s Item.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Barry Rawlings introduced the Member’s Item.

The Committee RESOLVED that the instructions as set out in the table above are noted.

The Chairman introduced the report that provided a response to the Committee of a Member’s Item posed at the Policy & Resources Committee on 8 February 2021.

Councillor Cooke commented on the response in the reports. The Committee then unanimously

The Committee RESOLVED:

1.     To note the answer to the Member’s Item in the report.

2.     To note that a follow-up to investigation of data matching exercise to be provided to a future Policy and Resources Committee

The Chairman congratulated the Council Finance team on their recent outstanding award.

The Chairman then introduced the report which provided an update for Business Planning and the assumptions for the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2022-26, whilst giving an update on the expectation of savings required from Theme Committees.

The report sought approval for a number of routine financial management matters, in line with financial regulations, including budget virements and updates to the programme of capital investment.

The Committee noted that the following additional document had been published with the reports for this item:

Addendum to Business Planning: Amendment to Section 3 Routine Financial Matters (2021/22 Budget Management).

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations as set out in the report.

The vote was recorded as follows:

The Committee RESOLVED:

That in respect of business planning for 2022-26:

1.     To note the higher than usual uncertainty in the following three areas (para 2.7):

·       Estimates for ongoing service demand and income pressures due to the impact of Covid-19;

·       Flexibility around social care precept; and

·       Level of grant funding as a result of the Spending Review 2021.

2.     to note the three scenarios (A, B – base case, and C) modelled for the Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2022/23 and the preliminary assumptions for future years (from para 2.12; also appendix A)

3.     to requests theme committees to find savings based on MTFS scenario B (base case) taking into account any equalities impacts. These savings will then be referred to Policy and Resources for consideration and at a later stage be subject to public consultation and an updated equality impact assessment. In respect of routine financial matters for 2021/22:

4.     to approve the proposed revenue budget virement for 2021/22; set out in paragraph 3.1 (£0.900m from contingency to the 18-25 years service).

5.     .to approves the revised Capital Programme and financing of it; from paragraph 3.2 (also appendix B) including scheme slippage, accelerations, additions, and deletions.

The Chairman introduced the report which provides a strategic overview of the Delivery and Outcomes Framework that has been developed to enable residents and others to see whether we are achieving the objectives set out in the Barnet Plan 2021-25.

Upon being put to the vote, the recommendations as set out in the report were declared carried.

The vote was recorded as follows:

The Committee RESOLVED:

1.     To receive the report and provide comment on the enclosed appendices.

2.     To note the proposed reporting arrangements for the Delivery and Outcomes Framework at this Committee and the relevant Theme Committees.

The Chairman introduced the Draft Local Plan report which set out the planning policy framework that the Council will use to make decisions about how Barnet will change as a place over the next 15 years. The Draft Local Plan had undergone public consultation and was ready to be submitted for Examination in Public (EIP) by an Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State.

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations as set out in the report.

The vote was recorded as follows:

The Committee RESOLVED:

1.     To note the responses to consultation on the Local Plan – Publication - Regulation 19 (as set out in Appendix B);

2.     To refer the Draft Local Plan (at Appendix A) to the Council meeting of 19 October 2021 with the recommendation that the Plan (and its supporting documents) be submitted to the Secretary of State for independent examination in public;

3.     To delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee to make modifications to the Draft Local Plan as part of the Examination in Public and prior to public consultation and publication of the Inspector’s Report; and

4.     To approve the Local Development Scheme (as set out in Appendix C) as the new programme for production of the Local Plan, supporting documents and the Community Infrastructure Levy Charging Schedule.

The Chairman introduced the report on the Neighbourhood Plan which had now passed examination by an independent planning inspector as well as a confirmatory referendum on 8 July 2021. The Plan had also been endorsed by the community and was now in the final stage to be formally ‘adopted’.

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations as set out in the report.

The vote was recorded as follows:

The Committee unanimously RESOLVED:

1.     To note the contents of the Inspector’s Report (Appendix B) and the results of the West Finchley Neighbourhood Plan referendum held on 8 July 2021 (Appendix C)

2.     To approve the West Finchley Neighbourhood Plan (WFNP) (Appendix A) for reference to the meeting of Council on 19 October 2021 for formal adoption.

The Chairman introduced the report on the shared service agreement for legal services with Harrow Council which commenced on 1 September 2012 for a minimum of five years. The agreement was extended in 2016 for a further five years with the current arrangement due to expire on 31 August 2022. This report sough to extend the agreement for a further period of up to five years.

The Chairman asked committee members if there were any questions on the exempt appendix on this report.  The Committee confirmed that there were no questions.  There was therefore no requirement to move into exempt session

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations as set out in the report.

The vote was recorded as follows:

The Committee unanimously RESOLVED:

1.     That the Committee agree to extend the agreement with Harrow for a shared legal service for a further period of five years until 1 September 2027 (in accordance with paragraph 2.2 of the agreement).

2.     That the Committee agree that the London Borough of Harrow discharge Barnet Council’s function in respect of the delivery of legal services in accordance with section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 and the inter authority agreement.

3.     That the Committee delegate authority to the Executive Director Assurance to:

a)    commence formal review of the arrangements;

b)    seek agreement in principle to the extension from the London Borough of Harrow;

c)    review the existing inter authority agreement to ensure that it is fit for purpose; and

d)    negotiate and agree any amendments required.

The Chairman introduced the report which gives an update on the recent changes to the strategic and operational expansion of the Assurance Group roles and responsibilities and approval to create, advertise and recruit to an Assistant Director in the Assurance Group.

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations as set out in the report.

The vote was recorded as follows:

The Committee unanimously RESOLVED:

1.     To note the recent changes to the strategic and operational expansion of the Assurance Group that supports the vison and purpose of the ‘Clean, Safe and Well Run’ corporate priority.

2.     To note (having commented) that the planned changes within the Assurance Group aim to support the corporate priority of Clean, Safe and Well Run which will include implementing the outcome of an organisation wide Enforcement review, restructure of the Community Safety Team and look to improve governance, oversight, assurance and compliance arrangements.

3.     To note that following a formal staff consultation, the new proposed structure of the Community Safety Team will be reported to Constitution and General Purposes Committee for approval and implementation in January 2022

4.     To note the prior recent change made to an existing post of Assistant Director of Community Safety and Regulatory Services to Assistant Director - Counter Fraud, Community Safety and Protection.

5.     To Approve the creation of a new Assistant Director - Assurance, as set out in the report; and authorise the recruitment to that post on a permanent contract.

The Chairman introduced the report which examines the two delegated power reports that were submitted to cover the council’s approach in responding to the urgent requirement to establish large-scale local contact tracing service within the borough through the appointment of Capita Regional Enterprise (RE) to establish and operate a service on the council’s behalf.

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations as set out in the report.

The vote was recorded as follows:

The Committee unanimously RESOLVED to note the decisions taken by Chief Officers (in consultation with the relevant Chairmen), via delegated powers in response to the Coronavirus Pandemic, specifically in regard to the local contact tracing service.

The Chairman introduced the report which reported the reasons for the use of an emergency waiver under article 12.2 of the Contract Procedure Rules to extend the carers and young carers support services contract past the initial extension term by a further 6 months from 3rd October 2021 until 31st March 2022.

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations as set out in the report.

The vote was recorded as follows:

The Committee unanimously RESOLVED to note the waiver decision taken by the Chief Officer via the delegated powers report in consultation with the theme Committee Chairman.

The Chairman introduce the Forward Work Programme and noted the large number of items due to come to the 9 December meeting. Having noted that upcoming items, the Committee agreed to the Chairman calling an additional meeting in January if necessary.

RESOLVED that the Committee note the Forward Work Programme.

The Chairman asked committee members if there were any questions on the exempt reports on the agenda.  The Committee confirmed that there were no questions.  There was therefore no requirement to move into exempt session.

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