Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

None.

Councillor Wardle declared an interest in Item 8 – Business Planning (including BOOST Business Plan) as a Board Member of The Barnet Group Ltd.

Councillor Mittra declared a pecuniary interest in agenda item 18 (Barnet Group Ltd Budget and Business Plan) as his mother is a tenant of Barnet Homes. 

None.

Details of the question asked and the answer provided were published and circulated at the meeting.  A supplementary question was answered verbally at the meeting.

None.

The Committee considered the Chief Finance Officer Report which contained a summary of the Council’s revenue and capital forecast outturn for the financial year 2022/23 as at Month 9 (31 December 2022).  It also contained information on the level of debt and the top 10 debtors as at 31 December 2022.

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

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 12

Against: 0

Abstentions: 0

Total: 12

RESOLVED that the Committee notes the:

1.    Current forecast financial outturn for 2022-23.

2.    Projected use of reserves.

3.    Current debt position and related actions.

The Committee considered a report which set out the proposed budget for 2023/24 and the council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) which include the assumptions for 2023-27 with regards to Council Tax, other funding, expenditure forecasts and the savings and income generation plans necessary to set a balanced budget.  This would help to ensure resources are aligned to the strategic outcomes set out in draft Corporate Plan which was also being presented to this Committee elsewhere on the agenda.

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations in the report and addendum.

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 8

Against: 4

Abstentions: 0

Total: 12

RESOLVED that the Committee:

In respect of the Budget and Council Tax for 2023/24 and the MTFS 2023-27 taking into account the equality impact assessment and consultation findings:

1.    Recommends to Council for approval the MTFS, attached as Appendix A, and the detailed revenue budgets in Appendix C, including the proposed savings and funding for pressures in 2023/24;

2.    Recommends to Council for approval that the budget 2023/24 is prepared on the basis of a 1.8% increase (which takes account of the proposed 1% refund) for the general element of Council Tax in 2023/24 as discussed in paragraph 1.3.11 to 1.3.18;

3.    Recommends to Council for approval that the budget for 2023/24 is prepared on the basis of an increase of 2% for the Social Care Precept, to help fund social care as detailed in paragraph 1.3.11 to 1.3.18;

4.    Recommends to Council for the approval the resolutions relating to Council Tax contained within Appendix B;

5.    Recommends to Council for approval, on the advice of the Chief Finance Officer, that it determines that the council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2023/24 as set out in Council Tax resolution Appendix B, 2(iv) is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved under section 52ZB and 52ZC of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, set out in the Referendums relating to Council Tax increases (Principles)(England) Report 2023/24;

6.    Recommends to Council that in accordance with Section 38(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 the Chief Executive be instructed to place a notice in the local press of the amounts set under recommendation 5 above within a period of 21 days following the Council’s decision; and

7.    Have considered the issues that have emerged from the consultation discussed in Appendix G when making their decisions and have made the decisions outlined in this report being mindful of the consultation responses and equalities impact assessments including the cumulative equalities impact assessments at Appendix H.

In respect of Capital Strategy and the proposed capital programme:

8.    Recommend to Council the approval of the Capital Strategy as set out in Appendix I1; and

9.    Recommend to Council for approval the Capital Programme as set out in Appendix I2 and set out in paragraph 1.10;

In respect of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS):

10. Recommend to Council the approval of the TMSS  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Committee considered a report which set out the Council’s Corporate Plan: “Caring for people, places and the planet: our plan for Barnet 2023 – 2026”.

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations in the report and addendum.

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 8

Against: 0

Abstentions: 4

Total: 12

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1.    Agrees the proposals and content of the Corporate Plan 2023-2026 (Annex A).

2.    Agrees to refer the Corporate Plan to Council (28 February 2023) for adoption.

3.    Agrees to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader of the Council to make final formatting and non-material changes to the corporate plan prior to submission to council for adoption.

The Committee considered a report which set out the Council’s proposed Transformation Strategy and governance arrangements for delivery of the Strategy.

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations in the report and addendum.

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 8

Against: 4

Abstentions: 0

Total: 12

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1.    Agrees the council’s Transformation Strategy, as set out in Appendix A;

2.    Notes the feedback from the Collaborate engagement exercise, as set out in paragraph 1.5; and

3.    Notes the proposed governance arrangements for implementation of the Strategy, as set out in paragraph 1.9.

The Committee considered a report which set out proposals to consolidate Street Scene services at Oakleigh Road Depot and seeks authorisation to commence the second phase of works.

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations in the report and addendum.

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 12

Against: 0

Abstentions: 0

Total: 12

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1.    Note the contents of the report and the appended Full Business Case (FBC) (Appendix 1);

2.    Approve the recommended option for the Oakleigh Road Consolidation, to consolidate services on the existing Brogans site and to explore designs for future required remedial works to the Biel Brothers site;

3.    Notes:

a)    the funding strategy outlined in section 5 of the report and approve an additional £10.783m Public Loans Works Board capital funding to complete the project;

b)   the total anticipated final cost of the project of £19.783m;

4.    Approves the proposal to submit a planning application for the installation of a new salt storage barn and associated Mechanical and Electrical (M&E) installations for the wider site on the former Biel Brothers site;

5.    Authorise the procurement of the new salt storage barn, on completion of the design process and relevant Board endorsement of the procurement strategy;

6.    Agree to delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive for further decisions required to deliver the remaining activities within the scope of the business case (outlined in section 4.1).

The Committee considered a report which set out proposals for revised arrangements in respect of Area Committee Community Infrastructure Levy funding.

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations in the report and addendum.

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 12

Against: 0

Abstentions: 0

Total: 12

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1.    Having considered the Equality Impact Assessment (‘EqIA’) carried out by the three Area Committees and their public consultation in respect of this recommendation and 2 and 3 below, agree that the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding be allocated based on the population within each Area Committee area;

2.    Having considered the public consultation undertaken and considered by Area Committees, agree to adopt the Area Committees CIL funding eligibility guidelines (Appendix C) to allow Area Committees to spend their CIL funding on a broader range of schemes addressing the demands that development places on an area (as defined under Regulation 59F(3) of the CIL Regulations 2010 (as amended) (“the Regulations”) (see Paragraph 1.6);

3.    Having considered the public consultation undertaken by Area Committees, agree the Area Committees to adopt that Sustainability, Community Engagement, Public Health & Community Safety will form part of the Area Committees CIL Funding priorities;

4.    Having considered the public consultation undertaken by Area Committees, agree to implement the revised CIL funding application guidelines (Appendix D);

5.    Agree that each Area Committee should develop and approve their own CIL funding priorities for each financial year starting in 2022/23;

6.    Having considered the public consultation undertaken, agree in respect of the Road Safety & Parking Fund that it continues to be allocated borough wide and the schemes to be authorised by the Director of Highways & Transportation.

The Committee considered a report which sought approval for a waiver to the Contract Procedure Rules section 12.1 to undertake a direct award to up to two additional enablement care providers.

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations in the report and addendum.

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 12

Against: 0

Abstentions: 0

Total: 12

RESOLVED that the Committee approve a waiver of the Contract Procedure Rules Section 12.1 to undertake a direct award of contract to up to two providers for provision of enablement care, following the completion of an expression of interest exercise with approved homecare providers.

The Committee considered a report which sought authority to waive Contract Procedure Rules and award contracts directly to incumbent contractors under single tender actions to enable continuation of identified contracts.  The identified contracts will be subject to fully compliant procurement in 2023/24.

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations in the report and addendum.

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 12

Against: 0

Abstentions: 0

Total: 12

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1.    Authorise a waiver of Contract Procedure Rules (CPR), pursuant to CPR 12.1, requiring written quotations to be obtained, and the award of contracts listed in this report directly to incumbent contractors under Single Tender Actions; and

2.    Note that officers will conduct a review of the identified contract requirements and future procurement plans, which will be identified on the Annual Procurement Forward Plan 2023/24 and presented for authorisation to Policy & Resources or Adults & Safeguarding Committees as appropriate.

The Committee considered a report on the Annual Procurement Forward Plan 2023/24 which set out the detail of envisaged procurement requirements for 2023/24 and, where known, for 2024/25 and 2025/26.

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations in the report and addendum.

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 8

Against: 0

Abstentions: 4

Total: 12

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1.    Approve the Annual Procurement Forward Plan 2023/24 to enable commencement of procurement activity for 2023/24 – 2025/26; and

2.    Note the requirements for procurement activity to be subject to service confirmation of continued requirement, any additional approvals required under the Council’s Constitution, including the Contract Procedure Rules, and authorisation of a Procurement Launch Document including identification of approved budget source as set out in Appendix 1.

The Committee considered a report on an updated Enforcement and Prosecution Policy.

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations in the report and addendum.

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 12

Against: 0

Abstentions: 0

Total: 12

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1.    Approves the implementation of the updated Enforcement and Prosecution Policy 2023 (Appendix 1) with effect from 1^st April 2023

2.    Considers the Equalities Impact Assessment (Appendix 2); and

3.    Approves delegated authority to the Executive Director of Assurance to make necessary administration or updates as required to the Enforcement and Prosecution Policy.

The Committee considered a report on an application from their tenant, the Avenue House Estate Trust, for consent for alterations to the layout of the second floor flat in Avenue House. 

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations in the report and addendum.

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 12

Against: 0

Abstentions: 0

Total: 12

RESOLVED that the Committee approves consent via a license for alterations to allow The Avenue House Estate to make alterations to the layout of the second floor flat in Avenue House and delegates authority to the Deputy Chief Executive to negotiate and settle the terms of the licence for alterations.

Councillor Mittra declared a pecuniary interest in the following agenda item as his mother is a tenant of Barnet Homes.  He left the meeting during consideration of the item.

The Committee considered a report which set out The Barnet Group’s Business Plan for the period 2023/24 to 2027/28. 

Following consideration of the item, the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations in the report and addendum.

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 12

Against: 0

Abstentions: 0

Total: 12

RESOLVED that the Committee approve The Barnet Group Business Plan attached as set out in Appendix A.

Councillor Mittra re-entered the meeting room.

RESOLVED that the Committee note the Forward Work Programme.