Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 8 June 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

Apologies were received from Councillor Conway who was substituted by Councillor Edwards.

Councillor Mittra declared an interest in item 9 – Revised Budget 2022/23 and Business Planning 2023-2027 as he was a Barnet Homes Tenant. Councillor Wardle and Councillor Edwards declared an interest in item 9 – Revised Budget 2022/23 and Business Planning 2023-2027 as Board Member of the Barnet Group.

None.

Details of the question asked and the answer provided was published and circulated at the meeting. There was no supplementary questions.

None.

The Chair introduced the report on the Response to Members Item in the name of Councillor G Cooke – 8 February 2021 and 30 September 2021. Councillor Cooke address the committee on this item.   

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

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 12

Against: 0

Abstentions: 0

Absent: 0

Total: 12

RESOLVED that the Policy & Resources Committee note the findings and the commitment to carry out 6 monthly data matches going forward.

The Chief Executive, John Hooton and the Director of Commercial and Customer Services, Deborah Hinde, introduced the report which set out the final recommendations on the review of the council’s contracts with Capita. The report also set out the actions required to implement the decisions as set out in the report.

Following consideration of the item, the Chair moved to vote on the recommendations in the report, subject to the information contained in the exempt report.

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 8

Against: 4

Abstentions: 0

Absent: 0

Total: 12

RESOLVED That the Committee:

1.    Agrees that the DRS (RE) contract in respect of Planning (Development Control), Building Control, Land Charges and Cemetery and Crematorium services should not be extended beyond 30th September 2023.

2.    Agrees that the CSG contract in respect of Estates (including Print) should not be extended beyond 31st August 2023.

3.    Agrees that, upon expiry of the initial term of the contracts, these services should return to the council.

4.    Authorises the Chief Executive to serve the relevant notices to Capita and the RE Joint Venture and to take the necessary action relating to any transfers, upon expiry of the contracts or sooner if deemed necessary, or other essential actions associated with the services, including relevant exit agreement(s), subject to the conclusion of the necessary due diligence.

5.    Authorises the Chief Executive to take the necessary action to transfer the Council’s share in the RE Joint Venture to Capita by 30th September 2023.

6.    Notes that, upon expiry of the CSG contract, Capita will contract directly with schools to provide services currently provided through the CSG contract.

7.    Agrees that the CSG contract in respect of IT, Customer Services and the Revenues and Benefits service should be extended by a period of two years and seven months, to 31st March 2026.

8.    Agrees that the CSG contract in respect of Accounts Payable/Integra and HR/CoreHR should be extended by a period of one year, to 31st August 2024.

9.    Authorises the Chief Executive to serve the relevant notice to Capita and to take the necessary action to formalise the contractual arrangements for the extension of these services.

10.Notes that the Procurement service and Welfare team will return to the council in the autumn.

11.Notes the actions set out in section 4 that will be required to implement the decisions set out above.

The Executive Director of Strategy and Resources (& Section 151 Officer), Anisa Darr introduced the report which sets out the current challenges, proposed process, and timetable for the preparation of the budget for 2023/24. The report outlines the work that is being done to refresh the MTFS to align with the priorities of the new Labour Administration. The report also sets out the process which will take place for 2023/24 and future years in order to achieve a balanced budget.

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

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 8

Against: 4

Abstentions: 0

Absent:

Total: 12

RESOLVED That the committee:

In respect of routine financial matters for 2022/23:

1.    Approves the revised budget for 2022/23 as detailed in section 2.1;

2.    Approves the virements required to implement the 22/23 budget as set out in 2.1.1 (in line with the financial regulations as set out in 10.3.4);

3.    Instructs the Chief Executive to make necessary arrangements to put in place the necessary transformation and programme support to take forward the delivery of the administration’s ambitions (as outlined in 2.1.6).

4.    Notes the contingency budget and allocations from it in section 2.2;

5.    Notes the revenue budget virements for 2022/23 as detailed in section 2.3;

6.    Approves the writes-offs for Business Rates debt, Council Tax Debt, Sundry Debt, Housing Revenue Account tenant arrears and General Fund tenant arrears as detailed in section 2.4;

7.    Approve the changes to the existing Capital Programme in relation to additions as set out in section 2.5 in accordance with the virement rules.

8.    Notes the Quarter 4 2021/22 Corporate Risk Register in section 2.6;

In respect of business planning for 2023-27:

9.    Notes the refreshed Medium-Term Financial Strategy shown in Appendix A. The MTFS sets out likely budget changes over the period 2023-27, including assumptions around inflation, changes to levies, pressures, savings and grant funding. It is the model around which the council’s financial strategy is based;

10. Notes the delivery timetable and the process in section 3.18 which will take place for 2023/24 and future years in order to achieve a balanced budget.

11. Notes that resident consultation will take place before savings are presented to Theme Committees for consideration in autumn.

12. Approve that officers start to develop budget proposals for 2023/24 and, if required, delegates authority to the Section 151 officer to issue targets to officers to support the achievement of a balanced budget;

13. Notes the proposed approach to the financial strategy in section 6.

The Assistant Director, Planning and Building Control, Neeru Kareer introduced the report which recommend resolving not to proceed to adopt the draft SPD and withdrawing the draft SPD in its current form

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

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 8

Against: 0

Abstentions: 4

Absent:

Total: 12

RESOLVED that the Committee resolve not to pursue the formal adoption of the draft The Burroughs and Middlesex University Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), and to withdraw the current version (at Appendix A).

The Executive Director, Adults and Health, Dawn Wakeling introduced the report that sought approve to the amendments in relation to the estimated Contract Value and Contract Duration of the Arboricultural Services entry (line 186 on the Annual Procurement Forward Plan) to enable officers to proceed with procurement, in line with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.

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

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 12

Against: 0

Abstentions: 0

Absent:

Total: 12

RESOLVED that the committee

1.    To approves the amendments to the Arboricultural Services entry on the Annual Procurement Forward Plan which reflects the updated contract value and contract term associated with the reprocurement of the Arboricultural Services (Tree Management and Maintenance Contract), as set out in section 1.4 of this report.

2.    To delegates authority to the Executive Director Adults & Health to proceed with the procurement of the Arboricultural Services Contract as set out in section 1.4 of this report and to arrange sealing of the contracts with the successful bidders following contract award.

The Executive Director of Strategy and Resources (& Section 151 Officer), Anisa Darr introduced the report which contained a summary of the council’s revenue and capital outturn for the financial year 2021/22 as at Month 12 (31 March 2022). The report also contained information on the level of debt and the top 10 debtors as of 31 March 2022, and any subsequent updates the committee needs to be aware of that impact the debt position.

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

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 12

Against: 0

Abstentions: 0

Absent:

Total: 12

RESOLVED That the committee notes:

1.    The final outturn for 2021/22 against the council’s revenue budget; the costs of the pandemic and the overall level of commitments against available funding;

2.    The current use of reserves, and the outlook;

3.    The current position against ringfenced grant funding;

4.    The expenditure against capital budgets in the year;

5.    The current debt position and related actions; and

6.    The position with respect to the Saracens Loan agreement.

The Chief Executive, John Hooton and the Assistant Director for Strategy, Communications and Engagement, Liz Cowie introduced the report which provides an update on delivery and performance against the associated Delivery and Outcomes Framework End of Year Report 2021-22 and a resident facing annual report on progress over the year 2021-22.

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

The vote was recorded as follows:

For: 12

Against: 0

Abstentions: 0

Absent:

Total: 12

RESOLVED That the committee notes the report.

RESOLVED – The Committee noted the Work Programme.

None.

The Chair 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.

The Committee RESOLVED to note the details in the exempt appendix.

None.