Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BG

Contact: Salar Rida 020 8359 7113 Email: salar.rida@barnet.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

1.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 497 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman of the Financial Performance and Contracts Committee, Councillor Peter Zinkin welcomed all attendees to the meeting.

 

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 1 February 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

2.

Absence of Members

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Mark Shooter who was substituted by Councillor Golnar Bokaei.

 

The Chairman on behalf of the Committee paid tributes to Councillor Anthony Finn who recently passed away and offered condolences to his family and friends.

 

3.

Declarations of Members Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Interests

Minutes:

None.

4.

Report of the Monitoring Officer (if any)

Minutes:

None.

5.

Public Questions and Comments (if any) pdf icon PDF 271 KB

Minutes:

The responses to the Public Questions were published and circulated to the Committee prior to the meeting. Mr Dix and Mr Tichborne joined the meeting and asked supplementary questions which were responded to verbally by Officers and the Chairman.

 

6.

Members' Items (if any)

Minutes:

None.

7.

Chief Finance Officer Report Forecast Financial Outturn at Month 10 (January 2022) pdf icon PDF 962 KB

Minutes:

The report was introduced by Anisa Darr, Executive Director of Recourses (S151 Officer) and Ashley Hughes, Assistant Director of Finance.

 

Following a query from the Committee, Officers noted that financial vulnerability and arrears on council tax will be reported in the out-turn report in June.

 

It was RESOLVED that the Committee noted:

1. the current financial forecast outturn for 2021/22; the ongoing costs of the pandemic and the overall level of commitments against available funding;

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

3. the current position against ringfenced grant funding;

4. the current forecast for capital expenditure in the year;

5. the current debt position and related actions.

 

8.

Review of Capita Contracts pdf icon PDF 437 KB

Minutes:

Deborah Hinde, Commercial and Customer Services Director introduced and presented the report.

 

Following discussion, Councillor Barry Rawlings moved a motion which was seconded to include an additional recommendation:

 

That the Committee recommend to the Policy & Resources Committee that Re is wound up and that those services under Re are brought back in-house.

 

Votes were declared as follows:

 

For

3

Against

6

Abstention

1

 

The motion was declared lost.

 

It was therefore RESOLVED that the Financial Performance and Contracts Committee:

1. Noted the current position in respect of the contract extension proposals, as set out in paragraphs 2.1 to 2.4 of this report;

2. Noted that the Policy and Resources Committee on 9th February 2022 agreed a one-year extension of the contract as it relates to the provision of the current finance and HR systems;

3. Noted the high-level arrangements for returning services, as set out in paragraphs 2.6 to 2.10 of this report;

4. Noted the commentary on the cost of returning services, as set out in paragraphs 2.11 to 2.16 of this report; and

5. Noted the next stages of activity, as set out in section 4 of this report.

 

9.

Q3 2021/22 Contracts Performance Report pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

In response to a query from the Committee about cyber security, Deborah Hinde noted the work being delivered to mitigate against any risks through various IT protection measures.

 

Councillor Levine raised a query about the methodology for calculating the affordable housing targets and how it relates to housing policy. In response, it was agreed that a briefing note will be circulated to the Committee. (Action) 

 

In relation to the environmental health indicator under section 3.8 of the report ‘Compliance with Licensing Requirements for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs)’ Councillor Mittra queried the reasons as to why the target was not 100%. Officers agreed to circulate a response to the Chairman and Councillor Mittra. (Action)

 

It was RESOLVED that the Committee noted the Quarter 3 (Q3) 2021/22 performance for the Customer and Support Group (Capita); Regional Enterprise (Capita); Barnet Homes (The Barnet Group); and HB Public Law.

 

10.

Capital Projects pdf icon PDF 905 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced the report which provides details on some of the changes to progress and identifies opportunities to use the lessons learned and develop new approaches to keep benefits more aligned to the original business plan.

 

Councillor Teare requested that the wording ‘significant value’ be replaced by ‘higher value’ in future Capital Projects reports. (Action)

It was RESOLVED that the Committee noted the content of this report updating on the current status of the Council’s Capital Projects.

11.

Brent Cross Update pdf icon PDF 454 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Luke Ward, Programme Director to present the report which provides an update on the delivery across the Brent Cross programme and updates on emerging issues relating to the Brent Cross West station works contract.

 

It was RESOLVED that the Committee noted delivery progress across the Brent Cross (BX) programme as set out in the presentation to the HM Government Assurance Board on 9 February 2022 (Appendix 1) and the issues relating to the Brent Cross West station works contract.

 

12.

Updated West Stand Funding Model pdf icon PDF 467 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman introduced the report.

 

It was RESOLVED that the Committee noted that the assumptions that were in the original business plan have now been updated, remodelled and still demonstrate that there will be sufficient funding to complete the West Stand and sufficient income into Saracens Copthall LLP, to cover the loan repayments, including interest.

 

13.

Committee Forward Work Programme pdf icon PDF 170 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman noted the standing item on the agenda which will be updated in due course.

 

RESOLVED that the Committee noted the Forward Work Programme.

 

14.

Any Other Items that the Chairman Decides are Urgent

Minutes:

The Chairman thanked the Members of the Committee for all their contributions. The Vice-Chairman, Councillor Smith thanked the Chairman for his stewardship.

 

15.

Motion to Exclude the Press and Public

Minutes:

The Chairman moved a motion, which was seconded and approved, to exclude the Press and Public on the basis that the exempt item will involve discussion of confidential information. The public gallery was cleared.

 

16.

Brent Cross (Exempt)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED that the Committee noted the exempt information as set out in the report.

 

17.

Updated West Stand Funding Model - Exempt

Additional documents:

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED that the Committee noted the exempt information as set out in the report.

 

18.

Any Other Exempt Items that the Chairman Decides are Urgent

Minutes:

None.