Council decisions

To agree an increase of £6,695.52 on the annual cost of the cleaning contract in line with the 0.9% uplift on London Living Wage.

Summary:

 

The London Borough of Barnet (the Council) has started a project at the Pavilion Study Centre (PRU) to provide new fit for purpose accommodation which will enable the Council’s Alternative Provision to be broadened to meet emerging needs in the borough. The project is being delivered and funded through the Education Funding Agency’s (EFA) Priority School Building Programme under the Direct Delivery (with EFA Funding) model. 

 

Previous decisions gave approval to enter into a Professional Services Contract (PSC) with John Graham Construction Ltd (JGCL), and then to vary that contract so that it included design and costing works to the end of Stage 4 plus some Stage 5 enabling orders.

 

JGCL have now confirmed a Contract Sum of £17,668,178.81 to deliver the re-provision of the PRU, including PSC costs. This report seeks approval for the Council to enter into a NEC contract with JGCL for re-provision of the PRU to allow for the construction works and to completion.

 

The report also seeks approval to enter into the related funding agreement with the DFE for £8,698,292.07.

 

Decisions:

 

1.    To approve award of the NEC Contract to John Graham Construction Ltd (JGCL) for re-provision of the Pavilion Study Centre PRU, for a price of £17,668,178.81.

2.    To approve further payments to JGCL up to the specified value, as shown in the accompanying exempt report, for changes to the contract if required and containable within the overall budget.

3.    To provide authority to officers to implement the required NEC contract requirements and deliver monitoring arrangements.

4.    Approval for the Council to enter into the related funding agreement with the DFE for £8,698,292.07.

5.    To provide authority to officers, in line with the scheme of delegation and in consultation the Executive Director of Children’s Services, to approve and instruct changes in accordance with the NEC contract.

6.    To Note progress to date and current project status.

Summary:

 

 

The London Borough of Barnet (the Council) has started a project at the Pavilion Study Centre (PRU) to provide new fit for purpose accommodation which will enable the Council’s Alternative Provision to be broadened to meet emerging needs in the borough. The project is being delivered and funded through the Education Funding Agency’s (EFA) Priority School Building Programme under the Direct Delivery (with EFA Funding) model. This report seeks approval to appropriate open space land in the north-eastern corner of Dame Alice Owens Playing Fields to facilitate the redevelopment of the Pavilion Study Centre on a readjusted footprint, as per the agreed design and planning approvals.   Decisions:   That authority is granted to appropriate the land shown edged red on the enclosed site plan from its existing use as public open space to a new 2-storey educational building, ancillary playground and circulation areas and a multi-use games area for community use, to facilitate the redevelopment of the Pavilion Study Centre at Dame Alice Owens Playing Field.

 

 

Councillor Alan Schneiderman – Protecting the Welsh Harp

 

Councillor Alan Schneiderman was invited by the Chairman to introduce the item. Councillor Schneiderman gave a summary of the issue and requested that the Committee give support to this item.   

 

The Chairman noted that at the last meeting there had been a request for an update and therefore the Executive Director for Environment provided a verbal update. 

 

 

During the debate the Governance Officer in attendance noted that recruitment decisions to Officer posts was not in the remit of the Environment Committee.  It was further noted that the recruitment decision of a biodiversity Officer was within the realm of the Executive Director for Environment and that power was contained within the Chief Officer’s Scheme of Delegation.

 

The Chairman noted his support for the item and said that the efforts of volunteers in clearing up the Welsh Harp should be recognised and therefore the Committee’s thanks were noted.

 

During the consideration of the item Councillor Alan Schneiderman made a request that his item be voted on, he therefore moved the following which the then Chairman then put this to the vote. 

 

Resolved:

 

1.     That the Committee requested the recruitment of an in-house council biodiversity officer and asks the Executive Director for Environment to come back to the committee with options and arrangements for doing this.

Vote

For – 4

Against – 6

 

2.     That the Committee requested that Policy and Resources Committee considers the use of strategic CIL funding for the Welsh Harp.

Vote

All

 

3.     There is a commitment to using the remaining s106 'SSSI mitigation fund' on protecting and enhancing the Welsh Harp and implementing the new 'vision document' when it is adopted.

Vote

All

 

4.     The Council will continue consulting with local conservation and community groups.   

Vote

All

 

Councillor Laithe Jajeh requested to add the following resolution, this was put to the vote: 

 

5.     That the Committee requested that the Environment Committee bring back a progress report to a future including an executive summary of the work of roles and responsibility of the various groups associated with the Welsh harp and what they do.

Vote

All

 

Geof Cooke – Barnet Citizen’s Climate emergency Panel

 

 

Councillor Geof Cooke was invited by the Chairman to introduce the item. Councillor Cooke gave a summary of the issue and requested that the Committee supported his item.  He stated that there was a climate emergency.

 

The Committee had the opportunity to consider this item.   The Chairman put this to the vote.

 

Resolved:

 

1.     To declare a climate emergency.

Vote:

For – 4

Against – 5

Abstained – 1

 

2.     Ensure that all Council’ decision-making reporting processes includes an assessment on environmental impact, and therefore this be added to Council’s reporting framework.   That the Committee requested this be reported to the Constitutional and General Functions Committee, if required.

 

Vote

All – as amended above.

 

3.     To set up a Barnet citizen's climate emergency panel to support the development of climate change and sustainability action plans and to monitor the council's progress in implementing the plans and mitigating climate change.

 

Vote

For 4

Against – 6

 

4.     To start a recruitment process for the panel, inviting Barnet residents and representatives from businesses, community groups and local climate change and environmental groups to join.

 

Vote

For – 4

Against 6

 

Councillor Laurie Williams was invited by the Chairman to introduce the item. He gave a summary of the issue and requested that the Committee supported his item. 

 

The Committee considered the item, in doing so the Chairman stated he fully supported the item.    He therefore requested the matter be voted on. 

 

The Environment Committee unanimously agreed that:

 

-        The Environment Committee requested a report or future item on how through Council maintenance, the below be can be enhanced

o   That Hedges allow wildlife to move about between gardens and other spaces and provide feeding and breeding opportunities.

 

 

Councillor Claire Farrier was invited by the Chairman to introduce the item. She gave a summary of the issue and requested that the Committee supported her item. 

 

Councillor Peter Zinkin said that the decision to suspend food waste collection was done with the Mayors Officers.    He spoke in detail on the subject and concluded that he was unable to support the item.  

 

Councillor Farrier requested that the below be voted on.

 

1. That the council makes a firm commitment to restart separate food waste collections.

2. That the Environment Committee should receive a report at the next meeting on 6 October 2021 setting out details of how food waste collections will be restarted, including the timescale, cost and communications plan.

 

Vote

For 4

Against 6

 

Resolved

That the item be noted