Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received Councillor Eugenie Harvey.

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any items on the agenda.

Councillor Ingall declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 9a, Portfolio Holder for Community and Wellbeing – 12 March 2019, as a director of Youth Concern Trust. He indicated that he would stay in the meeting for that item unless the proposed grant was discussed.

Councillor Simon Carter declared a pecuniary interest in Item 13, HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd Contract Awards 2019/20, as a remunerated Council appointed Director of HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd. He said that he would leave the meeting in the event financial matters relating to HTS were discussed.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2019.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 28 February 2019 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

Any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

To receive any questions from members of the public in accordance with Rule 10 of the Council Procedure Rules.

The questions, together with the answers, are appended to the minutes.

To receive any questions from Councillors in accordance with Rule 11 of the Council Procedure Rules.

To consider any petitions that have been referred to the Cabinet under the Council’s Petition Scheme.

Petition from Adam Cochrane:

“We believe that it would be a positive and very helpful act, if the Council, in keeping with their position as an ‘inclusive’ employer, adopt a caveat to the IHRA statement of 1 November to clearly demonstrate that the council does not as an employer wish to prejudice the rights of Palestinians, and the right of others to campaign for Palestine in Harlow. CAVEAT: ‘It is not antisemitic, without additional evidence of anti Jewish prejudice, to criticise the Government of Israel; or to criticise Zionism as a political ideology; or to describe any policy or law or practices of the state of Israel as racist, including acts leading to Palestinian dispossession as part of the establishment of the state of Israel; or to define Israel as an apartheid state; or to advocate Boycott Divestment and Sanctions against Israel.’”

Mr Adam Cochrane presented the petition to Cabinet.

RESOLVED that the petition was noted.

To note the Forward Plan, which lists all upcoming Cabinet decisions and provides notice of key decisions and those expected to be taken in private session.

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan is noted.

To note recent Portfolio Holder decisions taken under delegated powers, as attached.

RESOLVED that the decision be noted, subject to the following amendments

                    (i)        ‘Martin Roberts Charitable Trust’ to read ‘Michael Roberts Charitable Trust’.

                  (ii)        ‘Integrated Support Services’ to read ‘Integration Support Services’.

RESOLVED that the decision be noted.

RESOLVED that:

A     Cabinet acknowledged the projected outturn position set out in sections three and four of Appendix A to this report for the third quarter (October - December) of 2018/19 as follows:

            (i)        An over spend on controllable budgets of £20,000 representing 0.03 per cent of the gross General Fund Budget.

          (ii)        A total projected underspend of £1,225,000 representing -2.03 per cent of the gross General Fund Budget.

         (iii)        The Council performed on or above target for 48 out of 48 (100 per cent) of its quarterly performance indicators.

Cabinet received a report which set out both the Council’s financial performance, along with its performance against its own performance indicators for the third quarter of 2018/19.

Proposed by Councillor Mike Danvers (seconded by Councillor Mark Ingall) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A     Cabinet acknowledged the projected outturn position set out in sections three and four of Appendix A to this report for the third quarter (October - December) of 2018/19 as follows:

                            (i)        An over spend on controllable budgets of £20,000 representing 0.03 per cent of the gross General Fund Budget.

                          (ii)        A total projected underspend of £1,225,000 representing -2.03 per cent of the gross General Fund Budget.

                         (iii)        The Council performed on or above target for 48 out of 48 (100 per cent) of its quarterly performance indicators.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Noted:

            (i)        An unfavourable variation against the approved Housing Revenue Account (HRA) operational /controllable budget of £435,000 representing 0.82 per cent of the gross HRA budget.

          (ii)        A favourable non-operational variance of £3,379,000 representing 6.83 per cent of gross HRA budget which includes adjustments to capital programme financing as a result of the re-alignment of budgets in the housing capital programme which reduces the anticipated direct revenue contribution required in 2018/19.

B    Noted the forecast balances at 31 March 2019, of £13,307,000in respect of the HRA and nil in respect of the Major Repairs Reserve (MRR).

Cabinet received a report which provided an update on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for the third quarter of 2018/19 and asked that Cabinet noted variances in the HRA budget, as well as the forecast budget of the HRA and the Major Repairs Reserve.

Proposed by Councillor Mike Danvers (seconded by Councillor Mark Wilkinson) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Noted:

                            (i)        An unfavourable variation against the approved Housing Revenue Account (HRA) operational /controllable budget of £435,000 representing 0.82 per cent of the gross HRA budget.

                          (ii)        A favourable non-operational variance of £3,379,000 representing 6.83 per cent of gross HRA budget which includes adjustments to capital programme financing as a result of the re-alignment of budgets in the housing capital programme which reduces the anticipated direct revenue contribution required in 2018/19.

B    Noted the forecast balances at 31 March 2019, of £13,307,000in respect of the HRA and nil in respect of the Major Repairs Reserve (MRR).

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Noted the progress in the delivery of the Council’s Housing and Non-Housing Capital Programmes as at Quarter 3 (30 December 2018) as follows:

            (i)        Housing Capital Programme –forecast outturn of £17,165,000 (original estimate £18,804,000).

          (ii)        Non-Housing Capital Programme – forecast outturn of £10,378,000 (original estimate £15,250,000).

B    Approved the Business Case to restore Netteswell Pond, financed by a grant from Essex County Council £66,000 and budget virement from Townwide Flood Alleviation of £29,000.

C    Approved a Business Case to renew the CCTV at the Bus Station at a cost of £10,000 to be funded in full from a revenue contribution.

Cabinet received a report which provided an update on the Council’s Housing and Non Housing Capital Programmes and sought approval for two business cases.

Proposed by Councillor Mike Danvers (seconded by Councillor Mark Wilkinson) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Noted the progress in the delivery of the Council’s Housing and Non-Housing Capital Programmes as at Quarter 3 (30 December 2018) as follows:

                            (i)        Housing Capital Programme –forecast outturn of £17,165,000 (original estimate £18,804,000).

                          (ii)        Non-Housing Capital Programme – forecast outturn of £10,378,000 (original estimate £15,250,000).

B    Approved the Business Case to restore Netteswell Pond, financed by a grant from Essex County Council £66,000 and budget virement from Townwide Flood Alleviation of £29,000.

C    Approved a Business Case to renew the CCTV at the Bus Station at a cost of £10,000 to be funded in full from a revenue contribution.

RESOLVED that:

A     The following Business Cases are awarded to HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd subject to clarification and agreement on the terms and conditions, and that separate contracts are entered into for each activity not exceeding the values set out below:

                            (i)        Internal Works - £930,000

                          (ii)        Aids and Adaptations - £900,000

                         (iii)        Compliance - £1,800,000

                         (iv)        Environmental Estate Works - £100,000

                          (v)        External Works - £320,000

                         (vi)        Garages - £350,000

                        (vii)        Communal Boilers and Heating - £1,400,000

TOTAL - £5,800,000

Cabinet received a report to award a number of contracts to HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd for 2019/20.

Proposed by Councillor Mark Wilkinson (seconded by Councillor Mark Ingall) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A     The following Business Cases are awarded to HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd subject to clarification and agreement on the terms and conditions, and that separate contracts are entered into for each activity not exceeding the values set out below:

RESOLVED that:

A     The Council seeks Article 4 Directions for the employment areas of The Pinnacles, Templefields (area not already covered by the Templefields Enterprise Zone (EZ) site Article 4 Directions), the Burnt Mill Industrial area/offices adjacent to Harlow Town Railway Station (attached as appendices C, D and E to the report) and the Town Centre (as defined by the red area on the Council’s emerging Town Centre Area Action Plan), and then to notify the Secretary of State to grant this.

Cabinet received a referral from the Scrutiny Committee which recommended that Article 4 Directions were sought for some of the employment areas within the town.

Councillor Purton proposed that the recommendation contained within the report was amended to seek an Article 4 Direction for the Town Centre (as defined by the red area on the Council’s emerging Town Centre Area Action Plan). This amendment was accepted by the seconder (Councillor John Strachan) and became the substantive motion.

Proposed by Councillor Danny Purton (seconded by Councillor John Strachan) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A     The Council seeks Article 4 Directions for the employment areas of The Pinnacles, Templefields (area not already covered by the Templefields Enterprise Zone (EZ) site Article 4 Directions), the Burnt Mill Industrial area/offices adjacent to Harlow Town Railway Station (attached as appendices C, D and E to the report) and the Town Centre (as defined by the red area on the Council’s emerging Town Centre Area Action Plan), and then to notify the Secretary of State to grant this.

RESOLVED that:

A     The draft Community Engagement Strategy (attached as Appendix A to the original report) be approved.

Cabinet received a referral from the Cabinet Overview Working Group which recommended that the draft Community Engagement Strategy was approved.

Proposed by Councillor Mark Ingall (seconded by Councillor Lanie Shears) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A     The draft Community Engagement Strategy (attached as Appendix A to the original report) be approved.

RESOLVED that:

A     The outcomes of the Local Bus Consultation relating to future transport requirements in Harlow and wider areas be referred to the Garden Town Board.

Cabinet received a referral from the Scrutiny Committee following is review of bus service provision in Harlow.

Proposed by Councillor Danny Purton (seconded by Councillor Mark Ingall) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A     The outcomes of the Local Bus Consultation relating to future transport requirements in Harlow and wider areas be referred to the Garden Town Board.

To note the following draft minutes of Cabinet appointed bodies. Minutes remain draft until approved by the relevant body.

None.

Such other business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be received as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes.

None.