Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Lanie Shears.

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

Councillor Simon Carter declared a pecuniary interest in items 12 and 13 as a remunerated Council appointed director of HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd. He said he would leave the room whilst the items were considered

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 2019.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 12 September 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.

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.

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.

Updates were provided on updates to the Forward Plan following its publication.

The item ‘Local Development Plan – Modifications Prior to Consultation’ had been withdrawn from the agenda for this meeting at the request of the Planning Inspector pending submission of their final letter. The item ‘Adoption of Local Development Plan’ would no longer be considered at the meeting on 23 January 2020 as a result.

The item ‘Town Wide Employment Sites Article 4 Direction’ would no longer be considered at this meeting as the Templefields’ Direction had received no objections and therefore did not need Cabinet approval. Directions for the other sites had been re-advertised. If they received objections these would be considered at the meeting on 5 December 2019.

Finally, the item ‘Contract Award for the Demolition of the Old Lister House Site, Perry Road’ was no longer to be considered by Cabinet as the contract was of a value less than £250,000, meaning it did not require Cabinet approval.

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan is noted.

There have not been any relevant decisions taken by Portfolio Holders under delegated powers since the last meeting of the Cabinet.

None.

This item had been withdrawn from the agenda for the meeting.

A     The updated Harlow Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and updated Delivery Plan be approved as attached as Appendix A to the report.

Cabinet considered a report to adopt an updated Homelessness and Rough Sleeper Strategy.

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

RESOLVED that:

A     The updated Harlow Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy and updated Delivery Plan be approved as attached as Appendix A to the report.

Subject to the submission of acceptable business cases and formal contract:

A     Two maintenance contracts (for facilities and landscape management) be entered into with HTS (Property & Environment) Limited (HTS) for a period of five years with an option, at the sole discretion of the Council, to break the contract at the end of year one by giving no less than four months’ notice subject to agreement of the terms and conditions and clarification on the final cost of the new services.

B    Delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, to make the necessary legal and financial arrangements to award the contract.

Councillor Simon Carter left the meeting.

Cabinet considered a report to award two contracts to HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd to carry out facilities and landscape maintenance for the Nexus Building.

Proposed by Councillor Tony Durcan (seconded by Councillor Mark Ingall) it was:

RESOLVED that subject to the submission of acceptable business cases and formal contract:

A     Two maintenance contracts (for facilities and landscape management) be entered into with HTS (Property & Environment) Limited (HTS) for a period of five years with an option, at the sole discretion of the Council, to break the contract at the end of year one by giving no less than four months’ notice subject to agreement of the terms and conditions and clarification on the final cost of the new services.

B    Delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, to make the necessary legal and financial arrangements to award the contract.

A     Awarded the following Business Cases to HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd (HTS) for completion over two years (2020-2021 and 2021-2022), for housing work-streams and aggregated contract values as set out below:

             i)        Disabled Aids and Adaptations (DAA’s) - £1,800,000

            ii)        Compliance - £3,600,000

           iii)        Garages - £1,000,000

Total - £6,400,000

B    Delegated authority to the Head of Housing, in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Housing, to complete all Business Case contractual formalities.

Cabinet received a report to award a number of business cases to HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd to be completed over a two year period.

Proposed by Councillor Mark Wilkinson (proposed by Councillor John Strachan) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Awarded the following Business Cases to HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd (HTS) for completion over two years (2020-2021 and 2021-2022), for housing work-streams and aggregated contract values as set out below:

                             i)        Disabled Aids and Adaptations (DAA’s) - £1,800,000

                            ii)        Compliance - £3,600,000

                           iii)        Garages - £1,000,000

Total - £6,400,000

B    Delegated authority to the Head of Housing, in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Housing, to complete all Business Case contractual formalities.

Councillor Simon Carter returned to the meeting.

Cabinet considered referral from the Scrutiny Committee to amend the process in which the Cabinet Overview Working Group’s work plan is developed.

Proposed by Councillor Mark Ingall (seconded by Councillor Eugenie Harvey) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A     The process for developing the Cabinet Overview Working Group’s Work Plan is adapted in line with paragraph 17 of the original report, attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

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

RESOLVED that the minutes of the following meetings are noted.

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.