Agenda and draft minutes

None were declared.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 21 June 2010 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of the proceedings.

(Report 53/10-11 and appendices)

All Wards

Key Decision

Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources

Executive Director for Finance and Resources

Contact: Tim Harlock, 020 7926 9386

Email: tharlock@lambeth.gov.uk

(Report 53/10-11 and appendices, tabled reference from Finance Scrutiny Sub-Committee (21.07.10))  (Key Decision – Call in period ends Friday 6 August 2010)

Councillor Jackie Meldrum declared an interest in that she was a member of the Lambeth Living Board but that it was not prejudicial and she would take part in the discussion.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources highlighted the impact of grant cuts from central government and further expected cuts following departmental funding negotiations in the autumn. However he stated that the Council were in a good position to deal with the challenge due to strong financial management and good reserves. Finally he highlighted the importance of protecting the most vulnerable from service cuts.

The Divisional Director for Corporate Finance stated that there would be tough choices to make but highlighted that the council had already started working on plans to reduce budgets by similar amounts to those proposed by the government and so was well advanced at looking at the issues this raised.

The Cabinet received the following representations:

• Councillor Gavin Dodsworth, Majority Opposition spokesperson for Finance expressed concern that the report did not contain detailed figures to enable Members to compare the proposals with other options for saving money. He also expressed concern that service cuts were being made before it was clear whether all possible efficiency savings had been identified.
• Councillor John Whelan, Leader of the Minority Opposition Group, stated his view that the Council should have started tackling this issue much sooner as it was clear that cuts were on the way. He also noted the increase in posts proposed for the Labour Group office.
• Representatives from the UNISON and NUT trade unions expressed opposition to the proposed changes and cuts proposed to the One O’Clock clubs and stated that the new proposals would cost more than the current service.  The present service was appreciated by the many people who made use of it. They also stated that it was not necessary to reduce staff by the numbers proposed and highlighted the importance of good Equality Impact Assessments. They also called on the Council to unite with people affected to campaign against government cuts such as in the Building Schools for the Future programme.
• Rita Fitzgerald, the Chair of Tenants’ Council, welcomed the proposed Asset Strategy Scrutiny Commission and urged the Council to ensure it only disposed of the minimum necessary number of assets. She also asked the Council not to allow the introduction of large rent rises.

Cabinet Members proceeded to discuss the issues highlighted in the report including:

·        The impact of cuts in the Children and Young People’s Service on ethnic minority staff.

·        Occasions when a government cut in a specific grant should not mean that that particular service should be cut but that other savings should be found instead.

·        That the budget had to be balanced and so there would be hard choices ahead.

·        The need to ensure that all possible efficiency savings were identified.

·  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

(Report 52/10-11)

All Wards

Non-Key Decision

Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing

Executive Director for Adults’ and Community Services

Contact: Maria Burton, 020 7926 7540

Email: mfburton@lambeth.gov.uk

(Report 52/10-11)

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing introduced the report, and referred to the recent Government announcement on the planned move of commissioning in the NHS from PCTs to GPs.

The Executive Director for Adults’ and Community Services stated that it was intended to begin the process of implementation at the beginning of September.

Cabinet received the following representation:

·        Councillor Ashley Lumsden, Leader of the Majority Opposition, supported the proposals   He referred to the fact that he had been a member of the cross-party working group set up to ensure closer collaboration between the Council and the PCT and that he was sure that there was room for efficiency savings as there was a large number of officers from the PCT dealing with commissioning.  He also welcomed the fact that the proposals would make the Director of Public Health fully accountable.

On future commissioning proposals with the planned abolition of PCTs, the Executive Director for Adults’ and Community Services advised that discussions had taken place with the PCT and GPs and that ways of engaging with GPs were being discussed.

RESOLVED:

(1)          That a jointly accountable single commissioning function including procurement be adopted with NHS Lambeth.  This function would include mental health, substance misuse, learning disability, offenders’ services including prison health services and social care services for older people, people with a physical disability or sensory impairment, and social inclusion services.  This will be delivered through integrated staff management and aligned budgets with a single director accountable jointly to the Chief Executive of the PCT and the Executive Director of Adults’ and Community Services.

(2)          That it be noted that the timescale was to be agreed but that it would be no later than December 2010 in order to achieve financial savings for both the Council and NHS Lambeth.

(3)          That a further report be received on commissioning services for children by November 2010.

(Report 54/10-11)

Knights Hill, St Leonards, Streatham Hill, Streatham South, Streatham Wells and Coldharbour Wards

Key Decision – Urgency Item

Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning, Employment and Enterprise

Interim Executive Director for Housing, Regeneration and Environment

Contact: Alison Young, 020 7926 9225

Email: ayoung5@lambeth.gov.uk

(Report 54/10-11 and appendix)  (Key Decision – Call in period ends Friday 6 August 2010)

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Planning, Employment and Enterprise introduced the report.  She explained that the proposals ensured the continuity of ice.  As Streatham Common was not viable the Popes Road site was the best alternative.

The Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and the 2012 Games moved that recommendation be changed to read ‘That the progress on the temporary dry sports facility and swimming pool be noted’.  The priority was to make sure that the Hub was functioning.  Investigations had been made to see if there could be temporary alternatives for the Pool and the dry sports facilities but a lot of problems had been encountered.  The present arrangements whereby users of Streatham Pool could use neighbouring facilities would continue.

Cabinet received the following representations:

·        Councillor Alex Davies, Majority Opposition spokesperson on Culture spoke against the proposal as it did not provide for the ice rink to stay in Streatham whilst the development was taking place.  This was against the wishes of Streatham residents.  He referred to the fact that the proposal to relocate to 152 Streatham High Road had been rejected on cost grounds and considered that Tesco should be forced to pay any extra costs.  He requested that the Cabinet defer the report until September subject to further discussions regarding where the ice facility could be temporarily relocated.

·        Councillor David Malley, Ward Member for Streatham South Ward, acknowledged that this was a difficult subject that had been in existence for at least 10 years.  He considered that the present proposals were the best available in the circumstances.  The ice rink would be moved temporarily to Popes Road Brixton and new facilities should be ready in Streatham within 3 years.

·        Councillor Clive Bennett, Ward Member for St. Leonard’s Ward expressed his view that the ice facility should remain in Streatham.  He had also asked for an appointment to meet the Streatham Town Centre Manager to discuss the matter and noted that he had not received a reply to his email request.

·        Saki Hajnal, Secretary of the Streatham Ice Skating Action Group stated that the previous Cabinet decision (29 March) that the Tesco store would not be able to open until the leisure facilities had been completed was not reflected in the current report.  She was therefore concerned that Tesco would open its store before the ice facility and then would have no incentive to provide the Leisure facilities.  She supported the proposals as long as there was a Section 106 agreement to ensure that Tesco could not open before the completion of the leisure facilities.

·        Tim Barnsley, public user of Streatham Pool, stated that he was unhappy at the fact that there had not been any pool provision at Streatham for eight months and that there would be a further delay before it was restored.  He was not sure that this would speed up delivery of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

(Report 50/10-11 and appendices)

All Wards

Key Decision

Cabinet Member for Environment

Interim Executive Director for Housing, Regeneration and Environment

Contact: Christopher D’Souza, 020 7926 2232

Email: cdsouza@lambeth.gov.uk

(Report 50/10-11 and appendix)  (Key Decision – Call in period ends Friday 6 August 2010)

The Cabinet Member for Communities and Community Safety welcomed the report and thanked all the officers, members and organisations who had been involved. She highlighted that the recommendations of the commission were being accepted and that they were attempting to identify resources to continue services such as the stray dogs 24 hour phone line which currently had funding up to the end of the year.

The Cabinet received the following representations:

• Councillor Imogen Walker, Chair of the Dogs Commission, expressed pride in the achievements of the Commission but stated that this was only the first step and that the real work started here and that a small amount of funding could prevent major, expensive, problems later. She also highlighted that the RSPCA had welcomed the opportunity provided to them to take part in the commission.

The Cabinet noted the value of the work completed and what still needed to be done including changing attitudes and using existing legal power and also how the issue cut across all service areas.

RESOLVED:

(1)   To endorse the report of the Dogs Scrutiny Commission and officers’ responses to the recommendations of the Commission. Additionally, that Cabinet thanks members of the Commission and those who advised and supported it for their work on this important matter.

(2)   To direct officers to implement the Action Plan in response to the Commission’s recommendations subject to additional resources being identified as set out in paragraph 3.

(3)   That the Environment and Community Safety Scrutiny Sub-Committee monitors implementation and reports progress back to Cabinet. As part of its Annual Work Plan, an update on the implementation of the Action Plan will be provided to Environment and Community Safety Scrutiny Sub-Committee in six and eighteen months following adoption.

(Report 49/10-11 and appendices)

All Wards

Key Decision

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

Executive Director for Children and Young People’s Service

Contact: Barry Gilhooly, 020 7926 9794

Email: bgilhooly@lambeth.gov.uk

(Report 49/10-11 and appendix)  (Key Decision – Call in period ends Friday 6 August 2010)

The Cabinet Member for Children and Young People introduced the report and welcomed the successful cross-party work of the commission. He stated that it was important to reduce the number of exclusions and to work to ensure exclusion was not a life changing event for children. He also reported that the Children and Young People’s Service Scrutiny Sub-Committee intended to continue to work on issues around education exclusions.

The Cabinet received the following representations:

• Councillor Daphne Marchant, a member of the commission, highlighted concerns about potential budget cuts affecting this area.
• Councillor Donatus Anyanwu highlighted concerns that children were being given as little as one hours tuition a week to avoid having to exclude them but that this was having a detrimental impact on their education.

In discussion the Cabinet noted:

• The benefit of cross-party discussions.
• The involvement of head teachers and their attempted zero tolerance policy of exclusions.
• Continuing efforts to tackle exclusions of black children and the significant progress being made.

RESOLVED:

(1)   To note the requirement for additional financial resources to be identified as part of the 2011/12 Service and Financial Planning process to ensure that the action plan is fully implemented in line with the recommendations set out by the commission.

(2)   To approve the action plan subject to additional resources being identified as part of 2011/12 Service and Financial Planning process.

(Report 51/10-11 and appendix)

All Wards

Non-Key Decision

Deputy Leader of the Council

Chief Executive

Contact: Dorian Gray, 020 7926 6250

Email: dgray3@lambeth.gov.uk

(Report 51/10-1 and appendix)

The Deputy Leader introduced the report and drew attention to the Economic Recovery statistics that had been introduced as a result of the ‘credit crunch’.  These would be closely monitored.  She pointed out that last year there had been a rise of 20% in the number of Job Seeker Allowance claimants and a decrease of 12% in the number of vacancies.  The statistics also showed a rise in the number of volunteers.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources referred to the figures for NI59 and NI60 regarding assessments carried out in childrens’ social services and the fact that the targets had not been reached but that the Council was not always in charge of the processes required.

The Leader pointed out the increased achievement of children attaining GCSE’s.

RESOLVED:

(1)     That the areas of improvement in performance and the achievements made by the Council during the 2009/10 financial year be noted.

(Report 48/10-11)

Vassall Ward

Key Decision – Urgency Item

Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing

Executive Director for Adults’ and Community Services

Contact: Maria Millwood, 020 7926 4843

Email: mmillwood@lambeth.gov.uk

(Report 48/10-11)  (Key Decision – Call in period ends Friday 6 August 2010)

The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing introduced the report and stated that this was a good example of joint provision.

Guillotine

During the discussion the guillotine fell at 9pm

MOVED by the Chair, and

RESOLVED: That in accordance, with Cabinet Procedure Rule 2.3.5, the meeting continue for a period of up to ten minutes.

RESOLVED:

(1)         That a lease of the Akerman Road Resource Centre be taken for a period of 25 years on terms as set out in this report.

(2)          That it be noted that the lease costs will be funded from budgets within the Older Persons service.

(Report 52/10-11)

All Wards

Non-Key Decision

Leader of the Council

Chief Executive

Contact: David Burn, 020 7926 2186

Email: dburn@lambeth.gov.uk

(Report 52/10-11) 

The Leader of the Council highlighted the importance of transparency in making decisions about resources available to the political groups on the Council and stated that the proposals were in line with the support provided by neighbouring boroughs.

Cabinet received the following representations:

• Councillor Ashley Lumsden, Leader of the Majority Opposition, questioned whether the mechanism was fair and expressed concerns at the increase in support proposed when other areas of the Council were experiencing cuts. He requested that the proposals be deferred to allow better consultation.

RESOLVED:

(1)                     That dedicated Cabinet support be provided in accordance with paragraphs 2.6 and formalised at the level set out in paragraph 2.8.

(2)                     That backbench support be provided in accordance with paragraphs 2.7 and 2.8.

(3)                     That the Chief Executive be requested to ensure the delivery of this proposal, including the necessary staff consultation.

(Report 47/10-11)

All Wards

Key Decision

Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

Executive Director for Children and Young Peoples Service

Contact: Farquhar McKay, 020 7926 9881

Email: Fmckay1@lambeth.gov.uk

(Report 47/10-11)

REPORT WITHDRAWN by officers, as recent changes to the legislation meant that the Cabinet was not required to make a decision.