Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of each of the following meetings as a correct record:

1.    Cabinet – 21 June 2017

2.    Extraordinary Cabinet – 13 July 2017

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 21 June 2017 and the Extraordinary Cabinet meeting held on 13 July 2017 were each agreed as a correct record.

To receive any disclosures of interest from councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for members.

There were none.

Councillor Williams

To consider the recommendation of the Audit Committee on Corporate Risk Management.

Cabinet considered the recommendation from the Audit Committee following a review of the Corporate Risk Register.

Resolved that Cabinet approves the Corporate Risk Register as submitted.

Reason for the decision:

Cabinet noted that the Corporate Risk Register accurately reflected the high level risks affecting the Council as well as the progress made on actions previously proposed by the Audit Committee.

Councillor Gething

To consider options for play and refreshment facilities at Lammas recreation ground in Staines-upon-Thames.

Cabinet considered a report on play and refreshment facilities at Lammas recreation ground.

The report explained that a tender exercise was required to establish whether there were any companies who were interested in tendering for the provision of a recreation facility within the Lammas recreation ground.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Cabinet:

·         Do nothing;

·         Refurbish kiosk and source contractor to run facility.

Resolved to:

1.     Authorise the Group Head Neighbourhood Services to go out to tender to design, install and run a new recreational facility and manage the refreshment kiosk within the Lammas recreation ground as detailed in the report;

2.     Authorise the Group Head Neighbourhood Services in conjunction with the portfolio holder to evaluate the submissions and report back to Cabinet on preferred options and suppliers

Reason for the decision:

The Lammas is a primary park and it is important to retain key recreational facilities within this park.

Councillor Harvey

To consider the recommendations of the Independent Remuneration Panel on the Members’ Allowances Scheme 2017-2018 and recommend the amended scheme to Council.

Cabinet considered the Independent Remuneration Panel’s report on the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2017/18.

The report explained that it is a matter for the Council to decide the level of members’ allowances under the Spelthorne Members’ Allowances Scheme and the function of the Independent Remuneration Panel is to provide the Council with advice on the type of its allowances and the amounts to be paid.

Resolved that Cabinet recommends the amended Members’ Allowances Scheme 2017-2018 to Council for approval.

Reason for the decision:

The Council is required to make a scheme of allowances and the Independent Remuneration Panel is appointed by the Council to advise on the type of its allowances and the amounts to be paid.

Councillor Harvey

To consider the appointment of representatives to an outside body and a working group for 2017/18. (The nominations will be circulated at the meeting).

Cabinet considered nominations for appointment of representatives to two outside bodies for the period July 2017 to June 2018 and

Resolved to appoint councillors as follows:

1. Sustainability and Transformation Plan Stakeholder Reference Group

Councillor D. Patel (Representative)

Councillor S.C. Mooney (Deputy Representative)

2. Members Development Steering Group

Councillors A.E. Friday, A.C. Harman, J. G. Kavanagh, J.M. Pinkerton OBE and R.W. Sider.

To receive any announcements from the Leader.

The Leader announced to the Cabinet that the Appointments Committee had met this week and interviewed the shortlist candidates for the recruitment of a new Chief Executive. It unanimously selected the person it wished to recommend to Council for appointment and a conditional offer had been made. The Leader hoped to be in a position shortly to call an Extraordinary meeting of the Council to confirm the appointment.

The following are the latest service updates from various Council departments:

The grounds maintenance contract was brought back in-house at the beginning of July. The transfer went smoothly and normal service resumed during the first week of operation. 

Training sessions have been held for staff on the new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) which come into effect in May next year. 

The summer Bulletin is being delivered to residents from 15 July and includes articles about new local voluntary services, recycling changes and local summer events. 

ICT are undertaking work to improve the protection of the Council’s computer networks from hackers and ransomware attacks. This involves a range of measures such as installing developers’ updates as they become available and educating staff about ways to reduce the risks.

Councillors now have the modern.gov app installed on their laptops which allows them to view, highlight and annotate committee agendas, reducing the need for printed copies. 

The popular Laleham ‘Beach’ will be returning to Laleham Park for a second year with lots of activities on offer for children from 14 July until 31 August.

The Benwell Centre summer fete and open day was held on Friday 14 July to help raise funds and give residents the chance to look around the facilities.

Team Spelthorne celebrated a very successful weekend at the 21^st annual Specsavers Surrey Youth Games in Guildford on 17 and 18 June. Spelthorne finished in third place overall for the second consecutive year, winning Gold medals in u9 girls football and u11 girls football; silver in u8 mixed tennis, u11 boys hockey, u12 table tennis and u12 girls rugby and bronze in u11 mixed badminton, u15 mixed lacrosse and individual judo.

A series of free open-air music events are being held in the Walled Garden in Sunbury and Lammas Park in Staines over the summer. Full details are on the website and in the Bulletin.

Spelthorne Sports Week is being held from 7-11 August for young people aged 8 – 16. Sports on offer include squash, tennis, hockey, table tennis, fencing and rowing. The cost is £10 per day or £40 for the week.

Night-time street lights have been switched back on in Spelthorne. The Council agreed to fund the service for an initial period of five years after Surrey County Council took the decision to turn off night-time street lighting across the whole of Surrey. 

A spectacular flotilla of boats sailed from Sunbury to Staines-upon-Thames led by the Queen’s rowbarge, Gloriana, in celebration of the Mayor of Spelthorne’s River Day on Saturday 24 June. Gloriana was joined by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2403.

To consider any items which the Chairman considers as urgent.

The Chairman agreed to take the following urgent exempt report on the acquisition of a property for investment.

The first round bid made before the deadline of Friday 14 July 2017 would be strengthened considerably if it was backed by Cabinet to authorise the level of the bid. It was therefore not possible to defer the decision until the next meeting of the Cabinet on 27 September 2017, as this would be well beyond the bid deadline.

To move the exclusion of the Press/Public for the following item, in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

Resolved to move the exclusion of the Press and Public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

Councillor Harvey

To consider the acquisition of a site as an investment asset.

Reason for exemption

This report contains exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006): Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)  and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because, disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority in the bidding process for the site by allowing other bidders to know the position of the Council.  This in turn prejudices the Council by (i) distorting the bids process and (ii) prejudicing the opportunity for the Council to acquire a site through the Council for the prudent management of its financial affairs.

Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Cabinet considered an exempt report on an opportunity to acquire an asset capable of generating strong levels of income, and thereby increase the Council’s asset base.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Cabinet:

·         Not to submit a bid for the asset.

Resolved to:

1.    Approve the acquisition of the investment asset identified in this report;

2.    Formally agree the offer submitted, and authorise the Chief Executive to undertake any necessary subsequent negotiations (including a further bid if required) and complete the acquisition of the asset (in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, the Leader and the Cabinet Member for Finance);

3.    Authorise the Chief Finance Officer to decide (i) the most financially advantageous funding arrangements for the purchase, (ii) the most tax efficient method of holding the asset, and overall to ensure the acquisition is prudentially affordable;

4.    Authorise the Head of Corporate Governance to enter into any legal documentation necessary to acquire the asset;

5.    Agree to exempt Contract Standing Orders in respect of our advisors.

Reason for Decision

Acquisition of the asset will bring in a steady income stream for the term of the lease. The income stream will assist in the future long term financial stability of the Council.