Decisions

Cabinet considered a report on the urgent need to undertake works at 3 Roundwood Avenue, Stockley Park following the unexpected mechanical failure of the main chiller and boilers.

It was proposed that the Council forward funds the works, given their scale, and recovers the costs from the tenants via the service charge over the next 18 months.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Cabinet:

Formally agree not to forward fund the works  

Resolved to:

1.    Approve the expenditure of £271,600 for the forward funding of works to replace the central plant (chiller and boiler system) at 3 Roundwood Avenue;

2.    Approve the appointment of contractor B for the chiller works, and contractor D for the boiler replacement, following a competitive tender process; and 

3.    Authorise the Group Head of Corporate Governance to enter into any legal documentation necessary to formalise the appointments.

Reason for Decision

The works are of an urgent nature following the unexpected mechanical failure of the main chiller and boilers.

The building is fully let with repair and maintenance costs recoverable through a service charge.  The works will greatly enhance the future potential for securing new lettings in the building.

The works have been competitively tendered and represent good value to the Council.

Cabinet considered a report on the amendment to fees which had been missed from the February Cabinet Fees and Charges report and the introduction of a pavement licensing fee.

As part of the coronavirus business recovery plan, the Business and Planning Bill will make temporary provision for the application for a pavement licence to permit the placement of furniture on part of the highway adjacent to a premises.  This will allow the licence-holder to sell or serve food or drink. The Council is able to recover the costs it incurs to process the licence to a maximum £100 per licence.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Cabinet:

·         To propose alternative fees to those presented in the report.

Resolved to:

1.    Approve the annual licensing fee for street traders;

2.    Approve the annual licensing fee for private hire driver re-testing;

3.    Approve a correction to the breakdown of HMO licensing fee;

4.    Approve a new fee for the provision of pavement licences; and

5.    Note that the HMO licensing fees are to be reviewed to ensure that charges reflect costs incurred and value for money.

Reason for decision

Councils are strongly encouraged to recover the full costs of their statutory licensing activities from the businesses who benefit (i.e. the licence holder), rather than placing the financial burden on the local tax payer.

To note the provisional revenue outturn report for 2019/20 and consider the proposed revenue carry forward figures.

Cabinet considered a report on the provisional revenue outturn for 2019/20. 

The report noted a surplus for the year of £4.939m, of which £0.204m related to proposed carry forward items with £0.249m set aside in the General Fund Reserve, resulting in a net balanced budget.

Resolved to:

1.    note the provisional revenue outturn for 2019/20;

2.    approve the revenue carry forwards of £204,200; and

3.    approve the transfer to reserves for 2019/20.

To consider the provisional capital outturn report for 2019/20 and the proposed capital carry forward requests.

Cabinet considered a report on the provisional capital outturn spend for 2019/20. 

The majority of the £153.7m underspend related to property development schemes and the remainder to Corporate ICT projects. The proposed capital carry forward of £76.5m included £76.4m for the development of Oast House and various other capital schemes.

Resolved to:

1.    note the provisional capital outturn spend for 2019/20; and

2.    approve the capital carry forward of £76,525,900.

To consider Council appointments to Outside Bodies.

Cabinet considered nominations for representatives to be appointed to outside bodies as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

Resolved to appoint those representatives to the Outside Bodies as shown at Appendix 1 until June 2021.

Reason for Decision

The annual appointment of representatives to Outside Bodies helps the Council fulfil its community engagement role.

Cabinet considered a report on the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2020-2025.

The Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2020-2025 sets out how the Council will tackle and prevent homelessness in the borough. The strategy sets out six key priorities, and is based upon the findings of an extensive Homelessness Review, feedback from two stakeholder events held in 2019, extensive feedback from local partners from the statutory and voluntary sectors, and responses from a six week public consultation which ran from December 2019 to January 2020.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Cabinet: Do nothing

Resolved to approve the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2020-2025 as appended to the report.

Reason for Decision

The Council is required under the Homelessness Act 2002 to have a Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy, which is now out of date. Following an extensive review the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2020-2025 sets out how the Council will tackle and prevent homelessness in the borough.