Members are invited to disclose any interests in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting. Members may still disclose an interest in an item at any time prior to the consideration of the matter.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2021, and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 27 January 2021 were agreed and the Chairman signed these as a true copy of the same.

Following the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board on 16 February 2021, this reference was received for the information of Cabinet when considering the Budget reports.

A reference to Cabinet in respect of the Budget reports was received from the Overview and Scrutiny Board by way of a supplementary agenda.  This document was considered by Cabinet in relation to those matters considered later on the agenda.

Cabinet agreed:

1.    To implement Chipside’s virtual permit (MiPermit) solution for new permit applications for all types listed below from May 2021.  

·       Business

·       Carer

·       Car park season tickets

·       Critical duty

·       Havering clinical commissioning group

·       Havering hero

·       Health and homecare

·       Members

·       Parking waiver

·       Resident

·       Staff car park season tickets

·       School streets exemption

·       Voucher

2.    To migrate all existing permit holders to the MiPermit solution from their date of expiry after May 2021;

3.    To offer a virtual visitor permit option from May 2021 to run concurrently with paper visitor scratch cards.

4.    To transfer the responsibility for answering all calls relating to parking permits handled by the Contact Centre and other Havering services to Chipside’s MiPermit helpline.

Cabinet considered the Virtual Permits report presented by Councillor Osman Dervish.

Highways traffic and Parking (HTP) services proposed paper permits are replaced by virtual permits (MiPermit) provided by the Council’s contracted Notice Processing System supplier – Chipside.

Changing permits to a virtual system will make savings and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Cabinet:

1      Approved the Housing Revenue Account Budget as detailed in paragraph 3.5.

2      Agreed that the rents chargeable for tenants in general needs Council properties owned by the London Borough of Havering be increased by 1.5% from the week commencing 5th April 2021.

3      Agreed that the rents chargeable for tenants in supported housing Council properties, such as sheltered housing and hostels, owned by the London Borough of Havering, are increased by 1.5% from the week commencing 5th April 2021

4      Agreed the four rent-free weeks for 2021/22 are: week commencing 23rd August 2021, the two weeks commencing 20th and 27th December 2021, and the week commencing 28th March 2022.

5      Agreed that service charges and heating and hot water charges for 2021/22 are as detailed in paragraph 2.10 of this report.

6      Agreed that charges for Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) leased and managed by the Council (General Fund) are set at the LHA applicable on the 5th April 2021.

7      Agreed that charges for garages should be increased by 1.5% in 2021/22 as detailed in paragraph 2.7 of this report.

8      Agreed that the service charge for the provision of intensive housing management support in sheltered housing for 2021/22 shall be as detailed in paragraph 2.20 of this report.

9      That Members consider the options for the Supported Housing Charge for HRA Hostels as detailed in paragraph 2.24

10   Agreed that the Careline and Telecare support charge should be increased by 1.5% for 2021/22 as detailed in paragraph 2.22 of this report.

11   Approved the HRA Major Works Capital Programme, detailed in Appendix 1a of this report and refer it to full Council for final ratification.

12   Approved the HRA Capital expenditure and financing for the 12 Sites Joint Venture and other acquisition and regeneration opportunities detailed in section 4.0 and Appendix 1b of this report and refer it to full Council for final ratification.

Councilor Joshua Chapman, the Cabinet Member for Housing was delighted to bring this report to Cabinet for discussion.  The report details the HRA budget and the HRA Capital Works Programme.

The HRA is a ring-fenced account that is used to manage and maintain the Council’s own housing stock. The proposed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Cabinet:

1.             Will Recommend to Council for consideration and approval the 2021/22 and ongoing Capital Programme noting the changes in accessing new borrowing set out in section 1.3

2.             Agreed that the Chief Financial Officer be authorised to allocate funding from the Capital Contingency included within the draft Capital Programme.

3.             Agreed that externally funded schemes can be added to the capital programme up to £500k as and when funding is confirmed. Any external funding over £500k will be subject to approval by the Chief Financial Officer.

4.             Agreed that the relevant Cabinet Member, together with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property be delegated authority to commence tender processes and accept tenders for capital schemes included within the approved programme.

5.             Approved the capital strategy contained within this report noting its impact on both the capital programme and overall contribution to the setting of the revenue budget for 2021/22 and beyond

6.             Noted the capital prudential indicators included within the capital strategy when approving the capital programme to ensure affordability.

7.             Agreed that the Chief Financial Officer be authorised to re-profile capital budgets mid-year based on the updated forecasts provided by services and reported to the Senior Leadership Team as part of the capital monitoring process. This will assist in producing more accurate information for treasury management purposes.

Cabinet decided that all three main budget reports would be dealt with together and Jane West the s151 Chief Finance Officer, gave a presentation in respect of all three reports.

This presentation is attached in full to the minutes.

In respect of the Capital programme and Strategy for 2021/22, following  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.

Cabinet:

1.    Approved the TMSS 2021/22.

2. Approved the Prudential and Treasury Indicators set out in Appendices 2 and 3 respectively of this report.
3. Approved the Annual MRP Policy Statement for 2021/22 set out in Appendix 8 of this report.
4. Recommended the annual TMSS and MRP statements 2021/22 to Council for approval.
5. Delegated future changes required to this Strategy to the Chief Financial Officer after consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property. This will provide the additional flexibility to swiftly respond to changing circumstances.

Jane West, s151 Finance Officer gave a presentation attached to these minutes.

Following discussion,

Cabinet:

1.    Approved the TMSS 2021/22.

2. Approved the Prudential and Treasury Indicators set out in Appendices 2 and 3 respectively of this report.
3. Approved the Annual MRP Policy Statement for 2021/22 set out in Appendix 8  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

Cabinet:

1.     Agreed the Council Tax requirement for 2021/22 to be set at £134.980m as set out in paragraph 7.5 and Appendix G of the report;

2.     Agreed the Delegated Schools’ draft budget set out in section 5.13 of this report;

3.     Agreed a 1.50% increase in Council Tax for 2021/22 as set out in paragraph 7.1;

4.     Agreed an additional 3% Adult Social Care Precept as in paragraph 7.1;

5.     Noted the Medium Term Financial Strategy position as set out in Section 8

6.     Agreed the fees and charges schedule as set out in Section 9 and Appendix C

7.     Noted the risks to the 2021/22 budget as set out in Section 10

8.     Noted the requirements of S106 of the LGA 1992 Act as set out in Section 1

9.     Agreed that to facilitate the usage of un-ringfenced resources, the Chief Financial Officer in consultation with Service Directors will review any such new funds allocated to Havering; make proposals for their use; and obtain approval by the Leader and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Property.

10.Delegated to the Chief Financial Officer in consultation with Service Directors the authority to make any necessary changes to service and the associated budgets relating to any subsequent specific grant funding announcements, where delays may otherwise adversely impact on service delivery and/or budgetary control, subject to consultation with Cabinet Members as appropriate.

11.Delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services and Health and the Leader to approve an annual spend plan for the Public Health grant.

12.Delegated to the Directors of Children’s and Adults authority to agree inflation rates with social care providers for 2021/22.

13.Read the Equalities Impact Assessment in respect of the CTS Scheme as set out in Appendix E to this report.

14.Read the summary version of the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2021/22 as set out in Appendix F to this report (unchanged from 2020/21).

Cabinet will recommend to Council for consideration and approval:

1.     Agree the Council Tax requirement for 2021/22 to be set at £134.980m as set out in paragraph 7.5 and Appendix G of the report;

2.     The Delegated Schools’ draft budget set out in section 5.13 of this report;

3.     A 1.5% increase in Council Tax for 2021/22 as set out in paragraph 7.1;

4.     An additional 3% Adult Social Care Precept as in paragraph 7.1;

5.     That it pass a resolution as set out in section 14 of this report to enable Council Tax discounts for early payment to be given at the 2020/21 level of 1.5%.

6.     Recommend to Full Council that the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2021/22 is adopted as set out in Section 15 of this report (unchanged from 2020/21).

Jane West, s151 Finance Officer gave a presentation attached to these minutes.

Following discussion,

Cabinet:

1.     Agreed the Council Tax requirement for 2021/22 to be set at £134.980m as set out in paragraph 7.5 and Appendix G of the report;

2.     Agreed the Delegated Schools’ draft budget set out in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.