Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

On behalf of the Chair, there will be an announcement about the arrangements in case of fire or other events that might require the meeting room or building’s evacuation.

Members were advised of the Fire Safety procedures in the Council Chamber.

No apologies for absence received.

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 disclosures of interest.

To approve as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 10^th January 2024 and to authorise the Chair to sign them.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10^th January 2024, were agreed as a correct record and the Chair signed them.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10^th January 2024, were agreed as a correct record and the Chair signed them.

Report:  Bridge Close Regeneration LLP Business Plan Refresh 2024-2025

Presented by: Councillor Graham Williamson - Cabinet Member for Development and Regeneration

Cabinet:

1.     Approved the draft Bridge Close Regeneration LLP Business Plan 2024-2025 (the Business Plan) as attached at Appendix B.

2.     Agreed the provision of a budget to enable the funding and delivery of the regeneration of Bridge Close as required and detailed within the exempt Financial Implications and Risks section; this budget to be included within the proposed HRA Capital Programme that will be considered by Cabinet in the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan update.  

3.     Agreed that the Leader of the Council, after consultation with the Strategic Director of Place, the S151 Officer the and the Monitoring Officer, approve detailed business cases, funding arrangements and legal agreements as may be required to deliver the regeneration of Bridge Close as per the Business Plan 2024-2025.

4.      Noted that the Strategic Director of Place will continue discussions with the Havering Islamic Community Centre (HICC) with a view to relocating HICC within the proposed new development or, if a suitable alternative site could be found, elsewhere.

5.      Noted that the Strategic Director of Place will continue discussions with the London Ambulance Service (LAS) with a view to relocating the LAS to a suitable alternative site elsewhere.

6.      Instructed the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the S151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer, to bring forward a report for the making of the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the Bridge Close Regeneration scheme at the appropriate time in the financial year 2024-2025.

7.     Authorised the Strategic Director of Place, acting in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and the Section 151 Officer, to negotiate, finalise and enter into all necessary legal agreements as may be required, and to do anything incidental to bring into effect the proposed arrangements set out in Recommendations 1-6 inclusive.

Report:  Bridge Close Regeneration LLP Business Plan Refresh 2024-2025

Presented by: Councillor Graham Williamson - Cabinet Member for Development and Regeneration

1.1            The Council established a joint venture development vehicle, Bridge Close Regeneration LLP (‘BCR LLP’, ‘Joint Venture’ or ‘JV’) to bring forward the proposed regeneration of the site  ...  view the full minutes text for item 156.

Report:HRA Business Plan update, Budget 2024/25 & Capital Programme 2024/25–2028/29.

Presented by: Councillor Paul McGeary - Lead Member for Housing

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 7.7% from the week commencing 1^st April 2024.

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 7.7% from the week commencing 1st April 2024.

4                     Agreed the four rent-free weeks for 2024/25 are: the week commencing of 26th August 2024; 16th December 2024; 23rd December 2024 and the 31^st March 2025.

5                     Agreed that service charges and heating and hot water charges for 2024/25 are as detailed in section 2.20 of this report.

6                     Agreed that charges for garages should be increased by 7.7% in 2024/25 as detailed in paragraph 2.9 of this report.

7                     Agreed that the service charge for the provision of intensive housing management support in sheltered housing for 2024/25 shall be as detailed in paragraph 2.25 of this report.

8                     Agreed the Supported Housing Charge for HRA Hostels as detailed in paragraph 2.31 of this report.

9                     Agreed that the rent charge to shared ownership leaseholders is increased by 8.9% as detailed in paragraph 2.7 of this report.  

10                 Agreed that the Care-line and Telecare support charge should be increased by 7.7% for 2024/25 as detailed in paragraph 2.28 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 Estates Joint Venture and other acquisition and regeneration opportunities detailed in section 4.4 – 4.12 and Appendix 1b of this report and refer it to Full Council for final ratification.

13                 Approved the acquisition of 47 affordable homes by the HRA on the Quarles Campus site from Mercury Land Holdings, as detailed in paragraph 4.10 of this report, and delegate approval of the contract terms and completion to the Strategic Director of Place, acting in consultation with the Strategic Director of Resources Officer and the Deputy Director of Legal & Governance.

Report: HRA Business Plan update, Budget 2024/25 & Capital Programme 2024/25–2028/29.

Presented by: Councillor Paul McGeary - Lead Member for Housing

This report sets a budget for the Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and HRA Major Works and Capital Programme. Cabinet approved the Housing Asset Management Plan 2021-2051 in October 2021  ...  view the full minutes text for item 157.

Report: 2024/25 Budget and 2024-2028 Medium Term Financial Strategy

Presented by: Councillor Christopher Wilkins - Cabinet member for Finance

Cabinet:

1. Noted the requirements of Section 106 of the LGA 1992 Act as set out in Section 1 of this report

2. Noted the Medium Term Financial Position and the Budget setting process of the Council as set out in Section 3 of this report

3. Noted the key assumptions and risks to the 2024/25 budget as set out in Appendix A of this report

4. Noted the outcomes from the Public Consultation response as set out in Appendix B and agree the savings proposals as set out in Sections 3.7 to 3.11 and Appendix C of this report and of this report.

5. Agreed the proposed Fees and Charges schedule as set out in paragraph and Appendix D and for officers to proceed with implementation of the proposed fees and charges, subject to consultation where required.

6. Agreed the proposed 2.99% increase in core Council Tax for 2024/25 as set out in paragraph 3.18;

7. Agreed the proposed additional 2% Council tax increase for the Adult Social Care Precept as set out in paragraph 3.18;

8. Agreed the proposed Council Band D basic amount of Council Tax for 2024/25 of £1736.52 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B (1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax excluding the GLA precept for the year (as set out in section 3.18 to 3.20 of this report

9. Agreed the proposed Council Tax requirement for 2024/25 to be set at £158.023m as set out Appendix E of the report

10. Agreed the budgets proposed in this report and as set out in Appendix F

11. Agreed the Delegated Schools’ draft budget set out in Appendix G of this report;

12. Noted the S25 Statement of Robustness as set out in Appendix H of this report.

13. Agreed the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix I to this report (unchanged from 2023/24).

14. Agreed Council Tax discounts for early payment to be given at a rate of 1.5% as set out in Appendix J of this report.

15. Directed officers to disregard War Pension income in the assessment of Housing Benefit as detailed in see Section 11 and Appendix J and authorises the Chief Executive to approve any policy required to effect the same.

16. Noted the Equalities Impact Assessment in respect of the Council Tax Support Scheme as set out in Appendix K to this report

17. Noted that in the event the Capitalisation Direction is not awarded to the value requested before the emergency Full Council meeting on the 6th March, the Strategic Director of Resources (S151 Officer) will be required to issue a S114 report.

Report: 2024/25 Budget and 2024-2028 Medium Term Financial Strategy

Addenda circulated in advance of this Cabinet meeting

Presented by: Councillor Christopher Wilkins - Cabinet member for Finance

This report sets out the Council’s revenue budget requirement for 2024/25 and MTFS for the following three years. It makes proposals regarding  ...  view the full minutes text for item 158.

Report: 5 Year Capital Programme and Strategy – 2024/25 to 2028/29

Presented by: Councillor Christopher Wilkins - Finance

Cabinet agreed the following:

1.               Agreed to recommend to Council for consideration and approval the 2024/25 Capital programme of £342m and £1,421m over the full 5-year period from 2024/25 to 2028/29.

2.               Agreed to recommend to Council for consideration and approval the new capital projects being added to the capital programme for 2024/25 as set out in section 2.3 of this report.

3.               Noted any additional capital needs over and above what is specified in the capital programme for the relevant year will require separate business cases and be agreed by the S151 officer, Capital Strategy manager and Council Members as required and appropriate before being agreed by full Council.

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

5.               Noted that externally funded schemes can be added to the capital programme up to £500k as and when funding is confirmed.

6.               Approved the capital strategy contained within this report noting its impact on both the capital programme and the financial implications for setting the revenue budget for 2024/25 to 2028/29.

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

8.               Approved the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement (unchanged from prior years) which determines the amount of money set aside each year for the repayment of debt

9.               Agreed that the Chief Financial Officer (S151 Officer) be authorised to re-profile capital budgets mid-year based on the updated forecasts provided by services and reported to the Executive Leadership Team as part of the capital monitoring process. This will assist in producing more accurate information for treasury management purposes.

Report: 5 Year Capital Programme and Strategy – 2024/25 to 2028/29

Presented by: Councillor Christopher Wilkins - Finance

The Council is required by statute and as set out in the Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities, 2021 Edition, to agree the capital programme and associated capital  ...  view the full minutes text for item 159.

Report: Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2024/25 and Annual Investment Strategy 2024/25 (“TMSS”), Treasury Indicators

Presented by:  Councillor Christopher Wilkins - Cabinet Member for Finance

Cabinet agreed:   

·         The Draft 2024/25 TMSS & AIS which will form part of the Budget Report to Cabinet on 7 February and Full Council on 28 February 2024.

·         The revised prudential and treasury indicators set out in Appendix 2 and 3.

·                  The operational and authorised borrowing limits set out in tables 5 & 6 of appendix 2

Under the Havering Scheme of Delegation Part 3 section 3.10.3 the s151 Officer functions are:

(j)   To manage the Council’s loan debt, investments, and temporary investments, pension scheme and pension fund, insurance fund, act as registrar of loan instruments, manage all banking arrangements including numbers and types of accounts and arrange insurance of property and the selecting and accepting of tenders for insurance cover and related services which are considered to offer best value for the Council promoting good risk management practices at all times.

Report: Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2024/25 and Annual Investment Strategy 2024/25 (“TMSS”), Treasury Indicators

Presented by:  Councillor Christopher Wilkins - Cabinet Member for Finance

The Treasury Management Strategy Statement (“TMSS”) is part of the Authority’s reporting procedures as recommended by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Treasury  ...  view the full minutes text for item 160.