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.

If any receive;-

Apologies received from Councillor Paul Middleton, the Councillor joined the meeting via the Zoom link.

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.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th October 2025, and to authorise the Chair to sign them.

The minutes of the meetings held on 15^th October 2025, were agreed as a correct record and the Chair signed them

Report attached.

Report Title:  Decant Policy

Presented by: Councillor Natasha Summers, Cabinet Member for Housing Need and Climate Change

Cabinet:

Approved the proposed Decant Policy in Appendix 1

Delegated any minor amendments to the Policy to the Director of Living Well in consultation with the Lead Cabinet Member for Housing Need and Climate Change

Report attached.

Report Title:  Vulnerable Person Policy for Council Tenants (2025)

Presented by: Councillor Paul McGeary, Cabinet Member for Housing and Property

Cabinet:

Approved the Vulnerable Person Policy for Council Tenants.

Report attached.

Report Title: Review of Foster Carer Allowances

Presented by: Councillor Oscar Ford - Cabinet member for Children and Young People

Cabinet:

Agreed to support recruitment and retention of our in-house foster carers

Cabinet agreed to;

Increase the weekly foster carers’ fee allowance and weekly allowance per child as set out in paragraph 2.5 of the Report to ensure we are offering a fair and competitive rate when compared to neighbouring boroughs and the recommended national minimum allowance.  

Report attached.

Link to all appendices at end of report.

Report Title: East London Joint Waste Plan Submission

Presented by: Councillor Graham Williamson, Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Development

Cabinet:

Endorsed the report and its appendices, and made the following recommendations to be presented at Full Council:

That Full Council:

1.     Authorise officers to proceed under Regulation 22 to submit the East London Joint Waste Plan Submission Plan (appendix 1, the East London Joint Waste Plan, approved by Cabinet in April 2025, as amended by the modifications provided in appendix 17) and associated documents (as set out in paragraph 2.19) to the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, for independent public examination.

2.    Delegate authority to the Director of Planning and Public Protection, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration to:

•           Make any inconsequential or factual updates to the Submission Documents listed in paragraph 2.19 to facilitate submission of the Plan under Regulation 22.

•           Make a formal request of the Planning Inspector at an appropriate point during the examination of the Waste Plan to recommend modifications to the Plan to make it sound and legally compliant in accordance with section 20 (7c) of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act; and

•           Exercise all examination procedural matters as prescribed by the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and associated Regulations, including updates to submission documents and agreeing and consulting on further modifications, required to make the Plan sound.

Report attached.

This Report is part-exempt and Appendix F is not available for public inspection as it contain or relate to exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. It is exempt because it refersto information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information), and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report Title: Harold Hill Town Centre - Chippenham Road Making of a Compulsory Purchase Order

Presented by: Councillor Graham Williamson – Cabinet Member for Regeneration & Development

Cabinet:

2.1       Resolved that there is a compelling case in public interest for the Council to  make a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO).

2.2       Resolved that the public interest in making a CPO outweighs interference with rights under the Human Rights Act 1998.

2.3       Agreed to the Council making a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) pursuant to the statutory powers contained in section 226(1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (as amended), and section 13 of the Local Government (Misc. Provisions) Act 1976 and all other necessary action to acquire all property and other proprietary interests on the land, including where appropriate new rights, located within the outline on the CPO Red Line Plan at Appendix B, for the purposes of delivering the new homes and regeneration of Chippenham Road.

2.4       Agreed that the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, Deputy Director Legal and Governance and Strategic Director of Resources be authorised to:

2.4.1   To make the CPO or multiple CPOs to enable the acquisition of land, interest and rights within the CPO Red Line Plan as attached to this report at Appendix B;

2.4.2   To appoint surveyors, solicitors, barristers and any other professionals required to promote the CPO(s) and to facilitate the vacant possession of interests located within the CPO Red Line Plan;

2.4.3   To settle the final form and content of the CPO(s) and associated documentation to include the;

•           CPO Schedule of Interests - Appendix A;

•           Plans identifying location and extent of interests subject of the proposed CPO - Appendix B;

•           Equalities Impact Assessment - Appendix C;

•           Statement of Reasons  - Appendix D;

•           Community Engagement - Appendix E;

•           Financial Implications - Appendix F (Exempt)

2.4.4   To make amendments to the CPO if necessary, including a reduction or increase to the extent of the land included in the draft Order Map.

2.4.5   To take all necessary steps to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the CPO(s) including publication and service of notices and presentation of the Councils case at Public Inquiry, or Court should such representation be necessary;

2.4.6   To take such actions to continue attempts to acquire properties and proprietary interests within the CPO Red Line Plan by agreement, such actions to include; the relocation of residents and statutory undertakers apparatus or Communication Code Operators; and any other interests and setting out the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the CPO(s); and

2.4.7   To pay all costs associated with making the Order, including the compensation payable to landowners and their professional fees;

            2.4.8   Agreed to appoint external consultants to assess, agree and pay                any compensation and claims arising from redevelopment of the Order Land pursuant to the Order;

2.4.9   That following the confirmation of the CPO(s) by the Secretary of State, secure vacant possession of all properties  ...  view the full decision text for item 9.

Report attached.

Report Title: Corporate Parenting Strategy 2025 – 2028

Presented by: Councillor Oscar Ford, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People

Cabinet:

Approved the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2025–2028 attached at Appendix One.

Noted that the Corporate Parenting Panel will monitor the delivery of the strategy and associated action plan, which will include scrutinising that there is:

o          Timely access to health and mental health services.

o          Strengthened education, employment, and mentoring pathways.

o          Strengthened housing pathways.

o          Safer placements and community environments.

o          Meaningful participation of young people in shaping services.

o          Promotion of fairness, inclusion, and cultural celebration.

Noted that the Corporate Parenting Panel will monitor progress through key performance indicators and qualitative feedback, with updates to be shared with stakeholders, including children and young people, by officers in the Starting Well directorate.

Directed officers to carry out an internal review of the strategy for late 2027, and to make any interim revisions to the action plan as needed to ensure continued relevance and impact.

Report attached.

Report Title: Havering Employment Charter for Autistic People and People with Learning Disabilities

Presented by: Councillor Gillian Ford; Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Adults and Wellbeing

Cabinet

2.1       Agreed to support the addition of the of the employment charter into the Council’s Human Resources recruitment and selection policy within the conditions of the Disability Confident scheme.

Overview & Scrutiny Recommendations:

At its meeting on 6 November 2025, the People Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee discussed and made some recommendations re the report being considered by Cabinet on the Havering Learning Disability and Employment Charter.

The specific recommendations in this area are as shown below and Cabinet was asked to respond to these at the Cabinet meeting.

If agreed, Cabinet is also asked to approve that a final version of the Charter, incorporating these changes, be published as soon as is practicable, on the Council’s website alongside the agenda papers for this Cabinet meeting.

1.         That Cabinet considers and responds to the following recommendations made by the People Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee in relation to the report on the Havering Learning Disability and Autism Employment Charter due to be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 12 November 2025.

•           Section 5.1.1: The term ‘positive discrimination’ be amended to ‘positive action’, aligning with the Equality Act 2010.

•           Sections 5.1.3 and 5.1.4: These sections be amended as follows:

o          5.1.3 will now focus on ensuring training and support to enable people with learning disabilities and autistic people to develop skills for career progression.

o          5.1.4 will now refer to reviewing the effectiveness of supported employment services, rather than continuous assessment.

2.         That Cabinet notes that these refinements strengthen the Charter, ensure compliance with equality legislation, and reinforce the Council’s commitment to fairness, accessibility, and impact.

3.         Should the above proposed amendments be accepted by Cabinet, that the final version of the Havering Learning Disability and Autism Employment Charter be published for clarity on the Council’s website page for this meeting of Cabinet.

Cabinet agreed to all of the above recommendations and agreed that  the updated document is attached below as confirmation.

The London Borough of Havering Employment Charter – Employment of People with Learning Disabilities and Autistic People

1.0       Introduction

1.1.      Inequalities and inequity in employment can be associated with inequalities and inequity in other areas of life including health, social mobility, and education. People with learning disabilities and autistic people are more likely to be experience life inequalities and be unemployed relative to both the general population and even people with other kinds of disability.

1.2.      To help reduce inequalities in employment outcomes for people with learning disabilities and autistic people, the London Borough of Havering will adopt the following charter to increase the number of people with learning disabilities and autistic people employed locally.

1.3.      This charter forms part of the borough’s wider employment strategy, the local autism strategy, and our commitment to the Disability Confident Employer scheme.

2.0       Vision

2.1.      To promote employment opportunities and personal  ...  view the full decision text for item 11.

Report attached.

Report Title: Zane’s Law

Presented by: Cllr. Ray Morgon, Leader of the Council

Cabinet Members:

Expressed support for achieving the principles of Zane’s Law and agreed to lobby the Government for its introduction

Report attached.

Report Title: 2026-2029 Medium Term Financial Strategy Update

Presented by: Councillor Chris Wilkins (Cabinet Member for Finance)

Cabinet:

2.1.      Cabinet noted the medium-term financial position set out in this report

2.2       Cabinet noted the proposed savings and investment set out in this report and authorised officers to start the budget engagement process, including specific consultations (where required) to implement the savings in this report.

2.3       Cabinet authorised officers to action efficiency and invest to save proposals with immediate effect in 2025/26 where possible if the operational savings proposals are not public facing, and so therefore is not subject to consultation and an EQUIA.

2.4       Cabinet noted the position regarding further exceptional financial support from the Government and to note that officers will continually review and update the Medium Term Financial Strategy from now through to when the Budget is signed off by Full Council.

Report attached.

Report Title: Second Quarter of Financial Year 2025/26 Revenue and Capital Monitoring Report

Presented by: Councillor Chris Wilkins (Cabinet Member for Finance)

Cabinet:

2.1       Cabinet noted the revenue monitoring position of the Council as at the end of September 2025 (quarter two of the financial year.) This includes a forecast underspend on the Council’s General Fund of £7.65m (sections 4, 5 and 6), an underspend on the HRA of £2.33m (Section 8) and an overspend of £28m DSG budgets that will bring the overall DSG deficit to £65m (section 9). The consequent impact on the Council’s reserves is set out in section 11).

2.2       Cabinet noted the progress toward the delivery of savings as set out in the Council’s MTFS as at the end of September 2025 (quarter two of the financial year) as set out in section 7

2.3       Cabinet noted the capital monitoring position of the Council as at the end of September 2025 (quarter two of the financial year) as set out in section 12

2.4       Cabinet noted the update in section 10 on the position of the Council’s maintained schools and to delegate to the Director of Starting Well in conjunction with the Strategic Director for Resources and the appropriate Cabinet members the ability to grant a licensed deficit to qualifying schools.