Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2017 as an accurate record.

The part A minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 11 December 2017 were received. The Leader of the Council signed the minutes as an accurate record.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct and the statutory provisions of the Localism Act, Members and co-opted Members of the Council are reminded that it is a requirement to register disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) and gifts and hospitality to the value of which exceeds £50 or multiple gifts and/or instances of hospitality with a cumulative value of £50 or more when received from a single donor within a rolling twelve month period. In addition, Members and co-opted Members are reminded that unless their disclosable pecuniary interest is registered on the register of interests or is the subject of a pending notification to the Monitoring Officer, they are required to disclose those disclosable pecuniary interests at the meeting. This should be done by completing the Disclosure of Interest form and handing it to the Democratic Services representative at the start of the meeting. The Chair will then invite Members to make their disclosure orally at the commencement of Agenda item 3. Completed disclosure forms will be provided to the Monitoring Officer for inclusion on the Register of Members’ Interests.

There were none.  

To receive notice of any business not on the agenda which in the opinion of the Chair, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.

There were no items of urgent business, but Cabinet Members made   announcements on the following, the full details of which can be viewed on the meeting webcast: 

Children’s Services

Councillor Tony Newman, the Leader of the Council reported the receipt of the letter from the Minster of State in late December and that there would be a report back on progress to the next Cabinet meeting on 26 February.  Councillor Alisa Flemming, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People & Learning, reported that Ofsted have recognised the great progress achieved since the inspection.

Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children (UASC) - related funding

Councillor Simon Hall, Cabinet Member for Finance & Treasury, announced that the Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government had announced funding to Croydon which was less than two per cent of the £19m the Controlling Migration Fund has committed to councils who care for UASC. The Council will be challenging the lack of funding.  

Library Services following the collapse of Carillion

Councillor Tony Newman, the Leader of the Council paid tribute to all staff involved in maintaining the Library service following the collapse of Carillion. Councillor Timothy Godfrey, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure & Sport, thanked the core officer team and frontline library staff for their work and Councillor Simon Hall, Cabinet Member for Finance & Treasury, reported that the Council had no financial exposure at termination.

Croydon Local Plan

Councillor Alison Butler, Deputy Leader (Statutory) and Cabinet Member for Homes, Regeneration and Planning announced that the government appointed inspector had found the Croydon draft local plan is sound and fit for purpose. Councillor Butler thanked all the officers involved.

Citiscape - replacement cladding

Councillor Alison Butler, Deputy Leader (Statutory) and Cabinet Member for Homes, Regeneration and Planning announced that, on behalf of local residents, she was seeking re-assurance from Citiscape and developers of similar blocks that the costs or replacement cladding should not be passed on to the residents.   

Developers viability reports

Councillor Alison Butler, Deputy Leader (Statutory) and Cabinet Member for Homes, Regeneration and Planning announced that developers’ viability reports will be made public in future.    

Officers: Jo Negrini, Sarah Ireland, Caroline Bruce

Key decision: no                    

A video presentation was introduced by Councillor Tony Newman for this agenda item, which is available on the meeting webcast.

The Leader of the Council has delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the decisions set out below

RESOLVED

1. To note the performance for the period April to September 2017 as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report.

2. To note the achievements, progress, and work to date, as detailed in this report, of delivery against the promises set out in the 2015-18 Corporate Plan.

3. To note the areas of challenge (where the Council is responsible for performance) and the work underway / proposed to address these areas as detailed in this report and Appendix 1 to the report.

A video presentation was introduced by Councillor Tony Newman for this agenda item, which is available on the meeting webcast.

The Leader of the Council has delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the decisions set out below

RESOLVED

1. To note the performance for the period April to September 2017 as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report.

2. To note the achievements, progress, and work to date, as detailed in this report, of delivery against the promises set out in the 2015-18 Corporate Plan.

3. To note the areas of challenge (where the Council is responsible for performance) and the work underway / proposed to address these areas as detailed in this report and Appendix 1 to the report.

Officers: Guy Van Dichele, Richard Simpson  

Key decision: Yes

A video presentation was provided by Councillor Louisa Woodley for this agenda item, which is available on the meeting webcast.

Kate Pierpoint – the Chief Executive of Age UK Croydon and

Paul Etheridge – a Personal Independence Coordinator at Age UK Croydon spoke during this agenda item.

The Leader of the Council has delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the executive decisions set out below: 

RESOLVED to

1. Agree to the extension of the One Croydon Alliance Agreement term for a further 9 years, commencing 1 April 2018 to 31st March 2027.  

2. Agree to expand the remit of the Alliance Agreement to ensure the potential for whole system transformation for health and social care.  Decisions to materially increase programme scope will be taken as part of the Council’s decision making process.

3. Delegate to the Interim Executive Director of Social Services and the Executive Director of Resources in consultation with Cabinet Member for Families Health and Social Care and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Treasury the signing of the final 9 year Alliance agreement on or around 1/04/2018 and extension / appropriate award of the in scope service contracts. 

A video presentation was provided by Councillor Louisa Woodley for this agenda item, which is available on the meeting webcast.

Kate Pierpoint – the Chief Executive of Age UK Croydon and

Paul Etheridge – a Personal Independence Coordinator at Age UK Croydon spoke during this agenda item.

The Leader of the Council has delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the executive decisions set out below: 

RESOLVED to

1. Agree to the extension of the One Croydon Alliance Agreement term for a further 9 years, commencing 1 April 2018 to 31st March 2027.  

2. Agree to expand the remit of the Alliance Agreement to ensure the potential for whole system transformation for health and social care.  Decisions to materially increase programme scope will be taken as part of the Council’s decision making process.

3. Delegate to the Interim Executive Director of Social Services and the Executive Director of Resources in consultation with Cabinet Member for Families Health and Social Care and the Cabinet Member for Finance and Treasury the signing of the final 9 year Alliance agreement on or around 1/04/2018 and extension / appropriate award of the in scope service contracts. 

Officers: Barbara Peacock, David Butler, Denise Bushay

Key decision: recommendations 1.1 & 1.7 are key decisions

A presentation including video was provided by Councillor Alisa Flemming for this agenda item, which is available on the meeting webcast.

The Leader of the Council has delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the executive decisions set out below:

School Place Planning

1.1 agree Croydon’s School Place Supply Strategy (tables 1, 2 & 3 in the report) for the next 3 academic years – 2018/19 to 2020/21 - and the funding to deliver these additional places (Appendix 1 to the report – Capital Programme Budget summary)

1.2 note the review of pupil projections undertaken in July – projections vs available school places – Appendix 2 to the report.

Special Educational Needs

1.3 note update on Croydon’s new special free school that has been approved by Department for Education (DfE)

1.4 note proposed partnership with Croydon Further Education (FE) college to establish new local post 16 places in an SEN Centre of Excellence

1.5 note the continued planned expansion of secondary autism Enhanced Learning Provision at Oasis Coulsdon and Oasis Arena.

School Admissions

1.6 agree to recommend to full Council that it determine the proposed Admission Arrangements for Croydon’s community schools for the 2019/20 academic year (Appendix 3), including the responses to consultation on the proposed reduction of the PAN for Norbury Manor and Monks Orchard Primary Schools (Appendix 3a to the report) and adoption of the proposed Pan London co-ordination arrangements (Appendix 3b to the report).

School Maintenance and Compliance

1.7 approve the proposed Schools’ Maintenance Plan for 2017/18 and 2018/19 – Appendix 4 to the report – including an additional £3m for fire safety works in community schools and as in previous years £2m for the 3 year programme for major maintenance work to be carried out in 2020/21.

A presentation including video was provided by Councillor Alisa Flemming for this agenda item, which is available on the meeting webcast.

The Leader of the Council has delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the executive decisions set out below:

RESOLVED to

School Place Planning

1.1 agree Croydon’s School Place Supply Strategy (tables 1, 2 & 3 in the report) for the next 3 academic years – 2018/19 to 2020/21 - and the funding to deliver these additional places (Appendix 1 to the report – Capital Programme Budget summary)

1.2 note the review of pupil projections undertaken in July – projections vs available school places – Appendix 2 to the report.

Special Educational Needs

1.3 note update on Croydon’s new special free school that has been approved by Department for Education (DfE)

1.4 note proposed partnership with Croydon Further Education (FE) college to establish new local post 16 places in an SEN Centre of Excellence

1.5 note the continued planned expansion of secondary autism Enhanced Learning Provision at Oasis Coulsdon and Oasis Arena.

School Admissions

1.6 agree to recommend to full Council that it determine the proposed Admission Arrangements for Croydon’s community schools for the 2019/20 academic year (Appendix 3), including the responses to consultation on the proposed reduction of the PAN for Norbury Manor and Monks Orchard Primary Schools (Appendix 3a to the report) and adoption of the proposed Pan London co-ordination arrangements (Appendix 3b to the report).

School Maintenance and Compliance

1.7 approve the proposed Schools’ Maintenance Plan for 2017/18 and 2018/19 – Appendix 4 to the report – including an additional £3m for fire safety works in community schools and as in previous years £2m for the 3 year programme for major maintenance work to be carried out in 2020/21.

Officers: Shifa Mustafa, Heather Cheesbrough, Ian Plowright

Key decision: yes

The Leader of the Council has delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the executive decisions set out below: 

RESOLVED to adopt the Cycling Strategy for Croydon, as detailed in the report and appendix to the report.

The Leader of the Council has delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the executive decisions set out below: 

RESOLVED to adopt the Cycling Strategy for Croydon, as detailed in the report and appendix to the report.

Officers: Julian Ellerby, John Montes

Key decision: yes

The Leader of the Council has delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the executive decisions set out below: 

RESOLVED

1. In order to meet the deadline of 1 February 2018 for setting the London Councils Grants Scheme budget by two-thirds of constituent Council’s, to agree the recommendation of the London Councils Leaders Committee to:

(a) Approve the London Councils Grants Scheme budget for 2018/19 of £8.668m; and

(b) Agree Croydon Council’s 2018/19 contribution to the London Councils Grants Scheme budget amounting to £290,085.

The Leader of the Council has delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the executive decisions set out below: 

RESOLVED

1. In order to meet the deadline of 1 February 2018 for setting the London Councils Grants Scheme budget by two-thirds of constituent Council’s, to agree the recommendation of the London Councils Leaders Committee to:

(a) Approve the London Councils Grants Scheme budget for 2018/19 of £8.668m; and

(b) Agree Croydon Council’s 2018/19 contribution to the London Councils Grants Scheme budget amounting to £290,085.

Lead Member: Councillor Sean Fitzsimons, Chair of Scrutiny & Overview Committee

Officers: Richard Simpson, Stephen Rowan

Key decision: no

The Leader of the Council has delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the executive decisions set out below: 

RESOLVED to receive the recommendations arising from the Streets, Environment and Homes Scrutiny Sub-Committee (7 November 2017) and Children and Young People Scrutiny Sub-Committee (28 November 2017) and to provide a substantive response within two months (ie.at the next available Cabinet meeting on 19 March 2018).

The Leader of the Council has delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the executive decisions set out below: 

RESOLVED to receive the recommendations arising from the Streets, Environment and Homes Scrutiny Sub-Committee (7 November 2017) and Children and Young People Scrutiny Sub-Committee (28 November 2017) to provide a substantive response within two months (ie.at the next available Cabinet meeting on 19 March 2018).

Officers: Sarah Ireland, Rakhee Dave-Shah

Key decision: no     

The Leader of the Council has delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the executive decisions set out below: 

RESOLVED to note

1. The contracts over £500,000 in value anticipated to be awarded by the

nominated Cabinet Member, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for

Finance and Treasury or, where the nominated Cabinet Member is the

Cabinet Member for Finance and Treasury, in consultation with the Leader.

2. The list of delegated award decisions made by the Director of

Commissioning and Improvement, between 09/11/2017 – 13/12/2017.

3. The list of decisions taken since the last meeting of Cabinet by the

nominated Cabinet member in consultation with the Cabinet Member for

Finance and Treasury, under the Leaders specific delegated authority for

those contract awards.

The Leader of the Council has delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the executive decisions set out below: 

RESOLVED to note

1. The contracts over £500,000 in value anticipated to be awarded by the

nominated Cabinet Member, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for

Finance and Treasury or, where the nominated Cabinet Member is the

Cabinet Member for Finance and Treasury, in consultation with the Leader.

2. The list of delegated award decisions made by the Director of

Commissioning and Improvement, between 09/11/2017 – 13/12/2017.

3. The list of decisions taken since the last meeting of Cabinet by the

nominated Cabinet member in consultation with the Cabinet Member for

Finance and Treasury, under the Leaders specific delegated authority for

those contract awards.