Executive - Monday 22 July 2024, 7:30pm - Wandsworth Council Webcasting

Executive
Monday, 22nd July 2024 at 7:30pm 

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good evening and welcome to this meeting of the Executive, my name's Councillor Simon Hogg, I'll be chairing this meeting, members, the Executive are now going to call your names in alphabetical order, if you could please switch on your microphone to confirm your attendance.
Councillor Akinola, I think we have apologies for Councillor D Khadim then.
Councillor Gasser, I think we have apologies for also Councillor Henderson,
present Councillor Island.
evening.
evening, Councillor stock, good evening.
and Councillor Yeats, who I think also has sent apologies
are there any declarations of interest?
no, if not, we'll move on to the matters for decision and you'll be aware we have business from both the housing and the Finance Committee's, both on 17th July, but because of the general election, particularly finance, also handled items from other committees as well, so there'll be quite a range of papers.
and grateful to have Cabinet Members here to say a few words of introduction to those using the discretion granted to the Chair. I just like to move the discussion of the exempt paper 24 1 6 9 A to the end of the agenda. This is about the Winstanley estate regeneration and we're going to discuss that in private just because it contains financial information, commercially sensitive information, so we will be doing that at the end of the meeting in private, so if it's all right, we'll move on to item number 2, which is the Olton renewal plan. Councillor term, would you like to introduce this yeah, so this? This is a combination of two years' work, two years engagement on the Alton estate
the proposals are that we return with a new a new plan in the autumn renewal plan, which increases the amount of council housing and reduces the number of Council homes demolished and offers a kind of retro fit and increased shopping Bulstrode down Denbury Avenue.
the timeline for the renewal plan is that now that this is passed, committee will do a further year of masterplanning, with architects and designers, and alongside residents and resident groups feeding into that and that final master plan will come back to committee in a year's time and that will begin the process of a six-month ballot whereby we give for reasons of,
the Alton estate of vote on whether this plan goes ahead, so it is a really exciting investment from the Council, it's a very, very big scheme that will define the next decade for that neighbourhood, and it's something that.
was actually discussed in a really collegiate manner at Committee and got the unanimous support of the Council representatives at that committee, so a long journey ahead and wonder is gonna fundamentally rest on the democratic mandate from the people of the alternate state.
brilliant thanks very much and congratulations, any other comments or questions on that paper.
chancellor Henderson, accordingly very quick.
I congratulate Councillor Dick about him for coming forward if a plan which so far has certainly had a very good reception from pretty much everyone, including opposition councillors, I think to achieve is policing if it can success so.
Rachel sorry, I congratulate asan chain, but also thanks to whom it as a ward councillor for in Hampton.
that's very kindly to say, so can we take it that is agreed?
agreed excellent, congratulations, and if it's all right, Councillor them, if you could speak to the housing annual resources paper.
great so this is the yearly update on the
temporary accommodation, figures and tempo, accommodation finances, as well as reported projections on homelessness within the borough, like the last 10 years, it's a very harrowing read in terms of the situation facing homelessness, but for the first time in roughly a decade we've got the first projected reduction in temporary accommodation.
with which just has not happened, if any of the times have been on Committee or read this paper, so the programme that we enacted when we first takeover is starting to slowly but surely work, we're starting to see a turnaround in the number of placements were starting to see an uptick in prevention and overall, we've got this now projected overall reduction in TOO placements, which is the first time like I say in a decade. The challenge we face, though, is costs arising, so we might be in a situation whereby, even though we are reducing Tia numbers, the cost is going up and one of the kind of more exciting parts about the change in government is how we can try and make national representations to see if we can change that. One thing discussed at the housing committee was pan-London rates building up the monopoly power of London, purchases of T ai, particularly nightly paid accommodation, so that's something that me and officers are gonna, go and work on, but that's that's basically the housing
at any resources paper
thank you any comments or questions on that paper.
is it agreed?
excellent and next is the report on the Local government and social care onwards, women's findings on the housing complaint.
so this is a historic case that started before our administration, but is a very important one, because it highlights some of the work that we've done.
in the interim to try and make sure that there's something like this never ever happens again,
the specificities of a case are all published in the in the in the in the report.
specifically, it was to do with someone being placed in temporary accommodation, there was not suitable to their needs or the needs of their child.
and there was a kind of cross recommendation that hit both the housing team and also the children's services, one of the things that we've done to try and ameliorate. This is that it's very clear that the overloaded case loads meant that the case officer involved wasn't fast enough kind of picking up on the complaints that were being made by the resident and the ombudsman has been very kind of serious and the financial penalty came into the Council is one of the largest ones I've seen some 10,000 pounds. So this is a really important reminder that the work that we do here is scrutinised.
there's a strong regulatory function and temporary accommodation, and the scandal of tempo combination, you know, is one in which this Council has to make sure that it's providing the best service for those vulnerable residents.
thanks very much Councillor stock.
thank you Chair, I just wanted to comment really, as this also had recommendations in relation to children's services, as the family affected had a child with special educational needs safe just from my perspective and children's and the children's directorate, we've acknowledged the recommendations made by the Ombudsman and taken into account the actions and undertaking in those actions and I think one important takeaway from my perspective that I'll follow up with the team and across the council is making sure that there's always good information sharing across director when we have families with additional needs.
thank you, that's that's really helpful.
is that report agreed?
thank you, so will continue with the housing proposals we have the one Swiss corporate plan actions and KPIs and back to Councillor to.
yeah, this is again a paperweight we expect every year.
it highlights some of the successes and the and the areas where we need to strengthen our performance, the ones that I would pick out are.
despite being read in the KPIs are prevention in temporary accommodation placements or at has actually jumped by 100, which is a successful metrics we might re-look at some of those metrics I have to say, once our Corporate Plan and the Asset Management Strategy weren't discussed at full council at the at the housing committee meeting because of the guillotine so I can't really report back on any major,
any major details other than the fact that there was
points that were raised prior to the committee meeting where to do with imc continued challenges with
downsizing, so that's where we try and offer
residents who are under occupying moves that they can send to, and so that's something that to get on the housing stock really efficiently used.
we need to have a really good offer on that, so that's something to take away as a council
and then, if I move on to the asset management strategy, that's a abroad document again there wasn't much debate because of the guillotine and the the the at the Committee, but it's a, it's a paper that is really outlining major policy decisions that were outlined when we passed our corporate plan about a year ago relating to the major key themes of housing which is now 1,000 homes programme are renewal and maintenance of existing stock, our licensing scheme and other key priorities of the administration.
thanks very much are there any questions for Councillor timelines are those papers?
if not, the corporate plan actions and KPIs agreed.
and the Asset Management Strategy agreed. Thank you, so we now turn our attention to matters for decision from the Finance, overview and scrutiny committee, although, as I say, quite a wide range of items went through here, so I make major on some different cabinet members. I think the first paper was around the London Borough of culture 2025 unfortunately accounts recognise there isn't here, but this is obviously
a key project, its ongoing that update is on the record now are there any comments or questions about the Borough of culture
he's had agreed.
thanks very much next was another council recognises papers on the voluntary and community sector infrastructure, so this was both updating on the great work we've done to improve our relationships with charities and voluntary organisations and also are proposing an increase in the sort of central support that's there for those bodies he's that supported.
thank you, and next we have the schools breakfast programme Councillor stock, thank you, Jackie paper went to the Finance Committee.
being brought forward by the Children's Directorate, thank you for Finance Committee for to considering it say this recommendation is really about doubling school breakfast programme are currently we've got a private pilot programme with 20 schools in the borough and now this exist x extending the offer to all schools in the borough who wants to and that will be 40 schools certainly is twice as many children and will be enjoying.
free school breakfasts in September, so this is a continuation of our work partnering with Magic breakfast and part of our broader school food strategy to tackle food insecurity and to make sure that all children have access to nutritious and fresh food and that they are fed and ready to learn each and every morning this part of our ambition to make sure that every child, whatever background they come from,
have access to good food, and so that no school no charred, is expected to attend school on an empty stomach, so I think, has been, which has been said, they need to have hungry minds, not hungry stomach, so it is concerning locally and nationally to safe levels of food insecurity at rising, and we want to make sure that this partnership with Magic breakfast means that no child
doesn't receive breakfast without having to face barriers or stigmas say we had a really successful pilots successful pilot that we've learnt from more than 3,000 children receive breakfast during that pilot, about 60% of children in H school took part. We had really positive feedback from head teachers. 90% of schools said that it had a positive impact on children's readiness to learn, and 82% said it improved pupil attendance and punctuality say we're really pleased to be able to extend this scheme. It very much compliments other work, broader work in relation to cost of living for families in the borough who are in receipt of free school meals such as supermarket vouchers that they received during the holidays school uniform vouchers to make sure that their smart as they start a new school automatic at Roman of free school meals, and I'm really excited for all children who will be able to participate in our holiday and food programme over the summer holiday. As well, and I hope they have a good holiday and come back to school in September and enjoy our breakfast clubs
thank you, that's an excellent explanation of a wonderful policy, any questions for Councillor Stoker, Councillor Island, thank you, Councillor stock, it was very pleasing to me that the proposal was agreed unanimously in the Committee included by the MD minority party shows how popular it is. Thank you.
so he's that proposal agreed agreed thanks very much if it's OK, if we can turn to supported housing acquisition next, and I think, Councillor Henderson, if you could introduce this fine, thank you Chair.
this is absolutely tremendous opportunities to acquire 56 much needed sheltered accommodation units in an excellent location at what actually represent less than half the cost that it would normally cost to build some a facility like this, though, is largely because of sexual number.
1 0 6 agreement in place with the Springfield elements site, which has enabled us to agree with it.
it's really opportunistic price, it really hits something at 1.00 time, I might include possible turned out, but I mean, apart from the action on costs, is health, which AB is a bargain.
cost.
isn't that any agreed to develop an 11.2 million pounds in total, including Council cross, that actually means a cost per unit of up to 100,000 pounds which is considerably considerably lower than it would cost on the open market, but he also delivers, so many other very important object is within adult social care.
not only is it projected that we will need those 56 units and already have demand pressures.
this will take us or two years to to build, but certainly that the projections of increase on particularly from health and this book is an older age community, do make it vital that we do actually except this, but more than that it also touch it's a number of other issues it will actually say this at considerable.
money, far too many people actually spend time are said else either, Barbara, so this will actually be an opportunity for people to live much closer to communities, to be much closer to the Roses and friends, and I don't think you can actually put a price on that.
it will also save considerable amount of money at the property would not generate revenue as well, so it's those too far exceed suddenly current interest.
and audit costs, etc. On taking out a loan to cover property, there was a said, it's far too good an opportunity to turn down, it will also enable us to reduce our reliance on spot purchasing, which is not whom it closely and efficient but also incredibly,
if so, from a wide range of reasons, many financial, but also in terms of improving the offer to people who require a sheltered housing, this, I think, is a proposal thoughtful, Tony, but I commend, but I think is is one, as I said you'll be pretty stupid turned out anyone thanks.
thanks very much Councillor Henderson, I think that's really clear case any comments or questions on that, if not, should we agree the proposal?
thank you very much. Next step is Wandsworth council's leisure strategy, and I'm sorry that Councillor gas' isn't here to talk to this because I know that she and Mr E D and others who put in a huge amount of work on this very impressive document, which will widen access it or make sure we got top quality facilities for years to come, so I'd encourage everyone to have a look at what's deliberately been made quite inaccessible document. I think that the public could benefit just just picking it up and reading it, but for this evening are we OK to approve that paper?
thanks very much.
next is access for All, which is a policy framework on supporting residents to access our services, I don't know, Councillor island would would you like to say a few words.
this is a very good initiative.
we are using the underspend in the financial statements here about in a minute to benefit our residents who need it most, and so I'm very pleased to support that.
yeah absolutely, and I think this is a really important policy that we're going to hear more about in the months and years ahead, making sure that every resident has access to the incredible opportunities that Barra creates, does the Executive support that proposal?
thanks very much next is the borough-wide infrastructure investment.
this is a paper that I helped to pilot, I'll just say a few words, it's basically un-ring fencing the CIL from Nine Elms, so CIL is just you know a way of talking about the.
contributions that property developers make, and the previous administration had a set of rules where all of the benefits from the development in Nine Elms were kept in that one area, and we've just changed the rules, so millions of pounds now is free to be spent across the Borough to be spent across Battersea on Putney in Tooting where I think it will do a huge amount of good.
are there any comments or questions on that proposal?
is it supported?
thank you. And next we have the Wandsworth end. CIL Sir Anthony's is neighborhood sale, which is a sort of slice of this bigger strategic developer contributions, CIL and we'd sort of move forward with changes to the boundaries there previously. So this was an update paper, so the saying how our listening exercise of going out into neighborhoods and saying what benefits would you like to see from the property developer contributions? Would you like better playgrounds or roads or nicer, Safer underpasses, whatever it might be, we've been out listening in a in a problem solving way
any thoughts or comments on that paper.
is it supported?
and next we have the Affordable Housing viability guidance.
I don't know Councillor them if you want to contribute on this, so I can say a few words, I think it's basically to deliver our goals of genuinely affordable homes for local people as our top priority and making sure that alongside building and buying homes ourselves we're requiring property developers to deliver as much affordable housing is as they reasonably can yeah I think it's really important to state that for many years,
this Council use public money and subsidised housing from Ohio and intermediate product, as opposed to a social reading product, and this paper is about rebalancing that because social rent is the
tenure that's in the most demand at the sharpest end, so this is an attempt to follow in the kind of follow the same direction that are we're doing with our direct build programme in delivering council housing and social rent housing, to bring that same ethos to private sites.
thanks very much if that's OK, you therefore is that supported.
thank you now, we'll move on to the ones who are corporate plan actions and KPIs, so this is the the Finance version of it, so would it be OK, cancer and if you said a few words?
this is the ones will co-operate corporate plan, we develop that to ensure delivery of our priorities for the Council, and it sets out how we will deliver a fairer, compassionate, more sustainable Wandsworth, and the plan includes for year objectives to be delivered by March 2026, and these are supported by these key performance indicators.
one thing to say about it is that across all committees, over half showed an improvement against the previous year and just over three quarters are on target or higher. There are a couple of areas where we need to do more work, but we felt were confident that the ongoing work, including the change programme, will help to improve those, so a selection of KPIs which have improved on the previous era. Physical visits to libraries per 1,000, the percentage of assessments for in children's social care completed within 45 working days, the percentage of Education, Health and Care plans completed within the statutory timescale repairs the percentage of compares of repairs completed in target times across all priorities, overall tenant satisfaction with the housing service and overall leasehold satisfaction with the Housing Service. There are many more. That's just a few
that's say, thank you.
thanks very much any other points for cancer island.
or are we OK to approve that report?
thank you, sorry, Councillor Alan, do you mind moving on to the next item, which is the council's financial results for 23 24?
and these are the financial reserves at year end out turn for the year 23 24 and a couple of things to say really we continue to experience sustained and rising demand for the council services, this is as a result of really a hangover from COVID and this applies particularly in children's services, adult social care, housing and transport in children's services.
demand for support for disabled children through placements in residential schools and looked after children.
additional costs in these were partly offset offset by re negotiating contracts, we managed to achieve savings there, so very well done to the officers, and my colleague Councillor stock then support for older people with physical disabilities and those with learning disabilities and mental health issues again the the market is very hard very and it's it's.
increased demand continues to put pressure on are on our budgets, additional homelessness demand and, in particular, steep rise in the unit costs of providing temporary accommodation.
and I'd say in transport and planning is behavioural change again, accelerated by the pandemic that there's less demand for our planning, services and reduced income from parking, so many service areas overspend, but through active a Treasury Management taking advantage of higher than expected cash balances, we've raised additional investment income which is fully offset those additional costs from service demand and inflation and we've achieved an underspend of 4.8 5 million as, as referred to earlier we're using that to create a reserve for access for all because,
we are very aware that there is more than one month's worth there's lots of health inequalities in Wandsworth there are areas in Wandsworth that are among the most deprived in the country and for instance over 10,000 households holds and less than 20,000 pounds a year and that's just not enough to pay the rent we know that 20% of children in our schools are eligible for free school meals and a terrible statistic residents in the most deprived areas die die seven years before those in the least deprived areas now we are very mindful in the past few years.
the cost of living crisis has a dip, had a detrimental effect on the lives of our residents, plus the pandemic.
it's caused a lot of Mark hardship and a mental health crisis, and we froze council tax to help our residents and we continue to invest in our borough and we feel that I'm setting up this fund will enable us to help our residents even further, and the idea is that all residents will benefit from the opportunities that once with has to offer.
I'm just a few more points Surrey looking forward, while inflation has fallen to around 2% in the last few months we are still experiencing the the delayed impact of inflation on our contracts, and the cost of living crisis continues to affect many of our residents and we will continue to support them.
it is very pleasing that the auditors expressed their approval at the Audit Committee a couple of weeks ago saying how well one once with his run, and I would like to thank officers, particularly budget holders and Mrs Mary Miss Baston, Ms Wilson, Mr Juliet Mr O'Sullivan in their colleagues and department Director thank Cabinet colleagues for all your hard work in managing this budget and in completing the accounts, thank you.
we are no, thank you so much, you're works, really appreciated any comments or questions for cancer island.
so yeah, now it would just genuine lights, say you know, your work is appreciated, it's been a really tough year for local government and really proud to say one, so it's not only if we found that money to support all our frontline services but we've been able to freeze council tax residents pay Britain's lowest council tax, which is a great cost of living help, but you've also been able to create Britain's biggest cost of living support Fund and its incredible now also that for point 8 million pounds for access for all to support
the lowest income residents, so they can have fantastic opportunity to, so is really appreciated thank thanks for your work and and, of course all the people you've name there as well and wonderful the Council still has a very low debt and substantial reserves as well, thanks to sound financial management which will always be at the heart of what we do.
is that paper supported, thank you.
and I think we only have two more to go, so revision to disposals Policy and which was to finance committee.
my colleague Councillor dichotomies, more an expert on this, would you like please thank?
yeah, so this is just amending.
existing policy that we passed a year ago and putting it into a more formalised way, which is that previously, if a freehold, we would sell the loss flat in certain buildings, whether whether leasehold.
all the freehold had been reduced to a low number of flats in that policy and given that we no longer sell off council homes.
unless it's in a very, very specific circumstances, this is a kind of routine changed to that policy, so it's not an automatic process.
so the Board headline is this Council does not sell council hubs.
that's understood any comments or questions on that paper is it agreed?
excellent thanks so much, and so finally, for this icon, part of the meeting, Councillor Alan, we have a budget variations paper.
this paper just reflects the adjustments to the budget as a result of decisions made in the Housing Committee and and in the Finance Committee, and includes adjustments to do with the Ultan regeneration scheme, schools, breakfast project and the acquisition of supported housing in Springfield village, thank you.
thank you any comments or questions on that paper, is it agreed wonderful, thank you very much, those really helpful updates and a huge amount of work really important work for the public we've got through in the past month or so if it's all right now just because of the confidential financial information.
contained in the next report, I'm going to move that the press and public are excluded from the remainder of this meeting by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of schedule 12 of the Local government Act 1972.
and that's due to the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, including the authority holding that information, just wondering if I could have a seconder to that.
seconded, Councillor Dyke, Tim.
so thank you.
therefore, that concludes the public park of the meeting,