Agenda, decisions and minutes

Council - Wednesday, 24th July, 2024 7.00 pm

Venue: Council Chamber - Town Hall, Wellington Street, Woolwich SE18 6PW. View directions

Contact: Siobhan Hobin  Email: committees@royalgreenwich.gov.uk

Note: The deadline for Public Questions is 12 noon on Wednesday 17 July 2024. Questions must be submitted to committees@royalgreenwich.gov.uk 

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Nas Asghar, Gary Dillon, Lauren Dingsdale, Cathy Dowse, John Fahy, Rowshan Hannan, Odette McGahey, Asli Mohammed, Lakshan Saldin, Denise Scott-McDonald, Pat Slattery, Aidan Smith, Dave Sullivan, Jo van den Broek and Miranda Williams.

 

Apologies for leaving early were received from Councillors Majella Anning, Sammy Backon, Sandra Bauer, Chris Lloyd and Sandra Thomas.

2.

Minutes

Members are requested to confirm as an accurate record the Minutes of the meeting held on 27 March 2024, the Annual meeting held on 22 May 2024 and the Special Meeting of Council held on 26 June 2024.

No motion or discussion may take place upon the Minutes except as to their accuracy, and any question on this point will be determined by a majority of the Members of the body attending who were present when the matter in question was decided. Once confirmed, with or without amendment, the person presiding will sign the Minutes

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved –

 

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 27 March 2024 and the Annual meeting held on 22 May and the Special Meeting of Council on 26 June 2024 be agreed and signed as a true and accurate record.

3.

Announcements

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor announcedthat Children’s Services had been graded ‘Outstanding’ after a recent Ofsted inspection and Adult and Community Learning Service had been judged as ‘Good’ across all areas.  Congratulations and thanks were extended to all staff for their commitment, hard work and dedication to improving the lives of residents in the Borough. 

 

4.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 53 KB

Members to declare any personal and financial interests in items on the agenda. Attention is drawn to the Council’s Constitution; the Council’s Code of Conduct and associated advice.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Sarah Merrill enquired why she was not listed on the Council’s Outside Bodies list as a Board Member for Woodlands Farm Trust.  She had sat on the Board for over 10 years but this was not reflected in the list.  The Mayor commented that this would be looked into.

 

Resolved-

 

That the list of Councillors’ memberships as Council appointed representatives on outside bodies, joint committees and school governing bodies is noted.

 

5.

Notice of Members wishing to exceed the 5 minute rule

Additional documents:

Minutes:

No requests to exceed the 5 minute rule had been received.

6.

Submission of Petitions

Presentation to the Council of petitions for consideration

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The following petitions were presented at the meeting: 

 

Subject and Number of Signatures

Presenting Councillor

Lead Department

 

 

Greenwich Council: Take West Hallowes Traffic Problems Seriously! 

48 signatures

 

Help Stop Illegal parking outside Plumcroft Vincent Road School

130 signatures

 

Traffic and Parking on Cedarhurst Drive

47 signatures

 

Roger Tester

 

 

 

 

Sam Littlewood

 

 

 

 

Rachel Taggart-Ryan

 

DCEC

 

 

 

 

DCEC

 

 

 

 

DCEC

 

 

7.

Petition Responses pdf icon PDF 54 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor advised that the petition response, set out at appendix 1 had been published on the Council’s website.

 

In the absence of the Lead Petitioner the Mayor called on Councillor Ann-Marie Cousins, Cabinet Member for Equality, Culture and Communities to comment.  Councillor Cousins thanked the petitioners as it highlighted the work the Council was doing in upgrading the borough’s tennis courts.  Charges were being brought in outside of the free period for the maintenance and security of the courts, but there were still free sessions.  The courts are well used and maintained better.

 

Resolved -

 

That the report be noted.

 

8.

Public Deputations on matters not otherwise on the agenda

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor noted that there were no public deputations.   

9.

Public Questions pdf icon PDF 54 KB

Up to half an hour will be allowed for questions by Members of the Public.

 

Questions will be taken in the order notices are received by the Chief Executive.  Each question to have no more than one part.  No member of the public shall ask more than 2 questions at a meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor stated that Council had received 5 written questions from members of the public.  The questions and replies, together with the supplementary questions made during the meeting, are attached as Appendix A to the minutes.

10.

Questions from Members pdf icon PDF 153 KB

a.      To receive written responses to questions submitted by Members in line with procedure Rule A1.38.

b.      Up to 10 minutes will be allowed for Members’ oral questions in line with procedure Rule A1.43.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor stated that 24 written questions had been received from Members of the Council.  The questions and replies, together with the supplementary questions made during the meeting, are attached as Appendix B to the minutes. 

 

Under procedures for oral questions, the Mayor invited questions to Members of the Cabinet for response.

 

Councillor Chris Lloyd asked if the Leader of the Council would agree that the remedial work for the cladding to Royal Artillery Quays should be done to an A1 standard to ensure its safety and effectiveness.  Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Council said that the Council recognised the seriousness of the matter and he was getting closer to the issue and had spoken to residents about it.  The Council had particular powers that it could take depending on the individual development and could speak to Central Government.  He would continue to work collaboratively with residents and ward councillors to pull together how best the Council could advocate for residents in this matter.  Councillor Lloyd further asked if the Leader and the Cabinet Member and MP would agree to meet him over the summer to discuss further.  Councillor Okereke said that they and ward councillors would continue to make themselves available as required.

 

Councillor Sarah Merrill asked the Cabinet Member for Community Safety and Enforcement that with regard to the delivery bikes in Eltham, if she would take into consideration that it was a market led demand and that there was a desire and market for their services.  Delivery drivers were trying to make a living.  Councillor Rachel Taggart-Ryan agreed that a balance needed to be struck between protecting economically vulnerable workers but at the same time ensuring that bikes parked in the designated zones and did not cause anti-social behaviour.  She acknowledged that the delivery drivers were providing a service and benefitting the local economy.

 

Councillor Dominic Mbang asked the Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care and Borough of Sanctuary if she could reassure residents, after the recent cyber attack on the NHS, that services were returning to normal. Councillor Mariam Lolavar, replied that NHS partners were working hard to re-establish services and prioritise urgent need.  There were different contracts for blood tests, however emergency services were still functioning and should be used for urgent need.

11.

Matters for early debate

Each political party may select an item of business, from the list of items on the agenda, for early debate. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Mayor said that he had received a request to take item 19 first. 

12.

Annual Audit Letter 2022-2023 pdf icon PDF 75 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Notedthe 2022/23 Annual Audit Letter.

 

Noted and endorsed the comments of the Audit and Risk Management panel as published

 

Minutes:

Councillor Denise Hyland, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Social Value, formally moved the report. She thanked Grant Thornton for the report and their service over the last few years.  The report related to financial year 2022-23 and things had moved on significantly since last year and in excess of £33m worth of savings had been agreed.  The Audit and Risk Management Panel had suggested a Tracker report be submitted to the Panel on progress taken on the implementation of the External Auditor’s recommendations from 2021-22 & 2022-23 and also recommended that the Council considered appointing a second non-voting independent member with the necessary financial expertise to the Panel.  After discussion with the Leader, Chief Executive and Director of Finance they would be happy to accept these suggestions.

 

Paul Jacklin from Grant Thornton addressed the Council.  Grant Thornton had completed the handover work to Forvis Mazars and this had gone well.  The Council was in a good position.  For the 2022-23 financial year they had identified two significant weaknesses, one in financial sustainability and one in the ‘3 E’s’ area of improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness.  They had not identified any weakness in governance but had made some recommendations for further improvements in this area.  It was worth noting that many more significant weaknesses were being identified across the local government sector where increased demands were stretching financial conditions further. 

 

They had raised key recommendations in two areas. Firstly, like other councils, Greenwich was facing significant increased demands and complex service provision needs.  This had been exacerbated by higher inflation costs and the cost of living crisis alongside uncertainty over future funding levels.  Significant savings programmes had been needed to deliver a balanced budget position.  Recommendations in this area would centre around strengthening the processes of identification, challenge, implementation and monitoring of savings programmes going forward, to avoid the need for one off measures and the use of reserves to balance positions.

 

The second significant weaknesses was the Council, had self-referred to the regulator of social housing regarding delays to site inspections to dwellings which meant the Council was not able to meet the required standards.  Action plans had been put in place to return to full compliance but where statutory notices were in place, they were required to report a significant weakness in this area.

 

It should be emphasised that the report was quite old and so things had moved on.  The incoming auditors would comment on the arrangements put in place since this time.

 

Councillor David Gardner, Chair of the Audit and Risk Management Panel rose to comment on the report.  He said he was pleased the recommendations for a second independent member with the necessary experience had been endorsed along with the recommendation of a tracker.  Additionally they would seek to track the implementation of internal audit review recommendations or reasons for delay or non-implementation.  There was concern arising from the 2022-23 Audit letter in terms of sustainability and the measures to be taken but the Panel had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025/26+ update pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Noted a forecasted £27.3m overall resourcing gap in 2025/26, increasing substantially each year thereafter (Section 7)

 

Noted the potentially significant financial risks to the MTFS going forward (Section 6)

 

Noted that the MTFS is a continuous process and will be updated on a regular basis

 

Minutes:

Councillor Denise Hyland, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Social Value moved the report.  She said that services, whilst valued by the public, were structurally underfunded and the Council had very little way of reducing the demand for services that they were statutorily obliged to deliver.  The Council were looking at a gap of £27m for the year 2025-26 however many other London Boroughs regardless of political affiliation had gaps in funding too.  Other boroughs were also struggling to deliver SEN Transport, Temporary Accommodation and quality adult and child social care.  Additionally the cost of living crisis had brought extra demands in supporting residents.  There were difficult choices ahead and there would be no immediate fix despite the change of government.

 

Councillor Matt Hartley, Leader of the Opposition said that he noted and welcomed the Council’s shift in its approach to budgeting which meant the consideration of a more realistic view of demographic pressures which were forecast to rise to 15m from 3.9m.  He also noted the report confirmed the increase in central government funding under the previous administration and hoped this would continue under the new one.  He agreed there would not be an immediate fix forthcoming which would result in difficult decisions for the Council.

 

Councillor Danny Thorpe commented that since the change in Government a more respectful and appreciative view towards public sector workers had been seen.  The previous governments’ inefficient spending had caused many issues that local government were trying to deal with, most notably as highlighted in a recent National Audit report, that local authorities were now spending double on homelessness since 2010.

 

Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Council said that local government worked hand in hand with central government and they would continue to lend their voices to the issues that needed to be overcome.  No one thought it would be easy for a new government to sort out what they had inherited.  What was needed now was a government that was serious about delivering growth and as a Council, Greenwich would support and work with the new government.  Whilst it may seem that central government funding under the previous government increased, it needed to be balanced against the cuts to funding that were also made against a backdrop of an increasing population and demand for services.  The Council had voted for £35m of cuts and as the report highlighted there were potentially more to come, however they would continue to safeguard the Council’s finances.

 

Councillor Denise Hyland, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Social Value formally closed the debate.

 

 

Resolved -

 

That a forecasted £27.3m overall resourcing gap in 2025/26, increasing substantially each year thereafter (Section 7) be noted

 

That the potentially significant financial risks to the MTFS going forward (Section 6) be noted.

 

That the MTFS is a continuous process and will be updated on a regular basis be noted.

 

14.

Treasury Management and Capital Outturn 2023-24 pdf icon PDF 349 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Noted the Treasury Management Outturn Report for 2023/24 (Sections 4-10)

Noted the Capital Outturn Report for 2023/24 (Sections 11-14), which shows a substantial increase in investment from £177m in the previous year to £318m in 2023/24, which included;

·           £171m on the delivery of new homes via the Councils Greenwich Builds Programme:

o    £104m on the construction of new homes

o    £67m on the acquisition of new homes

·           £56m investment in existing Council homes.

·           £20m acquiring properties to meet Temporary Accommodation, Rough Sleeping and Refugee pressures.

Noted the recommended additional allocation of £1.3m of approved contingency within the Priority Investment Programme, as a match funding contribution towards the £17.2m Future High Streets Fund programme (11.5-11.6).

Noted that comments were sought from Cabinet (24 July 2024) and Audit and Risk Management Panel (22 July 2024) with respect to decisions 1.1 and 1.2.

 

 

Minutes:

Councillor Denise Hyland, Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Social Value moved the report.  She said that the one substantive decision to note was around extra contingency for the future High Street Fund, specifically Woolwich town centre.  Unfortunately the original contractor went into administration and so the contract had to be re-let.  This meant more finance was needed.  Additional funds had been put in to allow for extra contingency to ensure the completion of the project.  There was an 80% increase in investment year on year from £177m to £318m.  This was due to the efforts to build more houses to deal with the shortage of homes and lack of private accommodation.

 

Councillor David Gardner spoke on the report.  He said that he had recently visited residents in their new Council accommodation in his ward.  Whilst the over-borrowing was concerning and they needed to ensure the position was sustainable, to see what the effect of a permanent home had had on these residents was incredible, not only improving their day to day lives but also their life chances.   

Resolved -

That the Treasury Management Outturn Report for 2023/24 (Sections 4-10) be noted

That the Capital Outturn Report for 2023/24 (Sections 11-14), which shows a substantial increase in investment from £177m in the previous year to £318m in 2023/24, be noted, which included;

·           £171m on the delivery of new homes via the Councils Greenwich Builds Programme:

o    £104m on the construction of new homes

o    £67m on the acquisition of new homes

·           £56m investment in existing Council homes.

·           £20m acquiring properties to meet Temporary Accommodation, Rough Sleeping and Refugee pressures.

That the recommended additional allocation of £1.3m of approved contingency within the Priority Investment Programme, as a match funding contribution towards the £17.2m Future High Streets Fund programme (11.5-11.6) be noted.

That comments were sought from Cabinet (24 July 2024) and Audit and Risk Management Panel (22 July 2024) with respect to decisions 1.1 and 1.2. be noted.

15.

Community Infrastructure Levy - Adoption pdf icon PDF 4 MB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed to adopt the Royal Borough of Greenwich Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule (set out in Appendix 2 of the report).

 

Agreed that the CIL Charging Schedule will be implemented and effective from 26th July 2024.

 

Approved that the prior CIL Charging Schedule (approved on 25 March 2015) is superseded by the latest CIL Charging Schedule (2024) for chargeable developments first permitted on or after 26 July 2024 (subject to paragraph 2, Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the CIL Regulations 2010 applying to relevant outline planning permissions).

 

Agreed that the Charging Schedule approved on 25 March 2015 shall remain in effect for chargeable developments first permitted prior to 26 July 2024 and outline planning permissions referred to in paragraph 2, Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the CIL Regulations 2010.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Council formally moved the report.  He said that it proposed higher rates of Levy for residential developments which would help to fund the required infrastructure to support increased development.  The new rates would raise an extra £5m for infrastructure and this had been considered appropriate by the Inspector.  It would provide greater investment in the borough’s communities and would be subject to regular reviews.

 

Councillor Matt Hartley. Leader of the Opposition echoed the Leader’s comments and said they would be supporting the recommendations.  They were satisfied with the inspectors’ conclusions that the new schedule could achieve the difficult balance of revenue maximisation from developers, alongside ensuring investors continued to be attracted to ensure growth continued by way of private sector investment.  

 

Resolved -

 

To adopt the Royal Borough of Greenwich Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Charging Schedule (set out in Appendix 2 of the report).

 

That the CIL Charging Schedule will be implemented and effective from 26th July 2024.

 

That the prior CIL Charging Schedule (approved on 25 March 2015) is superseded by the latest CIL Charging Schedule (2024) for chargeable developments first permitted on or after 26 July 2024 (subject to paragraph 2, Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the CIL Regulations 2010 applying to relevant outline planning permissions).

 

That the Charging Schedule approved on 25 March 2015 shall remain in effect for chargeable developments first permitted prior to 26 July 2024 and outline planning permissions referred to in paragraph 2, Part 1 of Schedule 1 of the CIL Regulations 2010.

 

16.

Modification of Composition of Membership of the Health and Wellbeing Board pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed the composition of the Health and Wellbeing Board as set out in Appendix 2 of the report

 

Minutes:

Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Council formally moved the recommendations.

 

Councillor Mariam Lolavar, Cabinet Member for Health, Adult Social Care and Borough of Sanctuary said she welcomed the report as the new Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Board.  The recommendations would bring a welcome increase in representation of the voluntary sector on the Board.

 

Resolved -

 

That the composition of the Health and Wellbeing Board as set out in Appendix 2 of the report be agreed.

 

17.

Appointment of Political Assistants pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Agreed the principle of political groups appointing Political Assistants within the framework of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

 

Approved that authority be designated to the Director of Legal Services/Monitoring Officer to make the additions to the Officer Employment Rules in Part 4 of the Constitution set out in Appendix B, pursuant to section 9(5) of the Local Government Act 1989 relating to assistants for political groups.

 

Agreed to allocate one Political Assistant post to the Labour Group (35 hours per week) and one to the Conservative group (17.5 hours per week) and approve the appointment procedure at paragraph 4.6, should either group wish to make an appointment.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Council moved the report.  He said that they were bringing forward several recommendations following the external peer review, including the introduction of Political Assistants.  This would maximise the effectiveness of joint working between elected members and senior officers, aid the work of Cabinet as well as to support councillors and political groups appropriately and effectively.  This was an investment in local democracy and would ensure good governance was upheld to aid the realisation of the administration’s ambitions for residents.  There would also be investment in a role for the Opposition councillors as they believed in the value of having a good opposition.  An example of another recommendation from the LGA Peer Review which had been implemented was the establishment of the new Greenwich Strategic Leadership Team meetings which allowed both the political leaders and corporate leadership team to jointly look at areas and challenges to enable them to come up with collective solutions.  The work was ongoing to implement all recommendations from the Peer Review to ensure an effective council that worked for all residents.

 

Councillor Matt Hartley, Leader of the Opposition proposed an amendment as published.  He said that the budget had been set without any reference to these posts.  They had heard earlier about the £33m cuts required, which would see cuts to Children’s Centres, Council Tax support and libraries amongst others.  This represented an increase to the local tax payer and it would need to be funded from cuts elsewhere but there was no indication yet where this would be.  They proposed the decision be postponed until that information was forthcoming.  He disagreed in principle with the idea of political assistants.  The Council’s Auditors had indicated earlier that the Council did not yet have an established record in the rethinking services programme, which contributed heavily to the savings required.  He felt the timing of this was poor and did not believe it was in response to the LGA Peer Review but rather from the Leader’s long held position.  There were already 50 Labour councillors whose skills the Leader could draw on.  They did not feel in a position to make a judgement on the issue without first being able to assess the value in what it would bring versus the cost to tax payers and what cuts would be made to pay for it.

 

The amendment was seconded by Councillor Pat Greenwell.

 

Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Council did not accept the amendment.  He said that they had already taken decisions to make £55m worth of savings and to safeguard the Council’s finances and deliver for residents against a backdrop of the chaos of the previous government.  They had worked hard to safeguard services and had been prudent in managing finances.  Once Council had taken the decision with regard to the appointment of Political Assistants, the authority would work out how to fund it.  The Auditors commented in their report that the Council had a history of being relatively devolved  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

18.

Decisions on Executive Functions taken under Urgency Procedures pdf icon PDF 73 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Noted the decisions taken under urgency procedures at Section 4 of the report.

 

Minutes:

The Mayor introduced the report which was for noting only.

 

Resolved:-

 

That the decisions taken under urgency procedures at Section 4 of the report be noted.

 

 

19.

Appointment of Cabinet Member for Planning, Estate Renewal and Development pdf icon PDF 94 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Noted that Councillor Majid Rahman has been appointed by the Leader of the Council to become the Cabinet Member for Planning, Estate Renewal and Development.

 

Noted that the vacancy occurred after Councillor Aidan Smith resigned from the Cabinet effective 24 July 2024.

 

Minutes:

Councillor Anthony Okereke, Leader of the Council introduced the report.  He thanked Councillor Aidan Smith for his work as Cabinet Member to date.  He understood the vision and mission and was dedicated to the Greenwich Builds Programme.  He was leaving the Cabinet to take on a senior role in his day job.  Councillor Majid Rahman would take on the role and appreciated the great task ahead of him.

 

Councillor Matt Hartley, Leader of the Opposition also thanked Councillor Aidan Smith for his hard work and focus in the role and congratulated Councillor Majid Rahman and wished him the best in his new role.

 

Resolved -

 

That Councillor Majid Rahman has been appointed by the Leader of the Council to become the Cabinet Member for Planning, Estate Renewal and Development.

 

That the vacancy occurred after Councillor Aidan Smith resigned from the Cabinet effective 24 July 2024.