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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Rooms 5, 6 & 7 - 17th Floor, Westminster City Hall, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6 QP. View directions

Contact: Mick Steward, Head of Committee and Governance Services  Tel: 7641 3134; Email:  msteward@westminster.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome

Minutes:

1.1       The Leader welcomed everyone to the meeting.

2.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of the existence and nature of any personal or prejudicial interests in matters on this agenda.

Minutes:

2.1       There were no declarations.

3.

Tri-Borough Review of Section 113 Agreements pdf icon PDF 177 KB

Report of the Chief Executive and the Director of Law.

Minutes:

3.1       Charlie Parker, Chief Executive, presented the report which summarised the discussions that had taken place between Westminster City Council, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (RBKC) and the London Borough of Hammersmith (LBHF) and the challenges that were faced. LBHF had indicated on several occasions, including the last meeting to take place between the respective tri-borough Council Leaders on 23 March 2017, of their intention to withdraw from tri-borough services for Adult Social Care, Children Services and Public Health. This would have significant impact in terms of services to residents, uncertainties for staff and financial considerations.

 

3.2       Charlie Parker advised that in order to provide greater certainty, the Council and RBKC were proposing to serve notice to LBHF to terminate the Section 113 agreements in respect of tri-borough Adult Social Care, Children’s Services and Public Health. Members were informed that 12 months’ notice to terminate these agreements was required and it was desirable to give notice to terminate within the next two days so as not to impact any further upon the 2017-18 financial year, and ensure a new Bi-borough arrangement was in place for 2018-19. Charlie Parker stated that the recommendations were proposed to safeguard services and staff and that if agreed, the Cabinet would receive regular updates on progress alongside the relevant Cabinet Members. There would also be additional costs incurred for the Council, however there were some resources available to cover the transition of costs. Further ongoing financial updates would be reported to Members regarding the impact on revenue budgets.

 

3.3       The Leader referred to the meeting of 23 March 2017 between the Council Leaders of the tri-boroughs, where the Leader of LBHF had made it clear of his intention to withdraw from the tri-borough services partnership within the next 12 months. The Leader felt that the tri-borough arrangements had been a success to date and a strong future was in prospect, however with LBHF due to withdraw, it was important for the Council and RKBC to take control of the situation and safeguard services for residents and provide clarity to staff.

 

3.4       Councillor Tim Mitchell, Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services stated that the purpose of the tri-borough services to improve services and make savings had been achieved and savings had been made in the region of £14 million each year. As a result of the tri-borough arrangements, there had not been the need to cut back on services as severely when compared to other councils. Councillor Mitchell acknowledged that the costs incurred in terminating the Section 113 agreements with LBHF were not desirable and it was important to keep a record of these. He stated that every effort would be made to consider working with other London boroughs and possibly even councils outside London in future and discussions were underway, for example with regard to the possibility of sharing Building Control Services with the London Borough of Camden.

 

3.5       Councillor Robert Davis MBE, DL, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Business,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Any Other Business Which the Chairman Considers Urgent

Minutes:

4.1       There was no additional business for the Cabinet to consider.