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Agenda, decisions and minutes

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Contact: Daniella Bonfanti, Cabinet Manager  Email:  dbonfanti@westminster.gov.uk

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Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome

Minutes:

Councillor Adam Hug, welcomed Councillor Cara Sanquest to her first meeting of Cabinet since taking up the position of Cabinet Member for Resident Participation, Consultation Reform and Leisure in June 2023.

2.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of the existence and nature of any pecuniary interests or any other significant interest in matters on this agenda.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest received.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 119 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on the 15th May 2023.

Minutes:

Councillor Adam Hug, with the consent of the Members present, agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 15th May were a true and correct record of the proceedings. 

4.

Council Response to the Future of Westminster Commission Recommendations pdf icon PDF 177 KB

Report of the Chief Executive

Additional documents:

Decision:

Cabinet approved the following recommendation:

 

Cabinet was asked to note the initial responses to the Commission’s recommendations across the three remaining reviews (Appendix A) and to agree that all recommendations brought forward for implementation will be subject to further financial and legal consideration and where necessary, individual Cabinet or Cabinet Member decisions will be undertaken.

 

Reason for the Decision

 

The Future of Westminster Commission was established to advise the Council on areas of policy that are critical to the future success of the City and central to the delivery of a Fairer Westminster. The Commission has now delivered its final report and recommendations, please see Appendix B of this report.

 

All recommendations have been considered individually (as outlined in Appendix A), with a view to accepting, rejecting, or otherwise considering each. The proposed responses are put forward with due regard to the strategic priorities of the council and with the recognition that, where required, further financial and legal consideration will have to be undertaken before implementation.

Minutes:

Councillor Adam Hug invited Neale Coleman CBE to speak to the report of the Future of Westminster Commission. 

 

Neale thanked officers and all those that participated in the work of the commission and told Cabinet that he hopes that the contribution made by the Commission will support new and important work in the future.  

 

Councillor Adam Hug placed on record Cabinet’s thanks to Neale and the review Chairs for the enormous amount of work that had been undertaken.  

 

Councillor Adam Hug invited Cabinet colleagues to comment. 

 

Councillor Geoff Barraclough, Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development told Cabinet that the Commission had supported the development of the North Paddington Programme and the recently published Plan for a Fairer Economy.  

 

Councillor David Boothroyd, Cabinet Member for Finance and Council commented that the commission had undertaken a great deal of work and the recommendations on social value will be considered by the procurement team who are already looking at social value. 

 

Councillor Hug concluded by thanking all members of the Commission as well as officers from across the council for their hard work.   

 

RESOLVED:Cabinet approved the following recommendation set out on page 8 of the Cabinet report pack: 

 

1.     Cabinet is asked to note the initial responses to the Commission’s recommendations across the three remaining reviews (Appendix A) and to agree that all recommendations brought forward for implementation will be subject to further financial and legal consideration and where necessary, individual Cabinet or Cabinet Member decisions will be undertaken.

5.

Church Street Regeneration - Site A Compulsory Purchase Order Resolution pdf icon PDF 281 KB

Report of the Executive Director of Growth, Planning and Housing

Additional documents:

Decision:

Cabinet approved the following recommendation:

 

Agreed, subject to the consideration of the matters set out in the report, to the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order pursuant to Section 226(1)(a) of the TCPA and section 13 of the 1976 Act in respect of the Order Land, to facilitate delivery of the CPO Scheme.

 

Delegated authority to the Executive Director of Growth, Planning and Housing (subject to any expenditure to be incurred to be within the budget approved for the promotion of the CPO and the acquisition of the property and rights necessary to enable the redevelopment of Site A) to:

 

(a) agree amendments to the Draft Order Plan and finalise the CPO schedule of interests before the making of the Order (if required to give effect to any of the matters delegated pursuant to the recommendation);

 

(b) agree the precise scope of rights to be acquired over properties that surround the Order Land (if required to give effect to any of the matters delegated pursuant to the recommendation);

 

(c) agree amendments and approve the final form of the Statement of Reasons before making the Order;

 

(d) agree amendments and approve the Equalities Impact Assessment before making the Order;

 

(e) to agree the terms of and enter into any documentation required to settle any property rights / matters necessary to progress the regeneration of the Order Land;

 

(f) take all steps to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the Order including the publication and service of all notices and the promotion of the Council’s case at any public inquiry;

 

(g) negotiate, agree terms and enter into agreements with affected parties including agreements for the withdrawal of blight notices and/or the withdrawal of objections to the Order and/or undertakings not to enforce the Order on specified terms, including (but not limited to) where appropriate seeking the exclusion of land from the Order, making provision for the payment of compensation and/or relocation;

 

(h) in the event the Order is confirmed by the Secretary of State or an Inspector in the case of delegation, to advertise and give notice of confirmation and thereafter to take all steps to implement the Order including, as applicable, to execute General Vesting Declarations and/or to serve Notices to Treat and Notices of Entry in respect of interests and rights in the Order Land; and

(i) take all steps in relation to any legal proceedings relating to the Order including defending or settling claims referred to the Upper Tribunal and/or applications to the courts and any appeals.

 

Reasons for Decision

 

Church Street is one of the five priority estates identified in the Renewal Strategy as needing significant improvement and investment. In line with the Council’s strategy for Fairer Westminster 2022 - 2026, the overarching objective of regenerating Church Street is to create a comprehensive renewal that brings about physical, economic and sustainable change that creates additional homes and improves the lives of residents, businesses and visitors alike. The Order Land is a key part  ...  view the full decision text for item 5.

Minutes:

Councillor Matt Noble, Cabinet Member for Climate Action, Regeneration and Renters introduced the report explaining that the overarching objective of the Church Street regeneration scheme is to bring about comprehensive renewal and create additional homes. 

 

Cabinet heard that the Regeneration Team has worked hard to engage and consult with the local community to ensure that all key stakeholders are aware of the CPO Scheme as well as the support they will receive throughout the renewal process.

 

CPOs will only be used as a last resort; officers main focus will be to reach agreement with affected residents and help those that wish to stay within the locally community to do so. This is the same as the approach that was taken as part of the Ebury Regeneration which resulted in no CPOs being used.  

 

Councillor David Boothroyd commented that if the council is committed to the regeneration of Church Street, then this is something that must done but only as a last resort and through engaging with residents. Councillor Boothroyd also noted the Equality Impact Assessment attached to the report. 

 

RESOLVED:Cabinet approved the following recommendation set out on page 88/89 of the Cabinet report pack: 

 

1.             Agree, subject to the consideration of the matters set out in this report, to the making of a Compulsory Purchase Order pursuant to Section 226(1)(a) of the TCPA and section 13 of the 1976 Act in respect of the Order Land, to facilitate delivery of the CPO Scheme.

 

2.             Delegate authority to the Executive Director of Growth, Planning and Housing (subject to any expenditure to be incurred to be within the budget approved for the promotion of the CPO and the acquisition of the property and rights necessary to enable the redevelopment of Site A) to: 

a)      agree amendments to the Draft Order Plan and finalise the CPO schedule of interests before the making of the Order (if required to give effect to any of the matters delegated pursuant to the recommendation); 

b)      agree the precise scope of rights to be acquired over properties that surround the Order Land (if required to give effect to any of the matters delegated pursuant to the recommendation);

c)      agree amendments and approve the final form of the Statement of Reasons before making the Order;

d)      agree amendments and approve the Equalities Impact Assessment before making the Order; 

e)      to agree the terms of and enter into any documentation required to settle any property rights / matters necessary to progress the regeneration of the Order Land;

f)        take all steps to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the Order including the publication and service of all notices and the promotion of the Council’s case at any public inquiry;

g)      negotiate, agree terms and enter into agreements with affected parties including agreements for the withdrawal of blight notices and/or the withdrawal of objections to the Order and/or undertakings not to enforce the Order on specified terms, including (but not limited to) where appropriate seeking the exclusion  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Medium Term Financial Planning (2024/25 to 2026/27) pdf icon PDF 220 KB

Report of the Executive Director of Finance and Resources

Decision:

Cabinet approved the following recommendation:

 

·       That Cabinet note the revised medium term financial planning forecast to 2026/27 and to agree the budget process approach as set out in the report.

 

Reasons for Decision

 

The preparation of the budget and three-year medium term financial plan is the first stage of the annual business planning cycle for the forthcoming financial year 2024/25. There is a statutory requirement to set an annual balanced budget and submit budget returns to the department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC). Approval of the revenue estimates constitutes authority for the incurring of expenditure in accordance with approved policies. It is considered good practice to produce medium financial plans.

Minutes:

Councillor David Boothroyd introduced this report and explained that since the budget was agreed in March 2023, external factors have become clearer with inflation continuing to become a problem.  

 

Cabinet heard that report outlines the Council’s updated financial position over the next three years and provides the financial framework for the Council to deliver its key policy objectives as outlined in its Fairer Westminster strategy. 

 

RESOLVED:

Cabinet approved the following recommendation set out on page 254 of the Cabinet report pack: 

 

1.           That Cabinet note the revised medium term financial planning forecast to 2026/27 and to agree the budget process approach as set out in the report. 

 

7.

Outturn Report pdf icon PDF 444 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Cabinet noted/approved the following recommendations.

 

·       Cabinet noted the outturn position for 2022/23.

 

·       Cabinet approved the reprofiling from the 2022/23 capital programme into future years as set out in Appendix 1 (GF) and Appendix 2 (HRA).

Minutes:

Gerald Almeroth, Executive Director for Finance and Resources, explained to Cabinet that there was an expectation that the General Fund would be subject to a £3m overspend but ended the year with a £3m underspend largely due to increased income through interest rate earnings and an increase in service income.  

 

RESOLVED:

Cabinet approved the following recommendation set out on page 266 of

the Cabinet report pack: 

 

1.          That Cabinet notes the outturn position for 2022/23.

2.          That Cabinet approves the reprofiling from the 2022/23 capital programme into future years as set out in appendix 1 (GF) and appendix 2 (HRA).