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Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Lisson Grove, Frampton Street

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

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome

Chair to welcome Councillors, Officers and members of the public to the meeting, noting any apologies or changes to membership

Minutes:

Membership

 

There were no changes to the membership of Cabinet. 

 

Councillors Butler-Thalassis and Dimoldenberg joined the meeting virtually and were therefore unable to vote on the items set before Cabinet this evening.

 

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.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 144 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 12th December 2022.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: Councillor Adam Hug, with the consent of the Members present, agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 12thDecember 2022 were a true and correct record of the proceedings. 

4.

Adoption of Anti-Social Behaviour Strategy pdf icon PDF 160 KB

Report of the Bi-borough Executive Director for Children’s Services and the Executive Director of Innovation and Change

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Hug invited Councillor Less to introduce the report. 

 

Councillor Less told Cabinet that in developing the strategy, there has been considerable consultation with victims, residents, businesses, and partners. Councillor Less explained that the strategy has been developed using a collaborative approach across the whole council with input from public protection, housing, youth services and the mental health team to name a few. 

Cabinet heard that the 5-year strategy sets out to tackle anti-social behaviour and ensure that communities have the strength and knowledge to support our joint efforts to reduce ASB; perpetrators will find it harder to offend and held to account when they do, and neighbourhoods will be safer. 

 

Councillor Hug invited Pedro Wrobel, Executive Director of Innovation and Change and Sarah Newman, Bi-borough Executive Director of Children’s Service to comment on the strategy.  

 

Pedro Wrobel told Cabinet that over 1000 individual responses had been received as part of the consultation on the strategy and that many victims of ASB had come forward to share their experiences and feedback on what could be done differently.  

 

Sarah Newman echoed Councillor Less’s comments saying that the strategy encompassed a collaborative community response. 

 

RESOLVED CABINET APPROVED THE RECCOMENDATIONS SET OUT IN SECTION 2, PAGE 13.  

 

5.

North Paddington Programme pdf icon PDF 220 KB

Report of the Executive Director of Growth, Planning and Housing

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Cabinet heard from Councillor Adam Hug that Claudette Forbes, a member of the Future of Westminster Commission and Chair of the Economy and Employment Review had been invited to speak on the Commission’s note on the North Paddington Programme that is appended to the Cabinet Report for information. 

 

Councillor Adam Hug invited Councillor Geoff Barraclough to speak to the report. 

 

Councillor Barraclough told Cabinet that the programme for North Paddington requires the Council to act in a coordinated way to address inequality throughout the borough as stated by the Westminster City Plan.  

 

Councillor Barraclough explained that in approving the recommendations set out in the paper Cabinetwould be agreeing to implement a new place-based approach, with the team responsible for leading the programme being on site to start their work. Cabinet heard that investment in the programme will be incremental and will be a pilot for other place-based programmes across the city 

 

Councillor Hug invited Sarah Crampton the programme lead for North Paddington to speak to the report. 

 

Sarah explained to Cabinet that a central focus of the North Paddington Programme will be tackling inequality. To meet the programme aims officers will work collaboratively with residents and business. To this end,a diverse range of stakeholders will be invited to sit on the boards that will be established to review progress and provide feedback. 

 

Claudette Forbes, Future of Westminster Commission and Chair of the Economy and Employment Review is invited to speak to the note appended to the Cabinet report. 

 

Claudette explained to Cabinet that through the evidence gathering sessions carried out as part of the review she is confident that there are local actors in the community ready to participate in a programme of regeneration and address historic inequalities in the area. The inclusion of local partners is key to delivering a successful programme.  

 

Councillor Hug thanks Claudette for the work of the Economy and Employment Review and invited comment from any other Cabinet Member. 

 

Councillor Boothroyd said that he welcomes the report and notes this is a community that has been held back through lack of investment and opportunity. This report will allow strategic oversight of what the Council is doing in this area,and the finances outlined in the report will allow for accountability for the programme 

 

Councillor Hug draws the item to a close by concluding that the North Programme is one of the many place-shaped based approaches the Council is undertakingon projects like Edgware Road and Queensway. 

 

 

RESOLVED CABINET APPROVED THE RECOMMENDATIONS SET OUT IN SECTION2, PAGE 109 

 

6.

Pay Policy 2023- 2024 pdf icon PDF 111 KB

Report of the Director of People Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Hug introduced the report and reiterated Cabinet’s commitment to closing the pay gap and promoting diversity and inclusion.  

 

Councillor Hug invited Lee Witham, Director of People’s Service to comment on the report.  

 

Lee explained to Cabinet that the Pay Policy is a statutory report that is required every year. There have been no substantial changes made to the policy this year. Cabinet heard that closing pay gaps by 2025 was a commitment shared across the Council by all people leaders.  

 

RESOLVED CABINET APPROVEDTHE RECOMMENDATIONS SET OUT IN SECTION 2, PAGE 140. 

 

7.

Business and Financial Planning 2023/24 to 2026/27 pdf icon PDF 343 KB

Report of the Executive Director of Finance and Resources

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Hug thanked officers and Councillor Boothroyd for their hard work in bringing forward the budget recommendations. 

 

Councillor Hug welcomed Councillor Paul Fisher, Chair of the Budget Scrutiny Task Group (BSTG) to the meeting, thanking him and all members who sat on BSTG for their work in scrutinising the budget proposals. Councillor Hug asked Councillor Fisher to speak to the work of the BSTG. 

 

Councillor Fisherexplained to Cabinet that the priority of theBSTG was primarily to identify risk areas that may require close monitoring. Cabinet heard that the main areas of risk identified were historical in nature. Councillor Fisher told Cabinet that going forward he would like the BSTG to be bolder, more transparent and would like the group to be used more widely in public meetings and in budget setting discussions with the Cabinet. 

 

Councillor Fisher also noted that the report presented to Cabinet had been revised to correct an error in an earlier version. The updated version can be found here. 

 

Councillor Hug noted this report is recommended to be approved at Full Council on8thMarch and invited Councillor Boothroyd to introduce the report. 

 

Councillor Boothroyd noted this is the first budget of the new administration and speaks to the ambitions set out in the Fairer Westminster vision.  

 

Cabinet heard that the Westminster element of Council Tax will be frozen until 2024 but that the Adult Social Care precept will increase by 2% 

 

Councillor Hug invited Gerald Almeroth, Executive Director of Finance and Resources to comment on the report. 

 

Cabinet heard that this paper proposes a balanced budget in 2023-24, and notes inflation is a significant issue along with the uncertainty of central government funding. Cabinet heard thatmanagement of our reserves is significant in trying to mitigate these challenges.  

 

RESOLVED – CABINET APPROVED THE RECOMMENDATIONS SET OUT IN SECTION 2, PAGE 150  

 

8.

Capital Strategy 2023/24 to 2027/28 pdf icon PDF 496 KB

Report of the Executive Director of Finance and Resources

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

Cabinet heardthat the Capital Strategy plays a key part in delivering the ambitions set out in the Fairer Westminster.Councillor Boothroyd drew particular attention to an additional £85 million for the Temporary Accommodation Acquisitions Programme.  

 

 

RESOLVED – CABINET APPROVED THE RECOMMENDATIONS SET OUT IN SECTION 2, PAGE 238  

 

9.

Housing Revenue Account business plan 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Report of the Executive Director of Growth, Planning and Housing and the Executive Director of Finance and Resources

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Hug invited Councillor Boothroyd to introduce the report.  

 

Councillor Boothroyd explained to Cabinet that the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan is an annual refresh of a 30-year business plan 

 

Cabinet heard that the 5-year outlook for the HRA revenue budget projects gross income of £701.87m and gross expenditure of £675.73m (with a further £26.14m contribution to fund capital). The HRA Business Plan is viableand demonstrates that the capital investment ambition over the 30 years can be funded sustainably.  

 

RESOLVED – CABINET APPROVED THE RECOMMENDATIONS SET OUT IN SECTION 2, PAGE 279 

 

 

10.

Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 664 KB

Report of the Executive Director of Finance and Resources

Minutes:

 

Councillor Hug invited Councillor Boothroyd to introduce the report. 

 

Councillor Boothroyd told Cabinet that this is a statutory report produced every year and notes the addition of the Green Climate Bonds which will supportclimate investments in the city 

 

RESOLVED – CABINET APPROVED THE RECOMMENDATIONS SET OUT IN SECTION 2, PAGE 326 

 

11.

Integrated Investment Statement 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 409 KB

Report of the Executive Director of Finance and Resources

Minutes:

 Councillor Hug invited Councillor Boothroyd to introduce the report.

Councillor Boothroyd explained that the Integrated Investment Framework is an annual report, by which the Council invests to support its wider objectives. 

RESOLVED – CABINET APPROVED THE RECOMMENDATIONS SET OUT IN SECTION 6, PAGE 362-363. 

 

12.

Any other business