Agenda item

Minutes of a meeting of the Cabinet held on Monday 27th March, 2023, Room 18.01-18.03, 18th Floor, 64 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QP.

1.   MEMBERSHIP

There were no changes to the membership of Cabinet. 

2.    Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest. 

3.      Minutes

RESOLVED: Councillor Adam Hug, with the consent of the Members present, agreed that the minutes of the meeting held on 13^th February 2023 were a true and correct record of the proceedings. 

4.   FAIRER WESTMINSTER DELIVERY PLAN

Councillor Hug thanked all officers involved in bringing forward the Fairer Westminster Delivery Plan. Councillor Hug explained that the plan sets out the Council’s work for the next year and beyond.  Cabinet heard that the Delivery Plan will be updated every year so that it constantly reflects the priorities of Westminster’s residents and businesses. 

Councillor Hug invited Pedro Wrobel, Executive Director for Innovation and Change to comment further on the report. Pedro thanked officers and Cabinet Members for working together with him and colleagues in Innovation and Change to produce the Delivery Plan.  Cabinet heard that the Delivery Plan is part of the council’s commitment to being as open as possible about the work it undertakes and that to further support in this commitment the council hosted two events last week to speak to residents and businesses about the delivery plan and listen to what their priorities for the year ahead are.  

Pedro added that the Delivery Plan will also be used to monitor progress and impact, to hold the Council accountable, in addition to existing forums like the Audit & Performance Committee, where council services’ performance is also publicly scrutinised.

RESOLVED: CABINET APPROVED THE RECCOMENDATIONS SET OUT IN SECTION 2, PAGE 10 OF THE CABINET PACK REPORT.

5.   Neighbourhood CIL Applications

Councillor Hug invited Councillor Geoff Barraclough Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development to introduce the report.

Councillor Barraclough explained that, as a result of a decision taken by Cabinet in October 2022, Neighbourhood CIL proposals with a value more than £250,000 now come forward to Cabinet for consideration. The two applications to be considered this evening are the first to come forward under the new decision process.

Councillor Hug invited Pedro Wrobel, Executive Director of Innovation and Change to introduce the two applications.

Cabinet heard that the first proposal had come forward from the Mayfair Neighbourhood Forum for public realm improvements to Aldford Street. The recommendation before Cabinet is to grant a total of £580,000 towards these improvements which would include a pocket park and improved drainage. The overall ambition of the scheme is to provide a green gateway to Hyde Park.

Cabinet heard that ward councillors are supportive of the scheme and that while the recommendations in the report are not for the full amount put forward by the Mayfair Neighbourhood Forum officers will continue to engage with them to ensure that they fully understand the reasons behind the recommendations.

Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg explained to colleagues that this scheme is the first of many schemes proposed to create a one-mile green corridor that will join Hyde Park from Park Lane to Regent Street via Aldford Street and Conduit Street. Further schemes will come forward for consideration as and when they are ready.

Cabinet moved on to consider the application for Temple Roof Artists Garden. Cabinet heard that the Artists Garden project had supported the transformation of a disused roof terrace into a space for the public to experience a variety of artistic installations. The proposal under consideration would grant £428,625 for the project to run for a further three years.

Councillor Hug asked that the Artists Garden be incorporated into any culture opportunities going on in the city to ensure residents know about and can take advantage of the offer to view these installations for free. Councillor Dimoldenberg added that Hyde Park residents had been given the opportunity to visit already.

RESOLVED: CABINET APPROVED THE RECCOMENDATIONS SET OUT IN SECTION 2, PAGE 26 OF THE CABINET PACK REPOR

6.   Shareholder COMMITTEE Update (IN PRIVATE)

Councillor Hug asked his Cabinet colleagues to signal their agreement to exclude the press and public for this agenda item and to hold the rest of the meeting in private session in line with the provisions of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act (1972) and as set out on the agenda.

RESOLVED: Cabinet agreed to exclude the press and public for this agenda item and to hold the rest of the meeting in private session.

Cabinet received an update on the work of the Shareholder Committee and how this work would come forward to Cabinet to consider in due course.

Councillor Hug concluded the meeting.