Agenda

Requests to speak at the Committee on a matter within its terms of reference must be made in writing to the clerk named on the front of this agenda by 5pm two working days before the meeting.

Report of the Borough Solicitor.

This is the London Borough of Camden’s annual complaints report for the period 1st April 2023 to 31st March 2024.

It is a single report that includes information on complaints across all directorates and seeks to give a corporate overview while signposting the reader to the detailed results for individual services. The report also provides information for decisions issued by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) and the Housing Ombudsman (HO) in the same period.

The Council’s Constitution states that the Ombudsman decisions on cases where there have been mistakes or failings (called “maladministration”) should be presented to Cabinet on an annual basis for their information only. Therefore, the report provides the decisions issued by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) and the Housing Ombudsman (HO) in the same period and this report will be presented to Cabinet.

Report of the Director of People and Inclusion.

This report has been compiled in response to the Committee's request for an update on the Council's workforce. The report provides an overview of the People and Inclusion Service and its role in supporting the Council effectively to attract, motivate, and develop high-performing employees to deliver the Council’s ambitions for the future of the borough.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Cost of Living.

The Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) agreed by Cabinet in January 2023 not only took steps to ensure that the Council could continue to operate on a sound financial footing over the medium term, but also to align the Council’s limited resources to achieving our ambitions for our borough, residents and communities.

The recommendations in this report build on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy and will support the vision of We Make Camden to make Camden a place where everyone has a chance to succeed, where nobody gets left behind, and where everybody has a voice.

In summary this report:

• Presents budget and funding proposals that will enable the Council to balance its budget in 2025/26 and utilise available resources towards the achievement of the outcomes set out in We Make Camden.

• Provides an update on the overall medium term financial position for the Council, including detail from the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26 and other government announcements. It also provides an update on the main areas of financial risk, including the permanent budget pressures across social care and homeless services.

• Recommends a council tax increase of 4.99%, made up of:
  • A rise of 2.99% in the 2025/26 core council tax level, to support council funding at large, and;
  • A rise of 2% from the levying of an Adult Social Care Precept, to support the Council in its response to the unprecedented demographic and demand pressures facing adult social care.

• Sets out the required level of council tax income to balance the budget as:

• Sets out the Garden Squares Levies for 2025/26.

• Sets out the proposed Greater London Authority precept at £490.38 for Band D properties, an increase of 4.03% on last year (subject to Greater London Authority approval of the budget), making the total council tax charge at Band D £2,106.36 for residents not in Garden Squares.

• Includes the Executive Director Corporate Services’ assessment of the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of general balances available to manage financial risk.

• Recommends fees and charges for approval by Cabinet and by Council where required.

• Recommends capital investment to support the provision of children’s social care and the use of corporate resources to invest in the Council’s housing stock, noting the ongoing work on the accommodation for care experienced young people.

Report of the Director of Development.

Camden’s Community Investment Programme (CIP) is one of the largest and most successful municipal housebuilding programmes in the UK. CIP has built over 1,700 homes in the last 10 years and is aiming to deliver 4,850 homes throughout the programme. The 2024 CIP Annual report contains an update on progress on over the last year, including recently completed schemes, schemes under construction and an update on those in development. The report also provides an update on the estate of the housing market and the wider benefits that CIP is delivering across the borough.

Report of the Executive Director Corporate Services

This paper provides an outline of the 2024/25 work programme and provides an update on actions requested at previous meetings of the Committee in the Action Tracker.