Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Callaghan and Harrison.

There were no declarations.

Webcasting of the Meeting

The Chair to announce the following: “In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record and film public meetings, I would like to remind everyone present that this meeting will be broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and will be capable of repeated viewing and copies of the recording could be made available to those that request them.

If you are seated in the chamber it is likely that the Council’s cameras will capture your image and you are deemed to be consenting to being filmed and to the use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting and/or training purposes.  If you are addressing the Committee your contribution will be recorded and broadcast unless you have already indicated that you do not wish this to happen.

If you wish to avoid appearing on the Council’s webcast you should move to one of the galleries.”

Any Other Announcements

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair reminded those present that the meeting was being broadcast live by the Council to the internet and could be viewed for twelve months thereafter and then archived and made available on request.  Anyone who had asked to address the meeting was deemed to be consenting to having their contribution recorded and broadcast and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.

Requests to address the Cabinet on a matter on its agenda must be made in writing to the clerk named on the front of this agenda by 5pm two working days before the meeting.

There were no deputations.

There was no notification.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 5^th June 2024.

RESOLVED –

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 5^th June 2024 be approved and signed as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting items referred from a Council Scrutiny Committee requiring urgent consideration will be taken.

There were no matters referred.

Please note that there were no alternative options considered or rejected by the Cabinet for the following items, unless indicated, although Cabinet Members duly considered, where applicable, options listed within the reports.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Cost of Living

This report provides an update on:

·         The Council’s new Medium Term Financial Strategy and the Council’s financial resilience.

·         The finances of the Housing Revenue Account including an update on actions being taken to manage the financial pressures on the account.

·         Our response to the cost-of-living emergency and recommended investments to support the delivery of the We Make Camden Missions.

·         2023/24 Revenue outturn and allocation of reserves.

·         2023/24 Capital outturn and updated capital programme.

·         An update on the Council’s Capital Investment Strategy.

·         Recommended new Fees and Charges.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation.

Members remarked on the difficult financial climate in local government over the last few years and the hard choices that had been made, but noted that Camden had continued to support its residents and business and remained in a relatively strong position. It was hoped that longer term settlement decisions by the new government would allow for a more holistic and long term approach to financial planning in future, although it was important to be realistic about the financial constraints that the new government was operating under.

RESOLVED –

(i)            THAT the update on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy and the Council’s medium term financial position, summarised in paragraphs 2.2 to 2.3 of the report, be noted;

(ii)          THAT the impact of inflation and the cost-of-living emergency on the borough and the steps being taken to help support residents detailed in paragraphs 2.5 and 2.17 of the report be noted;

(iii)         THAT the revised Capital Programme, funding and capital receipts targets summarised and presented in paragraphs 2.37 to 2.40 and Appendix B of the report be agreed;

(iv)         THAT the additions to the capital programme in paragraphs 2.42 to 2.68 of the report, including the delegations of authority set out in paragraph 2.53 to the Executive Director Corporate Services and Director of Development respectively for the capital investment summarised in paragraphs 2.51 to 2.53 of the report, be agreed;

(v)          THAT the recommended additional fee detailed in paragraphs 2.31 to 2.36 of the report be agreed;

(vi)         THAT the 2023/24 General Fund & Housing Revenue Account revenue and outturn positions set out in paragraphs 2.18 to 2.23 of the report and the capital outturn in paragraph 2.41 be noted; and

(vii)        THAT the allocations to and from earmarked reserves, as set out in paragraphs 2.24 to 2.30 and Appendix A of the report, be agreed for inclusion in the Statement of Accounts.

Reasons

For the reasons set out in the report.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care

This report sets out a proposed approach to the commissioning of five neighbourhood based ongoing care services (homecare) and three locality based reablement services across Camden. The report also seeks approval for a waiver to enable negotiations with the existing care providers of the eight neighbourhood and locality contracts for a further contract period of up to 18 months from 1 April 2025 to 30 September 2026.

A programme of transformation is underway in which officers are exploring innovative approaches to care and support at home. This transformation is being supported by Fora, a design led partnership. The anticipated transformation will align with other key and interconnected projects such as the development of integrated neighbourhoods, the Supporting People Connecting Communities Accommodation Plan and the expansion of a strengths-based approach that focusses on what matters to residents, including residents who are at risk of being disconnected from their networks and community.

It is anticipated that the care and support at home transformation will take place over a number of years and the negotiation of the current contracts falls within the first phase of the transformation project. It will allow for important test and learn approaches to be embedded in well-established services and ensure that there is:

·         An informed commissioning strategy, including scope for exploring and understanding the complexities of insourcing

·         Fully planned transformation journey from vision to implementation

·         Complete design and co-production phase with residents

·         Opportunity to trial new ways of working with existing providers which takes advantage of good partnerships and stable services

·         These services are not currently in scope of Medium-Term Financial Strategy savings, however this will be re-evaluated as information emerges from the test and learn approach.

The report is being submitted to the Cabinet in line with Contract Standing Order C3.4, which states that the Cabinet must agree procurement strategies for contracts over £5,000,000.

Consideration was given to a report of the Cabinet Members for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care.

RESOLVED –

THAT, having considered the results of the equalities impact assessment at Appendix 2 of the report, and having had due regard to the obligations set out in section 149 of the Equality Act 2010:

(i)         The procurement strategy, which includes a negotiation of the existing long-term care and reablement contracts for a period of 18 months with an estimated value of £31.608 million, be agreed;

(ii)        Contract Standing Order C3.1’s requirement that these contracts should be subject to a competitive tendering process be waived; and.

(iii)       Authority to make future contract award decisions be delegated to the Executive Director Adults and Health in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care.

Reasons

For the reasons set out in the report.

There was no urgent business.