The Cabinet of Redbridge Council met on Tuesday 11 February 2020, approving the budget for the upcoming financial year, including a Council Tax increase, and adopting a new Disability Charter. The meeting also saw the approval of admission arrangements for schools and a new Special Guardianship Policy.

Budget and Council Tax Approved

The Cabinet recommended to full Council the approval of the Revenue Budget and Capital Programme for 2020/21, alongside the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2020/21 to 2024/25. This includes a proposed increase in Council Tax of 3.99%, comprising a 1.99% general increase and a 2.0% precept specifically for Adult Social Care. The decision was made following consideration of the draft local government financial settlement and budgetary pressures. The report also updated members on the national context of financial uncertainty for local government and progress towards proposed fair funding reforms and the 75% Business Rates Retention system.

Key decisions made regarding the budget include:

• Approval of the Capital Investment Strategy for 2020/21 to 2024/25.
• Approval of £238.595m in new capital proposals for 2020/21 to 2024/25, revising the total capital programme to £846.861m.
• Approval of the Treasury Management Strategy, Policy Statement, Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy, and Annual Investment Strategy for 2020/21.
• Approval of changes to Fees and Charges for 2020/21.
• Approval for rents for housing properties held within the General Fund to increase by CPI inflation plus 1% (2.7% for employee accommodation) from 6 April 2020.
• Approval for tenant service charges for housing properties to be aligned with Housing Revenue Account (HRA) charges.
• Approval for charges for pieces of land let under licence by the Housing Service to increase by 2.7%.
• Noting that the Council has balanced its budget for 2020/21, with a proposed General Fund net budget requirement of £196.566m.
• Approval of the Schools budget of £317.627m, with delegation to the Corporate Director of People for any changes required due to the final Department for Education Settlement.
• Approval of proposed savings and growth for 2020/21 and future years, including the reversal of previously agreed savings considered undeliverable.
• Approval of the Flexible Capital Receipts Efficiency Strategy.
• Noting the agreed on-going budget savings of £17.435m in 2020/21 and budget growth of £17.942m.
• Noting the provisional Greater London Authority (GLA) Band D precept of £332.07 for 2020/21.
• Noting the Council Tax Base calculation for 2020/21.
• Approval of the Council's share of the business rates income forecast for 2020/21 at £16.332m.
• Approval of the refreshed Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2020/21 and noting the MTFS for 2021/22 – 2024/25.
• Noting significant budget pressures, risks, and uncertainties, as well as previously approved total net savings proposals and proposed growth.
• Noting that further savings of £50.567m are required for the period 2021/22 to 2024/25.
• Noting the annual review of reserves.
• Authorisation for the Corporate Director of Resources to make revisions to the budget relating to the final Local Government Finance Settlement if necessary, subject to no change to the recommended total 2020/21 council tax increase.

Redbridge Disability Charter Adopted

The Cabinet adopted the Redbridge Disability Charter, which sets out key principles to inform and support commissioning processes across the Council. This initiative stems from a recommendation by the Redbridge Fairness Commission, established to investigate how poverty and inequality are addressed in the borough. The Charter will be included in all Service Specifications for commissioned services from April 2020, requiring new providers to sign up to its principles. Existing service providers are expected to adopt the Charter in their work with Redbridge. An implementation policy and procedural guidance will support its adoption, with each Directorate having a named Lead to champion its principles. An annual review will ensure the Charter remains representative of Redbridge's needs, with progress reports presented annually to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

School Admission Arrangements Approved

The Cabinet agreed the Admission Arrangements for 2021-2022 for Redbridge Community Primary and Secondary Schools. This includes a proposed reduction to the admission number for Downshall Primary School. The amended Fair Access Protocol for 2021-2022 and the Pan-London Co-ordinated Admission System's Schemes for Co-ordination of Admissions to Reception/Junior and Secondary Schools for 2021-2022 were also agreed. The content of the Equality Impact Screening document was noted. These arrangements are subject to a statutory framework governing the co-ordination of admission arrangements.

Updated Special Guardianship Policy Approved

The Cabinet approved an updated Special Guardianship Policy. This policy outlines how the Council will assess and support carers who wish to obtain a Special Guardianship Order. Special Guardianship was introduced in 2005 as part of the Adoption and Children Act 2002, providing a legislative framework for local authorities regarding the provision of services, financial support, and the requirement for assessments and plans, in addition to reviews.

Continuation of 4 Borough Emergency Duty Team Service

The Cabinet agreed to continue the four-borough Children's Emergency Duty Team (EDT) service for a further three years, from 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2023. This service, managed and delivered by Redbridge Council on behalf of the London Boroughs of Havering, Barking & Dagenham, and Waltham Forest, was initially introduced in 2014 to provide a standardised service and has proven to be a cost-effective arrangement. The Corporate Director of People, with the agreement of the respective Cabinet Members, has been authorised to negotiate the terms and enter into the necessary legal agreements for this continuation.

Gross Payment for Care Homes

The Cabinet agreed to implement proposals to make gross payments to care homes for residents placed through a contract with the Council. This decision follows recommendations made by the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman (LGSCO) concerning the practice of making net payments, which excluded a person's assessed client contribution and any top-up payments made by a third party. The LGSCO's interpretation of the Care Act 2014 found that councils should pay care homes the gross amount for care provided and are responsible for collecting client contributions and top-up fees, unless all parties agree otherwise. The Corporate Director of People has been authorised to amend the Council's Charging Policy to reflect these new payment processes. Additional resources will be sought through the budget setting process to manage the collection of fees and charges from approximately 750 residents in care homes, with an estimated value of £8 million.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget and Finances Reviewed

The Cabinet approved the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2020/21, covering both revenue and capital. Approval was also given for charges related to rents, garages, parking spaces, heating, and Tenant Service Charges (TSC) for 2020/21. The report provided details on the updated financial projection of the HRA for 2019/20.

Key decisions include:

• Agreement to the projected HRA outturn for 2019/20.
• Agreement to the HRA budget for 2020/21.
• Approval of £13.842m in capital expenditure from the HRA capital programme for works to existing stock, in addition to slippage carried forward from 2019/20.
• Agreement to the 2020/21 performance targets for the management of the HRA housing stock.
• Agreement that all vacant HRA properties will be re-let at the July 2015 rent level, amended as per Government guidelines.
• Agreement for rents for HRA properties to be increased by 2.7% (CPI plus 1%) for the next year.
• Agreement for the standing charge for heating for residents on the Orchard Estate to increase to £3.71 per week over 50 weeks from 6 April 2020.
• Agreement for HRA Tenant Service Charges for non-sheltered housing unit residents not on the Orchard Estate, including heating and hot water, to increase by an average of 6.97%.
• Introduction of a new charge of an average of £7.75 per week in the Sheltered Housing Units at Fernways and Oakfield Lodge to cover the cost of cleaning internal communal areas.
• Agreement for charges to residents in Sheltered Housing Units, including Tenant Service Charges, heating and hot water, and water and sewerage charges, to increase by an average of 30.3%.
• Agreement for HRA garage rents to increase by 2.7%, representing an increase of £0.45 per week for Zone A and £0.30 for Zone B.
• Agreement for Car Parking Space Charges to increase by 2.7%.
• Agreement for increases to existing fees and charges by 2%.
• Agreement for HRA Tenant Service Charges for the Orchard Estate, excluding heating and hot water, to increase by an average of 6.70%.

Rent Setting at Northview Caravan Site

Rents for pitches at Northview Caravan Site were agreed to be decreased by 0.32% from £103.61 to £103.28 per week, based on 52 weeks, with effect from 6 April 2020. This adjustment is intended to ensure that the cost of providing the site is recovered through rental income.

Information Governance Strategy Approved

The Cabinet agreed the Information Governance (IG) Strategy 2020/21. This strategy aligns the Council's IG activity with its overall strategy for the next two years and builds upon existing good practice. It has been reviewed to take into account both the Corporate Strategy and current data protection legislation, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. The strategy sets out objectives and deliverable actions for the Council to comply with its responsibilities under the GDPR. The Governance & Assurance Committee had previously considered and referred the strategy to Cabinet for approval.

South Woodford Society Application for Neighbourhood Forum and Area Designation Approved

The Cabinet approved the application for the designation of the South Woodford Neighbourhood Plan Forum as the Neighbourhood Forum for the South Woodford Neighbourhood Area. The designation of the South Woodford Neighbourhood Area was also approved, with modifications including the addition of area A and the removal of areas B and C, as shown on the map attached to the report. This decision follows a six-week consultation period held from 25 November 2019 to 6 January 2020, in line with The Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012. Neighbourhood planning, introduced by the 2011 Localism Act, empowers communities to shape their local areas. Neighbourhood Plans, once adopted, form part of the statutory development plan and carry significant weight in determining development proposals.

Public Participation

During the public participation session, representations and questions were received from members of the public on various matters, including planning, public comments at Cabinet meetings, local economic development and council spending, restrictions on public speaking, and affordability assessments for council housing. Full details of these discussions are available in the online audio recording.

Other Business

The Cabinet also noted comments from the Place Scrutiny Committee regarding agenda items 7 and 8, and agreed the Forward Plan for March 1 to June 30, 2020. The Calendar of Meetings for the Municipal Year 2020/21 was recommended for approval to full Council.