The Cabinet of Waltham Forest Council met on Tuesday 13 November 2012, making decisions on the Council Tax base, the Fairer Contributions Policy for adult social care, and the adoption of a Supplementary Planning Document for the Local List of Buildings. The meeting also addressed the appointment of a Director of Public Health, procurement for repairs and maintenance contractors, and an extension to the SAP ERP contract with Logica.

Council Tax Base Changes

The Cabinet agreed to set the budgeted collection rate for Council Tax at 96.5% for the 2013/14 financial year. Crucially, no Council Tax discounts will be offered for second homes, vacant dwellings undergoing major structural works (Class A), or substantially unfurnished dwellings (Class C). Furthermore, an empty home premium of 150% will be applied to long-term empty properties. The provisional Council Tax Base calculation for 2013/14 was noted, as was the abolition of Class L exemptions for mortgagees in possession. The Cabinet also delegated the approval of the NNDR Tax Base to the Corporate Director of Finance & Procurement.

Fairer Contributions Policy for Adult Social Care

A significant decision was made regarding the implementation of a new Fairer Contributions Policy for adult social care, replacing the existing Fairer Charging Policy. This change is in response to residents receiving personal budgets to support their eligible needs. The new policy, which will be implemented from the date of the decision, will continue to include 100% of eligible income in financial assessments. Minimum income guarantee thresholds will be based on Department of Work and Pensions single person allowances, with age bands of 18-24, 25-59, and 60+. The maximum charge of £233.50 per week (or £600 for Supporting People) will be removed. A limit of £20 per week will be set for Disability Related Expenditure (DRE), though individuals can apply for a higher amount with proof. The allowance for night care will be included as eligible income if a night care component is part of the Support Plan.

For individuals with savings below the capital limit of £23,250 (in 2012/13), the percentage of any increase in assessed contributions due to the policy change will be 75% for the years 2013/14, 2014/15, and 2015/16. Any decision to increase this percentage above 75% will be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive (Families), subject to a review in 2015/16 and consultation with the Portfolio Holder. The Cabinet also noted the outcome of the public consultation, the review and appeals procedure, and the discretion officers have to waive contributions in cases of severe financial hardship. Councillor Liaquat Ali, Portfolio Lead Member for Community Safety and Cohesion, joined the meeting for this item.

Local List of Buildings of Architectural and/or Historic Interest

The Cabinet agreed to formally adopt the Council's Local List of buildings of architectural and/or historic interest as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). This SPD aims to provide specific planning guidance and encourage the retention, restoration, and enhancement of listed buildings. Revisions to the local list, including proposed additions and deletions, have undergone extensive public consultation. The Cabinet considered representations made during this consultation and approved the full revisions to the local list. They also approved the criteria for assessing buildings for inclusion on the list. Authority was delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director for Environment and Regeneration, in consultation with the Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Environment, to formally adopt the SPD. Future changes to the Local List will also be delegated to these officers in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment. Councillor Clyde Loakes, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Lead for Environment, thanked officers for their work on this report.

Appointment of Director of Public Health

The Cabinet agreed to meet the new statutory responsibility to appoint a Director of Public Health through a joint appointment with the London Borough of Redbridge. This arrangement is subject to the agreement of appropriate employment and governance structures, which will be delegated to the Deputy Chief Executive, Families, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Health & Wellbeing. Waltham Forest will be the employing authority for the Joint Director of Public Health when the function transfers from the NHS on 1 April 2013. A formal review of the joint appointment arrangement will be conducted after eighteen months to consider future options. The Cabinet noted that the new director will lead a review of the two existing Public Health Teams to maximise cross-borough working opportunities. Councillor Ahsan Khan, Portfolio Lead for Health and Wellbeing, introduced the report.

Repairs and Maintenance Contractor Procurement

The current contracts for reactive repairs and cyclical inspection and maintenance of the Council's corporate assets expire on 31 March 2013. The Cabinet approved the commencement of a procurement process for new contracts, aiming for new contractors to begin work on 1 April 2013 for reactive maintenance and 1 July 2013 for cyclical maintenance. A key requirement for reactive maintenance contractors will be the ability to meet short on-site attendance timescales, with an emphasis on having a local workforce or base within the borough. This is intended to ensure effective response to emergency calls, support the local economy and employment, and increase apprenticeship opportunities. Authority was delegated to the Executive Director of Environment & Regeneration to award the contracts following tender returns, in consultation with the Head of Procurement and the Head of Legal & Democratic Services for key decisions.

One SAP ERP Logica Contract Extension

The Cabinet approved the extension of the Council's existing SAP ERP managed services contract with LOGICA UK Limited for a period of up to 12 months, commencing from 1 April 2013. This extension is in relation to the project to renew the Council's ERP solution, which was initially approved in April 2011.

Monthly Financial Monitoring Report

The Cabinet received a report on the Council's revenue expenditure, which forecast an outturn within budget. While service Directorates were projected to overspend by £105,000, management action was anticipated to mitigate this. The report also presented the capital financial position. The Cabinet agreed to capital budget changes listed in Appendix B, increasing the capital programme for 2012/13 by £5.760 million to £117.830 million. They noted the financial position at month 6 and the potential slippage of £27.7 million on the approved capital budget for 2012/13.