The Cabinet of Hillingdon Council met on Thursday 22 June 2017, making decisions on Heathrow expansion, the council's relationship with academies, home care services, financial monitoring, and the council budget. Key decisions included endorsing the council's response to government consultations on Heathrow expansion and air quality, approving the establishment of a dynamic purchasing system for home care services, and noting a positive financial outturn for the 2016-17 financial year.

Heathrow Expansion and Air Quality

The Cabinet endorsed the council's detailed responses to government consultations regarding the proposed expansion of Heathrow Airport and air quality. The council's submission argues that the government has reneged on previous promises not to expand Heathrow and criticises the government's approach to air quality as palpably wrong in both fact and law. Concerns were raised that the consultation is flawed due to a lack of essential information, such as flight paths, and that it is unfair as ministers appear to have already made up their minds. The council also highlighted that the government's case on economics is flawed and that the expansion is inconsistent with the principle of sustainable development. The Cabinet affirmed the council's commitment to taking all necessary action, including further legal challenges, to oppose the Heathrow expansion. Councillor David Simmonds CBE, Leader of the Council, stated, The government should not have renaid on previous promises made that there would be no Heathrow expansion. He also referenced a High Court ruling in 2010 that deemed a previous Heathrow expansion proposal untenable in both law and common sense, adding that the current proposal is even worse. The Cabinet also agreed to address the issue of potential impacts on RAF Northolt, noting that residents are being lied to about the potential things that might happen at the RAF base there.

Children, Young People and Learning Policy Overview Committee: Review of Academies and Free Schools

The Cabinet reviewed the Children, Young People and Learning Policy Overview Committee's report on the council's relationship with academies and free schools. The report noted the significant changes in the educational landscape with the rise of academies and free schools, which have reduced the local authority's direct role. The committee found that most free schools and academies have a positive relationship with the council and made recommendations focused on strengthening communication, building on the relationship with the Regional Schools Commissioner, ensuring clear school improvement plans, and continuing assistance for schools converting to academy status. Councillor Susan O'Brien, Cabinet Member for Children, Families & Education, stated that some of these recommendations are already being implemented, including work on revising the school improvement framework and enhancing the relationship with the Regional Schools Commissioner.

Dynamic Purchasing System for Home Care and Outreach Services

The Cabinet approved the establishment of a dynamic purchasing system (DPS) in conjunction with the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) for home care and outreach services. This system is designed to address challenges in providing home care and will allow new providers to join, enabling competition and challenging underperforming providers. The DPS will include entry criteria and will consider external ratings from Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC), as well as internal data from the Council's quality assurance team. Councillor Jane Palmer, Cabinet Member for Health & Social Care, moved the report, highlighting that the system will dry up quality by establishing a series of entry criteria.

Phase 61: Planning Obligations for Quarterly Financial Monitoring Report

The Cabinet received the quarterly financial monitoring report on Section 106 and Section 278 agreements. These agreements are made with developers to protect residents from the impact of new developments. The report showed that £10.5 million had been secured through these agreements, with £203,000 received in Quarter 4 and £3.1 million spent. Councillor Keith Burrows, Chair of the Registration & Appeals Committee, urged Cabinet colleagues to challenge officers if any funds have been outstanding for a significant period, stating, If there are any amounts that you think have been hanging around for a while, please ask officers or myself, because I meet with them on a regular basis, and do challenge them to spend this money.

Council Budget: 2016-17 Revenue and Council Budget Outturn

The Cabinet reviewed the year-end summary of the council's revenue and budget outturn for the 2016-17 financial year. The report indicated a positive financial position, with an underspend of nearly £4 million and general fund balances carried forward exceeding £39 million. The council also achieved savings of £13.3 million during the year. The capital programme showed an underspend of just over £25 million, which resulted in a reduction in the council's projected borrowing and saved over £400,000 in debt repayment and interest. Councillor Jonathan Bianco, Deputy Leader of the Council & Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Property, congratulated officers on achieving this underspend without compromising the other things that we continue to do.

A new recommendation was added concerning fire safety measures in tower blocks, prompted by the Grenfell Tower fire. Following inspections in May, recommendations were made for £390,000 worth of emergency lighting and the replacement of fire doors. The Cabinet noted that the council had already used emergency powers to order £2.2 million of fire doors, with fitting underway. The council is awaiting official reports from the fire service to determine if further work is required and will communicate with all occupiers of tower blocks. The council has also confirmed that it does not have the same cladding as used on Grenfell Tower.