The Cabinet of Hillingdon Council met on Thursday, 25 January 2018, to discuss a review into the criminalisation of looked-after children and the council's budget monitoring for the 2017-18 financial year. Decisions were made regarding recommendations from both discussions.

Review into the Criminalisation of Looked-After Children

The Cabinet received a report from the External Services Scrutiny Committee, chaired by Councillor John Riley, which reviewed the high number of looked-after children who come into contact with the police or receive criminal convictions. The report highlighted that looked-after children are statistically six times more likely to be arrested or cautioned than children who are not looked after. Councillor David Simmonds CBE noted that the report provided a local Hillingdon dimension to national statistics, mentioning the impact of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and the airport factor on children going missing. A significant statistic revealed was that out of 51 police attendances, 37 were in relation to a single child, demonstrating the substantial impact an individual can have. The report also pointed out that recent regulatory changes mean children with criminal convictions or custody disposals automatically become looked-after children, which will affect future statistics. The Cabinet agreed with recommendations 1 to 3 of the report, acknowledging this as the start of further work in this area.

Council Budget 2017-18: Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring

Councillor Jonathan Bianco, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Corporate Services & Property, presented the Month 8 (November 2017) Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring report. The council is currently projecting an underspend of just over £1 million, an improvement from the previous month. Councillor Bianco highlighted Recommendation 12, which involves match funding to help the 2nd and 9th Ryslip Scout Group move to a new site and build a new hut, as the Church Commissioners, who own their current site, wish to sell it. This initiative is part of a broader effort to support uniformed and youth groups.

The Cabinet noted the overall financial position as of November 2017, with expected balances totalling £38.8 million, indicating that savings are on track. The capital programme also shows an underspend of approximately £10.5 million, largely due to re-phasing of projects.

The Cabinet approved recommendations 1 to 12, which included:

• Recommendation 1: Noting the budget position at Month 8.
• Recommendation 2: Noting the Treasury management update, which showed a consistent rate of return on deposits and no breaches of policy.
• Recommendation 3: Approving agency and consultancy appointments.
• Recommendation 4: Accepting an award of £221,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the Cranford Park projects, authorising officers to proceed with the development phase for the restoration of historic buildings and landscape, and the development of visitor and volunteer facilities.
• Recommendation 5: Approving the acceptance of new burdens funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) for the Homeless Reduction Act, totalling £783,103 over three financial years (2017-18 to 2019-20).
• Recommendation 6: Approving improvements to gift funding for a planning performance agreement for Norfolk College Girls Day School, amounting to £15,000.
• Recommendation 7: Agreeing to donate £14,000 to the Mayor of Hillingdon's Charitable Trust to support local good causes, funded by textile waste collection proceeds and matched by the HIPP initiatives budget. This fulfils a pledge made when textile collections began.
• Recommendation 8: Approving the introduction of fees and charges for admission and guided tours of the New Bath of Britain Bunker Visitors Centre, effective from March 2018. Notably, residents of Hillingdon will have free entry upon production of a Hillingdon First card, as will young people who are non-residents and serving military personnel. Modest charges will apply to others.
• Recommendation 9: Noting the 20% increase in nationally set planning fees and the removal of fee exemptions for applications received after Article 4 directions.
• Recommendation 10: Ratifying an urgent decision taken on 8 January 2018 to opt into the London Business Rates Pilot Pool, a move adopted by all London councils.
• Recommendation 11: Approving a 99-year lease to Scottish and Southern Electricity Networks for a substation at Grassy Meadows, Hayes. This substation is essential for providing electricity to a new development comprising 88 extra care flats and a dementia resource centre.
• Recommendation 12: Acknowledging the strong financial position at the end of the financial year, which provides a healthy start for the coming year.