Hillingdon Council Cabinet Member and Officer Decisions
New Allocations for the Ward Budget Scheme (July 2021)
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Democratic Services Location: Phase II Ext: 0693 DDI: 01895 250693 My Ref: SC CMD No: 211 To: COUNCILLOR DOUGLAS MILLS CABINET MEMBER FOR CORPORATE SERVICES AND TRANSFORMATION c.c. Perry Scott, Corporate Director of Infrastructure, Transport and Building Services c.c. All Members of the Corporate, Finance and Property Select Committee c.c. Helena Webster, Infrastructure, Transport and Building Services c.c. Ward Councillors for Cavendish, Charville, Harefield, South Ruislip, Townfield, and Uxbridge North c.c. Conservative and Labour Group Offices (inspection copy) Date: 05 July 2021 Non-Key Decision request Form D NEW ALLOCATIONS FOR THE WARD BUDGET SCHEME: JULY 2021 Dear Cabinet Member Attached is a report requesting that a decision be made by you as an individual Cabinet Member. Democratic Services confirm that this is not a key decision, as such the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 notice period does not apply. You should take a decision on or after Tuesday 13 July 2021 in order to meet Constitutional requirements about publication of decisions that are to be made. You may wish to discuss the report with the Corporate Director before it is made. Please indicate your decision on the duplicate memo supplied, and return it to me when you have made your decision. I will then arrange for the formal notice of decision to be published. Steve Clarke Democratic Services Officer Title of Report: New Allocations for the Ward Budget Scheme: July 2021 Decision made: Reasons for your decision: (e.g. as stated in report) Alternatives considered and rejected: (e.g. as stated in report) Signed ………………………………………………………Date…………………….. Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Transformation Cabinet Member Report – 05 July 2021 Part 1 - Public NEW ALLOCATIONS FOR THE WARD BUDGET SCHEME: JULY 2021 Cabinet Member(s) Councillor Douglas Mills Cabinet Portfolio(s) Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Transformation Officer Contact(s) Helena Webster – Infrastructure, Transport and Building Services Papers with report Appendix A - Details of projects submitted for the Ward Budget Scheme from 7 April 2021 to 25 June 2021 Appendix B - Ward Budget financial summary to 25 June 2021 HEADLINES Summary This report seeks Cabinet Member approval to allocate funds from the Ward Budget Scheme for proposals submitted by Ward Councillors. Putting our Residents First The Ward Budget Initiative supports the following Council objectives of: Our People; Our Natural Environment; Our Built Environment; Our Heritage and Civic Pride. Financial Cost The overall funds earmarked for the Ward-based budget scheme total £1,430,000. The accumulative value of proposals to date is £1,009,088 giving a balance of £ 420,912 to allocate. This report seeks Cabinet Member approval to release funds totalling £23,567 for seven new Ward Budget proposals taking the total allocation to £1,032,655 and leaving a balance of £397,345 available for allocation. Relevant Select Committee Corporate, Finance and Property Select Committee Relevant Ward(s) Cavendish, Charville , Harefield, South Ruislip , Townfield and Uxbridge North RECOMMENDATIONS That the Cabinet Member for Co rporate Services and Transformation approves the allocation of £23,567 from the Ward Budget Scheme for the following proposals: Ward Grant Recipient Amount £ Cavendish Newnham Junior School playground improvements £ 5,500 Charville Hayes Park School to revamp the sensory and wildlife garden £ 2,000 Charville Charville Community Association towards renovating the kitchen £ 8,500 Cabinet Member Report – 05 July 2021 Part 1 - Public Harefield Royal Brompton & Harefield Charity interpretive outdoor signs for Harefield Hospital £ 5,282 South Ruislip Queensmead Secondary School growing garden project £ 500 Townfield Village Garden Estate new Perspex for a community noticeboard £ 385 Uxbridge North Uxbridge Early Years Centre five portable air conditioning units £ 1,400 TOTAL £23,567 Reasons for recommendation Each of the proposals submitted complies with the protocol on the use of Ward Budgets. All Ward Councillors have been made aware of the proposals within this report and, to date, there have been no objections received. Alternative options considered / risk management None. Select Committee comments None at this stage. SUPPORTING INFORMATION At its meeting in September 2011, Cabinet agreed to allocate £330k from Priority Growth to fund a new Ward Budget Scheme. With effect from 0 1 October 2011, £15k was allocated to each of the 22 Wards. The sum did not have to be spent in the 2011/12 financial year and any unspent balance was carried forward to future financial years. An additional Ward Budget allocation of £10k for each Ward was agreed by Cabinet on 19 June 2014 and a further allocation of £20k for each Ward agreed by Cabinet on 12 February 2015. At Cabinet on 14 February 2019, additional growth of £440k, £20k per Ward, was prioritised (with approval at Cabinet on 18 April 2019 to release an estimated £203k of the £440k to top- up each Ward Budget to £15k, where needed). At Cabinet on 17 June 2021 it was agreed that all Ward Budgets would be topped up (where needed) to £10k. It was estimated that £75k would be required for this. The actual amount needed, taking into account new proposals received up to 24 June 2021 is £ 82k. The £82k will be funded from the remaining £237k of the April 2019 Ward Budget growth award Furthermore, Cabinet agreed that the new ward budgets amounts would be available for use this financial year, 2021/22. This will be reflected on Appendices A and B in the next Ward Budget report. Ward Budget funding is to be used for proposals that make a difference in a local area and to give residents a chance to influence how their local priorities are met. Primarily the funds are intended for one-off expenditure on physical works, events or activities that have a positive impact within Cabinet Member Report – 05 July 2021 Part 1 - Public the Ward. Proposals are to be submitted with the agreement of all relevant W ard Councillors. A summary of the proposals approved to date is given in the table overleaf. A further seven new proposals covering six Ward Budgets and totalling £23,567 have been received; the details of these are set out in Appendix A of this report. Financial Year Cabinet Member approval No. of Proposals No. of Wards Total Proposal Value Growth Funding Balance Remaining (£) (£) (£) 2011/12 Initial allocation £330,000 £330,000 2011/12 Dec - March 39 22 £68,133 £261,867 2012/13 April - March 123 22 £159,896 £101,971 2013/14 April - March 70 22 £71,310 £30,661 2014/15 Further allocation £660,000 £690,661 2014/15 April - March 54 22 £58,581 £632,080 2015/16 April - March 103 21 £196,958 £435,123 2016/17 April - March 91 20 £143,571 £291,552 2017/18 April - March 68 22 £110,758 £180,794 2018/19 April - March 47 22 £51,183 £129,611 2019/20 Further allocation £440,000 £569,611 2019/20 April - March 65 22 £88,154 £481,457 2020/21 April - March 22 22 £35,766 £445,691 2021/22 May 11 5 £24,779 £420,912 2021/22 June 7 6 £23,567 £397,345 700 n/a £1,032,655 £1,430,000 £397,345 Since the commencement of the scheme in October 2011, a total of 700 proposals have been received. Of these, 693 proposals have already been approved covering all 22 W ards within Hillingdon and seven new proposals are recommended within this report. The updated balance of funds for each ward under the Ward Budget Scheme is set out in Appendix B. Financial Implications The aggregate growth allocation for the Ward Budget Scheme is £1,430,000. The funding for the programme runs from 01 October 2011 onwards, based on the original £330,000 budget for the initiative approved by Cabinet on 29 September 2011; £220,000 approved by Cabinet on 19 June 2014; £440,000 approved by Cabinet on 12 February 2015 and a further £440,000 approved by Cabinet on 14 February 2019 (of which £203,180 – as agreed by Cabinet on 18 April 2019 – was allocated to top each of the Ward Budget balances up to £15,000 where needed). The total allocations approved up to May 2021 were £1,009,088 at which stage, the unallocated balance on the earmarked reserve available for distribution was £ 420,912. The allocation of £23,567 proposed within this report for June 2021 will take the total allocations approved to £1,032,655 leaving an unallocated balance of £397,345 on the reserve available for distribution. As referenced above, the top up of individual Ward Budget allocations to £10 ,000, utilising £82,203 of the residual April 2019 growth award, will be reflected on Appendices A and B in the next report. Cabinet Member Report – 05 July 2021 Part 1 - Public RESIDENT BENEFIT & CONSULTATION The benefit or impact upon Hillingdon residents, service users and communities Ward Budgets help Councillors to make a difference in their W ard. They address specific local priorities by delivering proposals to benefit residents and local organisations. Consultation carried out or required Consultation with the lead Councillor from each Ward and officers internally has taken place, where appropriate. Where other services are involved, such as Residents’ Associations, and community organisations, the views of these groups have helped to shape the nature of the proposals. CORPORATE CONSIDERATIONS Corporate Finance Corporate Finance has reviewed this report and concurs with the financial implications set out above. If the schemes set out in this report are approved, £397 k will remain available to support future initiatives. Legal Implications The Borough Solicitor confirms that the projects being funded comply with the protocol on the use of Ward Budgets and there are no legal impediments to prevent the Cabinet Member from authorising this expenditure. Infrastructure / Asset Management None at this stage. BACKGROUND PAPERS NIL. Cabinet Member Report – 05 July 2021 Part 1 - Public APPENDIX A: DETAILS OF PROJECTS SUBMITTED FOR THE WARD BUDGET SCHEME Ward Ref No Proposal Cost (£) Councillor Approval Received Balance remaining (£) Cavendish WB4CH07 Newnham Junior School playground improvements £5,500 Cllrs Barnes & Lavery £170 Supporting Information 1. Newnham Junior School is a large (360 pupils on role and 40 staff) school built in the 1950’s and plays a large part in teaching local children and strong community links. 2. The school has three netball team s and four netball courts which double up as playgrounds at break times . The school hosts a number of tournaments over the netball season which runs throughout the academic year. 3. The Ward Budget funding will be used to replace damaged tarmac and repaint the netball marking lines over the four areas ready for the start of the new netball season from September 2021. Target Delivery Date The grant will be paid once the proposal has been approved. Expected Outcome The grant will contribute towards priorities agreed by the Hillingdon Partners Executive and in particular to ‘Prom ote and increase residents' involvement in sports, leisure, cultural and learning activities.’ Recipient of funding A BACS transfer will be arranged for the recipient once the proposal has been approved. Cabinet Member Report – 05 July 2021 Part 1 - Public Ward Ref No Proposal Cost (£) Councillor Approval Received Balance remaining (£) Charville WB4CH07 Hayes Park School to revamp the sensory and wildlife garden £2,000 Cllrs Rodrigues, Brightman & Davies £10,540 Supporting Information 1. Hayes Park is a Foundation School with Nursery, Infant and Junior departments accommodating some 700 children aged from 3 – 11 years. 2. The school is fortunate to have three outdoor areas and the proposal is to revamp these overgrown areas to use their potential as both a restful environment for the children and to accommodate an extracurricular lunchtime gardening club. 3. Not all the families of children who attend the school have access to have a garden so this proposal will give them the opportunity to experience fresh fruit and vegetables as w ell as connecting with nature. 4. The grant will be used towards the cost of bench seating, raised beds, soil and planting for the area. Target Delivery Date The grant will be paid once the proposal has been approved. Expected Outcome The grant will contri bute towards priorities agreed by the Hillingdon Partners Executive and in particular to ‘Promote and increase residents' involvement in sports, leisure, cultural and learning activities.’ Recipient of funding A BACS transfer will be arranged for the recipient once the proposal has been approved. Cabinet Member Report – 05 July 2021 Part 1 - Public Ward Ref No Proposal Cost (£) Councillor Approval Received Balance remaining (£) Charville WB4CH08 Charville Community Association kitchen renovations £8,500 Cllrs Rodrigues, Brightman & Davies £2,040 Supporting Information 1. Charville Community Centre was opened in 1984 and the kitchen remains one of the original features. The cupboard units have seen better days and the flooring is cracked making it difficult to clean. 2. The Community Association currently has some 150 members ranging from 18 to over 80 years of age with over 95% of members living within Charville ward itself. 3. A range of activities are usually on offer 7 days a week including: Senior Citizens, Friendship Groups, Church & religious groups keep fit, ballet and karate. Fund raising activities include bingo, quiz nights and family themed nights. 4. In preparation for reopening and resuming activities in line with Covid-19 guidance, a new kitchen including cupboard units, worktops, flooring and accessories will make a tremendous difference to the appearance of the centre. Target Delivery Date The grant will be paid once the proposal has been approved. Expected Outcome The grant will contribute towards priorities agreed by the Hillingdon Partners Executive and in particular to ‘Promote and increase residents' involvement in sports, leisure, cultural and learning activities.’ Recipient of funding A BACS transfer will be arranged for the recipient once the proposal has been approved. Cabinet Member Report – 05 July 2021 Part 1 - Public Ward Ref No Proposal Cost (£) Councillor Approval Received Balance remaining (£) Harefield WB4HA03 Royal Brompton & Harefield Charity interpretive outdoor signs for Harefield Hospital £5,282 Cllrs Higgins & Palmer £2,635 Supporting Information 1. An ‘Art, Heritage, Nature and Wellbeing’ walk is being created within the grounds of Harefield Hospital. The intention is to enhance and enrich the open spaces by creating a walking journey, linking all places of interest for patients , visitors, staff, and the local community to enjoy and appreciate. 2. 12 interpretive outdoor signs will be created highlighting interesting pieces of information on Harefield Hospital’s heritage, art, gardens local flora and fauna in addition to well being exercises to participate in along the walk. 3. The outdoor signs will be mounted on Aberdeen Oak lecterns for longevity and complemented by a two-page walking map. A public consultation is planned to encourage local residents as well as Hospital users to feedback on locations and content. 4. The Harefield Ward Budget gran t is matched with £5,000 from Harefield Hospital itself and £2,000 from the Ho spital’s Charity Patients Amenity Fund. Target Delivery Date The grant will be paid once the proposal has been approved. Expected Outcome The grant will contribute towards priorities agreed by the Hillingdon Partners Executive and in particular to ‘Promote and increase residents' involvement in sports, leisure, cultural and learning activities.’ Recipient of funding A BACS transfer will be arranged for the recipient once the proposal has been approved. Cabinet Member Report – 05 July 2021 Part 1 - Public Ward Ref No Proposal Cost (£) Councillor Approval Received Balance remaining (£) South Ruislip WB4SR14 Queensmead Secondary School growing garden project £500 Cllrs Tuckwell & Kauffman £3,407 Supporting Information 1. Queensmead School is looking to transform an unused area at the front of the school into the school’s growing garden. The intention is to create a student friendly garden growing fresh fruit and vegetables on sixteen new planter beds primarily for Year 7 forms to use. 2. The garden can integrate with subjects such as Science, Food Technology and Art & Design as well as offering extra-curricular opportunities for students with a particular interest in gardening. 3. Over time the aspiration is that student and staff volunteers will create eco-friendly ways to increase the size and appearance of the garden. 4. To support this, in addition to the Ward Budget grant, school parents and the wider community have been asked to donate gardening tools, seeds and any useful garden materials. Target Delivery Date The grant will be paid once the proposal has been approved. Expected Outcome The grant will contribute towards priorities agreed by the Hillingdon Partners Executive and in particular to ‘Promote and increase residents' involvement in sports, leisure, cultural and learning activities.’ Recipient of funding A BACS transfer will be arranged for the recipient once the proposal has been approved. Cabinet Member Report – 05 July 2021 Part 1 - Public Ward Ref No Proposal Cost (£) Councillor Approval Received Balance remaining (£) Townfield WB4TO05 Village Garden Estate new Perspex for a community noticeboard £385 Cllrs Allen, Curling & Sansarpuri £7,115 Supporting Information 1. Two Community Noticeboards were funded from the Townfield Ward Budget back in 2010 of which one now requires new Perspex to be fitted. 2. The noticeboards are maintained by the Village Garden Residents Association who ensure that residents can keep updated from the community information displayed 3. This is especially important for older residents who often do not have access to online social media platforms such as Facebook or WhatsApp where local information is shared. 4. The proposal will cover the cost of replacing and refurbishing the noticeboard. Target Delivery Date The noticeboard will be refurbished directly once the proposal has been approved. Expected Outcome The grant will contribute towards priorities agreed by the Hillingdon Partners Executive and in particular to ‘Build a strong and resilient community.’ Recipient of funding An internal transfer will be arranged once the proposal has been approved. Cabinet Member Report – 05 July 2021 Part 1 - Public Ward Ref No Proposal Cost (£) Councillor Approval Received Balance remaining (£) Uxbridge North WB4UN08 Uxbridge Early Years Centre five portable air conditioning units £1,400 Cllrs Graham & Yarrow £1,581 Supporting Information 1. Uxbridge Early Years Centre in Park Road offers childcare from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday for babies from 6 months up to children aged five. 27childcare places can be accommodated. 2. The centre is council owned and was set up some 40 years ago, serving the local community. 3. Ward Budget funding is proposed to purchase five portable air conditioning units enabling the centre to maintain a comfortable air temperature which is especially important for babies and young children during a heatwave. Target Delivery Date The grant will be paid once the proposal has been approved. Expected Outcome The grant will contribute towards priorities agreed by the Hillingdon Partners Executive and in particular to ‘Promote and increase residents' involvement in sports, leisure, cultural and learning activities.’ Recipient of funding A BACS transfer will be arranged for the recipient once the proposal has been approved. Cabinet Member Report – 05 July 2021 Part 1 - Public APPENDIX B: WARD BUDGET SUMMARY (JULY 2021 CABINET MEMBER REPORT)
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Executive Decision Notice – [13 July 2021]. Page 1 This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk OFFICIAL EXECUTIVE DECISION NOTICE PUBLISHED BY DEMOCRATIC SERVICES Notice is hereby given that the following decision(s) have been made today by Cabinet Members at the London Borough of Hillingdon: Title of decision New Allocations for the Ward Budget Scheme: July 2021 Reference No. 211 Date of decision 13 July 2021 Call-in expiry date Not applicable. Relevant Select Committee(s) Corporate, Finance & Property Select Committee Relevant Ward(s) Cavendish, Charville, Harefield, South Ruislip, Townfield and Uxbridge North Decision made Cabinet Members making the decision Councillor Douglas Mills - Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Transformation DECISION APPROVED That the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Transformation approved the allocation of £23,567 from the Ward Budget Scheme for the following proposals: Ward Grant Recipient Amount Cavendish Newnham Junior School playground improvements £ 5,500 Charville Hayes Park School to revamp the sensory and wildlife garden £ 2,000 Charville Charville Community Association towards renovating the kitchen £ 8,500 Executive Decision Notice – [13 July 2021]. Page 2 This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk Harefield Royal Brompton & Harefield Charity interpretive outdoor signs for Harefield Hospital £ 5,282 South Ruislip Queensmead Secondary School growing garden project £ 500 Townfield Village Garden Estate new Perspex for a community noticeboard £ 385 Uxbridge North Uxbridge Early Years Centre five portable air conditioning units £ 1,400 TOTAL £23,567 Reason for decision Each of the proposals submitted complie d with the protocol on the use of Ward Budgets. All Ward Councillors had been made aware of the proposals within the report and there had been no objections received. Alternative options considered and rejected None. Classification Part 1 - Public Link to associated report Here. Relevant Officer contact & Directorate Helena Webster – Infrastructure, Transport & Building Services Any interest declared by the Cabinet Member(s) / dispensation granted N/A Implementation of decision & scrutiny call-in [Internal Use only] When can this decision be implemented by officers? Officers can implement the Cabinet Member decision in this notice only from the expiry of the scrutiny call-in period which is: Decision comes into immediate effect. Executive Decision Notice – [13 July 2021]. Page 3 This notice is a public document also available to view on the Council's website www.hillingdon.gov.uk Further information These decisions, where applicable, have been taken under The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012. This is the formal notice by the Council of the above executive decision, including links to the reports where applicable. If you would like more information on this decision, please contact Democratic Services on 01895 250636 or email: democratic@hillingdon.gov.uk . Circulation of this decision notice is to a variety of people including Members of the Council, Corporate Directors, Officers, Group Secretariats and the Public. Copies are also placed on the Council’s website. Democratic Services London Borough of Hillingdon Civic Centre High Street Uxbridge UB8 1UW