Agenda and minutes

No apologies were received.

Any Member of the Leadership Team, or any other Member present in the meeting, who has a disclosable pecuniary interest in a matter to be considered at the meeting is reminded to disclose the interest to the meeting and to leave the meeting room while any discussion or vote on the matter takes place.

Members are also reminded that if they have any other significant interest in a matter to be considered at the meeting, whether registered or not, which they feel should be declared in the public interest, such interests should be declared to the meeting. In such circumstances Members should consider whether, a member of the public, with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard the interest as so significant that it is likely to prejudice their consideration or decision making. If the Member considers that to be the case, they should leave the meeting room while any discussion or vote on the matter takes place.

No declarations of interest were made.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 11 December 2024 were confirmed as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on the 11 December 2024 were confirmed as a correct record.

Cllr. Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of the Council (Chair), introduced the report, which outlined the background to the proposed decision. She stated that this negotiated agreement involved contributions from other defendants named in separate civil proceedings, which were developed through an alternative dispute resolution process.

Cllr. Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of the Council (Chair), advised that the global settlement would cover the legal costs incurred in representing the claimants, thereby avoiding lengthy court proceedings that could further traumatize the bereaved and survivors.

The Leadership Team was advised that other cases brought against the Council would be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Prior to reaching its decision, the Leadership Team RESOLVED to exclude the press and public by virtue of paragraphs 3, Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 to consider and discuss information contained in the Part B appendix relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) as the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information and by Virtue of Paragraph 5, Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings. The Leadership Team duly went into private session before returning to public session to take its decision.

The Leadership Team RESOLVED, for the reasons set out in paragraph 3.1 to 3.4 and elsewhere within the report, that the recommendations at paragraph 2.1 to 2.3 be adopted.

The Leadership Team:

                        i.         Approved the Council entering into a global settlement agreement to include a global settlement of the legal costs which will provide full and final settlement of those claims in the current Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) process.

                       ii.         Approved the expenditure provided for in the negotiated agreement, an explanation of which is set out in the exempt Appendix, which includes: the Council’s share of the settlement sum and the Council’s share of the associated legal costs which have been claimed on behalf of the claimants by their lawyers.

                      iii.         Delegated authority to the Chief Executive following consultation with the Leader of the Council and following advice from the Monitoring Officer and Executive Director of Resources to agree and sign off the detailed terms of the settlement agreement and an apportionment agreement between defendants in the Alternative Dispute Resolution process.

Action by: Chief Executive

Cllr. Emma Will, Lead Member for Property, Parks and Leisure, introduced the report, which outlined the background to the proposed decision. She advised that the report proposed the acquisition of Princess Beatrice House, situated in Earl’s Court (Redcliffe ward), to be used for Supported Housing for vulnerable residents in housing need.

The Leadership Team welcomed this report and noted that providing supported housing at Princess Beatrice House would: increase supply to meet the demand and needs of vulnerable residents; reduce the need to accommodate them in costly temporary accommodation or housing that is less suitable for their needs; positively affect homelessness prevention; and increase the provision of accessible housing in the borough.

Prior to reaching its decision, the Leadership Prior to reaching its decision, the Leadership Team RESOLVED to exclude the press and public by virtue of paragraphs 3, Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 to consider and discuss information contained in the Part B appendix relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information. The Leadership Team duly went into private session before returning to public session to take its decision.

The Leadership Team RESOLVED, for the reasons set out in paragraph 3.1 – 3.6 and elsewhere within the report, that the recommendations at paragraph 2.1 to 2.3 be adopted.

The Leadership Team:

                        i.         Approved the proposed purchase of Princess Beatrice House from Look Ahead Care & Support Ltd, subject to satisfactory due diligence and the contractual signing of the GLA grant, on the terms and for the amount identified in confidential Part B and to enter into any legal agreements to facilitate the acquisition.

                       ii.         From the Capital Programme budget, approve the funding for this project identified in exempt (Part B) appendix to include the amount identified to cover acquisition, fees, immediate repair requirements and post acquisition feasibility work which will progress the recommended remodelling option through further due-diligence, detailed design, option analysis and narrowing the decisions about the longer-term investment in supported accommodation at this site.

                      iii.         Delegated approval to the Executive Director of Housing and Social Investment, following consultation with the Lead Member of Property, Parks and Leisure, to agree any appropriate and necessary amendments to the terms stated within this report (including agreement on any re[1]negotiation of the purchase price, providing it does not exceed the current proposed purchase price) to facilitate the acquisition of the Property.

Action by: Executive Director of Housing & Social Investment

Cllr. Cem Kemahli, Lead Member for Planning and Public Realm, introduced the report, which outlined the background to the proposed decision.

The Leadership Team welcomed this report and noted that the renewal of the Council’s Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) – Nuisance Vehicles, for a period of three years, would provide an enforcement mechanism to keep the borough’s neighbourhoods peaceful and safe from noisy and disruptive driving.

The Leadership Team RESOLVED, for the reasons set out in paragraph 3.1 – 3.2 and elsewhere within the report, that the recommendations at paragraph 2.1 (i-ii) be adopted.

The Leadership Team:

(i)             Approved the renewal of the Borough-wide PSPO for Nuisance Vehicles ('Vehicle’ includes a pedal cycle, which includes a power assisted pedal cycle, or a pedal cycle in combination with a trailer constructed or adapted for carrying one or more passengers), for three years, expiring January 2028, prohibiting the following activities between the hours of 12 noon and 6am:

•       Revving of engine(s) (as to cause a public nuisance)

•       Sudden and/or rapid acceleration (as to cause a public nuisance)

•       Repeated sudden and/or rapid acceleration (as to cause a public nuisance) • Racing by two or more vehicles

•       Performing stunts (as to cause a public nuisance)

•       Sounding horns (as to cause a public nuisance)

•       Playing music from a vehicle (as to cause a public nuisance) • Using threatening, intimidating behaviour towards another person

•       Causing obstruction on a public highway, whether moving or stationary, including driving in convoy

(ii)            Noted the analysis of stakeholder engagement report (Appendix One) demonstrating overwhelming support for the renewal of the PSPO for Nuisance Vehicles.

Action by: Executive Director for Environment and Neighbourhoods

Cllr. Elizabeth Campbell, Leader of the Council (Chair), introduced the report, which outlined the background to the proposed decision. She informed Members of the Council’s annual contribution to the London Borough Grants Scheme, administered by London Councils through the Leaders’ Committee, and noted that this year’s contribution would be £110,628.

The Leadership Team RESOLVED, for the reasons set out in paragraph 3.1 – 3.2 and elsewhere within the report, that the recommendations at paragraph 2.1 (i-ii) be adopted.

The Leadership Team:

                        i.         Agreed to the recommendation of the London Councils’ Leaders’ Committee that the proposed overall level of expenditure for the London Boroughs Grants Scheme of £6.711m in 2025/26 to be shared by the relevant constituent councils.

                       ii.         Agreed the Council’s contribution to the London Boroughs Grants Scheme for 2025/26 of £110,628

Action by: Executive Director of Resources

[Each written report on the public part of the Agenda as detailed above:

(i)     was made available for public inspection from the date of the Agenda;

(ii)    incorporates a list of the background papers which (i) disclose any facts or matters on which that report, or any important part of it, is based; and (ii) have been relied upon to a material extent in preparing it. (Relevant documents which contain confidential or exempt information are not listed.); and

(iii)    may, with the consent of the Chairman and subject to specified reasons, be supported at the meeting by way of oral statement or further written report in the event of special circumstances arising after the despatch of the Agenda.]

There were no items considered urgent.

If required, the Leadership Team will resolve to exclude the press and public from the meeting should any specific item of business so require on the grounds that discussions may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Some reports on the agenda may include confidential information which is exempt from publication. The Leadership Team may need to discuss this information in private session before decisions are taken afterwards, in public session.

The Leadership Team excluded the press and public for deliberation on the exempt appendices to Agenda Items 4 and 5: Global settlement of claims KD1010917 and Acquisition of a property to enable its use as Supported Housing by Housing, Social Investment & Property KD1010525.