No apologies were received.

No pecuniary declarations were made.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on the 16 February 2015 were approved as a correct record.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1).    considered the details contained within the report, the outcome of the consultation exercise on the options for when the ILF closes and full responsibility for supporting ILF customers transfers to the Council from 1st July 2015.

2)     agrees the recommended option (Option 4 in 5.2) on how care and support will continue to be provided to the existing ILF customers

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health presented the report, which sought Cabinet agreement on the preferred option for the type and level of care and support the Council would provide to customers of the Independent Living Fund (ILF), following the transfer of the responsibility of the ILF to Council from Central Government. The report also provided the results of the consultation by the Council on the proposed options with the ILF users.

Lyla Adwan-Kamara (Chief Executive of Merton Centre for Independent Living) and John Kelly (an ILF customer) addressed the meeting.

In response to the information heard and that contained within the report, the Cabinet sought further information and assurances from the Director of Community and Housing on a number of issues. Those included confirming that the year of transition of ILF payments being kept at the current level would end on 1 April 2016, and that the Council’s direct payments scheme promotes maximum choices and control for the users whilst ensuring transparent and accountability for the Council. Also that the Council would try, where possible, not to have unnecessary re-assessments of ILF users.

In making its decision the Cabinet confirmed its commitment for meaningful dialogue with Merton’s CIL and Mr Kelly during the ILF’s transition year.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1).    considered the details contained within the report, the outcome of the consultation exercise on the options for when the ILF closes and full responsibility for supporting ILF customers transfers to the Council from 1st July 2015.

2).    agrees the recommended option (Option 4 in 5.2) on how care and support will continue to be provided to the existing ILF customers

RESOLVED

The Cabinet

1).    agrees that the charges for MASCOT, for those customers for whom the council arranges support, to become part of the council’s overall Fairer Contributions Policy,

2).    agrees that option 5 be the preferred option for the MASCOT service

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health presented the report, which provided a proposal of amending the charging policy for the MASCOT service. The recommended option was to align the MASCOT charges with other Council services by it becoming a part of the Council’s Fairer Contribution Policy (option 5 within the report). It was explained that one of the benefits of this approach would mean that there would only need to be one assessment and associated cost rather than the current two separate charges and assessments. It was noted that the Cabinet report also contained four other alternative options including remaining with the current charging policy.

RESOLVED

The Cabinet

1).    agrees that the charges for MASCOT, for those customers for whom the council arranges support, to become part of the council’s overall Fairer Contributions Policy,

2).    agrees that option 5 be the preferred option for the MASCOT service.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

1).    notes the financial reporting data relating to revenue budgetary control, showing a forecast net overspend at year end of £4.205million, 2.6% of the net budget, at month 10. This was a reduction of £393k from last month.

2).    notes the virements contained in Appendix 5b and notes the movement of budget from the capital inflation contingency in paragraph 4.2.2 encompassed within the Capital Strategy 2015-19 as presented to Council on 4 March 2015.

3)     authorises the Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, to settle the outstanding issues with schools on the PFI scheme on the basis outlined in this report

The Cabinet Member for Finance presented the report which provided the regular

monthly financial monitoring update for January 2015. The report detailed that the Council was predicting a net overspend of £4.205million for the end of the year, which was a reduction of £393k from last month’s report.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

1).    notes the financial reporting data relating to revenue budgetary control, showing a forecast net overspend at year end of £4.205million, 2.6% of the net budget, at month 10. This was a reduction of £393k from last month.

2).    notes the virements contained in Appendix 5b and notes the movement of budget from the capital inflation contingency in paragraph 4.2.2 encompassed within the Capital Strategy 2015-19 as presented to Council on 4 March 2015.

3)     authorises the Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Education and the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, to settle the outstanding issues with schools on the PFI scheme on the basis outlined in this report

To RESOLVE that the public are excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following report(s) on the grounds that it is (they are) exempt from disclosure for the reasons stated in the report(s).

That the public are excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following reports on the grounds thatthey are exempt from disclosure for the reasons stated in the reports.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

1).    approves the award of a contract to Organisation A for the provision of:

a.           technology and associated services for the Customer Contact Programme, incorporating:

                                i.            a refreshed website and content management system that facilitates an increase in online self-service transactions;

                               ii.            a customer account facility that facilitates easier online, face to face and telephone interaction between customers and the Council;

                              iii.            an upgraded contact management solution, including appropriate integration with existing line-of-business systems, to allow more customers to complete their transaction in a single visit and reduce avoidable contact.

b.           a replacement electronic document management system and associated services.

The contract will commence on the 2 April 2015 and be for a period of three years with the option to extend (exercisable at the Council’s sole discretion) by three further increments of 12 months each. The maximum possible contract period would be no more than six years.  

2).    delegates authority to the Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance to procure additional services offered within the contract.

3).    delegates authority to the Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance to approve any final amendments to the Customer Contact contract as may be agreed during the Preferred Bidder stage.

4).    delegates authority to the Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance to take the decision to extend the contract by three further increments of 12 months each as detailed in recommendation A.

5).    approves the procurement of scanners in accordance with the council’s Contract Standing Orders as part of the programme as set out in item 10.10.

6).    approves the procurement of system integrators (APIs) in accordance with the council’s Contract Standing Orders as part of the programme as set out in item 10.11.

The Cabinet Member for Finance presented the report which sought approval for the awarding of a contract for the provision of technology and associated services as part of the Customer Contact Programme.  It was explained that the proposed contract comprises of two main elements: the first an improved electronic document management system and the second technology to improve the Council’s customer contact online including better ways of paying for services, and keeping track of queries and interactions through a single online account.

It was acknowledged that the process used for procuring the Customer Contact Programme contract though a competitive dialogue was a longer process than through a fixed tender process. However as a result the service that would be provided through the contract would be more bespoke to meet the Council and our residents’ needs.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

1).    approves the award of a contract to Organisation A for the provision of:

a.           technology and associated services for the Customer Contact Programme, incorporating:

                                i.            a refreshed website and content management system that facilitates an increase in online self-service transactions;

                               ii.            a customer account facility that facilitates easier online, face to face and telephone interaction between customers and the Council;

                              iii.            an upgraded contact management solution, including appropriate integration with existing line-of-business systems, to allow more customers to complete their transaction in a single visit and reduce avoidable contact.

b.           a replacement electronic document management system and associated services.

The contract will commence on the 2 April 2015 and be for a period of three years with the option to extend (exercisable at the Council’s sole discretion) by three further increments of 12 months each. The maximum possible contract period would be no more than six years. 

2).    delegates authority to the Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance to procure additional services offered within the contract.

3).    delegates authority to the Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance to approve any final amendments to the Customer Contact contract as may be agreed during the Preferred Bidder stage.

4).    delegates to the council’s Director of Corporate Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance the decision to extend the contract by three further increments of 12 months each as detailed in recommendation A.

5).    approves the procurement of scanners in accordance with the council’s Contract Standing Orders as part of the programme as set out in item 10.10.

6).    approves the procurement of system integrators (APIs) in accordance with the council’s Contract Standing Orders as part of the programme as set out in item 10.11.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1).    approves the recommendation of the South London Waste Partnership Joint Waste Committee to approve the appointment of the Preferred Bidder, as identified within the report, in relation to the procurement exercise that has been undertaken by the Partnership for the management of Household Reuse and Recycling Centres (HRRC) including Garth Road.

2).    approves the recommendation of the appointment of the Reserved Bidder, as identified within the report.

3).    agrees, subject to approval of the above recommendations by each borough’s Executive Committees, and financial close and ‘fine tuning’ discussions with the Preferred Bidder being resolved to the satisfaction of the Management Group and there being no material changes to the proposed solution beyond the scope of the proposed solution set out in this report, the Chair of the Management Group, acting in consultation with the Chair of the Joint Waste Committee, the Management Group, Merton’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Cleanliness and Parking, Merton’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Sustainability and Regeneration and the Legal Lead of the HRRC procurement, be given authority to request and advise Croydon Council as Lead Procuring Authority to enter into the contract and agree all necessary documentation without further recourse to this Committee

The Cabinet Member forEnvironmental Cleanliness and Parking, presented the report which sought approval for the awarding of a contract for the management of Household Reuse and Recycling Centres (HRRC), including Garth Road. It was noted that the procurement process for the joint contract had been coordinated by the South London Waste Partnership and the proposal contained within the report was the recommendation of the Partnership’s Joint Waste Committee. It was noted that for the approval of the preferred bidder to be confirmed, all four London Boroughs involved in the Waste Partnership must all ratify the decision.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

1).    approves the recommendation of the South London Waste Partnership Joint Waste Committee to approve the appointment of the Preferred Bidder, as identified within the report, in relation to the procurement exercise that has been undertaken by the Partnership for the management of Household Reuse and Recycling Centres (HRRC) including Garth Road.

2).    approves the recommendation of the appointment of the Reserved Bidder, as identified within the report.

3).    agrees, subject to approval of the above recommendations by each borough’s Executive Committees, and financial close and ‘fine tuning’ discussions with the Preferred Bidder being resolved to the satisfaction of the Management Group and there being no material changes to the proposed solution beyond the scope of the proposed solution set out in this report, the Chair of the Management Group, acting in consultation with the Chair of the Joint Waste Committee, the Management Group, Merton’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Cleanliness and Parking, Merton’s Cabinet Member for Environmental Sustainability and Regeneration and the Legal Lead of the HRRC procurement, be given authority to request and advise Croydon Council as Lead Procuring Authority to enter into the contract and agree all necessary documentation without further recourse to this Committee