The Part A minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 18 January 2016 were received. The Leader of the Council signed the minutes as a correct record.

There were no disclosures of interest.

There were no items of urgent business.

RESOLVED that the allocation of business in the agenda be confirmed, as printed.

The Bishop of Croydon, Jonathan Clark, Chair of Croydon Opportunity and Fairness Commission gave a presentation that can be viewed on the meeting webcast.

NOTED: that the Leader of the Council had delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the decisions set out below:

RESOLVED to:

1. Agree the response to the key themes and recommendations that have been put forward by the Opportunity and Fairness Commission (OFC) in its final report as detailed in section 4 of the Cabinet report;
2. Agree the current activities that are being delivered, or are included / to be included in the Council's forward plan that will help to reduce inequality and promote fairness in the Borough; and
3. Agree the key policy developments that will embed the themes of the OFC further over the next 12 months.

NOTED: that the Leader of the Council had delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the decisions set out below:

RESOLVED to: note the success and achievements from phase 1 of the Gateway transformation programme and the approach now being implemented for phase 2 of the programme.

Agenda item 8.1: General Fund & HRA Budget 2016/17

NOTED: that the Leader of the Council had delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the decisions set out below:

RESOLVED:

That with reference to the principles for 2016/17 determined by the Secretary of State under s.s.52ZC(1) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended) to confirm that in accordance with s.52ZB (1) the Council Tax and GLA precept referred to above are not excessive in terms of the most recently issued principles and as such to note that no referendum is required;

• To recommend to full Council:

1. A 1.99% increase in the Council Tax for Croydon Services

2. A 2% increase in the Council Tax for Adult Social Care.

3. The calculation of budget requirement and council tax as set out in Appendix E of the associated report. Alongside the GLA decrease this will result in a total increase of 1.89% for Croydon.

4. The revenue budget assumptions as detailed in the associated report and the appendices :-

   1. Appendix A the programme of revenue investment, efficiencies and cuts by department.

   2. Appendix  B The Council's detailed budget book

5. The Capital Programme as set out in section 12, table 20 and 21 of the associated report.

6. The continuation of the Council's existing Council Tax Support Scheme in 2016/17 as detailed in section 10.5 of the associated report.

7. The adoption of the Pay Policy statement at Appendix L of the associated report.

• To Agree:

1. A rent decrease for all Council tenants for 2016/17, in line with the Government's social rent policy which has legislated to reduce social rents by 1%.
2. Garage rents will increase by 2% and parking space rents will increase to £7 per week for tenants and £10 per week for non tenants.
3. The un pooled service charge for caretaking, grounds maintenance and bulk refuse collection will not change from 2015/16, as detailed in section 11.14.

• To Note:

1. That in respect of the Council's public sector equalities duties where the setting of the capital, revenue and HRA budget result in new policies or policy change the relevant service department will carry out an equality impact 3 assessment to secure delivery of that duty including such consultation as may be required.
2. The progress being made towards balancing the Council's financial position for 2015/16 as at Quarter 3 and the current projected outturn forecast of £0.602m as set out in the report at item 8.3 on this agenda.
3. The response to the draft local government settlement which is attached at Appendix F.
4. That Cabinet note the pre-decision scrutiny of the proposed Budget 2016/17 at the Scrutiny and Overview Committee as set out in Appendix J
5. The statement on reserves and balances and robustness of estimates from the statutory Section 151 Officer.
    

Agenda item 8.2: Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement & Annual Investment Strategy 2016/17

NOTED: that the Leader of the Council had delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the decisions set out below:

RESOLVED to:

Recommend to Full Council that it approve:

1. The Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2016/17 as set out in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.3 of the associated report including the recommendations that:
   1. The Council takes up the balance of its 2015/16's borrowing requirement and future years' borrowing requirements, as set out in paragraph 3.3 of the associated report.
   2. That for the reasons detailed in paragraph 3.7 of the associated report, opportunities for debt rescheduling are reviewed throughout the year by the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Resources and Section 151 Officer) and that, he be given delegated authority, in conjunction with the Council's independent treasury advisers, to undertake such rescheduling only if revenue savings or additional cost avoidance can be achieved at minimal risk in line with organisational considerations and with regard to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) as set out in the Council's Finance Strategy 2015-2019.
   3. That delegated authority be given to the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Resources and Section 151 Officer) to make any necessary decisions to protect the Council's financial position in light of market changes or investment risk exposure.
2. The Annual Investment Strategy as set out in paragraph 3.5 and as detailed in Appendix B of the associated report.
3. That the Affordable Borrowing Limits (required by Section 3 of the Local Government Act 2003) as set out in paragraph 3.6 and as detailed in Appendix C of the associated report be as follows:
   2016/17                      2017/18                        2018/19
   £1,132.6m               £1,216.0m                   £1,267.1m
4. The Prudential Indicators as set out in paragraph 3.8 and in Appendix D of the associated report.
5. The Annual Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement (required by SI 2008/414) as set out in paragraph 3.9 and as detailed in Appendix E of the associated report.
6. The Council's authorised counterparty lending list as at 31st December 2015 as set out in Appendix F of the associated report and the rating criteria set for inclusion onto this list.

Agenda item 8.3: Quarter 3 Financial Performance - 2015/16

NOTED: that the Leader of the Council had delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the decisions set out below:

RESOLVED to:
1.1 Note the current outturn forecast at the end of the third quarter of 2015/16 of £0.602m over budget, and the actions put in place to reduce the overspend;
1.2 Note the HRA position of a £2.700m forecast underspend against budget. 

NOTED: that the Leader of the Council had delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the decisions set out below:

RESOLVED to note the theme and draft recommendations arising from the 9th meeting of Croydon Congress as detailed in the report.

Agenda item 10.1 Investing in our Borough

NOTED: that the Leader of the Council had delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the decisions set out below:

RESOLVED to note:

1. The contracts over £500,000 in value anticipated to be awarded by the nominated Cabinet Member, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Treasury or, where the nominated Cabinet Member is the Cabinet Member for Finance and Treasury, in consultation with the Leader.
2. The list of delegated award decisions made by the Director of Strategy Communities and commissioning, between 23/12/2015 - 22/01/2016.
3. Contract awards recommended to the Cabinet for approval which are the subject of a separate agenda item and referenced in section 4.3 of the associated report.
4. Property acquisitions and disposals to be agreed by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Treasury before the next meeting of Cabinet.

Agenda item 10.2: Croydon Best Start Child Development & School Readiness Services (Designated Children's Centres) 2016-2018

NOTED: that the Leader of the Council had delegated to the Cabinet the power to make the decisions set out below:

RESOLVED to:

1. The direct award of agreements for a term of two years, starting 1st April 2016 to 31st March 2018, with the option to extend for a further year, subject to satisfactory performance by way of:
   1. The direct award of contracts for the provision of Child Development and School Readiness Services for a term of two years, starting 1st April 2016 to 31st March 2018, with the option to extend for a further year, subject to satisfactory performance to the current providers of 4 designated Children's Centres at:
      i.  Aerodrome Academy: Aerodrome Children's Centre
      ii. Oasis Academy Byron (Oasis Trust): Byron Children's Centre
      iii. Fairchildes Academy: Fairchildes Children's Centre
      iv. Forest Academy (Synaptic Trust): Shirley Children's Centre; and
   2. The implementation of Service Level Agreements for the provision of Child Development and School Readiness Services
      for a term of two years, starting 1st April 2016 to 31st March 2018, with the option to extend for a further year, subject to satisfactory performance to the current providers of 5 designated Children's Centres at:
      i.  Selhurst Children's Centre: Selhurst Children's Centre
      ii. Crosfield Nursery School and Children's Centre: Crosfield Children's Centre
      iii. Purley Oaks Primary School: Purley Oaks Children's Centre
      iv. Gilbert Scott Primary School: Woodlands Children's Centre
      v.  Kensington Avenue Primary School: Kensington Avenue Children's Centre