The Cabinet of Hounslow Council met on Tuesday 5 July 2022 to discuss and approve the council's Corporate Plan, Delivery Plan, and Financial Strategy, alongside reviewing the budget outturn for the 2021/22 financial year and the Treasury Management Annual Report. Key decisions included the adoption of the Corporate Plan and Financial Strategy, which outline the council's priorities and financial approach for the next four years, and the approval of the budget outturn, including the allocation of a £3.3 million underspend towards Corporate Plan priorities.

Corporate Plan, Delivery Plan and Financial Strategy

Cabinet unanimously agreed to adopt the council's new Corporate Plan, Ambitious for Hounslow, for the period 2022-2026. This plan, which translates the Labour Group's manifesto into strategic priorities, focuses on six key outcomes: A Greener Hounslow, A Healthier Hounslow, A Cleaner Hounslow, A Thriving Hounslow, A Safer Hounslow, and A Liveable Hounslow. The Delivery Plan details how these ambitions will be achieved, and the One Hounslow Finance Strategy outlines the financial framework to support these plans.

Councillor Shantanu Rajawat, Leader of the Council, emphasised the importance of the Corporate Plan in addressing growing societal inequalities and highlighted the council's role in providing solutions for residents, businesses, and community groups. He moved the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Lily Bath, Cabinet Member for Children, Learning and Employment.

Several Cabinet members spoke in support of the plan. Councillor Tom Bruce, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Development, expressed pride in the plan's ambition and its alignment with the council's manifesto, noting investments in school children, green spaces, and community safety. Councillor Lily Bath highlighted the plan's focus on children and young people, including support for mental health and pathways into education and employment, particularly for those with special educational needs and disabilities or who are care leavers. Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Parking, Parks and Leisure, praised the plan's green ambitions, including the rollout of 2,000 electric vehicle charging points and the planting of 20,000 trees, describing it as a green revolution. Councillor Guy Lambert, Cabinet Member for Environment, Highways and Operational Services, spoke about the continuity of good work from the previous administration, including improvements in recycling rates and road maintenance, and outlined plans for pavement improvements. Councillor Ajmer Grewal, Cabinet Member for Safety, stressed the paramount importance of resident safety, detailing plans to tackle anti-social behaviour, violence against women and girls, and support for domestic violence victims. Councillor Sue Sampson, Cabinet Member for Housing Management and Homelessness, described the plan as visionary and aligned with government white papers, focusing on resident value. Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Adults and Health Integration, highlighted the focus on vulnerable adults, adult social care reforms, and the commitment to youth skills and employment. Councillor Shivraj Grewal, Cabinet Member for Communities and Equalities, detailed plans for a radical overhaul of community engagement and the development of a new approach to tackling inequalities.

A statement was read out on behalf of Councillor Katherine Dunne, Cabinet Member for Climate, Environment and Transport Strategy, who was absent due to personal reasons. The statement emphasised the plan's ambition for a greener and more sustainable borough, building on the Climate Emergency Action Plan and transport strategy, and highlighted achievements in decarbonisation and renewable energy.

Councillor Sayyar Raza, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, also spoke, expressing his support for the Corporate Plan, stating it was pitched at the right level and set the right direction for the borough.

Cabinet agreed to recommend the Corporate Plan and the One Hounslow Finance Strategy to the Borough Council for approval and adoption. They also agreed to the Delivery Plan and reporting arrangements, and approved a £14 million budget allocation for Stage 1 of the GLA Property Purchase programme to secure 555 homes. Authority was delegated to the Executive Director of Housing, Planning and Economic Regeneration and the Executive Director of Finance and Resources to finalise contractual and financial agreements for this scheme.

Budget Outturn 2021/22

Cabinet noted the budget outturn for the 2021/22 financial year. Councillor Rajawat highlighted the council's strong financial management, understanding pressures and mitigating them while still innovating. He noted a modest underspend on the General Fund revenue budget.

Councillor Tom Bruce and Councillor Lily Bath supported the report, acknowledging the hard work of officers and the previous cabinet. Councillor Bath also raised concerns about the upcoming cost of living crisis and its potential impact on families, expressing pleasure that many of the plan's objectives would support families. Councillor Rajawat agreed that the cost of living crisis was a significant concern, particularly for a low-wage economy like Hounslow, and stressed the need for continued innovation.

Cabinet noted the General Fund revenue budget outturn position of a £3.3 million underspend, the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) outturn position of a £5.9 million overspend, and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) outturn position of net nil. They also noted the capital programme budget outturn position, with £17.1 million slippage on the General Fund Programme and £25.1 million on the HRA capital programme. Cabinet approved that the £3.3 million underspend on the General Fund revenue account be earmarked towards the delivery of Corporate Plan priorities next year. They also approved the addition of the Cycleway 9 project, with a budget of £1,517k funded by Transport for London (TfL), to the General Fund capital programme for 2022/23.

Treasury Management Annual Report 2021/22

Cabinet noted the Treasury Management Annual Report for 2021/22. Councillor Rajawat thanked the Treasury Management team for their work on the technical report, highlighting its importance in enabling the council's capital ambitions. Councillor Guy Lambert seconded the report.

Cabinet noted the content of the report, which detailed the council's investments and borrowing for the year, and referred it to the Borough Council for consideration. The report indicated that the council's net debt had increased due to the use of temporary investments to finance the capital programme, with plans underway to increase long-term borrowing. It also noted a decrease in the average cost of debt and an underperformance in the rate of return on external investments compared to peer groups, attributed to shorter investment durations and lower risk strategies. The report confirmed that the council operated within its prudential indicators and treasury management strategy throughout the year.

The meeting concluded with the date of the next meeting being set for Tuesday, 6 September 2022.