The Cabinet of Newham Council met on Thursday 29 May 2025 to discuss the Executive Response to the Juniper Ventures call-in. The Cabinet approved the executive response, noting the recommendations from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and confirming an earlier officer key decision regarding Juniper Ventures' terms and conditions.

Executive Response to Juniper Ventures Call-In

The Cabinet considered and agreed the executive response to the call-in resolutions regarding Juniper Ventures. This followed a call-in by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee concerning an officer key decision made on 15 April 2025, which related to proposals on annual leave and sickness terms and conditions for Juniper Ventures employees.

The Cabinet resolved to:

• Note the recommendations referred for reconsideration from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee's call-in.
• Agree the executive response to the call-in resolutions.
• Confirm the officer key decision of 15 April 2025, as detailed in the Officer Key Decision Report 'Juniper Ventures – Proposals on Annual Leave and Sickness Terms and Conditions'.¹
• Note that as part of the Juniper Ventures Business Plan, which will be presented to Cabinet, matters raised in exempt Appendix 21 will be detailed clearly.

Councillor Hudson, Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, presented the committee's recommendations. He highlighted concerns about business plans for council subsidiaries needing Cabinet approval before the main council budget is set, the importance of comprehensive information for scrutiny, and the need for improved financial risk planning. Councillor Hudson also raised concerns about the potential creation of a two-tier workforce and recommended that decisions of this sensitivity should be handled by Cabinet rather than as key officer decisions.

Councillor Neil Wilson, Cabinet Lead for Health and Adult Social Care, presented the Executive Response. He acknowledged the value of scrutiny but explained the rationale behind the Cabinet's decisions. Regarding the business plan approval, he noted that shifting the timetable would be problematic due to the budget setting cycle and that LATCOs (Local Authority Trading Companies)² are variable in size and complexity. The Cabinet agreed to request that the statutory scrutiny officer reviews current processes for documentation to ensure scrutiny receives appropriate information in a timely manner.

The Cabinet also addressed recommendations concerning school meals funding, with Councillor Sarah Jane Ruiz, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, Education & Sustainable Transport, providing further detail. She highlighted that in Newham, school meal providers are already required to pay the London Living Wage³ and be members of the Local Government Pension Scheme as part of their contracts. This is seen as a crucial element in ensuring fair pay for staff, particularly in a sector with a predominantly female workforce.

The meeting also involved discussions on financial risk management for Juniper Ventures, with specific details being discussed in private session due to their exempt nature. The Cabinet confirmed that appropriate consideration would be given to accounting for potential future risks in the council's accounts.

The Cabinet's decision to confirm the officer key decision was made in line with the Council's Constitution and scheme of delegation. However, the Constitutional Review Working Group will review governance frameworks for externalised companies and LATCOs, with a report to be presented to the full council.

Councillor Zulfiqar Ali, Statutory Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources, emphasised the challenging macroeconomic climate affecting all organisations and assured that the council is continuously reviewing budgets, seeking savings, and aiming for efficiency to reduce the budget deficit. He stressed the commitment to delivering quality services effectively and competitively.

The meeting also touched upon partnership opportunities with neighbouring boroughs to strengthen Juniper Ventures' financial stability and explore avenues for growth. The Cabinet affirmed its commitment to transparency and good governance, particularly given the council's 100% shareholding in Juniper Ventures.