The Cabinet of Westminster City Council is scheduled to meet on 14 July 2025 to discuss several key items, including the Fairer Westminster Strategy, the council's financial performance, property acquisitions for temporary accommodation, a leisure contract extension, and the redevelopment of Huguenot House. The meeting will cover a range of strategic and financial decisions impacting the City of Westminster.

Huguenot House Redevelopment

A report will be presented regarding the redevelopment of Huguenot House, including a full business case and the appointment of a delivery partner. The report pack states that Huguenot House, an ageing investment asset, faces future income insecurity and growing repair costs.

The Cabinet will be asked to note the outcome of the competitive procurement process and approve the full business case for the redevelopment via a development agreement with headlease.

The report pack indicates that the council will be asked to approve entering into a development agreement with Altius Real Estate Limited and Erith Contractors Limited to facilitate the redevelopment, and to grant a 250-year lease of the property to Altius prior to development.

The report pack states that the Executive Director of Finance & Resources will be delegated authority to finalise the terms of the development agreement, review the valuation report, and approve the planning and development profit overage deed with Altius and Erith.

The report pack notes that the revised capital spend forecast is £30.046m based on the recommended delivery route.

The report pack includes an Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) compiled by Mott MacDonald, which states that the redevelopment of Huguenot House will deliver net benefits to Westminster and its residents with the creation of new affordable housing and modern commercial and leisure facilities and public realm improvements.

Leisure Contract Extension

The Cabinet will consider a report regarding a proposed extension to the Leisure Contract with Everyone Active, and a transition to an Agency Model to facilitate VAT recovery.

The report pack states that Everyone Active have put forward a revised proposal that offers three extension terms: 18 months, 3 years or 5 years, and that a 3-year extension is recommended.

The report pack indicates that the Cabinet will be asked to approve the variation to the Leisure Management Contract between the council and Sports and Leisure Management Limited trading as Everyone Active (SLM) for SLM to run the leisure centres as an agent rather than as principal for the purposes of collecting income of services to the public.

The report pack notes that the Cabinet will be asked to delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for Communities to agree the terms of and to approve the adoption of the agency model, subject to satisfactory completion of necessary due diligence.

The report pack states that a Community Access Fund (CAF) will allocate £100,000 per annum to individuals and groups identified by Westminster, through the Communities department, in collaboration with other council departments.

Acquisition of Property in HA0 - Temporary Accommodation

The Cabinet will consider a report regarding the proposed acquisition of a property in HA0 for use as temporary accommodation.

The report pack indicates that the Cabinet will be asked to approve the principle of proceeding with the acquisition of the property for a sum of up to £27,500,000, and to approve in principle the additional capital expenditure required to bring the property up to a reasonable standard for temporary accommodation occupation.

The report pack notes that the Executive Director of Finance and Resources will be delegated authority to agree the commercial terms of the acquisition, subject to all necessary due diligence.

The report pack states that the acquisition is part of a wider council strategy to address the growing problem of homelessness within Westminster, to build resilience into the council's temporary accommodation estate, and to mitigate the escalating costs of addressing homelessness through the use of emergency accommodation.

2024/25 Fairer Westminster Annual Progress Overview

The Cabinet will review the 2024/25 Fairer Westminster Annual Progress Overview, which highlights the council's overall performance and progress towards realising Fairer Westminster outcomes.

The report pack states that the Fairer Westminster Strategy sets out the council's four-year vision (2022–2026) to improve outcomes for residents, businesses, and visitors across five key themes:

• Fairer Communities
• Fairer Environment
• Fairer Housing
• Fairer Economy
• Fairer Council

The report pack notes that the 2025/26 Delivery Plan has recently been published, outlining the priorities for 2025/26 to continue the implementation of a Fairer Westminster.

Revenue and Capital Outturn and Statement of Accounts 2024/25

The Cabinet will consider a report regarding the Revenue and Capital Outturn and Statement of Accounts for 2024/25.

The report pack indicates that the Cabinet will be asked to approve reprofiling from the 2024/25 capital programme to/from future years, and to note revenue and capital outturn positions for 2024/25.

The report pack notes that the General Fund revenue outturn shows an overspend of £13.627m, mainly because of additional temporary accommodation costs, and that this net overspend will be fully offset using an earmarked reserve specifically for this purpose.

The report pack states that the HRA outturn is a deficit of £4.1m after the planned utilisation of earmarked reserves to fund the Housing Improvement Programme, Rent Support Fund and additional Health and Safety works in the year, and that HRA balances will be applied to offset this deficit.

The report pack notes that the general fund capital outturn is a gross in year expenditure underspend of £88.828m against a revised budget of £311.485m, and that the HRA capital outturn has an in-year expenditure underspend of £52.265m against a budget of £225.128m.

The report pack includes Appendix 1 - GF Reprofiling by Project Analysis and Appendix 2 - HRA Reprofiling by Project Analysis.