Agenda and minutes

Members of Council stood and observed a minute silence for former Councillor Neville Hughes who had been a Councillor in Roxeth ward from 1990 – 1998 and had also helped to set up Harrow Shopability and been a supporter of St Luke’s Hospice.

To elect a Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2023/24.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Ramji Chauhan be elected Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

To receive notification from the incoming Mayor regarding the appointment of Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2023/24.

The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Ramji Chauhan, notified Council that he had appointed Councillor Salim Chowdhury as Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow for the 2023/24 Municipal Year.

To receive the Mayor’s announcement regarding a Chaplain.

The Mayor confirmed to Council that he had appointed Yogvivekdas Swami, Head Swami of BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir (‘Neasden Temple’), as Chaplain for his Mayoral Year.

To receive any communications from the newly elected Mayor as to the Civic

Functions for 2023/24.

RESOLVED:  That the dates of the Civic Functions be noted.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from all Members of the Council.

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

To receive and consider any procedural motions by Members of the Council in relation to the conduct of this Meeting.  Notice of such procedural motions, received after the issuing of this Summons, will be tabled.

There were no procedural motions.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 February 2023 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That, subject to noting that Councillor Sasi Suresh had been unable to vote electronically on the Revenue Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy and did not vote, the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 23 February 2023 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            Alex Dewsnap, Director of Corporate Resources and Transformation, London Borough of Harrow, be appointed to the post of Head of Paid Service (Managing Director) of the London Borough of Harrow, with effect 1 June 2023 for a six month period to November 2023 with an option to extend for a further three years and in accordance with the terms and conditions governing Chief Officer posts and subject to there being no ‘well founded objections’ by members of Cabinet;

(2)            the remuneration package for the above-mentioned post be £165,941 per annum.

Report of the Interim Director of Legal and Governance Services

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the roles of Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer be designated to the Head of Paid Service, Alex Dewsnap;

(2)            the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any necessary changes to the Constitution to reflect the above.

To receive a report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services to note the appointments to Cabinet and seek Council approval to the appointments to Committees.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            it be noted that Councillor Marilyn Ashton is the Deputy Leader of the Council;

(2)            it be noted that the following Councillors are appointed to the Cabinet (Executive) with the identified portfolios:

(3)            the Council determined the allocation of places on the following committees in accordance with the “political balance” rules in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989:

           and appoint Members to them, in accordance with the notification from Political Groups;

(4)            the establishment and terms of reference of all the above Committees and other bodies, as set out in the Appendix to the minutes be agreed.

To receive a report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services seeking Council approval to the appointment of Chairs of Committees for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

RESOLVED:  That the following Councillors be elected as the Chairs of the relevant Committees:

To receive proposals from Political Groups as to the appointment of representatives of the authority to serve on the Outside Bodies listed for the Municipal Year 2023/24.

RESOLVED:  That the Outside Body appointments for the Municipal Year 2023/24, as set out in the Appendix to these minutes, be approved.

Report of the Interim Director of Legal and Governance Services

RESOLVED:  That the Calendar of Meetings for the Municipal Year 2023/24 be approved.

RESOLVED:  That   the amendments to the Contract Procedure Rules as set out in Appendix 1 to the officer report be agreed.

RESOLVED:  That the Scrutiny Annual Report 2022-2023 be endorsed.

Report of the Interim Director of Legal and Governance

RESOLVED: That

(1)            the allocation of responsibilities sections of the Council’s Constitution as attached at Appendices A and B to the officer report be amended;

(2)            the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make the changes to the Council’s Constitution.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

To note and confirm the dates of ordinary meetings of Council for the 2023/24 Municipal Year as set out in the Calendar of Meetings.

RESOLVED:  That the dates of the following Council meetings be confirmed:

28 September 2023

30 November 2023

22 February 2024

16 May 2024 (Annual)