Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

None received from Members of Cabinet.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests arising from business to be transacted at this meeting from:

(a)               all Members of the Cabinet; and

(b)               all other Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interests made by Members.

To receive any petitions submitted by members of the public or Councillors.

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions had been received.

To receive any public questions received in accordance with paragraph 16 of the Executive Procedure Rules.

Questions will be asked in the order notice of them was received and there be a time limit of 15 minutes.

[The deadline for receipt of public questions is 3.00 pm, Monday 18 May 2015.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk  

No person may submit more than one question].

Such public and Councillor questions as were received were responded to and any recording placed on the Council’s website.  Councillor questions 6-10 were not reached at Cabinet and the Councillors would be provided with written responses which would be placed on the Council’s website.

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Key Decision Schedule.

For consideration.

RESOLVED:  To note the progress made on scrutiny projects.

Joint Report of the Divisional Director of Community and Culture and Corporate Director of Environment and Enterprise.

Having considered the confidential appendices, it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               having considered the options for the future of Harrow Arts Centre, Harrow Schools Music Service and Harrow Museum, paragraphs 3, 6, 7 and 8 of the report refer, Option C - Move to new governance arrangements as a single Charitable Trust, be approved;

(2)               the Divisional Director of Community and Culture, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder Community, Culture and Resident Engagement, be authorised to commence the setting up of a Charitable Trust for the delivery of services at Harrow Arts Centre, Harrow Museum and Harrow Schools Music Service, as outlined in paragraph 3, Option C, of the report, and including as follows:

·           the Corporate Director of Environment and Enterprise, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder Business, Planning and Regeneration, be delegated authority for the leasing of the properties to a new Charitable Trust at less than best consideration;

·           undertake the necessary actions for the formation of an Interim Board of Trustees and the Trust including preparation of legal agreements between the Council and a new Trust for the delivery of services, for staff transfer, back office services agreements, any contract novation, building surveys and other preparatory works which might be necessary and the identification of Council capital through the Council processes of up to a maximum of £1million in 2016/17 should this not be fully delivered by the Trust to support the delivery of the Phase 1 capital works;

(3)               a further report be submitted to Cabinet in January 2016 outlining the outcome of the formal review in October 2015, progress to date and seeking final approval for the transfer of services and assets, as appropriate, to a Trust on 4 April 2016 if Members were satisfied with that progress.

Reason for Decision:  To consider the future governance options for Harrow Arts Centre, Harrow Museum and Harrow Music Service to ensure sustainable delivery of cultural services in Harrow whilst delivering savings for the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the officer report.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted:  None.

Report of the Divisional Director of Community and Culture.

Having received representations from the Chair of the Scrutiny Review on Libraries and the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, it was

RESOLVED:  That the response to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Challenge Panel be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To respond to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Challenge Panel.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  None.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted:  None.

[Call-in does not apply as the decision was noted.]

Report of the Divisional Director of Housing Services.

RESOLVED:  That officers be authorised to undertake a procurement process for contractors to deliver the responsive repairs service to the Council’s housing stock when the current contracts expire in June 2016.

Reason for Decision:  The current Housing responsive repairs contracts were due to expire in June 2016 and there was no option to extend.  As there would be a lengthy procurement exercise, both because of the value of the contract and the need to ensure that significant improvements in service delivery were protected, approval was required to begin the process of  procuring contractors and to award contracts to deliver the service from 2016 onwards.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the officer report.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted:  None.

Report of the Divisional Director of Housing Services.

RESOLVED:  That the Quality Heating contract be extended for up to 4 years when it expired in June 2016.

Reason for Decision:  In 2012, the Council let a 4 year contract to Quality Heating to undertake the repairs, servicing and renewal of domestic gas heating systems.  The contractor provided good value for money and performance was excellent.  The contract included an option to extend for 4 years, taking it to June 2020.  The existing contract expired in June 2016 and the Council has exercised its right to extend it for a further 4 years.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the report.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted:  None.

Report of the Corporate Director of Resources.

A short video titled‘Love has no Labels’ was shown prior to the consideration of this item.

RESOLVED:  That Council’s progress against its equalities agenda as well as the response to the recommendations in the report into allegations of institutional racism be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure a greater awareness of the Council’s work in mainstreaming equalities.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  None.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted:  None.

[Call-in does not apply as the decision was noted.]

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the timetable for the preparation and consideration of the statutory Plans and Strategies, including the non-statutory plan and strategies, set out at Appendices A and B respectively, be approved;

(2)               variation to the timetable be reserved to the Leader of the Council.

Reason for Decision:  To comply with the requirements of paragraph 3 of the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules set out in Section 4C of the Council’s Constitution.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  None.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted:  None.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the appointment of the identified Portfolio Holder Assistants and responsibilities be approved;

(2)               the payment of Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA) to the Portfolio Holder Assistants with the implementation date of 21 May 2015 be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To enable the support to Cabinet Members in terms of information provision and management, to contribute to and ensure an effective decision making framework as part of the democratic process.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  None.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted:  None.

The Leader of the Council proposed a ‘Vote of Thanks’ to Simon George, the Council’s Director of Finance and Assurance, who would be leaving the Council and wished him well for the future.  The Leader of the Conservative Group also paid a tribute to Simon for his splendid work and stated that he would be sorely missed.  Members applauded and wished Simon well in his new job.