Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Items 3 and 4 – Petitions and Public Questions

Councillor Pritesh Patel declared a pecuniary interest as resident of Bellfield Avenue and home owner at that location.  He would remain in the room to listen to the terms of the petition and the response to the public question.

Agenda Item 10 - Grange Farm Regeneration – Progress, Planning and Implementation

Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane declared a non pecuniary interest in that, as a former Portfolio Holder, he had instigated a feasibility study on this matter.  He would remain in the room to listen to the debate and decision on the matter.

To note that the following petitions had been received:

1.            Petition:  Belmont Circle Business

Councillor Manji Kara submitted a petition signed by 1,300 people with the following terms of reference:

“We, refer to one of the Corporate Priorities for 2015/19 of Harrow Council – “Making a difference for local business” and we hope, by that, you meant for better! Harrow Council recently implemented a parking and traffic management plan for Belmont Circle Area as approved at the TARSAP meeting of 10 December 2014.

As a result of the scheme, especially introduction of double yellow lines, a good number of available parking spaces have been removed and parking displaced.  This has resulted in shoppers not being able to park and continue to bring business to the area.  We can categorically confirm that this has resulted in substantial drop in business to the detriment of the sustainability of once flourishing business.

We, the business owners along with our valued customers, urge the Harrow Council to urgently review the scheme and revert the implementation of at least the restrictive double lines.  If the double lines were introduced for safety measure, we would like the Council to produce evidence of any accidents in recent years.

We welcome the full support of our ward councillors on this matter”.

RESOLVED:  That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director of Environment and Enterprise and the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Crime and Community Safety for consideration.

2.            Petition:  Against the removal of Bellfield Avenue, West Drive Gardens and parts of West Drive and Uxbridge Road from the West Drive Conservation Area

MrSumit Patel, a local resident, submitted a petition signed by 229residents with the following terms of reference:

“We, the undersigned, value the current boundaries, believe that they meet the requirements to be considered part of a Conservation Area, and oppose the removal of Bellfield Avenue, West Drive (2-36, 1-41), West Drive Gardens and Uxbridge Road (128, 130, 132, 160) from the West Drive Conservation Area as outlined in the draft Supplemental Planning Document that can be found at

http://www.harrow.gov.uk/harrowwealdconsultation”

RESOLVED:  That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director of Environment and Enterprise and the Portfolio Holder for Business, Planning and Regeneration for consideration.

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Key Decision Schedule and that:

(i)            the item relating to ‘Property Purchase Initiative to increase the supply of good quality temporary accommodation’ had been deferred; and

(ii)          the item relating to ‘Proposal to develop a Commercial Lettings Agency’ notified as Key was not now considered to be Key.

RESOLVED:  To note the progress made on scrutiny projects.

RESOLVED:  That the Commercialisation Strategy be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To support the Council Priorities. 

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.

Having considered the confidential appendices, it was

RESOLVED: That the development of further preparatory work, described in the report, to enable officers to report back to a future Cabinet meeting to approve a suitable company structure for a Lettings Agency be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To support the Council in maintaining access to private properties to meet its statutory housing duties, generate an income stream back to the General Fund and provide a management vehicle for new and acquired housing in Council ownership.  To support the Council’s priorities to make a difference for the most vulnerable and for families.

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.

Having, considered the confidential appendices, and following a minor amendment to recommendation 4, it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the purchase of various land parcels and buildings identified in Appendix 1 to the report be approved and the Divisional Director of Housing Services, following consultation with the Housing Portfolio Holder, be delegated authority to enter into negotiations and contracts for purchase of land where the scheme would be enhanced and/or was forecast to recover the expenditure in the interest of land assembly;

(2)          the Divisional Director of Housing Services, following consultation with the Housing Portfolio Holder, be delegated authority to negotiate with existing leaseholders to repurchase leases at rates compatible with minimising costs while reducing the risk of a full Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process; 

(3)          the making of payments to leaseholders in line with their entitlement to statutory Home Loss and Disturbance costs be authorised;

(4)          officers be authorised to either:

a)            proceed with the selection, in compliance with EU Procurement Rules and Council’s Constitution, of a constructor on the basis of a joint venture or Design & Build contract allowing for a parcel of the site to be transferred to the constructor /developer in order to minimise the Council’s initial costs; or

b)            recommend that the Council retain overall control of the project and undertake the full development including the sale of private units and, in the event that this is the preferred option and in the best interests of the Council, a further report be produced for Cabinet to consider;

(5)          the principle of an equity share scheme for those resident leaseholders or freeholders who would otherwise be unable to raise sufficient capital to purchase outright or, via shared ownership, a replacement property, as set in appendix 1 of the report, be approved;

(6)          the appointment of external legal advisors to give guidance on contracts required to appoint the construction partner and to transfer the land for the private element of the development, where the Director of Legal and Governance Services identified that this would be beneficial, be approved;

(7)          officers begin preparatory work in relation to a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO);

(8)          the creation of capital budget within the Housing Account of £6.102m, as described in the report, be authorised and the Director of Housing, following consultation with the Housing Portfolio Holder, be authorised to vire money between the existing budget allocation of £6.2m identified for the purchase of 20 properties for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and the Grange Farm repurchase of properties / land assembly as required. 

Reason for Decision:  The regeneration of the estate was a complex process with numerous stakeholders who had interests in the estate.  To authorise officers to take action to deliver the scheme.

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.

RESOLVED:  That the Corporate Director of Environment and Enterprise, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Crime and Community Safety, be authorised to vary the partnership arrangement with Brent Council to include Barnet Council.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure the Council fulfilled its statutory responsibilities for the provision of a mortuary service.

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.

RESOLVED:  That officers be authorised to seek tenders, as described in the report.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure services to address Domestic and Sexual Violence could be provided as effectively and competitively as possible.  A single provider would enable better co-ordination of services and there was a prospect of reducing the management overheads as one management team would be able to cover the whole service.

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.