Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Harrow Civic Centre, Station Road, Harrow, HA1 2XY. View directions

Contact: Nikoleta Nikolova, Senior Democratic & Electoral Services Officer  Tel: 07761 405898 E-mail:  nikoleta.nikolova@harrow.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

460.

Welcome

Minutes:

Having declared the first Cabinet meeting following the lifting of some of the Covid-19 restrictions and the end of the Regulations on virtual meetings as open, the Leader of the Council made the following clarifications in relation to the conduct the meeting: 

 

·                     The meeting was being held in the Council Chamber at Harrow Civic Centre with Councillors Phillip O’Dell, Varsha Parmar, Natasha Proctor, Paul Osborn and himself as the Leader present in the room.

·                     The other members of Cabinet(Councillors Sue Anderson, Simon Brown, Keith Ferry, Christine Robson, Krishna Suresh, Peymana Assad, Dr Antonio Weiss and John Higgins (voluntary sector representative)) had joined the meeting virtually.

·                     Councillors Marilyn Ashton, Anjana Patel, Pritesh Patel and Richard Almond (for item 5 – Councillors questions) and Councillor Stephen Greek who would be invited to speak briefly on the reference from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to  item 11 – The Council’s Accommodation Strategy had also joined the meeting virtually.

 

The Leader welcomed Councillor Natasha Proctor (Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources) and Councillor Peymana Assad (Portfolio Holder for Community Cohesion, Crime & Enforcement) as newly appointed Portfolio Holders and members of the Cabinet.

461.

Apologies for Absence

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Adam Swersky, Non- Executive member of Cabinet.

462.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 148 KB

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 Committee, Sub-Committee or Panel;

(b)          all other Members present in any part of the room or chamber.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  To note that the declaration of interests had been published on the Council website and that:

 

(1)          Councillor Sue Anderson had declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 12 - Harrow Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) in that she was a Councillor for Greenhill ward, which the report related to.

 

(2)          Councillor Keith Ferry had declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 11 - The Council's Accommodation Strategy and the Harrow New Civic Centre in that he was a Councillor for Greenhill ward and had been proposed as a Board Member of the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership when it was formed.

 

(3)          Councillor Graham Henson had declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 10 - West London Waste Authority Food Waste Funding in that he was the Council’s representative and Chair of the West London Waste Authority. For the avoidance of any conflict of interest he would leave the meeting for the duration of the item and to the meeting would be chaired by Councillor Proctor, as Deputy Leader, for that item.

 

(4)          Councillor Paul Osborn, who was not a member of Cabinet, declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 4 – Public Questions (question 1) and item 5 – Councillor Questions (question 2) in that he lived on Vaughan Road. He would leave the meeting for the duration of these questions.

 

(5)          Councillor Varsha Parmar had declared a pecuniary interest in item 4 – Public Questions in that her husband worked for London Underground. She would remain in the meeting by virtue of her dispensation.

 

(6)          Councillor Adam Swersky, who had given apologies for this meeting, had previously declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Item 12 - Harrow Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) of the agenda in that he owned a flat in Harrow Town Centre.

463.

Petitions

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  To note that the following petition had been received:

 

(1)          Councillor Graham Henson presented a petition on behalf of Sancroft Road residents, received from the Sangat Advice Centre, containing 12 signatures and requesting the Council take action against a local tenant/owner to make their front and back garden garbage free.

 

RESOLVED:  That the petition be received and referred to the Corporate Director of Community for consideration.

464.

Public Questions pdf icon PDF 192 KB

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

 

Questions will be asked in the order in which they were received.  There will be a time limit of 15 minutes for the asking and answering of public questions.

 

[The deadline for receipt of public questions is 3.00 pm, 24 May 2021.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk

No person may submit more than one question].

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  To note that three public question had been received and responded to and the recording would be placed on the website.

465.

Councillor Questions pdf icon PDF 124 KB

To receive any Councillor questions received in accordance with paragraph 17 of the Executive Procedure Rules.

 

Questions will be asked in the order agreed with the relevant Group Leader by the deadline for submission and there be a time limit of 15 minutes.

 

[The deadline for receipt of Councillor questions is 3.00 pm, 24 May 2021.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  To note that nine Councillor questions had been received and responded to and the recording would be placed on the website.

466.

Key Decision Schedule May - July 2021 pdf icon PDF 166 KB

Minutes:

Having noted that the report on “Treasury Management - Shared Service Arrangement with the Greater London Authority (GLA)” had been deferred to June, Cabinet

 

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the updated Key Decision Schedule for the period May – July 2021.

467.

Progress on Scrutiny Projects pdf icon PDF 139 KB

For consideration

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  To receive and note the current progress of the scrutiny reports.

468.

Covid-19 Update pdf icon PDF 311 KB

Verbal update of the Chief Executive.

Minutes:

Having agreed to vary the order of business, Cabinet received a presentation from the Chief Executive, which provided Members with a regular strategic update on Covid-19 cases across the borough, the Council’s role in community testing and support, vaccination progress and plans for future recovery. Acknowledging the increasing pressures on Council services and the ongoing impact on organisational capacity and staff resilience throughout this challenging period, it was

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)           the verbal update and accompanying presentation from the Chief Executive, be noted;

 

(2)           the payments for community and surge testing, funded by the Government, be endorsed.

 

[Call-in did not apply to the decision above as it was a presentation]

Resolved Items

469.

Renewal of the Wealdstone Selective Licensing Scheme pdf icon PDF 389 KB

Report of the Acting Corporate Director (Community).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Having received a report on the renewal of the Wealdstone Selective Licensing Scheme, Cabinet agreed that the recommendations be approved, subject to the following amendments:

 

·                     Recommendation 4 – addition of …” including the issuing and amending of licences and easily accessible information on the Council website here: https://www.harrow.gov.uk/licences

·                     Recommendation 6 – removal of Portfolio Holder for Environment and addition of “Portfolio Holder for Community Cohesion, Crime and Enforcement”

 

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)          the evidence, consultation responses and other information forming part of the report be considered and Wealdstone ward (as delineated and edged in red on the map at Appendix C) be designated as being subject to Selective Licensing;

 

(2)          if the Wealdstone ward was to be designated again as being subject to selective licensing, confirm that the designation was to take effect from 2nd September 2021 for a period of five years;

 

(3)          it be agreed that the Council could begin to accept applications for Selective Licensing (if approved) from 2nd August 2021, in anticipation of the scheme coming into effect on 2nd September 2021;

 

(4)          the Head of Community & Public Protection, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community Cohesion, Crime and Enforcement, be authorised to take  all steps necessary to publicise, commence and administer the scheme including the issuing and amending of licences and easily accessible information on the Council website here: https://www.harrow.gov.uk/licences

 

(5)          the Selective Licensing scheme (if approved) be noted and the operation of the designation be reviewed annually;

 

(6)          the Acting Corporate Director for Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community Cohesion, Crime and Enforcement, be authorised to amend and approve discretionary licensing conditions implemented by the Head of Community and Public Protection.

 

Reason for Decision:  To continue to address issues of anti-social behaviour in the Wealdstone ward, in line with the corporate priorities of making a difference to residents, community, businesses and the vulnerable.

 

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.

470.

West London Waste Authority Food Waste Funding pdf icon PDF 382 KB

Report of the Director of Environmental Services.

Minutes:

The Leader left the Council Chamber for the duration of this item and the meeting was chaired by Councillor Natasha Proctor as Deputy Leader. Having received the report and noted Members questions and comments, Cabinet

 

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)          the notification of the project and planned spend of the funding grant received from West London Waste Authority (WLWA) be approved;

 

(2)          the Director of Environmental Services, following consultation with the Director of Finance, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, be authorised to spend the funding as required under the terms of the grant;

 

(3)          an increase to the 2021/22 Capital Programme by £357k to reflect the allocation of the funding for capital expenditure, be approved.

 

Reason for Decision:

·                     Harrow, in partnership with WLWA and the other partner Boroughs, had identified disposal budget pressures whereby significant changes must take place to ensure that Boroughs could maintain solvency whilst preparing for potential legislative changes in 2023 and responding to the climate emergency by 2030.

·                     WLWA and the Environment Directors Board (representing the 6 West London Boroughs) had agreed to make £0.5m available for each Borough to address one of the identified areas of change, food waste, of which the Council presented its business case and was successful.

·                     The funding had now been received and approval for spend of this funding was required to commence the project.  The proposed spend would consist of £357k capital and remaining £143k revenue.

 

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.

471.

The Council's Accommodation Strategy and the Harrow New Civic Centre pdf icon PDF 393 KB

Report of the Chief Executive.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Having noted the confidential appendices to the report and the points raised by Councillor Stephen Greek as Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to the reference submitted (at Appendix 9), Cabinet

 

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)          the Council’s accommodation strategy be based on Forward Drive Depot and a new Harrow Civic Centre at Peel Road, Wealdstone;

 

(2)          the proposed new Harrow Civic Centre be at around 20,000 sq. ft floorspace at an estimated cost of £21.899m (this was  broken down into £17.073m for the New Civic Centre and £4.826m for 40 units of basement parking, with the exact dimensions and costs  determined following detailed design);

 

(3)          a further report to agree the final design and costs be submitted to Cabinet for approval;

 

(4)          the report on final design and costs be included in the draft business plan for the proposed Harrow Strategic Development Partnership together with the 40 units of basement car parking and the proposed construction of 46 units of affordable housing;

 

(5)          the fit out of Forward Drive Depot at an estimated cost of £8.415m (£7.690m capital expenditure and £0.725m revenue requirement), be approved;

 

(6)          the award of the fit out works to Kier, the principal contractors at Forward Drive Depot, be approved, by variation to the existing contract with the necessary waiver to the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules;

 

(7)          the estimated financial impact for the Council of the Harrow Strategic Development Financial Viability Model as detailed in the financial implications section of the report, be noted;

 

(8)          within the 2021/22 Capital Programme a virement of £7.690m in 2021/22 be approved from the ‘Poets Corner’ scheme to a newly created scheme titled ‘Accommodation Strategy’ to fund the fit out of the Forward Drive Depot;

 

(9)          within the 2021/22 Capital Programme a virement of the balance of £0.429m be approved from the ‘Poets Corner’ scheme into the ‘Investment in 3 core sites’ scheme to support the capital requirement for the new HNC and basement parking;

 

(10)       the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Director of Finance, the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources , be authorised to make decisions pertaining to procurement and contractual issues, including the approval of further variations to the fit out of the Forward Drive Depot, and the authority to issue further variations to the contract with Kier.

 

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.

472.

Harrow Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) pdf icon PDF 337 KB

Report of the Acting Corporate Director (Community).

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Having received a report on the Harrow Town Centre Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), Cabinet

 

RESOLVED: 

 

(1)          That the proposed Public Spaces Protection Order (Harrow Town Centre) (Harrow Council) 2021, be approved;

 

Cabinet also agreed to note the following additional recommendation:

 

(2)           That the PSPO would be subject to a communications campaign to raise awareness and aid in educating all, and full information would be easily accessible on the Council website on: https://www.harrow.gov.uk/licences

 

Reason for Decision:  The PSPO would allow direct action against low level anti-social behaviour, with the benefit of being able to issue fixed penalty notices for breaches, if appropriate.

 

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.

473.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) Future High Street Fund pdf icon PDF 408 KB

Report of the Acting Corporate Director, Community.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)           the Acting Corporate Director – Community, following consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder(s), be authorised to enter into a Grant Agreement with Ministry of Housing, Community and Local Government to secure funding to invest in a new pedestrian bridge, public realm improvements and an Intelligent High Street in Wealdstone;

 

(2)           the Acting Corporate Director – Community, following consultation with the Director of Finance and relevant Portfolio Holder(s), be authorised to undertake procurement and to award contract(s) for the delivery of the Pedestrian Bridge, noting that the operational delivery of the project would be undertaken by the Divisional Director Environment.

 

Reason for Decision:  To support the regeneration of Wealdstone through enhancing the physical infrastructure and to ensure the appointment of contractors able to deliver the capital programme.

 

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.

474.

2021-22 Discretionary Retail Relief Scheme pdf icon PDF 140 KB

Report of the Director of Finance.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)          the discretionary “Retail Relief scheme” & “Nursery Discount scheme” (at Appendix 1) for eligible business rate payers, be adopted for the year 2021/22;

 

(2)          the Corporate Director of Resources be authorised to exercise discretion under Section 47 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988, (as amended) (hereinafter “LGFA”) in order to operate the above scheme which followed MHCLG’s guidance contained in their letter to local authorities date January 2021.

 

Reason for Decision:  To ensure Harrow Council’s eligible business ratepayers received the maximum amount of centrally funded relief that could be claimed and to ensure the Council supported the local economy.

 

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.

475.

Appointment of Cabinet Advisory Panels, Consultative Forums and Appointment of Chairs pdf icon PDF 217 KB

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the membership of Cabinet Panels and Consultative Forums, the Chairs and Nominated Members of the Panels and Consultative Forums, be confirmed.

 

Reason for Decision:  To confirm appointments and to allow the Panels to be constituted.

 

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.

476.

Appointment of Portfolio Holder Assistants pdf icon PDF 162 KB

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance.

Minutes:

Having noted that the report was for information as the Executive was required to confirm the appointment of any Portfolio Holder Assistant and that the Special Responsibilities Allowance (SRA) for Portfolio Holder Assistants had been approved by Council in February 2021, Cabinet

 

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)          the appointment of the identified Portfolio Holder Assistants and responsibilities be approved and note that these superseded previous appointments;

 

(2)          the payment of Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) to the Portfolio Holder Assistants with the implementation date of 27 May 2021, 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:  As set out in the report.

 

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

477.

Timetable for the Development of the Council's Policy Framework pdf icon PDF 236 KB

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the timetable for the preparation and consideration of the plans and strategies set out at Appendix A to the report be noted and the Monitoring Officer authorised to vary the timetable if appropriate.

 

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

 

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.