Agenda and minutes

Having declared the July Cabinet meeting open, the Leader of the Council made the following clarifications in relation to the conduct of the meeting: 

·                 The meeting was being held in the Council Chamber at Harrow Civic Centre with Councillors Phillip O’Dell, Natasha Proctor, Peymana Assad 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 and John Higgins (voluntary sector representative)) had joined the meeting virtually.

·                 Councillors Marilyn Ashton, Anjana Patel and Kantilal Rabadia (for item 5 – Councillors questions) and Councillors Sachin Shah and Stephen Greek who would be invited to speak briefly on the reference from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to  item 9 – Harrow Strategic Development Partnership – Contract Close and Establishment had also joined the meeting virtually.

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Adam Swersky and Antonio Weiss (Non-Executive Members) as well as Councillor Paul Osborn (Opposition Leader).

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.

RESOLVED:  To note that the declaration of interests, which had been published on the Council website, be taken as read and that:

(1)            Councillor Keith Ferry had declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in items 9 and 17 – Harrow Strategic Development Partnership – Contract Close and Establishment in that he had been proposed for appointment as a Board Member to the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership.  He would leave the meeting while the items were discussed and voted upon.

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

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

(1)            Councillor Kareema Marikar presented a petition on behalf of West Harrow residents, containing 39 signatures and requesting the Council to install security gates at the rear of 100 Blenheim Road in order to protect local properties and the community from anti-social behaviour.

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

(2)            Councillor Kareema Marikar presented a petition on behalf of West Harrow residents, containing 40 signatures and requesting the Council to prioritise pavements on Elm Drive for resurfacing

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

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, 12 July 2021.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk

No person may submit more than one question].

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions had been received.

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, 12 July 2021.]

RESOLVED:  That the Councillor Questions were responded to and the recording placed on the Council’s website.

Having noted that the report on “Grange Farm Regeneration – Phases 2 &3” had been deferred to September, Cabinet

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

For consideration

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

Having agreed to vary the order of business, Cabinet received a presentation from the Chief Executive, which provided Members with a regular update on Covid-19 cases across the borough focusing on the final phase of lockdown easing, vaccination progress, ongoing Council response and plans for future recovery.  Acknowledging the increasing pressures on Council services, significant public demand, anticipated economic challenges as well as the continuous impact on organisational capacity and staff resilience throughout this challenging period, it was

RESOLVED:  That the verbal update and accompanying presentation from the Chief Executive, be noted.

[Call-in does not apply to the resolution above as it was a presentation].

Report of the Chief Executive

Councillor Keith Ferry, who had joined the meeting virtually, left the meeting for the discussion and decision-making on this item.

Having considered the confidential appendices, it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the outcome of the preferred bidder stage of the Competitive Dialogue Procedure under the Public Contracts Regulations 2015 as outlined in the officer report be noted;

(2)            Wates Construction Ltd be confirmed as the successful bidder following the Competitive Dialogue Procedure and as the Council’s partner in the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership (HSDP);

(3)            the setting up and commencement of the HSDP with Wates based on the structure set out in the officer report be approved;

(4)            the Chief Executive be authorised, following consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance Services, to enter into appropriate legal documents to formally commence the HSDP;

(5)            the initial Business Plan of the HSDP be approved;

(6)            the Director of Finance and Assurance be authorised, following consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance Services, to approve and enter into any of the financial agreements and instruments required by the Members agreement;

(7)            the additional cost requirement of £158k for professional fees for legal and financial and commercial support which could be accommodated within existing budgets be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To bring to a conclusion the process for procuring a partner with whom to form the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership, and to approve the necessary steps to establish the partnership.

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 Interim Corporate Director, Community

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the Council’s Draft Economic Strategy, 2021- 2030 be approved;

(2)            the Interim Corporate Director, Community, be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business, Property and Leisure and the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Regeneration, Partnerships and Devolution, to edit and revise the draft strategy, incorporate outcomes arising from further consultation at strategic level with internal and external stakeholders, and to adopt the final version of the Harrow Economic Strategy, before it is published in Autumn 2021.

Reason for Decision:  To support a long-term post- pandemic recovery that aligned with the economic vision and priorities of the Borough Plan to 2030.

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 Interim Corporate Director, Community

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the progression of this pilot project to lease the airspace above existing council properties on the Berridge estate at a peppercorn rent to Apex Airspace Limited, who will seek planning permission to construct new homes with the intention that the council be offered first refusal to buy the homes constructed in the airspace for letting on secure council tenancies, be approved;

(2)            the Interim Corporate Director, Community, be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, the Director of Finance and S151 Officer and Director of Legal and Governance Services to finalise and enter into the legal documents which are summarised in paragraph 2.3.5 of the officer report;

(3)            the Interim Corporate Director, Community, be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and the Director of Finance and S151 Officer, to exercise the option to purchase and proceed to purchase the new homes that are constructed from Apex Airspace provided the cost is within the agreed capped price set out in the Legal documents and which will be no higher than the average maximum price per home currently approved within the Building Council Homes for Londoners programme;

(4)            the intention to recommence consultation with estate residents on the proposals be noted;

(5)            the Interim Corporate Director, Community, be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing to consider the consultation outcomes and agree proposals to meet residents’ suggestions such as those set out in section 3 of the officer report.

Reason for Decision:  To enable the delivery of new council homes.

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 People

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the direct award of contract, with a total value of £536,850, to Hestia Housing and Support be approved for a period of 1 year and 7 months commencing on 1 September 2021 and ending on the 31st March 2023;

(2)            additional resource be included within the new contract to manage current and future demand.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure continuity of service while awaiting further clarity on the implications and outcomes of national domestic abuse legislation and strategies to tackle Violence Against Women and Girls on existing and future service provision in the borough.

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 Director of Finance

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the Council enter an agreement for the provision of treasury management services with the GLA in accordance with the Local Authorities (Goods and Services) Act 1970, subject to the conclusion of negotiations to the satisfaction of the Director of Finance and Assurance, the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources together with the Director of Legal and Governance;

(2)            the Council enter an investment management agreement with LTL, the GLA’s wholly-owned investment management subsidiary, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), for the provision of investment management services in accordance with the Local Authorities (Contracting Out of Investment Functions) Order 1996, subject to the conclusion of negotiations to the satisfaction of the Director of Finance and Assurance following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources together with the Director of Legal and Governance;

(3)            if required, a waiver be approved to offer a direct award to London Treasury Limited (LTL), the GLA’s wholly owned investment management subsidiary for the minimum of one year, subject to performance and not exceeding the services threshold of Public Contract Regulations 2015 (amended);

(4)            the Council enter an agreement to participate in the GLA Group Investment Syndicate (GIS), subject to the conclusion of negotiations to the satisfaction of the Director of Finance and Assurance following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources together with the Director of Legal and Governance;

(5)            the Director of Finance and Assurance be authorised to approve any amendment to the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2021/22 to allow funds to be invested via the GIS in accordance with the GIS Investment Strategy for 2021/22, including adopting and signing such strategy; and

(6)            the Director of Finance and Assurance be authorised to do all such things (including the finalisation, approval and execution of any documents and agreements) that they may consider necessary or desirable to give effect to the above.

Reason for Decision:  To promote effective financial management and comply with regulations issued under the Local Government Act 2003, the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management, and the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance, along with meeting the requirements of the Council’s Financial Regulations.

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 Director of Finance

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the Treasury Management outturn position for 2020/2, be noted;

(2)            the report be referred to the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee for review.

Reasons for Decision:

a.              To promote effective financial management and comply with regulations issued under the Local Government Act 2003, the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management, and the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance, along with meeting the requirements of the Council’s Financial Regulations.

b.              To keep Members informed of Treasury Management activities and performance for 2020/21.

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 Chief Executive

See Minute 503.

Report of the Interim Divisional Director of Housing Services

See Minute 505.