Agenda and minutes

Venue: Virtual Meeting - Online. View directions

Contact: Nikoleta Nikolova, Senior Democratic & Electoral Services Officer  Tel: 020 8416 8284 E-mail:  nikoleta.nikolova@harrow.gov.uk

Link: View the meeting online

Media

Items
No. Item

397.

Apologies for Absence

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Graham Henson.

398.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 68 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, which had been published on the Council website, be taken as read and that in the course of the meeting:

 

1)            Councillor Paul Osborn, who was not a member of the Cabinet, declared a pecuniary interest in Question 8, Item 4 – Public Questions as he lived on Vaughan Road. He would leave the virtual meeting whilst the matter was being discussed.

399.

Petitions

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  To note that the no petitions had been received.

400.

Public Questions pdf icon PDF 297 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, 18 January 2021.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk

No person may submit more than one question].

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  To note that twelve public questions had been received and responded to and the recording had been placed on the Council’s website.

401.

Councillor Questions pdf icon PDF 115 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, 18 January 2021].

Minutes:

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

402.

Key Decision Schedule January - March 2021 pdf icon PDF 254 KB

Minutes:

Having noted that:

 

·                     the report on “Commissioning of Harrow Paediatric Services” had been deferred from the January to February Cabinet meeting;

·                     the report on Review of Housing and Homelessness Strategies (Part 2): Housing Allocation Scheme and Tenancy Strategy & Policy, which was deferred from the December 2020 to January 2021, would be considered at the meeting;

·                     and that a late report on “Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Kickstart Funding” had been added to the agenda for the reasons set out in the published public notice,

 

Cabinet

 

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Key Decision Schedule for the period January – March 2021.

403.

Progress on Scrutiny Projects pdf icon PDF 139 KB

For consideration

Minutes:

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

404.

Covid-19 Update pdf icon PDF 353 KB

Verbal update from the Chief Executive.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Having varied the order of business, Cabinet received a presentation from the Chief Executive accompanied by a further presentation from the Director of Public Health, which provided a strategic update on the latest Covid-19 developments in the borough, the Council’s response to the latest lockdown and progress with the vaccination programme.

 

Cabinet expressed its gratitude to all staff for their hard work, resilience and ability to cope with ever increasing demands throughout the pandemic.  Members also passed their good wishes to the Leader of the Council and wished him a speedy recovery.

 

RESOLVED:  That the verbal update and accompanying presentations from the Chief Executive and Director of Public Health, be noted.

Resolved Items

405.

Borough Wide Public Spaces Protection Order to address environmental issues pdf icon PDF 344 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, Community.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Public Spaces Protection Order (Borough Wide) (Harrow Council) 2020, to take effect from 1 February 2021, be approved.

 

Reason for Decision:  The Public Spaces Protection Order 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.

406.

Consolidation of Fixed Penalty Notices for Environmental Crime Enforcement pdf icon PDF 237 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, Community.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs), as set out in Appendix A to the report, including the fine levels, be approved.

 

Reason for Decision:  To consolidate all FPNs to allow maximum use to provide a safer and cleaner 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.

407.

Renewal of the Edgware Selective Licensing Scheme pdf icon PDF 307 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, Community.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

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

 

(2)          designation of Edgware ward continue to be  subject to selective licensing and take affect from 15 March 2021 for a period of five years;

 

(3)          the Council  begin to accept applications for Selective Licensing from 1 March 2021, in anticipation of the scheme coming into effect on 22 April 2021;

 

(4)           the Head of Community & Public Protection, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community Cohesion and Crime, be authorised to take  all steps necessary to publicise, commence and administer the scheme including the issuing and amending of licences;

 

(5)          it be noted that the Selective Licensing scheme and the operation of the designation would be reviewed annually, be noted;

 

(6)          the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, 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 Edgware 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.

408.

Review of Housing and Homelessness Strategies (Part 2): Housing Allocation Scheme and Tenancy Strategy & Policy pdf icon PDF 404 KB

Report of the Divisional Director, Housing.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)          the amended Housing Allocation Scheme be approved;

 

(2)          the proposed Tenancy Strategy & Policy, including the proposal to end the use of flexible tenancies for general needs council lettings, be approved; and

 

(3)          the Divisional Director for Housing, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, be authorised to agree Local Lettings Plans and to update the financial limits for accessing social housing on a yearly basis.

 

Reason for Decision:  The Housing Allocation Scheme was a statutory requirement of Part VI of the Housing Act 1996 as amended by the Homelessness Act 2002 and the Localism Act 2011.  The Tenancy Strategy was a statutory requirement under the Localism Act 2011.  The Tenancy Policy was a requirement of the Tenancy Standard set by the Regulator of Social Housing.

 

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.

409.

Green Homes Grant Scheme - Request to utilise grant funding awarded via lead Borough Ealing pdf icon PDF 337 KB

Report of the Divisional Director, Housing.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)          the request to grant the Housing Asset Management Team permission to collaborate with the lead Borough of Ealing to utilise the funding (of the value of £4.783 million in total, £580,793 of which could be used to support works on private properties within Harrow) awarded under the Green Homes Grant (GHG) coalition bid to enable retrofit solutions works to be delivered via an appointed managing agent within the lead Borough, be approved;

 

(2)          Tranche 1a which would involve the Council recommending privately owned/ private rented properties for works, the  full cost of which would  be met by grant payments from Ealing Council with no financial impact on the Council’s General Fund or HRA and no impact on the Council’s borrowing requirement, be agreed;

 

(3)          Having noted the potential second phase of funding (Tranche 1b), should the lead borough be successful with the submission bid (a total bid of £14.5 million on behalf of 10 boroughs could amount to an additional sum of up to £1.232 million per borough), the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Housing and Finance and Resources and the Director of Finance, be authorised to collaborate with the lead Borough Ealing in order to utilise the funding awarded under the Green Homes Grant (GHG); should Tranche 1b be successful, in line with Grant Contribution requirements, approval would be sought to the Council contribution of the £75,000 from the Housing Revenue Account.

  

This route will enable the Council to:

 

-               address the Climate Change Emergency that Harrow Council had declared with retrofit measures;

 

-               target not only Harrow’s poorest energy performing stock but also those households in greatest need in helping to reduce fuel poverty;

 

-               contribute to helping the local Harrow economy by providing opportunities for local training within colleges and employment opportunities, via agreed social value contribution/ commitments;

 

-               carry out retrofit measures to private properties supported by Grant funding from Ealing Council, with no cost to the Council for phase 1a.  Costs for tranche1b to be quantified and reported to Cabinet as appropriate.

 

Reason for Decision:  Due to the estimated value of the proposed contract award Cabinet authorisation was required to comply with the Council’s Contract Procedure rules and to enable the Council  to utilise the grant funding.

 

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.

410.

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Contract - Kick-start Funding pdf icon PDF 195 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, Community.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That that the Corporate Director for Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Regeneration and Employment, be authorised to enter into a Grant Agreement with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for Harrow Council to become a Kickstart Scheme Gateway on behalf of a group of employers to help them create jobs for young people at risk of long-term unemployment; with operational management delegated to Head of Service Economic Development and Manager Economic Development.

 

Reason for Decision:   The number of young people unemployed in Harrow had risen 349% between November 2019 & November 2020 (1,885 in November 2020) as a result of the Covid 19 pandemic.  The Grant from the DWP would provide funding to support Young People claiming universal credits into 6 month paid placements.  It would provide funding up to £7648.80 per eligible person.

 

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.

 

[Call-in did not apply to the resolution above as a waiver of call-in had been obtained by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the reasons set out in the published public notice].

411.

Fees and Charges 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 242 KB

Report of the Director of Finance.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)          the Fees & Charges to be implemented from April 2021 (Appendices 2 to 4 to the officer report), except those marked as ‘Statutory prescribed’ or ‘for noting only – non-Cabinet approval’, be agreed;

 

(2)          the Director of Finance, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources and Corporate Director for Resources, be authorised to amend the fees and charges in year and agree new fees and charges.

 

Reason for Decision:  To ensure the Council sets a schedule of fees and charges for 2021/22.

 

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.

412.

Calculation of Business Rates Tax Base for 2021-2022 pdf icon PDF 260 KB

Report of the Director of Finance.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)          the approach and assumptions for the calculation of the Council’s business rates yield as set out in the officer report, be noted;

 

(2)          in accordance with the Non-Domestic Rating (Rates Retention) Regulations 2013, the amount calculated by the London Borough of Harrow as its business rates yield for the year 2021-2022 shall be £15.346m as shown in the table below, be agreed.

 

 

 

£m

 

Projected NDR Income 2021/22

51.152

Less

Payable to DCLG (33% Central Share)

(16.880)

Less

Payable to the Greater London Authority (37%)

(18.926)

Equals

Amount to be retained by Harrow (30%)

15.346

 

 

 

 

(3)          the Council's Director of Finance (section 151 officer), following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, be authorised to submit the notification of the calculation of the estimated Non-Domestic Rates income to the Secretary of State and the Greater London Authority (GLA) by 31 January 2021 or other date as may be prescribed;

 

(4)          the Council's Director of Finance (section 151 officer) be authorised, following  consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, to submit revised figures (from those above) to the Secretary of State and GLA, if further clarification was received from the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) on the financial impact of the proposed changes to the authority and how this was to be calculated.

 

Reason for Decision:  To fulfil the Council’s statutory obligation to provide estimates and calculations in relation to NDR for 2021-2022.

 

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.

413.

Draft HRA Budget 2021-22 and MTFS 2022-23 to 2023-24 pdf icon PDF 682 KB

Report of the Divisional Director, Housing.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)          the proposed average weekly rent for non-sheltered and sheltered accommodation of £118.01 and £98.18 for 2021-22 respectively, as set out in paragraph 34 of the officer report, be approved;

 

(2)          the proposed average weekly tenant service charge of £3.32 per week as set out in paragraph 40 of the officer report, be approved;

 

(3)          the proposed average weekly rents for affordable rented and shared ownership accommodation of £197.11 and £199.82 for 2021-22 respectively as set out in paragraph 35 to 36 of the officer report, be approved;

 

(4)          an increase in the overall Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital programme of £28,013,177 made up £4,507,424 planned investment and £23,505,753 Building Council Homes for Londoners (BCHfL), as set out in paragraphs 56 to 66 of the report, be approved;

 

(5)          charges for Facilities, Community Halls, Garages and Water to remain unchanged as set out in appendices 3 to 6 to the report, be noted;

 

(6)          the reconfigured planned investment programme which continued to focus on health and safety and compliance as well as supporting increased flexibility in its delivery, with provision to support the Council’s ambition to reduce carbon emissions in the coming years, be noted :

 

(7)          the assumptions made in construction of the budget and likely changes to be made in the final budget be submitted to Cabinet on 11 February 2021;

 

(8)          the Risk Management Implications which required prudent financial reserves, volatility around borrowing costs and ongoing probability of reforms in the housing sector, be noted.

 

Final approval for the budget and MTFS would  be sought from Cabinet and Council in February 2021.

 

Reason for Decision:  To recommend the draft HRA budget and capital programme for 2021-22 and the MTFS for 2022-23 to 2023?24.

 

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.

414.

Treasury Management Strategy Statement & Annual Investment Strategy for 2020/21 - Mid Year Review pdf icon PDF 534 KB

Report of the Director of Finance.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)          the Treasury Management Outturn for 2019/20 and Mid-Year Review for 2020/21, be noted;

 

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

 

Reason for Decision:  To promote effective financial management and comply with the Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) Regulations 2003, other relevant guidance and the Council’s Financial Regulations and keep Members informed of Treasury Management activities and performance.

 

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.

 

[Call-in did not apply to the decisions above as it was a noting report, which was being referred to the Council’s Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee].

415.

Calendar of Meetings 2021/2022 pdf icon PDF 116 KB

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Calendar of Meetings for the Municipal Year 2021/22, be approved.

 

Reason for Decision:  The calendar of meetings was approved on an annual basis at this time of the year for the succeeding municipal year.  Advance approval of the calendar facilitates the planning and forward commitments of both Members and officers.  It would also allow arrangements to be put in place at the earliest opportunity.

 

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.