Agenda and minutes

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Media

Items
No. Item

416.

Apologies for Absence

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Minutes:

None received.

417.

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 had been published on the Council website and that:

 

(1)          Councillor Richard Almond, who was not a member of the Cabinet, declared a non-pecuniary interest in Question 7 to Item 5 – Councillor Questions in that he was Chair of the Parish Council at St. Luke’s Catholic Church, Pinner.

 

(2)          Councillor Sue Anderson declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 10 – “Commissioning of Harrow Paediatric Services “in that she was a Member of the Central and North West London (CNWL) Foundation Trust and her son was in receipt of services from CNWL. She would remain in the meeting whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

 

(3)          Councillor Paul Osborn, who was not a member of the Cabinet, declared a pecuniary interest in Vaughan Road Car Park as he lived on Vaughan Road. He would leave the virtual meeting should the matter be raised during the course of the meeting. Councillor Osborn also declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 12 – “Final Revenue Budget 2021/22 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2021/22 - 2023/24”in that he was Chair of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, which was a levying authority. He would remain in the meeting should the matter be raised in the discussion.

 

(4)          CouncillorVarsha Parmar, who had declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in Item 4 – Public Questions and Item 5 – Councillor Questions as her husband worked for London Underground Limited would remain in the meeting by virtue of her dispensation.

418.

Petitions

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

Minutes:

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

 

(1)          Councillor Stephen Greek presented a petition on behalf of Hutton Lane residents, containing 63 signatures, requesting that Harrow Council’s Housing Department address the severe parking problems in the area and reviewed the existing policy, which did not allow construction of vehicle crossing on green verge land.

 

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

419.

Public Questions pdf icon PDF 211 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, 8 February 2021.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk

No person may submit more than one question].

Minutes:

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

420.

Councillor Questions pdf icon PDF 119 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, 8 February 2021].

Minutes:

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

421.

Key Decision Schedule February - April 2021 pdf icon PDF 220 KB

Minutes:

Having noted that the report on “Harrow Digital Infrastructure Strategy” had been withdrawn from the agenda for this meeting and that the report on “Procurement of Harrow Council’s Domestic Abuse Service” had been deferred from the January to February Cabinet meeting, Cabinet 

 

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Key Decision Schedule for the period February – April 2021.

422.

Progress on Scrutiny Projects pdf icon PDF 141 KB

For consideration

Minutes:

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

423.

Covid-19 Update pdf icon PDF 261 KB

Verbal update from the Chief Executive.

Minutes:

Having agreed to vary the order of business, Cabinet received a presentation from the Chief Executive, which provided an update on the latest Covid-19 figures in the borough, the current outlook of the lockdown and the Council’s involvement and response, anticipated short and long-term impact of Covid-19 as well as a progress update on the vaccination roll-out programme.

 

Cabinet expressed their gratitude to all staff for their work, resilience and ability to cope with the challenges of the pandemic.

 

RESOLVED: That the verbal update from the Chief Executive be noted.

Recommended Items

424.

Final Capital Programme 2021/22 to 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 540 KB

Report of the Director of Finance.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Council)

 

That the Capital Programme 2021/22 to 2023/24, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the officer report, be approved.

 

Reason for Recommendation:  To enable the Council to have an approved Capital Programme for 2020/21 to 2022/24

 

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.

 

[Call-in did not apply to the decision above as it was reserved to full Council.]

425.

Final Revenue Budget 2021/22 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2021/22 - 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 691 KB

Report of the Director of Finance.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved to RECOMMEND: (to Council)

 

That

 

(1)          the 2021/22 budget, taking into account the results of the various consultations and equality impact assessments, be approved to enable the Council Tax for 2021/22 to be set (Appendix 2 to the report refers);

 

(2)          the Model Council Tax Resolution 2021/22, as set out in Appendix 11 to the report, be approved;

 

(3)          the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), as set out in Appendix 2 to the officer report, be approved;

 

(4)          the 2021/22 Members’ Allowance Scheme, as set out in Appendix 12 to the officer report, be approved;

 

(5)          the 2021/22 Annual Pay Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix 13 to the officer report, be approved;

 

(6)          the Capital Receipts Flexibility Strategy, as set out in Appendix 14 to the report, be approved.

 

[Call-in did not apply to the decisions above as they were reserved to full Council.]

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(7)          in accordance with Section 38 (2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Chief Executive be instructed to place a notice in the local press of the amounts set under recommendation 2 above with a period of 21 days following the Council’s decision;

 

(8)          the following be noted:

 

a)            the balanced budget position for 2021/and the budget gaps of £24.651m and £5.098m for 2022/23 and 2023/24 respectively (Table 5 of the officer report refers)

 

b)            the intention to increase Council Tax by 1.99% in 2021/22 (Paragraph 1.20 of the officer refers);

 

c)            the proposal to increase Council Tax by a further 3% in 2021/22 in respect of the Adult Social Care Precept (Paragraph 1.20 of the officer report refers;

 

d)            the 2021/22 budgets for Schools and Public Health as set out in Appendices 6 & 7 to the officer report;

 

e)            the assumed funding for the protection of social care 2021/22 through the Better Care Fund as set out in paragraphs 1.74 to 1.78 of the officer report;

 

f)             the requirement to develop a fully costed budget and implementation plan, to the value of a minimum £10m, to bring to Cabinet on preparation to feed into the budget setting round for 2022/23 (Paragraph 1.83 of the officer report refers;

 

Reason for Recommendation:  To ensure that the Council set a balanced budget 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.

426.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget 2021-22 and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2022-23 to 2023-24 pdf icon PDF 761 KB

Report of the Divisional Director, Housing.

Minutes:

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Council)

 

That

 

(1)          the Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2021-22 be approved.

 

(2)          the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme, as set out at Appendix 7 to the report, be approved.

 

[Call-in did not apply to the decisions above as they were reserved to full Council.]

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(3)          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 report, be approved;

 

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

 

(5)          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, be approved;

 

(6)          an increase in the overall Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital programme of £40,728,480 made up £9,762,940 planned investment & Housing IT and £30,965,540 Building Council Homes for Londoners (BCHfL) as set out in paragraphs 56 to 66 of the report, be approved.

 

(7)          the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Housing and Finance and Resources and Director of Finance, be authorised to consider the results of the Tenant Service Charges review (and any consultation on this) and approve any changes to existing tenant service charges for the financial year 2021/22, as set out in paragraph 40 of the report;

 

(8)          the following be noted:

 

a)          charges for Facilities, Community Halls, Garages and Water to remained unchanged as set out in appendices 3 to 6 to the report. Reconfigured planned investment programme which continues to focus on health and safety and compliance as well as supporting increased flexibility in its delivery.  In the coming years we were also making provision to support the Council’s ambition to reduce carbon emissions.

b)          assumptions made in construction of the budget.

c)          risk Management Implications which require prudent financial reserves, volatility around borrowing costs and ongoing probability of reforms in the housing sector.

 

Reason for the Decision:  To recommend the 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.

 

[Call-in did not apply to the decisions above as they were reserved to full Council.]

427.

Treasury Management Strategy Statement including Annual Investment Strategy for 2021/22 and Capital Strategy for 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 983 KB

Report of the Director of Finance.

 

Minutes:

Resolved to RECOMMEND: (to Council)

 

(1)          That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2021/22 be approved, including:

 

·         Prudential Indicators for 2021/22

·         Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2021/22, as set out in paragraph 2.10 and Appendix C to the officer report; 

·         Annual Investment Strategy for 2021/22

 

(2)          That the Annual Capital Strategy as set out in Appendix G to the officer report, be approved.

 

Reason for Recommendation:  Topromote effective financial management relating to the Authority’s borrowing and investment powers contained in the Local Government Act 2003, and supporting regulations and guidance detailed below:

 

·                     the Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) Regulations 2003 (as amended);

·                     CIPFA Prudential Code and Treasury Management Code of Practice 2017;

·                     MHCLG Investment and MRP Guidance 2018.

 

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 they were reserved to full Council.]

Resolved Items

428.

Commissioning of Harrow Paediatric Services pdf icon PDF 218 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, People.

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)          the Corporate Director of People Services, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Young People and Schools and Finance and Resources, be authorised to approve the financial contribution to be made by the Council to Harrow Clinical Commissioning Group via the People Services overarching section 75 Agreement for jointly commissioned paediatric services;

 

(2)          the Corporate Director of People Services, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Young People and Schools, be authorised to review the current People Services overarching section 75 Agreement with Harrow CCG and agree a new 5-year agreement with an option to extend for a further 5 years thereafter that would commence from 1st April 2022.

 

Reason for Decision:  To fulfil the statutory requirement of Local Authorities to commission community health services for all children and young people in their area.

 

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.

429.

Revenue and Capital Monitoring 2020/21 - Quarter 3 as at 31st December 2020 pdf icon PDF 645 KB

Report of the Director of Finance.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)          the revenue and capital forecast positions set out in paragraphs 1.2 and 1.10 of the officer report, be noted;

 

(2)          the grave concerns being expressed at the legacy impact of COVID-19 over the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and the work being undertaken on finance sustainability, as set out in paragraphs 2.46 to 2.53 of the officer report, be noted;

 

(3)          the proposed amendments to the Capital Programme as set out in paragraphs 3.33 to 3.35 of the officer report, be approved;

 

(4)          progress on the Council’s Trading Update as at Quarter 3, as detailed in Appendix 6 to the officer report, be noted.

 

Reason for Decision:  To report the 2020/21 forecast financial position as at Quarter 3 (31 December 2020), update Cabinet on trading company performance and seek approval for Capital Programme adjustments which required Cabinet approval in accordance with the 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.

Divisional Director of Housing

 

Councillor Phil O’Dell, Portfolio Holder for Housing, advised that this was the last Cabinet meeting of Nick Powell, Divisional Director for Housing. On behalf of all Cabinet Members, he expressed his gratitude to Mr Powell for his time and hard work leading the Council’s regeneration programme and wished him every success in the future.