Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Apologies were received from Councillor Mina Parmar, Portfolio Holder for Housing.

Members stood and observed one minute silence for those affected by the earthquake in Morocco and floods in Libya.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from all Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Item 8 – Local Areas of Special Character – criteria for designation

During the course of the meeting, Councillor Paul Osborn, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he lived in West Harrow Village.  He would remain in the meeting whilst the item was considered and voted upon.

Item 9 – Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) Approval for Publication

Councillor David Ashton, Portfolio older for Finance and Human Resources, declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was a Trustee of the Bentley Priory Museum.  He would remain in the meeting whilst the item was discussed and voted upon.

Councillor Marilyn Ashton, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration, declared a non-pecuniary interest in that she was on the committee for Bentley Priory Nature Reserve and also that Harrow Weald viewpoint was mentioned and she was on the Harrow Weald Board of Conservators which abutted the viewpoint and by extension the nature reserve.  She would remain in the meeting whilst the item was discussed and voted upon. 

Councillor Stephen Greek, Portfolio Holder for Performance, Communications and Customer Experience, declared a non-pecuniary interest in that Harrow Weald viewpoint was mentioned and he was on the Harrow Weald Board of Conservators which abutted the viewpoint and by extension the nature reserve.  He was also a member of the Old Redding Management Committee.  He would remain in the meeting whilst the item was discussed and voted upon.

Councillor Jean Lammiman, Portfolio Holder for Community and Culture, declared a non-pecuniary interest in that she was the Chair of Trustees for the West House and Heath Robinson Museum Trust.  She would remain in the meeting whilst the item was discussed and voted upon..

Councillor Paul Osborn, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was the Council’s appointed representative to the West House and Heath Robinson Museum Trust.  He would remain in the meeting whilst the item was discussed and voted upon.

Councillor Pritesh Patel, Portfolio Holder for Adults and Public Health, declared a non-pecuniary interest in that Harrow Weald viewpoint was mentioned and he was on the Harrow Weald Board of Conservators which abutted the viewpoint and by extension the nature reserve.  He was also a member of the Old Redding Management Committee.  He would remain in the meeting whilst the item was discussed and voted upon.

Councillor Norman Stevenson, Portfolio Holder for Business, Employment and Property, declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was Chair of Bentley Priory Museum Endowment Fund Trust.  He would remain in the meeting whilst the item was discussed and voted upon.

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

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions had been received.

To note any public questions received.

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, Monday 11 September 2023.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk

No person may submit more than one question].

RESOLVED:  To note that two public questions had been received and responded to and the recording would be available on the website.

To receive any Councillor questions.

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, Monday 11 September 2023].

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

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Key Decision Schedule for the period September – November 2023.

For consideration

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

Report of the Chief Planning Officer

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the consultation responses on the criteria for the new local heritage designation namely proposed ‘Local Areas of Special Character’ be noted; and

(2)            a process of designating Local Areas of Special Character (LASC), including the proposed criteria for designation (including the minor clarification), as set out in paragraph 7.3 of the officer report, be established.

Reason for Decision:  There are many local areas in Harrow that might not meet the strict criteria for conservation area status but do have local heritage interest.  Accordingly, this report proposed the designation criteria for the new local designation for such Local Areas of Special Character.  This proposed local designation, and its associated local criteria for designation, was a parallel to the existing local designations of locally listed buildings and locally listed parks and gardens in Harrow for those buildings and areas that did not meet the strict criteria for national heritage designation.

Report of the Corporate Director, Place and the Director of Environment.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the feedback received from the public consultation on the draft PSPO and the revised wording of the PSPOs be noted;

(2)            the final wording of the PSPOs for implementation and publication be approved;

(3)            the Corporate Director Place be authorised to take all steps necessary to publicise and implement the PSPOs.

Reason for Decision:  The proposed PSPOs 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.

Report of the Corporate Director, People.

Having agreed to note the confidential appendices to the officer report it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the commencement of the procurement of a provider for Translation and Interpreting Services be approved noting that the contract(s) would be awarded for a 3- year term from 1April 2024 to 31 March 2027 with the option to extend for a further 2 years up to 31 March 2029;

(2)            the tender documents be approved;

(3)            the Corporate Director of People Services be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, to make any changes required to the tender documents following approval;

(4)            the Corporate Director of People Services be authorised, following consultation with the Interim Director of Finance and Assurance, the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Human Resources, to award the contract.

Reason for Decision:

1.              To enable the Local Authority to fulfil its statutory duties to provide an Interpretation and Translation service which met the Council’s commitment to equality of opportunity, enabling access to information and services for those who:

·       Did not speak English;

·       Did not speak English and were known to social care and or early support services

·       were Blind or had a visual impairment; and

·       were Deaf or had a hearing impairment

2.              The existing translation and interpreting services contract with DA Languages would cease on 31 March 2024.  This procurement focused upon securing new contractual arrangements for face to face, telephone, video remote and document interpreting and translation services.

Report of the Interim Director of Finance and Assurance

Having agreed to note the confidential appendix to the officer report it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the procurement of a service contract for Printing and Mailing Services for Bulk Document printing of Council Tax, Business Rates, Benefits, Business Improvement Districts (”BIDS”), Parking Enforcement and Sundry Debt documents be authorised with a maximum value of £0.8m over 4 years (£200,000 annually) or £1.2m over 6 years if the option to extend the contract for a further 2 years was exercised;

(2)            the draft tender documents be approved;

(3)            the Interim Director/Director of Finance and Assurance be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Human Resources, to make any necessary changes to the tender documents following approval;

(4)            the Interim Director/Director of Finance and Assurance be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Human Resources, to award the new contract to the successful bidder.

Reason for Decision:  Not procuring an external partner, would potentially leave the authority with limited ability to collect approximately £260m per annum in relation to unpaid Council Tax, Business Rates, Parking Control Notices (PCN’s) and other unpaid Council charges, which would impact adversely on the Council’s budget.  It would also mean that the London Borough of Harrow would be unable to fulfil its statutory duty to issue bills. Cabinet authorisation of the procurement was required to comply with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.

Report of the Interim Director of Finance and Assurance

Having agreed to note the confidential appendices to the officer report it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the revenue and capital outturn positions, as set out in paragraphs 1.2 to 1.4 of the officer report, be noted;

(2)            the proposed additions and amendments to the Capital Programme, as set out in paragraphs 3.28 to 3.32 of the officer report, be approved;

(3)            the Council’s Trading Update, as detailed in Appendix 4 to the officer report, be noted;

(4)            Concillium Assets LLP Business Plan, as detailed at confidential Appendix 5 to the officer report, be approved;

(5)            the Sancroft Community Care Limited’s Business Plan, as detailed at confidential Appendix 6 to the officer report, be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To receive the 2023-24 financial forecast position at Q1 and to provide an update on trading company performance.

Report of the Interim Director of Legal and Governance Services

RESOLVED:  That

(1)           the appointment of the identified Portfolio Holder Assistants and responsibilities be approved as set out in the table below, noting that these superseded previous appointments;

(2)           the payment of Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) to the Portfolio Holder Assistants from 14 September 2023 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.