Agenda and minutes

Members of Cabinet stood and observed a minute silence for the late Former Mayor and Councillor, Christine Bednell.  As well as for long serving member of staff Karl Dardi.

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Apologies for absence were received from Non-Executive Cabinet Member Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar.

Apologies were given for Councillor Janet Mote, Portfolio Holder for Community & Culture, who arrived at 7:35 pm.

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:

Agenda Item 12 - Procurement of contractor for mobility assessments for Concessionary Travel

Councillor Jean Lammiman declared a non-pecuniary interest in that she held a ‘Blue Badge’.  She would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Agenda Item 19 - Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report Q2 2024-25

Councillor Stephen Greek declared a pecuniary interest as the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership was mentioned in this item.  For which a dispensation below had been given and outlined that:

Councillor Greek was a director of HSDP Nominee Ltd company number 1347918 as a council representative.  As remuneration was received then this was a pecuniary interest. Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee on 19 March 2024 granted a dispensation that allowed Councillor Greek to stay and speak but not vote for decisions related to this company.

Councillor Kanti Rabadia – a Non-Executive Cabinet Member - declared a pecuniary interest as the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership was mentioned in this item.  For which a dispensation below had been given and outlined that:

Councillor Rabadia was a director of HSDP Nominee Ltd company number 1347918 as a council representative.  As remuneration was received then this was a pecuniary interest. Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee on 19 March 2024 granted a dispensation that allowed Councillor Greek to stay and speak but not vote for decisions related to this company.

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

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

1.            Cllr Krishna Suresh presented a petition containing 14 signatures in relation to resurfacing the road and pavement of Dunster Way Road.

RESOLVED:  That the petition be referred to the Acting Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy.

2.            Cllr Krishna Suresh presented a petition containing 10 signatures in relation to resurfacing the road and pavement of Newquay Crescent.

RESOLVED:  That the petition be referred to the Acting Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy.

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, Thursday 12 December 2024].

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

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Key Decision Schedule for the period December 2024 to February 2025.

To receive a motion referred from the Full Council meeting which took place on 28 November 2024.

RESOLVED:  That Motion “Additional £500 million for local road maintenance” be noted.

For consideration

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

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Council)

That

(1)            the proposed changes to the Council Tax Support scheme as set out in the officer’s report to come into effect on 1 April 2025, that would take into account the consultation feedback and the potential likely impacts as set out in the officer’s report and Equality Impact Assessment.

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

RESOLVED:  That

(2)            the consultation feedback attached to the officer’s report be noted.

(3)            paragraph 2.3 of the officer’s report regarding the transitional provisions and that a Hardship Fund Policy would be developed and brought to Cabinet for approval in March 2025 be noted.

Reason for Decision:  With financial pressures to close the substantial budget gap, the London Borough of Harrow must look to all options, this included reducing support for the Council Tax Scheme (CTS).  In compliance with legislation the Greater London Authority (the GLA) was consulted as a major precepting authority with a draft scheme published and stakeholders consulted (being those persons considered to have an interest in the operation of the scheme) on proposed changes to the scheme.  Feedback from the consultation was taken into consideration when making the decision on the recommendations of the proposed changes to be approved and adopted.

Statutorily the scheme must be agreed by 11 March 2025 for the new scheme to be implemented by the following financial year (2025/26) and to enable the Council to make the required savings of approximately £1.3m for the year 2025/26.  If these changes to the scheme were not agreed and the deadline was not met by the Council, the Council would be required to continue to deliver the current CTS scheme and alternative way to manage the budget gap would need to be found.

[Call-in did not apply to the resolutions above as it was a noting report].

Report of the Strategic Director for Adults and Public Health

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            an extension to the existing care service contract with Sancroft Community Care Limited (SCCL) from 8 February 2025 to 31 December 2025 with an option to extend for a further 12 months up to 31 December 2026 to maintain access to care and support, be approved;

(2)            a detailed commercial and contract review be undertaken, which would report back to Cabinet by July 2025 with an options appraisal and recommendations for most effectively utilising the service.

Reason for Decision:  These recommendations aimed at enabling the Council to maintain existing access to high quality residential bed supply made available through SCCL to meet adult social needs and demand while a detailed service review was undertaken with stakeholders.  This would also inform long-term service design and requirements and commercial arrangements for effective property licence and management.

The review would also be informed by work to assess the changing demand for care home placements including demand for complex care associated with dementia needs.

Report of the Strategic Director for Adults and Public Health

RESOLVED: That

(1)            the approach to improvement and the priorities set out in within the officer report be endorsed.

(2)            an Adult Social Care Strategy and associated plan would be brought to Cabinet for approval by summer 2025 to allow time for sufficient co-production with residents be noted.

Reason for Decision:  Overall, Harrow was rated at the top end of the ‘requires improvement’ banding.  Whilst only a small increase would have resulted in a ‘good’ overall rating, the council had used the inspection as a learning opportunity and a number of areas of focus for improvement work were due to be set over the coming years.

[Call-in did not apply to the resolutions above as it was a noting report]

Report of the Acting Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy

RESOLVED: That

(1)            the contents of this report and the proposed amendments to the draft Long Term Transport Strategy (LTTS) found within Appendix 1 of the Officer’s report be noted;

(2)            the changes within the LTTS (Appendix 1 of the officer’s report) for adoption be approved and that the Acting Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Highways to make any minor changes to the draft document and publish the document;

(3)            the Acting Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy

be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Highways to undertake necessary actions to progress the strategies within the LTTS, including update of supplementary transport plans to ensure alignment with the LTTS.

Reason for Decision:  The Long-Term Transport Strategy (LTTS) had set a strategic framework for all transport-related matters in the London Borough of Harrow over the next 20 years.  This was the Borough's first strategy of this nature and outlined the Council’s vision for a more accessible, safer, and greener transport system.  The Strategy was designed to address transport challenges through meaningful actions.

Report of the Director for Digital, Data & the Customer Experience

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the commencement of a procurement exercise for a Concessionary Travel Mobility Assessment supplier with a total contract value up to £700k for the assessment of non-automatic applications as well as the full concessionary travel service administration, subject to demonstration of Best Value, for an initial contract term of three years with the option to extend for a period of up to two years in twelve-month segments (3 +1 +1) be approved;

(2)            the Director for Digital, Data & The Customer Experience

be authorised, following consultation with the Strategic Director of Finance and the Portfolio Holder for Performance, Communications and Customer Experience, to make any changes required to the process to deliver this procurement successfully;

(3)            following the procurement exercise, the Strategic Director of Finance

be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Performance, Communications and Customer Experience, and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Highways, to award the new contract to the successful bidder.

Reason for Decision:  The value of the contract to deliver the service was in excess of £500,000. Therefore, Cabinet approval was required to re-procure the service.  Endorsing the recommendation would ensure a competitive procurement process resulting in the award of the contract and enabling non-automatic assessments for Concessionary Travel.

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            an overall net estimated deficit of £0.304m on the total Collection Fund as at 31 March 2025 as set out in the table in paragraph 2 of the officer’s report be noted;

(2)            Harrow’s deficit share of £0.170m as set out in the table in paragraph 2 of the officer’s report, be transferred to the General Fund in 2025-26.

Reason for Decision:  To report to Cabinet on the Council’s statutory obligation to estimate the surplus or (deficit) on the Collection Fund for the year end.  Approval to the recommendations set out was a major part of the annual budget review process.

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the band D equivalent number of taxable properties was calculated as shown in the officer’s report and in accordance with the Government regulations be agreed;

(2)            the provision for uncollectable amounts of Council Tax for 2025-2026 at 2% producing an expected collection rate of 98% be agreed.

(3)            subject to recommendations 1 & 2 above, a Council Tax Base for 2025-2026 of 90,843 Band D equivalent properties (being 92,697 x 98%), allowing for payment in lieu of Ministry of Defence properties be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To fulfil the Council’s statutory obligation to set the Council Tax Base for 2025-2026.

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the approach and assumptions for the calculation of the Council’s business rates yield as set out in the officer’s 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 2025-2026 shall be £15.529m be agreed as shown in the table below:

(3)            that the Council's Chief Finance Officer (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 GLA, or revised figures (from those above) if further clarification is received from the Department for Housing & Communities & Local Government (MHCLG) on the financial impact of the proposed changes to the authority and how this is to be calculated.

(4)            that the Council's Chief Finance Officer (section 151 officer), following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, be authorised to implement the announced Autumn Budget business rates measures, namely potential new or adjusted reliefs as may be described once the detail is known.

(5)            the attached policies set out in Appendix 1 of the officer’s report be agreed, and the Chief Finance Officer be authorised to implement these and make minor changes to them as needed.

Reason for Decision:  ‘The Council’ had a statutory obligation to provide estimates and calculations in relation to NDR for 2025-2026.

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the Mid-Year Treasury Management position for 2024/25 be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To promote effective financial management and comply with regulations issued under the Local Government Act 2003, the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management, and the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance, along with the requirements of the Council’s Financial Regulations were met; and so that Members remained informed of Treasury Management activities and performance for 2024/25.

[Call-in did not apply to the resolutions above as it was a noting report]

Report of the Managing Director

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            Portfolio Holders would continue to work with officers to achieve improvements against identified key challenges as set out in Appendix 1 of the Officer’s report be noted;

(2)            the report and any changes it wished to see in future reports be noted.

Reason for Decision:  This report kept Cabinet Members informed of performances against key measures and would identify and assign corrective action where necessary.

[Call-in did not apply to the resolutions above as it was a noting report]

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the forecast revenue and capital outturn positions set out in paragraphs 1.2 to 1.5 of the officer’s report be noted;

(2)            the proposed addition and amendment to the 2024-25 Capital Programme as set out in paragraphs 3.22 to 3.25 of the officer’s report be approved.

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

(4)            the Right to Buy receipts position in the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) as detailed in Appendix 5 of the officer’s report be noted;

(5)            the investment properties update in the confidential Appendix 6 of the officer’s report be noted.

It was further RESOLVED:  That in relation to the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership (HSDP)

(6)            the financial forecast for Byron Quarter and Poets Corner to December 2024 as per the January – December 2024 Business Plan as detailed in Appendix 7 be noted.  As well as this the realignment of the business planning process, to run from 1st April to 31st March each year, effective from 1st April 2025 be endorsed.  Therefore, the continuation of spend for the remainder of 2024/25 detailed in the following recommendations be approved;

(7)            the HSDP would roll forward the forecast underspend of £400k against the current January to December 2024 budget profile for Byron Quarter as detailed in Table 1 of Appendix 7 be noted and the release of the Council’s apportionment of 50% of this value being £200k be agreed;

(8)            the HSDP budget of £0.975m (50% being the council’s liability) for additional spend on activity for Byron Quarter (phase 1) Phase Business Plan to the end of March 2025 as detailed in Table 2 of Appendix 7 of the officer’s report be noted and that the Council’s allocation of spend of £487,497 to support this work be agreed;

(9)            the HSDP’s approval of the additional in year spend of £114k against the current January to December 2024 profile for Poets Corner as detailed in Table 3 of Appendix 7 of the officer’s report be noted and that the release of the Council’s apportionment of 50% of this value being £57k be agreed;

(10)         the HSDP budget of £1.421m (50% being the council’s liability) for additional spend on activity for Poets Corner (Phase 1) Phase Business Plan to the end of March 2025 as detailed in Table 4 of Appendix 7 as set out in the officer’s report be noted and that the Council’s allocation of spend of £710,527 to support this work be agreed.

Reason for Decision:  To report the 2024-25 financial forecast position at Q2 and to update Cabinet on trading company performance.  In addition, this report allowed for the financial position of the HSDP and further spend could be noted and approved.

[Note:  The exempt appendix to this report was noted]

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance

RESOLVED: That

(1)            the executive side Fees & Charges be agreed and included in the budget consultation and that the Council side Fees & Charges would be included in the budget consultation be noted;

(2)            in relation to executive Fees & Charges, the Strategic Director of Finance be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Highways to make any changes to the proposed 2025/26 fees and charges following budget consultation;

(3)            in relation to executive Fees & Charges, the Strategic Director of Finance be authorised, to amend fees and charges in year and agree new fees and charges, following consultation with relevant Strategic Director(s) and approval of relevant Portfolio Holders;

(4)            the Council side Fees & Charges would be put before Council for approval be noted.

Reason for Decision:  This ensured the Council sets a schedule of fees and charges for 2025/26.

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the outcomes of 2024/25 Capital Programme review undertaken in September 2024 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the officer’s report be noted;

(2)            the draft proposal of new capital projects, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the officer’s report be noted;

(3)            the Draft Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2027/28, as detailed in Appendix 3 of the officer’s report be noted;

(4)            the final version of the Capital Programme 2025/26 to 2027/28 would be brought back to Cabinet in February 2025 for recommendation to Council be noted.

Reason for Decision:  This enabled the Council to have an approved Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2027/28.

[Call-in did not apply to the resolutions above as it was a noting report]

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the draft budget for 2025/26 and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) to 2027/28 for general consultation as set out in Appendices 1(A & B) and 2 of the officer’s report be approved, so that Cabinet may later consider the budget including the consultation responses and the equality impact assessment(s), before it would be referred to Council in February 2025.

(2)            the draft budget would be updated when the detail was due to be announced in the Indicative Financial Settlement which was expected on 19 December followed by the Final Settlement in January 2025 (paragraph 1.08 of the officer’s report) be noted.

(3)            at draft budget stage, there remained an estimated budget gap of £0m for 2025/26, £5.495m for 2026/27 and £3.199m for 2027/28 be noted;

(4)            the proposal to increase core Council Tax by 2.99% in 2025/26, 2026/27 and 2027/28 (paragraph 1.29 and 1.30 of the officer’s report) be noted;

(5)            the proposal to increase Adult Social Care Precept Council Tax by 2% in 202526, 2026/27 and 2027/28 in respect of the Adult Social Care Precept (paragraph 1.29 and 1.30 of the officer’s report) be noted;

(6)            the draft Public Health budget for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 3

of the officer’s report be approved;

(7)            no proposed structured changes to the schools funding formula for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 4 of the officer’s report be noted;

(8)            the assumed funding for the protection of social care through the Better Care Fund (paragraphs 1.50 to 1.54 of the officer’s report) be noted;

(9)            the Strategic Director of Finance be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Highways, to agree Harrow’s 2025/26 contribution to the London Borough’s Grant Scheme as set out in paragraph 1.59 of the officer’s report.

Reason for Decision:  This ensured that the Council published a draft budget for 2025/26 and a draft MTFS to 2027/28.

[Note:  Final approval would be sought from Cabinet and Council in February]