Agenda and minutes

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Members Congratulated officers Jessica Farmer and Catherine Little who were present at the meeting for their 25-year service award.  Congratulations were also given to the other 187 members of staff who recently received a long service award.

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Janet Mote, Portfolio Holder for Community & Culture as well as from Councillor Jean Lammiman who attended virtually.

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 4 – Public Questions

Councillor Paul Osborn declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he lived in West Harrow.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered 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.            Cllr Krishna Suresh presented a petition containing 58 signatures in relation to Clitheroe Avenue in Rayners Lane, in particular over the state of the pavements.

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

2.            Cllr Natasha Proctor presented a petition containing 25 signatures in relation to Cornwall Road, in particular over the state of the road and pavements.

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

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 7 April 2025.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk

No person may submit more than one question].

To note that 4 public questions had been received and responded to and the recording had been placed on the Council’s 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 7 April 2025].

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 April to June 2025.

For consideration

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

Report of the Strategic Director Culture, Environment and Economy

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            a Grant Agreement with the Greater London Authority (GLA) be entered into and £798,400 (£533,100 capital and £265,300 revenue) be secured from the United Kingdom Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and projects be delivered which met the London Borough of Harrow’s Corporate Priorities;

(2)            the Strategic Director Culture, Environment and Economy be authorised to sign the Grant Agreement, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Property, Business and Environment;

(3)            the proposed addition of £533,100 to the 2025-26 Capital Programme to reflect the net increase in the capital funding of the Programme be approved.

Reason for Decision:  As the Lead Authority to manage UKSPF in London, the GLA required each London Borough to sign a funding agreement to receive the Borough’s direct allocation of UKSPF funding.  It was proposed to use the funding to deliver projects in alignment with the funding criteria and the London Borough of Harrow’s (LBH) core priorities.

Report of the Strategic Director Culture, Environment and Economy

RESOLVED:  That

(1)           the Draft Parks and Open Space Strategy was approved for public consultation; 

(2)           following the results of the consultation and following consultation between the Director of Environmental Services and the Portfolio Holder for Community and Culture, the final Parks and Open Space Strategy be adopted.

Reason for Decision:  The strategy would provide clear vision and action plan for the effective management, preservation and management of Harrow’s parks and open spaces, as the population grew and the climate changed.  It offered a framework to address the community's needs while protecting these valuable spaces for future generations.

Report of the Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the procurement of an Open Framework Agreement for the provision of Hired Passenger Transport for a period of 3 years (when the framework would re- open) followed by a second period of 3 years with an option to extend by 2 years (The estimated total value of the framework was £133m.  Assuming the framework operates for the full 8 years possible) be approved;

(2)            the Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Cleaner Streets and Public Safety, Portfolio for Children Services and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Highways to appoint providers to the Framework;

(3)            the Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy be authorised to take any decisions required during this procurement process to ensure its successful delivery.

Reasons for Decision:  This would allow the Council to continue to meet its statutory transport obligations for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) services; Greater supplier diversity, led to enhanced service delivery and cost efficiencies through increased competition.

Report of the Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the outcome from the public consultation on Harrow’s Draft Air Quality Action Plan, as set out in the officer’s report, be noted;

(2)            the Air Quality Action Plan be published;

(3)            the outcome from the public consultation on Harrow’s proposed Smoke Control Order, as set out in the officer’s report, be noted;

(4)            the Smoke Control Order be approved and the Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy be authorised to take all further steps necessary to implement it, including consideration of any formal objections to it;

(5)            the civil penalty fine levels and process be approved, as detailed in Appendix 3 of the officer’s report, for breaches of the Smoke Control Order and the Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy be authorised to implement these.

Reason for Decision:  Since 2002 the London Borough of Harrow had been classified as an Air Quality Management Area.  An AQMA was declared if a local authority found an area was unlikely to meet the national air quality objectives.  The vast majority of London was covered by an AQMA. Consequently, the Council had a statutory duty to monitor, report on and contribute to improving air quality in the borough.  This included the preparation of an Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) every five years in addition to annual progress reports.

In September 2024 Cabinet approved the draft Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) for public consultation.  The consultation had closed on 25 January 2025 and a summary of the responses was included within this report.  Overall, survey respondents supported the proposed AQAP and recognised the importance of improving air quality in the borough.  Therefore, it was recommended that the AQAP should be formally adopted.

As records of Harrow’s previous Smoke Control Order (SCO) could not be found, the Department for the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) recommended that the Council’s best option was to revoke and create a new SCO.  Cabinet approved the SCO for consultation in September 2024, the results of the which were summarised in this report.  The majority of respondents supported the order, and it was recommended that Cabinet formally adopt the new SCO and the associated civil penalties.

Report of the Acting Strategic Director of Housing and Regeneration

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the report, supporting information and the options set out in Appendix 2 and the revised criteria at Appendix 3 of the officer’s report be noted;

(2)            paragraphs 5 to 5.12 as set out in the officer’s cabinet report be agreed;

(3)            the Chief Planning Officer be authorised, following consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration, to implement paragraphs 5 to 5.12 as set out in the officer’s cabinet report as well as to develop and agree any additional or refined detailed criteria, processes and procedures as required.

Reason for Decision:  The current Neighbourhood Community

Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) process was adopted in February 2023.  It was considered good practice to review processes on a regular basis.  This report and appendices identified the scope of the review and provided an overview of options considered.  It identified recommended options for Cabinet to formally consider and authorise for implementation; these were set out in section 5 of the officer’s report.

[Note:  The recommendation from the Planning Policy Advisory Panel was noted].

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the pipeline for all procurement with an aggregate value of over £100,000 for the three-year period commencing April 2025 and ending March 2028 as set out in appendix 1 to the officer’s report be noted;

(2)            all contracts awarded over £100,000 during the period April 2024 to February 2025 as set out in appendix 2 to the officer’s report be noted;

(3)            all contracts that were extended during the period April 2024 to February 2025 compliant with the Public Contract Regulations 2015 and the Contract Procedure Rules, using extensions facilities already approved by the financial scheme of delegation as set out in appendix 3 to the officer’s report be noted.

Reason for Decision:  This provided Cabinet with details of procurement awards and extension of contracts delivered in the period April 2024 to end of February 2025 as well as the procurement programme for the period April 2025 to end of March 2028.  This was to ensure that Cabinet had full oversight of procurement activity and an early opportunity to see the planned procurement programme. This would allow for timely engagement with portfolio holders in each of the procurements under the programme.

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

Report of the Director of IT

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the award to Ultima Business Solutions for the Microsoft license enterprise agreement via Crown Commercial Service Framework NFC187 aggregated procurement process be approved.

Reason for Decision:  Endorsing the recommendation would ensure the most appropriate method of procurement was adopted and the contract for the successful supplier was awarded to enable the delivery of all Council services at the best price and best value.

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

Which cannot otherwise be dealt with.

The Leader of the Council noted that May’s Cabinet meeting had moved from Tuesday 20 May to Monday 19 May.