Agenda and minutes

Members considered the draft Corporate Plan 2006/07 and noted the requirement to publish the Plan by no later than 30 June 2006.

The Portfolio Holder for Strategic Overview and External Affairs advised that the draft Corporate Plan was a ‘living’ document, reflected the Administration’s way forward and also linked in with their manifesto pledges.

Having approved the draft Corporate Plan, including the Best Value Performance Plan 2006/07, for publication at or before 30 June 2006, noted that a summary of the Plan would be circulated to all households within the Borough and to Council staff and agreed that the Plan be passed to the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  That the Corporate Plan be adopted.

Reason for Recommendation: The draft Corporate Plan 2006-09 outlined what the Council was going to achieve during 2006/07 in relation to the new Administration’s corporate priorities.

(See also Minute 10).

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Committee, Sub Committee, Panel or Forum;

(b)               all other Members present in any part of the room or chamber.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interest made by Members in relation to the business to be transacted at this meeting.

(1)   Of the Cabinet meeting held on 6 April 2006, having been circulated, to be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

(2)   That the minutes of the meeting held 16 March 2006, having been agreed at the meeting held on 6 April 2006, be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the minutes of the meeting held on 6 April 2006, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record;

(2)  the minutes of the meeting held on 16 March 2006, having been agreed at the meeting held on 6 April 2006, be signed as a correct record.

To consider whether any of the items listed on the agenda should be considered with the press and public excluded.

During this item, the Portfolio Holder for Community Equality acknowledged Councillor Idaikkadar‘s four day fast outside the Houses of Parliament in protest at the persecution of his fellow Tamils in Sri Lanka.

During the course of the meeting, the Chair indicated that he would be reporting, as a matter of urgency, on the proposals to introduce a 15-minute question time for Council Members at future meetings of Cabinet. Consideration of this matter would enable Members to have advance notice of the proposal to be implemented at the next meeting.

RESOLVED:  That all business be considered with the press and public present.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors.

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions had been received.

To receive any public questions received in accordance with paragraph 15 of the Executive Procedure Rules.

(Note:  Paragraph 15 of the Executive Procedure Rules stipulates that questions will be asked in the order notice of them was received and that there be a time limit of 15 minutes.)

RESOLVED: To note that the following public questions had been received:-

1.

2.

[Note:  Under the provisions of Executive Procedure Rule 16.4, the questioners each asked a supplementary question which was additionally answered].

The Portfolio Holder for Business Development advised that a regular rotation of items would be established and reflected in the proposed open meetings due to commence in September 2006. This would enable a longer question time for members of the public.

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Forward Plan for the period 1 June – 30 September 2006.

(if any).

RESOLVED:  To note that no reports had been received.

It is proposed to re-establish a range of Advisory Panels/ Consultative Forums and other bodies with the terms of reference attached for Members’ consideration.

Members noted the proposal to re-establish a range of Advisory Panels, Consultative Forums and other bodies with the terms of reference circulated on the agenda. It was noted that the Business Transformation Partnership Sub-Committee and Budget Review Working Panel would be established as advisory panels and that revised terms of reference for the Business Transformation Project Partnership Board had been circulated on the supplemental agenda.

RESOLVED:  That the Advisory Panel and Consultative Forums and other bodies be established with the terms of reference circulated on the Cabinet agenda.

Reason for Decision:  To establish the bodies for the new Municipal Year.

The nominated Chairs, proposed Panel and Consultative Forum and other body memberships are attached for consideration.

Members considered the appointment of Chairs and the proposed memberships of Cabinet’s subsidiary bodies and the Business Transformation Project Partnership Board. Members noted the tabled amendments to the nominations to the Business Transformation Partnership Panel and the Board.

RESOLVED:  That the appointments set out in the schedule attached at Appendix 1 to these minutes be confirmed.

Reason for Decision:  To establish the bodies for the new Municipal Year.

Report of the Executive Director (Business Development)

(See also Recommendation I).

Having recommended that Council adopt the Corporate Plan for publication, it was

RESOLVED:  (1) That the draft Corporate Plan 2006/2009, including the Best Value Performance Plan 2006/2007, be approved for publication at or before 30 June 2006;

(2)  to note that a summary of the Corporate Plan would be distributed to all households within the Borough as an inserted supplement in the September edition of Harrow People at the end of August 2006 and that, in addition, a summary version would be prepared and distributed to all Council staff in July;

(3)  that the Corporate Plan be referred to the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in the absence of review by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Reason for Decision:  The draft Corporate Plan 2006–09 outlined what the Council was going to achieve during 2006/07 in relation to the new Administration’s Corporate Priorities. The Plan was a core document to which all plans across the organisation were related – the ‘golden thread’.

Report of the Director of Legal Services

Members noted that the Council’s Constitution required the Executive to determine a timetable for the preparation and consideration of statutory plans and strategies.

The Portfolio Holder for Business Development advised that he had established the level of commitment to the existing plans and strategies and that he was satisfied with the proposed timetable.

RESOLVED:  That the timetable for the preparation and consideration of the statutory plans and strategies set out in Appendix 2 to these minutes be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To comply with the requirements of paragraph 3 of the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules set out in Section 4c of the Council’s Constitution.

Report of the Executive Director (Urban Living)

The Portfolio Holder for Public Realm - Urban Living introduced the report, which updated Members on progress on the change in frequency of the collection of the Brown and Waste Bins and proposed moving the timetable for change from September 2006 to July 2006.  The report also looked at the impact of the reduction in budget within public realm maintenance and the effect this would have on service standards.

The Portfolio Holder for Public Realm - Urban Living emphasised the need for clear publicity in relation to the changes in the waste service. In relation to public realm, she advised that there had been a significant budget reduction and that more were expected.  A strict monitor of the situation was required. The Portfolio Holder added that she was grateful to both Unison and GMB for their positive attitude to the report and its proposals.

An amendment in the name of Councillor Mrs Kinnear in relation to waste collection was moved and it was

RESOLVED:  That (1) the change in collection frequency be implemented in July 2006;

(2)  the three strikes policy be discontinued and that contaminated bins be subject to the £20 collection charge;

(3)  the Council agree, in principle, to implement the powers in the Clean Neighbourhood Act to issue Fixed Penalty Notices to residents who did not properly segregate their waste and that officers prepare a report on the process to be adopted in July 2006;

(4)  the Council agree, in principle, to implement the powers under the Environmental Protection Act to introduce compulsory recycling and that officers prepare a report on the process to be adopted in July 2006;

(5)  the Council would actively support the prosecution of people who physically abused the workforce in accordance with the Council’s Policy on Assaults on staff in the course of their duties and would seek to publicise any successful prosecutions;

(6)  biodegradable and compostable bags, complying with EN13432, be made available to residents – subject to a charge;

(7)  officers investigate the options for providing a chargeable bin washing service to be run at nil cost;

(8)  the policy to allow residents to exchange Waste Bins for Brown Bins be discontinued and households be restricted to one Brown Bin each;

(9)  the home compost scheme be continued but on the basis that the compost bins would be provided free of charge, to encourage take up of the scheme and reduce the overall amount of waste handled by the Council;

(10)  residents requiring additional capacity to deal with disposable nappies be provided with an additional bin, subject to a quarterly hire charge of £20, for a period of up to two years, which would be emptied once a fortnight;

(11)  in conjunction with (10) above, a Real Nappy officer be recruited, on a two-year contract, to promote the take-up of reusable nappies by parents, the health service and baby-care professionals;

(12)  Harrow work closely with the West London Waste Authority to find alternative composting sites in the short term and,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

Report of the Executive Director (Urban Living)

The Portfolio Holder for Property, Housing Planning (Development) and Planning (Strategic) introduced the report, which sought approval to the Council advising the Panel undertaking the Examination in Public into the Draft London Plan Alterations on Housing Provision Targets that it wished to withdraw its ‘objection’ in respect of the small sites allocation as it was recognised that the uplift now included was only 11% in practice, representing only a small element of the overall target.  The report advised that the Council had accepted that the overall target was achievable, that the Council would not now wish to be seen as objecting to any aspect of the Draft Alterations and that the Panel would need to receive the Council’s decision by the start of the proceedings on 13 June 2006.

RESOLVED:  That the Panel undertaking the Examination in Public into the Draft London Plan Alterations on Housing Provision Targets be advised that the Council wished to withdraw its ‘objection’ in respect of the small sites allocation of the overall housing provision target.

Reason for Decision:  The Council’s position with regard to its acceptance that the overall housing target included in the Draft Alterations was achievable would not be subject to any qualification.  Resources would not need to be deployed by officers in preparing evidence for, and appearing at the Examination in Public to both elaborate upon, or sustain the ‘objection’.

Which cannot otherwise be dealt with.

The Chair advised that at future meetings of Cabinet, 15 minutes would be set aside for questions from Council Members in relation to any item appearing on the agenda for the meeting.  A letter detailing the proposal would be forwarded to the Leader of the Labour Group.

(See also Minute 4).