Agenda and minutes

The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Development and Enterprise introduced the report which provided options for how growth would be managed in Harrow up to 2025 in the draft Harrow Core Strategy Preferred Options.  She advised that this work was a completely different process to that of the Unitary Development Plan as it was more of a vision statement for the Borough.

The Portfolio Holder advised Cabinet that Harrow’s preferred options for consultation required Council approval.  Following that approval, there would be a six week consultation period prior to inspection by the Secretary of State.

The Portfolio Holder outlined option A, Harrow Central Growth Corridor, and option B, Public Transport Growth Focus.  She advised that either option was acceptable, as it would mean that Members would be able to justify their refusal of planning applications contrary to the Local Development Framework.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Council)

That the draft Harrow Core Strategy Preferred Options be approved for the purposes of consultation.

Reason for Recommendation:  To comply with the legal requirements for making such a document and to meet the agreed timescales with the Government Office for London for the development of the Council’s Local Development Framework (LDF) documents.  

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

(a)               all Members of the Cabinet; and

(b)               all other Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Of the Cabinet meeting held on 10 April 2008 to be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 April 2008, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

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

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

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

A representative of the Sangat BMER Carers Project presented a petition containing 42 signatures.  He read the terms of the petition to the meeting, which were as follows:-

In response, the Leader of the Council gave an undertaking to respond, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adults and Housing, directly to the petitioner.

RESOLVED:  That the petition be received and noted.

To receive any public questions received in accordance with paragraph 16 of the Executive Procedure Rules.

Questions will be asked in the order notice of them was received and there be a time limit of 15 minutes.

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

1.

2.

To receive any Councillor questions received in accordance with paragraph 17 of the Executive Procedure Rules.

Questions will be asked in the order notice of them was received and there be a time limit of 15 minutes.

RESOLVED:  To note the following Councillor Question had been received:

1.

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Forward Plan for the period 1 May – 31 August 2008.

(if any). 

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no reports from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee or Sub-Committees.

Presentation by CSCI

The Leader of the Council welcomed Jean Hanson and Sue Bestjan from the Commission of Social Care Inspection (CSCI), John Ota from Harrow Primary Care Trust (PCT) and colleagues from the voluntary sector to the meeting.  He advised that he would be inviting Councillor Eric Silver, the former Portfolio Holder, to comment on the presentation from CSCI and the Adults and Housing Transformation programme which appeared elsewhere on the agenda.

Jean Hanson, the Lead Inspector, presented CSCI’s findings from their inspection carried out in January 2008.  She drew attention to the easy to access version of the inspector’s findings which had been made available at the meeting.

Jean Hanson outlined the strengths of the service and the areas for development.  She reported the judgements of the inspectors as follows:-

·                     safeguarding of vulnerable adults was adequate;

·                     delivery of personalised services for people with learning disabilities was poor;

·                     Leadership, commissioning and capacity to further improve was uncertain.

Jean Hanson advised that CSCI’s recommendations to address these judgements were set out as pages 5 and 6 of the report and that Sue Bestjan would be monitoring the action plan.

The Corporate Director of Adults and Housing, in thanking the inspectors, stated that the inspection was a good health check for the department and that he was particularly pleased at the findings in relation to safeguarding in that it had a good grounding.

Portfolio Holders made comments on the inspector’s findings as follows:-

·                     the Council was committed to improving life for adults;

·                     the importance of keeping vulnerable people safe;

·                     there was concern in relation to the transition of vulnerable children reaching adulthood and being lost in the system between service areas;

·                     the relationship between the Council and the PCT was improving.

In response to the comments made by Members, Jean Hanson advised that:-

·                     services beyond Adult Services that required focus included areas such as Leisure Services and Transport;

·                     at the time of the inspection it had been felt that governance had been weak and she was unclear whether this issue had been addressed.  This was an area that could be considered by scrutiny;

·                     she would forward any examples of good practice to the Corporate Director;

·                     the action plan addressed CSCI’s recommendations;

·                     had the review been done a few months later, safeguarding of vulnerable adults might have been assessed as good.  

John Ota welcomed the inspector’s report and emphasised that the PCT were keen to look at all options to improve services.

Cabinet thanked the inspectors and accepted the recommendations.

Report of the Interim Corporate Director of Adults and Housing

Councillor Eric Silver, former Portfolio Holder for Adult Services, introduced the report which presented the Adult and Housing Services 3-year Transformation Programme Plan (TPP).  This was a comprehensive strategy to renew, realign and enhance services to ensure that they met the future needs and aspirations of the people of Harrow.

Cabinet viewed a film on Adult Services in Harrow.

The Corporate Director of Adults and Housing detailed the key headlines of the programme including the concept of self directed support and the balance between choice and safety.

The Portfolio Holder for Adults and Housing commended the programme to Cabinet. 

RESOLVED:  That (1) the Adults and Housing Transformation programme be endorsed;

(2)  authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Adults and Housing, to initiate the implementation of the TPP.   

·                     Reason for Decision:  The TPP set out the framework which will enable Harrow’s Adult and Housing Directorate to achieve a radical improvement in its national performance assessment rating and meet its aspiration to be assessed as providing an excellent service.

(See also Minute 403).

The Leader of the Council reported that the nominations for Chairman and membership of Cabinet’s Committees, Advisory Panels and Consultative Forums were before Members for consideration and approval. He advised that, in accordance with Education (Admission Forum) (England) Regulations 2002, Regulation 7, the appointment of Chairman and Vice?Chairman of the Harrow Admissions Forum was a decision for that body.

RESOLVED:  That appointments for the Municipal Year 2008/09 detailed in Appendix 1 to these minutes be approved.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services

The Leader of the Council introduced the report, which set out the requirements of the Council’s Constitution in terms of the development of the policy framework and sought approval to the timetable for statutory plans and strategies.

RESOLVED:  That the timetable for the preparation and consideration of the statutory plans and strategies for 2008/09 set out at 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 Corporate Director of Finance

The Corporate Director of Finance introduced the report which provided Cabinet with an opportunity to comment on the Annual Audit and Inspection Plan.  She drew Cabinet’s attention to the increase in the Audit Commission fee  of £38,000 (7%) to £608,000.

RESOLVED:  That the Annual Audit and Inspection Plan be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure that Cabinet is aware of the planned audit and inspection activity for 2008-09.

Report of the Corporate Director of Community and Environment

(See Recommendation I).

Report of the Corporate Director of Community and Environment

The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Development and Enterprise introduced the Harrow Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) which was to be implemented over the next 5 years, via the delivery of action plans specific to habitats and species of importance within Harrow, plus a generic action plan covering wider issues. 

The Corporate Director of Community and Environment reported that there were no financial implications arising from the Plan and that the Plan was a critical component of the Corporate Assessment rating.  The action plan had been developed with a broad range of organisations.  Harrow’s BAP was the Borough’s contribution to the nationwide BAP.

RESOLVED:  Thatthe Harrow BAP be adopted.

Reasons for Decision:  (1)  To enable the Harrow BAP to be formally implenmented;

(2)  To enable the Harrow BAP to be formally recognised within the planning process, and to have greater weight when the BAP is used as a material consideration in determining planning applications;

(3)  To enable the Harrow BAP to formally influence the development of the Harrow Local Development Framework.

(See also Minute 403).

Report of the Corporate Director of Community and Environment

The Corporate Director of Community and Environment introduced the report which sought to delegate further functions to the Association of London Government Transport and Environment Committee and to confirm that certain functions already undertaken by the Committee were delegated to it.  He highlighted the reasons for the variation to the Agreement as detailed in his report.

RESOLVED:  That the further variation of the Association of London Government Transport and Environment Committee Governing Agreement be approved.

Reason for Decision: The Council will join the other 32 London local authorities in empowering the Committee to discharge certain functions on behalf of those signatory authorities.

(See also Minute 403).

Report of the Interim Divisional Director of Strategy and Improvement

The Portfolio Holder for Performance, Communication and Corporate Services introduced the report which provided the overarching context for the next round of efficiency reviews, a progress update on service reviews carried out in 2007/08 and presented lessons learnt and proposals for a refreshed programme of efficiency reviews for 2008?2011.  The Reviews were required to address future funding gaps.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the overarching context be noted;

(2)  the findings of service reviews for 2007/08 be noted;

(3)  the proposals for a new programme of efficiency reviews 2008?2011 be agreed;

(4)  finalisation of the programme of review activity beyond the first 2 reviews be delegated to the Chief Executive/Deputy Chief Executive and Portfolio Holder Performance, Communications and Corporate Services.

Reasons for Decision:  (1)  To progress the delivery of efficiency savings and improvement through a strategic programme of reviews across the Council;

(2)  to address the future funding gaps of £5.4m for 2009/10 and £6.9m for 2010/11.

Report of the Interim Divisional Director of Strategy and Improvement

The Deputy Chief Executive introduced the report which outlined the local arrangements proposed for providing LINks.

The Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act had become law in October 2007 and requires the establishment of a Local Involvement Network (LINk) in each local area, including one in Harrow.

The Leader of the Council requested that a briefing note be circulated to all Members of the Council to explain LINks and the relationship to the Adults and Housing Transformation Programme.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the proposals for LINks nationally be noted;

(2)  the local progress made to set up LINks in Harrow be noted;

(3)  a contract be awarded for a three year period to commence on 2 June 2008 at a cost within the funding for LINks provided by the Department of Health.  To authorise the Deputy Chief Executive to award the contract;

(4)  10% of the Department of Health Grant be retained to fund the additional Council responsibilities associated with LINks.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure the Council meets its duty to tender for a contract with a ‘host organisation’ which will be commissioned to set up and support the LINk.