Agenda and minutes

Cabinet received a report, which set out the results of consultation on the draft revised Sustainable Community Strategy.  A reference from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been circulated on the second supplemental agenda.

The Chairman advised that an amended version of the plan had been tabled.  These changes had been made as a result of comments received from the Council’s Comprehensive Area Assessment Lead.

Cabinet, having considered the responses to the consultation and agreed that the Strategy be amended as tabled,

Resolved to RECOMMEND: (to Council)

That the Sustainable Community Strategy be adopted.

Reason for Recommendation:  To comply with the legal obligation to prepare a Sustainable Community Strategy.  

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.

The Chairman indicated that, in relation to agenda item 17, Grant Funding 2009/10, he did not anticipate detailed discussion on individual grant applications.  Unless specific applications were discussed, he advised that Members did not need to declare interests in individual organisations.

RESOLVED:  To note that no interests were declared in relation to the business to be transacted at the meeting.

Of the Cabinet meeting held on 12 February 2009 to be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2009, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

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

The Chairman presented a petition containing approximately 1,000 signatures from Harrow Central Mosque and Islamic Centre.  He read the terms of the petition to the meeting, which were as follows:-

RESOLVED:  That the petition be received and referred to the appropriate officers and Portfolio Holder for consideration.

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.

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 Questions had been received:

1.

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Forward Plan for the period 1 March – 30 June 2009.

Announcement of winners

Cabinet welcomed Aakash Bharania and Rhiya Pau (Members of Youth Parliament) and Amar Chandarana (Deputy Member of Youth Parliament) to the meeting.  Cabinet congratulated the young people on their success at the recent elections.

The young people outlined their aims which included tackling the negative press and stereotyping of young people in the media, reducing crime and the establishment of a youth Ofsted.  They thanked Cabinet for the invitation to the meeting and for their support.

Report of the Corporate Director of Finance

Cabinet received a report which related to the Annual Audit and Inspection Letter and welcomed Annette Furley, the Council’s Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) Lead,  and Matthew Hall and Paul Schofield of Deloittes, to the meeting.

Annette Furley presented the Annual Audit and Inspection letter and outlined the key messages.  She advised that there was strong governance and leadership and that the Council was well positioned for improvement.  The Council had improved well during the year and the rate of improvement in performance indicators had accelerated.  In particular, there had been improvement in relation to recycling, culture and housing and adult social care was showing promising prospects.  She would, however, like to see improvements in resident satisfaction.

A representative of Deloittes advised that they had given an unqualified opinion on the accounts and this had been reported to the Council’s Governance Audit and Risk Management Committee.  He advised that there were adequate Value for Money arrangements in place.  The Council’s Use of Resources scorecard had moved from a score of 2 to 3 out of 4.

In response to questions from Members, Cabinet was advised that:-

·                     the new CAA recognised some of the burden of external inspections and was more about having a continuous dialogue . It was also a joint inspectorate regime;

·                     in terms of the impact of the current economic climate on other councils inspected, there had been no detailed analysis of this, although anecdotally other London authorities were in a similar position to Harrow.

The Chief Executive advised that this year’s letter was much more positive in tone and highlighted the accelerated improvements.  In particular, he mentioned the improvement in the Council’s finances in the current economic climate.  He added that if the letter was considered alongside the Price Waterhouse Coopers report, there was no area of the Council that had gone backwards in terms of performance.  Improved scores meant improved services for residents.

Cabinet and officers thanked both Annette Furley and the representatives from Deloittes for their assistance and constructive comments.

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

Reason for Decision:  To publish the Annual Audit and inspection Letter and ensure that the Council was responding to the issues raised in the letter.

Report of the Director of Community and Cultural Services

Following an initial report to Cabinet in December 2008, the Portfolio Holder for Community and Cultural Services introduced a report which set out a more detailed response to the final report and recommendations of the scrutiny review entitled “Delivering a Strengthened Voluntary and Community Sector for Harrow”.

The Portfolio Holder for Community and Cultural Services advised that the voluntary sector had been kept up to date in relation to the work being carried out on the scrutiny review recommendations.  A cross directorate group had been established to consider the recommendations.

The Portfolio Holder advised that he had met with the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the adviser to the Grants Advisory Panel and the Chief Executive of Harrow Association of Voluntary Service to discuss the review recommendations and possible ways forward.  He added that there had also been an informal discussion with the Director of Commissioning.

The Portfolio Holder concluded that of the 22 review recommendations, it was proposed that 17 be agreed for implementation now, a further 4 be developed within the Third Sector strategy and that one recommendation, relating to Harrow Heroes, not be agreed.

RESOLVED:  That the proposed responses to the 22 recommendations be agreed.

Reason for Decision:  To respond to the scrutiny report and recommendations.

Report considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the subsequent reference are attached for information

Cabinet received a report, which set out the findings and recommendations of the Scrutiny Challenge Panel on the Right to Manage in Harrow for the purposes of information.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Reason for Decision:  The report had been submitted to Cabinet for information only.

For consideration

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

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive

The Portfolio Holder for Performance, Communication and Corporate Services introduced a report, which summarised Council and service performance against key measures and drew attention to areas requiring action.  He advised that the Council had received its best Value for Money score to date and had also moved to ‘improving well’ in terms of its Direction of Travel.  Sickness absence had continued to improve and an A to Z of services had been produced for residents.  Whilst there were no poor indicators, there were challenges around the current economic climate.

The Portfolio Holder for Adults and Housing reported that after the Council had set its rents the government had advised that the rent increase should be reduced to 3.1%.  This reduction meant that further consultation was required and bills re?issued.  It was hoped that revised bills would be circulated in July/August 2009.

The Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services reported that the Silverdale Centre was now open.  This provided a domestic setting for contact between Children Looked After and their parents.

The Portfolio Holder for Schools and Children’s Development drew attention to a key challenge in her flagship actions which related to underachievement in specific groups of pupils.  This was being addressed by the narrowing the gap project.

The Portfolio Holder for Community and Cultural Services reported that Harrow’s library service was now officially rated as the best used library service in the country.  He conveyed his thanks to the staff concerned.

RESOLVED:  That (1) Portfolio Holders continue to work with officers to achieve improvement against identified key challenges;

(2)  the report be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To enable Cabinet to be informed of performance against key measures and to identify and assign corrective action where necessary.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive

(See Recommendation I).

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive

The Portfolio Holder for Performance, Communication and Corporate Services introduced a report, which identified the need to extend the current one year communications contract to continue the improvement of the service.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the Communications Plan be approved, subject to a contract with Westminster City Council being agreed;

(2)  authority be delegated to the Assistant Chief Executive to enter into a contract.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure the Council continued to inform residents about its services and activities which would contribute to increasing their overall satisfaction and improving the Council’s reputation with key stakeholders.

The Conservative Group have proposed the following changes to Cabinet Panel memberships

1. Councillor Kulkarni to replace Councillor Eileen Kinnear as Member of the Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel
2. Councillor Osborn to replace Councillor Kulkarni as reserve on the Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel
3. Councillor Myra Michael to replace Councillor Kinnear as reserve Member on the Tenants’ and Leaseholders’ Consultative Forum

RESOLVED:  That the following changes be made to Cabinet Panel memberships:

1.                   Councillor Ashok Kulkarni replace Councillor Mrs Kinnear as Member of the Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel;

2.                   Councillor Paul Osborn replace Councillor Ashok Kulkarni as Reserve Member on the Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel;

3.                   Councillor Mrs Myra Michael replace Councillor Mrs Kinnear as Reserve Member on the Tenants’ and Leaseholders’ Consultative Forum.

Reason for Decision:  To enable the changes in memberships to be implemented.

Report of the Corporate Director of Finance

The Corporate Director of Finance introduced a report, which set out progress with the procurement of the Council’s insurance requirements from 1 April 2009.  She drew attention to the Part II report relating to this item which had been circulated on the second supplemental agenda.

RESOLVED:  That the action taken to date to renew the Council’s insurance cover for 2009/10 be noted and officers be authorised to enter into the recommended insurance contracts.

Reason for Decision:  To obtain authority for officers to finalise the Council’s insurance arrangements for 2009/10.

(See also Minute 603).

Report of the Corporate Director of Adults and Housing

The Portfolio Holder for Adults and Housing introduced a report, which set out the options for transforming the community equipment service, recommended the preferred option for implementation and presented the key implications of implementing the preferred option.

The Corporate Director of Adults and Housing reported that a letter had been received from Mediequip, a company the Council had considered outsourcing to, who had expressed concern that they had been referred to negatively.  He reassured Members that there was nothing in that letter that cut across the decision Cabinet were being asked to make and that he had confidence in the information stated in the report.  The Portfolio Holder for Adults and Housing endorsed this.

RESOLVED:  That the implementation of Option C be agreed – Retail Model for Simple Equipment; Loan Equipment Home Delivery Service for Complex Equipment.

Reasons for Decision:  The recommended solution:

·                     aligned with changing government and local policy around personalisation, choice, promoting independence and enabling self-help by putting users at the heart of the service;

·                     would meet growing demand resulting from changing demographics;

·                     created a local market that catered to self-funders;

·                     stimulated the local economy during the economic downturn.

·                     enabled efficiency savings to be released.

Report of the Corporate Director of Children’s Services

The Portfolio Holder for Schools and Children’s Development introduced a report, which explained that Harrow was required to consult before determining admission arrangements for community schools.  Consultation had taken place between 8 December 2008 and 13 February 2009.  Members of the Harrow Admissions Forum (HAF) at their meeting on 23 February 2009 had made recommendations for the Cabinet’s consideration and their recommendations were set out at Appendix 8 to the report.

RESOLVED:  That (1) recommendations made by Harrow Admissions Forum and the admission arrangements for Harrow community schools, be agreed as follows:

1.                   The definition of terms for community school admission rules as set out in Appendix 1 – Part A of the report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Services.

2.                   The admission arrangements for Harrow nursery schools as set out in Appendix 1 - Part B of the report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Services.

3.                   The admission arrangements for Harrow primary sector schools as set out in Appendix 1 – Part C of the report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Services, with the caveat that further consultation take place with Elmgrove First and Middle Schools and Roxeth First and Middle School about proposals to increase the planned admissions number.

4.                   The admission arrangements for Harrow community co-educational high schools for the academic year 2010?11 as set out in Appendix 1 – Part D of the report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Services, with the following oversubscription criteria:

5.                   The admission arrangements for Bentley Wood High School for Girls as set out in Appendix 1 - Part D of the report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Services.

6.                   The Schemes of Co-ordination for 2010-11 as set out in Appendix 2 of the report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Services.

7.                   Harrow’s relevant area as set out in Appendix 3 of the report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Services.

8.                   Harrow’s Fair Access Protocol as set out in Appendix 4 of the report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Services.

9.             The following additional tie-breaker - Where applicants lived equidistant from the school or in cases of multiple births where places could not be offered to both/all children, places would be allocated by random computer selection.

Reason for Decision:  There was a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 600.

Report of the Director of Community and Cultural Services

The Portfolio Holder for Community and Cultural Services introduced a report, which set out the recommendations for allocation of community grants 2009/10.  He stated that as Chairman of the Grants Advisory Panel, he had taken no part in the voting on applications at the Panel’s meeting and had left the room whilst the application relating to St Luke’s Hospice had been considered and voted upon due to a prejudicial interest.

The Portfolio Holder reported that the Grants Advisory Panel had met on 4 March 2009 and considered officers recommendations against the grant applications received.  Officer recommendations to the Panel were based on information contained in the application forms, in particular on whether the application met the grants criteria, previous monitoring information and justification for need for the proposed activities.  Each application was judged on its own merit.

Officers had recommended that 14 groups receive funding under service level agreements, which amounted to £550,987.  The Portfolio Holder advised that the Panel had supported this and that he was recommending this to Cabinet for approval. In terms of the remaining possible grant allocation of £224,971, grant requests amounting to £807,746 had been received.  Officers had reviewed all applications against the agreed grants criteria and made recommendations, which allocated a further £221,892, leaving a surplus of £3,078.  The Grants Advisory Panel had considered each of the applications and made recommendations for funding.  The Portfolio Holder advised that he had further reviewed the recommendations with a view to ensuring adherence to the Grants criteria.  As a result, some of the Panel’s recommendations had been adjusted and the revised allocations were detailed in column 5 of Appendix to the report of the Director of Community and Cultural Services.  This resulted in the allocation of £769,310, leaving a further £6,646 as yet unallocated.

RESOLVED:  That the grant recommendations, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report of the Director of Community and Cultural Services, be approved and funding to voluntary organisations for 2009/10 be confirmed.

Reason for Decision:  To approve the allocation of funding to voluntary organisations for 2009/10.

RESOLVED: That the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business, on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence, or of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972:

Report of the Corporate Director of Finance

Members considered a confidential report of the Corporate Director of Finance which related to a Part I report appearing elsewhere on the agenda.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To obtain authority for officers to finalise the Council’s insurance arrangements.

(See also Minute 598).

Which cannot otherwise be dealt with.

The Chairman indicated that there was an urgent confidential report of the Corporate Director of Place Shaping which had been circulated on the third supplemental agenda.  The item proposed the acquisition of a freehold property and required urgent consideration due to the seller’s closing date for the sale of the property.

The Chairman indicated that the proposal did not require Council approval with the proviso that the costs were contained within the existing capital budget.

Members had a lengthy and detailed discussion on this item and it was

RESOLVED:  That (1) the acquisition, by the Council, of the freehold interest in respect of the property detailed in the report of the Corporate Director of Place Shaping and shown, for illustration purposes only, edged in bold and coloured blue on the Site Plan at Appendix 1, be approved;

(2)  authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Place Shaping, in consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holder, Major Contracts and Property, to negotiate the purchase price, to the maximum value detailed in the report and the capital expenditure required to enable this purchase be approved;

(3)  the related expenditure in respect of Stamp Duty Land Tax and Professional Fees, up to the maximum amount detailed in the report of the Corporate Director of Place Shaping be approved;

(4)  the financial implications set out by the Corporate Director of Finance within the report be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To create an opportunity to acquire property at a key location, within one of the Council’s district shopping centres, for the best interests of the local resident and business community.