Agenda and minutes

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 no interests were declared in relation to the business to be transacted at the meeting.

Of the Cabinet meeting held on 23 April 2009 to be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 April 2009 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

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

Councillor Margaret Davine presented a petition containing 36 signatures of residents of Collier Drive and surrounding roads requesting action to tackle congestion and improve the state of alleyways in the area. She read the terms of the petition to the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That the petition be received and referred to the Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel 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.

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 Questions had been received:

1.

2.

3.

The Chairman reported that two items on the Forward Plan, “Future Partnership Governance Arrangements for Adult Health and Social Care in Harrow”, and “IT Strategy and Delivery Model”, had been deferred to June.  The item “Procurement of Sports and Leisure Facilities Contract Management Partner” had been deferred to September.

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Forward Plan for the period 1 May – 31 August 2009.

For consideration

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

The Chairman reported that the nominations for Chairman and membership of Cabinet’s Committees, Advisory Panels and Consultative Forums were before Members for consideration and approval.  The appointment of Cabinet Assistants was also subject to approval.

RESOLVED:  That the appointments for the Municipal Year 2009/10 as detailed in Appendix 1 to these minutes be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To enable Cabinet bodies to be convened and Cabinet Assistants to be appointed.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services

The Leader of the Council introduced a report, which set out the requirements of the Council’s Constitution in terms of the development of its policy framework and sought approval to the timetable for consideration of four statutory plans and strategies.  He advised that the timetable for the Local Implementation Plan was subject to the Mayor of London publishing the transport plan and then Transport for London publishing guidance.  Dates for this plan were therefore not included in Appendix A to the report.

RESOLVED:  That the timetable for the preparation and consideration of the statutory plans and strategies as 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 and Assistant Chief Executive

The Corporate Director of Finance introduced a report, which provided Cabinet with an opportunity to comment on the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) and Audit programme and fees for 2009?10.  She advised that this year, two separate fee letters had been received, one from the Audit Commission and the other from the External Auditor.  She added that the fees were indicative and would be kept under review by both the Audit Commission and External Auditor.

The Corporate Director of Finance advised that the fees would be considered by the Governance, Audit and Risk Management Committee in June.  She invited Portfolio Holders to send her comments on the fees which she would then forward on as appropriate.

The Chairman commented that it was pleasing to see that the fees were reducing.

RESOLVED:  That the Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) and Audit programme and fees for 2009?10 be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure that Cabinet was aware of the planned assessment and audit activity for 2009?10.

Report of the Divisional Director of Housing

The Portfolio Holder for Adults and Housing introduced a report, which confirmed that the proposed West London Temporary to Permanent Housing initiative was no longer proceeding.  He advised that paragraph 2.1.5 of the report set out the reasons for not continuing with the scheme.

RESOLVED:  To note that the scheme was not proceeding for the reasons set out in the report of the Corporate Director of Adults and Housing.

Reason for Decision:  The scheme was no longer proceeding.

Report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Development

The Portfolio Holder for Schools and Children’s Development introduced a report, which set out the outcome of the statutory consultation about the future organisation of Priestmead First School and Priestmead Middle School, and the recommendations of the federated governing body that the two schools amalgamate in January 2010.

The Portfolio Holder for Schools and Children’s Development reported that 77% of the responses from parents and staff of both schools were in support of the proposals whilst 6% were opposed.  The Director of Schools and Children’s Development advised that the governing body had commended the work of the headteachers and the support they had given to the whole process.

RESOLVED:  That, having considered the outcome of the statutory consultation and the recommendation from the federated governing body, the publication of statutory notices to combine Priestmead First School and Priestmead Middle School be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To exercise the local authority’s statutory responsibility in relation to school organisation and to publish statutory notices to effect the change.

Report of the Corporate Director of Place Shaping

The Portfolio Holder for Major Projects and Property introduced a report, which updated Cabinet on the current position with Cedars Hall and sought approval of a number of recommendations.  The Leader of the Council stated that Members were keen to see the proposal progress and indicated that residents should contact him if any issues arose.

RESOLVED:  That the Corporate Director of Place Shaping, in conjunction with Portfolio Holder for Major Projects and Property, be authorised to:

a)                   permit a letting of Cedars Hall to Kids Can Achieve (KCA), subject to KCA receiving a quote for the refurbishment in line with their funding from Futurebuilders and KCA granting a sub lease to Weald Tenants and Residents Association (WTRA) at a peppercorn rent for the duration of their lease and other terms to be approved by the Corporate Director of Place Shaping;

b)                  relax the timeline for the submission of the planning application and KCA submit a planning application no later than 6 weeks following the completion of the lease;

c)                   agree alienation terms which permitted Futurebuilders (the proposed funders) only to assign, having first given the Council the option to take the property back on agreed terms, noting that assignment was to be with landlord’s consent which would be statutorily qualified not to be unreasonably withheld;

d)                  in the event of the Cedars Hall letting not proceeding, confirm the decision of Cabinet 21 May on 2008 and conclude the disposal of Cedars Hall site for residential development at best consideration, noting that the necessary marketing exercise would commence if and when suitable economic conditions prevailed.

Reason for Decision:  If the letting of Cedars Hall proceeded, the recommendation would allow KCA access to funding from Futurebuilders to bring the property back into community use, providing a base for WTRA.  If the option to accommodate WTRA in the new Cedars Youth Centre, to be redeveloped with the £4.1m grant, and KCA within the Council’s existing school property was deemed suitable, then the leasing of Cedars Hall would not need to proceed.  This would permit Cedars Hall to be disposed of for residential development generating a capital receipt in accordance with Option 2 in the May 2008 Cabinet Report.

Report of the Corporate Director of Place Shaping

The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Development and Enterprise introduced a report, which stated that the objective of the Sustainable Building Design Supplemental Planning Document (SPD) was to ensure that new development within Harrow was designed to be more efficient, cost less to run (heat and maintain) and more sustainable.  She drew attention to section 1 of the report which stated that the SPD also sought to encourage all residents to consider the actions they could take to reduce their own impacts on the environment.  Through improving the sustainability of homes and buildings, it was anticipated that this SPD would contribute towards the Council meeting its commitment to tackle climate change as well as generally improving the quality of life of its residents.  The Portfolio Holder drew attention to the recommendation from the Local Development Framework Panel.

The Corporate Director of Place Shaping stated that his department intended to provide sufficient and appropriate information to applicants to enable them to comply with the SPD requirements.

RESOLVED:  That the Sustainable Building Design SPD, attached at Appendix A to the report of the Corporate Director of Place Shaping, be adopted.

Reason for Decision:  The SPD would, upon adoption, become a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.