Agenda and minutes

The Portfolio Holder for Adults and Housing introduced a report, which set out the revisions to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget for 2009?10 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2009?10 to 2011?12 approved by Council on 19 February 2009.  The Government had announced in principal, reduction in rental increases for 2009?10 on 9 March 2009.

The Portfolio Holder outlined the background to the proposals before Members, as set out in the officer’s report.  He advised that this was good news for residents and that the Tenants’ and Leaseholders’ Consultative Forum would be consulted on the proposed reduction at their special meeting on 29 June 2009.  Residents were, however, requested to continuing paying their bills correctly until the revised bills were issued.

Having approved the revised Medium Term Budget Strategy for the Housing Revenue Account, it was

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Council)

That the Housing Revenue Account for 2009/10, as attached at Appendix 1 to this recommendation, and the revised average rent increase of 3% effective from 6 April 2009, be approved.

Reason for Recommendation:  To publish the revised Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget and rents for 2009/10, in line with Government policy for rent setting.

(See also Minute 640).

APPENDIX 1

Housing Revenue Account 2009-10 to 2011-12

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 14 May 2009 to be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 May 2009 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

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

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions had been received.

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.

The Chairman reported that the item ‘Learning and Development Managed Service’ had been deferred to July.  The item ‘IT Strategy and Delivery Model’ had been deferred until the Autumn.

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

For consideration

The Chairman reported that the update report to July Cabinet would identify projects included in the scrutiny work programme for the remainder of the municipal year.

Members noted that Scrutiny had recently won a prize, which would be presented at Council on 9 July 2009.

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

Report of the Corporate Director of Finance

The Corporate Director of Finance introduced a report, which set out the Council’s revenue and capital outturn position for 2008?09.  She advised that the position at the end of 2008/09 was positive and that a £4.5million under spend had been delivered.  This had enabled the Council to invest in projects and provided the opportunities to increase the level of reserves and to stabilise finances in preparation for the difficult economic times ahead.

Members commended the officers and their elected colleagues for their considerable effort and work to reach this stronger financial position.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the revenue and capital outturn position for 2008?09 be noted;

(2)  the forecast position for general balances be noted and the additional contribution of £1.250m be approved;

(3)  the recommendation on the application of the revenue underspend remaining on the Directorates’ revenue outturn of £3.250m be approved;

(4)  the liabilities be noted and the contributions to various provisions and earmarked reserves, as set out in paragraph 16 of the report of the Corporate Director of Finance, be approved;

(5)  the timetable for audit committee meetings and external audit review be noted;

(6)  the carry forward on Capital Projects, as set out in appendix 3 to the report of the Corporate Director of Finance, be approved;

(7)  the position on debt outstanding be noted and decisions on the write offs, as set out in paragraph 17 of the report of the Corporate Director of Finance, be delegated to the Leader of the Council;

(8)  any further decisions required in relation to the outturn for 2008?09, particularly carry forward requests and contributions to provisions and reserves, be delegated to the Leader of the Council.

Reason for Decision:  To confirm the financial position as at 31 March 2009.

Report of the Corporate Director of Finance

The Corporate Director of Finance introduced a report, which set out the summary of Treasury Management activities for 2008?09.  The report was positive and outlined the favourable position in relation to lending, borrowing and investment activities.  The report also set out how the Council had performed against prudential indicators and the changes to the accounting regulations.

RESOLVED:  That the outturn position for Treasury Management activities for 2008?09 be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To promote effective financial management, comply with the Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) Regulations 2003 and other relevant guidance and to keep Cabinet Members informed of Treasury Management activities and performance.

Report of the Corporate Director of Adults and Housing

The Portfolio Holder for Adults and Housing introduced a report, which set out the findings from the recent consultation about the future partnership governance arrangements for adult health and social care in Harrow.  He drew attention to the structure of the Board, which was set out in the report.

The Divisional Director of Commissioning and Partnerships reported that the new arrangements placed users and carers at the heart of the governance arrangements and placed a pre-eminence on safeguarding.  He added that the proposals separated executive decision making from the partnership arrangements.

The Corporate Director of Adults and Housing advised that the report had been considered by the Harrow Chief Executives’ Group and had been fully supported.  The Primary Care Trust Board would also be considering it shortly and he expected that the proposals would be agreed.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the proposal to replace the Adult Health and Social Care Management Group with Adult Health and Well?being Partnership be agreed;

(2)  the proposal to establish an Adult Joint Commissioning Board be agreed;

(3)  the proposed terms of reference for both bodies, as set out at Appendices 4 and 5 to the report of the Corporate Director of Adults and Housing, be agreed;

(4)  responsibility for decisions about the structure of the delivery groups supporting the work of the Partnership be delegated to the Adult Health and Well?being Partnership;

(5)  the intention to strengthen the role of the Local Safeguarding Adults Board be noted and to clarify the reporting lines, consistent with the structure at Appendix 3 to the report of the Corporate Director of Adults and Housing.

Reason for Decision:  To improve the current partnership governance arrangements for adult health and social care in Harrow in order to provide direction for this service taking into account local needs, national direction and the Harrow Strategic Partnership and Local Area Agreement priorities.

Report of the Divisional Director of Housing

(See also Recommendation I).

Further to Recommendation I, having agreed thatCouncil be requested to approve the Housing Revenue Account for 2009?10 and to agree to the revised average rent increase of 3% effective from 6 April 2009, it was

RESOLVED:  That the revised Medium Term Budget Strategy for the Housing Revenue Account, as set out at Appendix 1 to the report of the Divisional Director of Housing Services, be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To publish the revised Housing Revenue Account budget and rents for 2009?10, in line with Government policy for rent setting.

Report of the Director of Schools and Children’s Development

The Portfolio Holder for Schools and Children’s Development introduced a report, which provided Cabinet with proposals to secure the funding to support Building Schools for the Future (BSF) in Harrow and an outline governance structure.  She advised that BSF was the Government’s secondary school investment programme that aimed to transform secondary education by the rebuild or refurbishment of every secondary school.  She emphasised that the report detailed the indicative funding should Harrow enter into the programme and that no money would be spent until entry.

The Director of Schools and Children’s Development reported that the revenue and outturn report included the £400,000 set aside for BSF.  Much of the resource required related to officer time.  She added that the four schools identified for the first wave of the programme, should Harrow enter, were enthusiastic and willing to commit school capital and revenue funding to support the project.

The Chairman proposed an amendment, which was supported by Cabinet, to Annex B to the officer report, in that in terms of the Strategic Project Board, the Portfolio Holder for Major Contracts and Property be included at the pre?contract and finalisation stage.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the indicative funding for the BSF Programme in Harrow be agreed, which would only be required once formal entry into the programme was confirmed;

(2)  the proposed governance structure for the BSF programme be agreed ‘in principle’;

(3)  responsibility to agree the final Readiness to Deliver submission to the Department for Children, Schools and Families in accordance with timescales to be confirmed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families be delegated to the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Schools and Children’s Development, in consultation with the Director of Schools and Children’s Development.

Reason for Decision:  To confirm commitment to BSF in Harrow and to enable the completion of the Readiness to Deliver submission in line with the Partnerships for Schools and Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) Guidance.

Report of the Corporate Director of Place Shaping

The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Development and Enterprise introduced a report, which set out the initial prospectus for the new Place Shaping Directorate.  The prospectus was a statement of intent and she drew attention to page 108 of the report which detailed how the Directorate would support the community strategic vision.  She added that place shaping activity would ensure co-ordination across all projects.

The Corporate Director of Place Shaping advised that the prospectus had been developed in consultation with key partners.  Staff from across the Council would be involved in place shaping activities, which would aim to maximise the Council’s potential.

RESOLVED:  That the Place Shaping Directorate prospectus 2009/10 be endorsed.

Reason for Decision:  The Place Shaping Strategic prospectus had been compiled to provide an overview of the drivers for, and the Council’s response to, the Place Shaping Agenda.

The Community Strategy set out the Local Area Agreement vision for the future of Harrow. Place Shaping activities had a key role in shaping that future.  This document was intended to provide a platform for future discussion and in particular coordination of activities across both the public and private sectors, which would ensure that Harrow remained a great place to live, to work in, to learn in, do business in and to visit.

Report of the Corporate Director of Place Shaping

The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Development and Enterprise introduced a report, which sought adoption of the Tourism Strategy 2009?12 following the consultation exercise conducted on the draft strategy from 16 February to 31 March 2009.  The report detailed the Council’s assets in terms of tourism and she added that the Council hoped to encourage people to visit Harrow and to spend money.  The strategy encouraged growth and investment.

The Corporate Director of Place Shaping advised that the strategy included objectives in relation to skills, reducing carbon emissions and partnership working.

RESOLVED:  That the Tourism Strategy 2009-2012, attached at Appendix A to the report of the Corporate Director of Place Shaping, be adopted.

Reason for Decision:  The tourism strategy played a significant role in the Council’s economic development remit and also played a key role in maximising the benefit of the Olympic Games for the benefit of the local economy.

Report of the Corporate Director of Place Shaping

The Portfolio Holder for Planning, Development and Enterprise introduced a report, which stated that in January 2009 the Council had submitted its revised Local Development Scheme (LDS) to Government Office for London (GOL) and the Greater London Authority (GLA) for formal approval.  GOL and the GLA had raised concerns in relation to the long timetable proposed for preparing the Harrow Core Strategy.  Following a series of protracted discussions with both GOL and the GLA, and in response to their concerns, the Council had further amended its LDS to substantially bring forward delivery of the Harrow Core Strategy.

The Portfolio Holder advised that she was confident that the Core Strategy would be submitted to the inspectorate by March 2010.  The strategy would give stability and a steer to the Council’s partners.

RESOLVED:  That the draft revised Local Development Scheme be approved for resubmission to the Secretary of State and the Greater London Authority.

Reason for Decision:  The Council was required, under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004, to maintain an up?to?date Local Development Scheme, the purpose of which was to keep the public informed as to the Local Development Framework documents the Council was intending to prepare and when, and at what stage the public could get involved in that process.  Without gaining the formal approval of the GLA and GOL for a revised LDS, the Council would not be able to meet this requirement.  To overcome the objections of GOL and the GLA, amendments to the revised LDS had been made to bring forward delivery of the LDF and, in particular, the Core Strategy. 

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services

The Chairman advised that this item had been deferred in order to enable more detailed consideration of the proposals and to gain feedback from the Charter mark assessment the following week.

Which cannot otherwise be dealt with.

In accordance with the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, this item was admitted late to the agenda to enable Cabinet to consider proposed changes in membership to one of its Panels and the Harrow Admissions Forum as a matter of urgency.  This would enable the changes to be implemented prior to the next meetings of the bodies concerned.

RESOLVED:  That (1) Councillor Raj Ray be appointed as second reserve to the Education Admissions and Awards Advisory Panel;

(2)  the appointments to the Harrow Admissions Forum be revised so that only two Members, Councillors Anjana Patel and Bill Stephenson, be appointed.

Reason for Decision:  To enable the changes in membership to be implemented prior to the next meetings of the bodies concerned.