Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:  That Executive Procedure Rule 27.1 be suspended to enable the recording or photographing or broadcasting of any part of the meeting.

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Received from Councillor David Perry.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary 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 there were no declarations of interests made by Members.

No conflict of interest/dispensation granted for Cabinet Members.

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

RESOLVED: To note that the following petitions were received and referred to the Corporate Director of Environment and Enterprise and the Portfolio Holder for Business, Planning and Regeneration for consideration:

1.                  Petition:  Claremont Road – Councillor Anne Whitehead presented a petition signed by 18 residents of Claremont Road, Harrow with the following terms of reference:

“We object to the planned opening of a Day Nursery at the Scout Hall in our street”.

2.                  Petition: Against the proposal to close the access point from Kingsfield Road to Churchfields – A local resident presented a petition signed by 92 people with the following terms of reference:

“We, the undersigned, demand that Harrow Council undertake proper consultation with all concerned parties before any action is taken to install a locked gate on 26^th August cutting off access between Kingsfield Road and Churchfields.”

3.                  e-Petition: Keep Kingsfield Road open to the Hill - A local resident presented a petition signed by 391 people with the following terms of reference:

“The residents of Kingsfield Road are deeply concerned by sudden plans to close the access point from their road to Churchfields with no prior consultation or explanation from Harrow Council.

The residents and the wider Hill community are angered and baffled by this action.  Kingsfield Road has been open to the Hill since living memory.  Given that the path on Kingsfield Road and the adjacent path along the edge of Churchfields are both public rights of way, there is no apparent logical reason for blocking an access point, which serves the community so well.

The undersigned protest against the proposed erection of a fence and permanently locked gate at the top of Kingsfield Road, thereby preventing direct access to the Hill at this point, and ask the Council to intervene to ensure that this does not happen.”

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.

[The deadline for receipt of public questions is 3.00 pm, 15 September 2014.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk  

No person may submit more than one question].

Such public and Councillor questions as were received were responded to and any recording placed on the Council’s website.  Those questions not reached at Cabinet would be responded to in writing and placed on the Council’s website.

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Key Decision Schedule, and that the item relating to ‘Revenue and Capital Monitoring for Quarter 1’ was not considered Key.

Report of the Interim Corporate Director of Children and Families.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Council)

That the Youth Offending Partnership Youth Justice Plan 2014-15 be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To meet the statutory requirement to publish an annual Youth Justice Plan.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  None.

[Call-in does not apply, as the decision is reserved to Council.]

Report of the Corporate Director of Resources.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Council)

That the Community Safety Plan be adopted.

Reason for Decision:  To comply with Section 6 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  None.

[Call-in does not apply, as the decision is reserved to Council.]

Report of the Corporate Director of Environment and Enterprise.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the use of Fixed Penalty Notices and their fine levels for the offences listed in the report be approved;

(2)               authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Environment and Enterprise to issue Fixed Penalty Notices;

(3)               authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Environment and Enterprise to authorise persons not directly employed by the Council to issue Fixed Penalty Notices;

(4)               the Corporate Director of Environment and Enterprise be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Crime and Community Safety, to undertake the necessary procurement and operational work required to introduce the use of the Fixed Penalty Notices as outlined in the report;

(5)               the Corporate Director of Environment and Enterprise be authorised to implement a communication and publicity campaign to publicise the use of Fixed Penalty Notices;

(6)               authority be delegate to the Corporate Director of Environment and Enterprise to develop, in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Crime and Community Safety, operational guidance for the use of Fixed Penalty Notices and it be noted that a further report would be provided to Cabinet in due course about designating land for the purposes of issuing Fixed Penalty Notices in respect of the offence of ‘unauthorised distribution of free printed matter on designated land’;

(7)               a further report be submitted to Cabinet in due course for approval of an environmental offences enforcement policy;

(8)               a further report be submitted to Cabinet in 2015 to provide feedback on the use of Fixed Penalty Notices. 

Reason for Decision:  The use of Fixed Penalty Notices would be a helpful and efficient tool for enforcement as an alternative to prosecution in matters of low level environmental crime offences.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the report.

Report of the Divisional Director of Strategic Commissioning.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the Domestic and Sexual Violence Strategy (DSBS) 2014-17 be adopted;

(2)               the £200,000 proposed spend on domestic violence be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To address domestic and sexual violence, which was recognised as a priority area regionally, nationally and internationally.  The UN declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women was adopted by the General Assembly in 1993.  This was followed by a resolution of intensification of efforts to eliminate all forms of violence against women in 2009.

In 2013, the Mayor of London published the London Violence Against Women and Girls’ Strategy 2013-17 building on ‘The Way Forword’, a London wide plan aimed to end all forms of violence against women in the capital.  In 2011 the coalition government published its ‘Call to end violence against women and girls’ which outlined the responsibility of local authorities to co-ordinate their responses to VAWG issues.

The Council’s and its Partners’ work on violence has been included in the Strategy.  The adoption of the Strategy and priorities would be in line with the strategy for spending the additional resources that have been made available.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the report.

Report of the Director of Finance and Assurance.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the revenue and capital forecast positions as at quarter 1 2014/15 be noted;

(2)               the changes in quarter 1 to the Capital Programme, outlined in paragraphs 43 and 44 of the report, be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To note the forecast financial position for the year as at 30 June 2014.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the report.

[Call-in does not apply to decisions that have been noted.]

Report of the Divisional Director, Human Resources, Development and Shared Services.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the post of Chief Executive be re-instated in the Council’s management structure;

(2)               the Divisional Director Human Resources, Development and Shared Services, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, be instructed to make such arrangements as necessary to make a permanent appointment to the statutory role of Head of Paid Service.

Reason for Decision:  To put in place arrangements for making a permanent appointment to the statutory role of Head of Paid Service.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the report.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Barry Kendler be appointed as the identified Portfolio Holder Assistant with responsibilities with effect from 18 September 2014.

Reason for Decision:  To enable the support to Cabinet Member in terms of information provision and management to contribute to and ensure an effective decision making framework as part of the democratic process.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  None.