Agenda and minutes

The Leader of the Council requested all those in attendance at Cabinet to join him in a minute’s silence in memory of Alison Morrison, Vice-Chair of the Harrow Safer Neighbourhood Board, and Council staff, Frank Baxter and Martin Tebbutt, who had recently passed away.

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

None received from Members of Cabinet.

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 the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 9 - Proposal to Amalgamate and Expand Weald Infant and Nursery School and Weald Junior School

Councillor Stephen Greek declared an interest in that he was a governor of Weald Infant and Junior Schools.  He would remain in the room to listen to the discussion and decision on this item.

Agenda Item 11 - School Expansion Programme

Councillors Jean Lammiman and Janet Mote declared non-pecuniary interests in that they were governors of some schools.  They would remain in the room to listen to the discussion and decision on this item.

Agenda Item 12 – Grange Farm Regeneration Scheme

Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane declared a non-pecuniary interest in that, as a former Portfolio Holder, he had put Grange Farm on the list for regeneration.  He would remain in the room to listen to the discussion and decision on this item.

Agenda Item 13 – External Fees and Charges

Councillors Chris Mote and Susan Hall declared non-pecuniary interests in that they had business in the borough.  They would remain in the room to listen to the discussion and decision on this item.

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

(1)               Petition:  Save the Bob Lawrence Library

Mr Anuj Chitroda, presented a petition signed by some 5,000 people with the following terms:

“We the undersigned residents would like the local authority to keep the library open at its present location 6-8 North Parade, Mollison Way, HA8 5QH.”

RESOLVED:  That the petition be received and, once validated, be referred to Council.

(2)               Petition:  Rayners Lane Library Closure

Councillors Chris Noyce and Krishna Suresh presented a petition signed by 734 students of Nower Hill School as well as 1,555 adults with the following terms:

“We, the undersigned, deplore the proposed closure of Harrow Libraries, particularly that of Rayners Lane, which serves a densely populated area with very few facilities.  This Library does excellent work with students and pre-school children and serves as a hub for its diverse community.  The loss of this resource would be destructive to the life of the area.”

RESOLVED:  That the petition be received and, once validated, be referred to Council.

(3)               Petition:  Save Our Library – North Harrow Library

Mr Kamal Shah presented a petition signed by 2,797 people with the following terms:

“We, the undersigned, ask Harrow Council to reconsider the proposal to close North Harrow Library. Closure will have a serious detrimental effect on the local community.  It will also lead to a further decline of the North Harrow Town Centre.”

RESOLVED:  That the petition be received and, once validated, be referred to Council.

(4)               Bob Lawrence Library – Petition Against Closure

Angela Hook presented an ‘Open Letter’ from the Bob Lawrence Library Campaign Team, signed by 24 people representing schools, community and charity organisations, authors and elected community leaders, outlining the community values of the Library by making specific reference to educational values and its provision as a Community Centre and Social Hub.

RESOLVED:  That the ‘Open Letter’ be received and assimilated with the petition at (1) above which was being referred to Council.

(5)               Save Bob Lawrence Library – Safe Learning Zone

On behalf of the children of Stag Lane Junior School, Nikhil Deb, a Year 2 pupil, presented a petition consisting of 140 letters in the form of drawings, including posters, explaining why the Bob Lawrence Library should be saved and kept open, including the learning values that the library provided.

RESOLVED:  That the petition be received and be received and assimilated with the petition at (1) above which was being referred to Council.

No conflict of interest/dispensation granted for Cabinet Members.

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, Monday 12 January 2015.  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.  Councillor questions 8-14 were not reached at Cabinet and the Councillors would be provided with a written response which would be placed on the Council’s website.

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Key Decision Schedule, and that in relation to the report on the ‘School Expansion Programme’, the need for Cabinet to meet in private had been revised to relate to Appendix A of the report as containing information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

For consideration.

RESOLVED:  To note the progress made on scrutiny projects.

Report of the Interim Corporate Director Children and Families.

RESOLVED:  That the statutory proposals to expand permanently Grimsdyke School by one form of entry (30 pupils) from 1 September 2015 be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To enable the Local Authority to fulfil its statutory duties to provide sufficient school places in its area.

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

Report of the Interim Corporate Director of Children and Families.

RESOLVED:  That the statutory proposals to combine Weald Infant and Nursery School and Weald Junior School on 1 April 2015 and expand permanently Weald Infant and Nursery School and Weald Junior School by one form of entry (30 pupils) from 1 September 2016 be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To implement the Council’s Amalgamation Policy and to enable the Local Authority to fulfil its duties to provide sufficient school places in its area.

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

Report of the Interim Corporate Director of Children and Families.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               it be noted that consultation had been undertaken across the maintained and non-maintained sectors on the proposals for the Single Funding Formula;

(2)               the proposals for the Early Years Single Funding Formula (EYSFF) for all 3 and 4 year old provision across the maintained and non-maintained sectors, as set out in paragraphs 10 and 19 of the report, be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To comply with the statutory duty to implement a funding formula that was equitable and fair.

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

Joint report of the Interim Corporate Director of Children and Families and Director of Finance and Assurance.

Having considered the confidential appendix, it was

RESOLVED:  That the update on the implementation of the School Expansion Programme be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To enable the Council to fulfil its statutory duties to provide sufficient school places in Harrow.

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 Interim Head of Paid Service and Corporate Director of Community, Health and Wellbeing.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Community, Health and Wellbeing to serve initial demolition notices under the Housing Act 1985 (as amended) on tenants of the Grange Farm Estate, the period of the notices to be 6.5 years;

(2)               the commencement of all preparatory work required for the making of any future Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs), including, but not limited to:

(i)                 appointing land referencers to review all relevant proprietary interests with a view to producing a draft schedule and plan for use in any future CPO(s); 

(ii)               the service of requests for information notices under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 on those who may be affected by future CPO(s)

be authorised;

(3)               authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Community, Health and Wellbeing, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, to proceed with the submission of a planning application once the design process had been completed.

Reason for Decision:  To facilitate the regeneration of the estate.

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

Report of the Director of Finance and Assurance.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the Fees and Charges be implemented from April 2015, appendices 2 to 5 in the report refer, except those fees and charges included for noting only;

(2)               following consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holders, the Director of Finance and Assurance and relevant Corporate Directors be authorised to amend fees and charges in year.

Reason for Decision:  To set a schedule of fees and charges for 2015/16. 

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  None.

Report of the Corporate Director of Resources.

Having considered the confidential appendices, it was

RESOLVED:  That the following procurement be approved and authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Resources in the following actions:

(1)               to award a Contract to Bidder B, Lambeth Council, as set out in Appendix B of the report, and to finalise the contract;

(2)               to award the Contract on the basis of the most economically advantageous option to the Council following a competitive tendering procedure.

Reason for Decision:  The current contract with Westminster City Council (Westco) to provide the services to the Council has an expiry date of 31 March 2015.  In order to maintain the services, the Council was required to run a competitive process to appoint a contractor under a new contract in accordance with the Public Contracts Regulations 2006, as amended.

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

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               Bevan Brittan LLP be welcomed as partners in the HB Public Law project and the principles of the partnership set out in the report be endorsed;

(2)               it be noted that there would be a service agreement entered into between Bevan Brittan LLP and HBPL Ltd to secure the delivery of legal services to "joint" clients;

(3)               the Director of Legal and Governance Services, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Performance, Corporate Resources and Policy Development, be authorised to enter into a Deed of Variation to amend the inter authority agreement between Harrow and Barnet to reflect both Barnet’s revised governance arrangements and the operation of HB Public Law Ltd;

(4)               Cabinet’s commitment to other authorities joining the HB Public Law project, on which subject further reports would be submitted to Cabinet at an appropriate time, be placed on record.

Reason for Decision:  To support the development of a resilient and cost effective legal practice.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  None.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services

RESOLVED:  That, in accordance with the recommendation of the London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee’s Executive Sub Committee’s decision on 11 September 2014,

(1)               it be formally confirmed that the functions delegated to London Councils’ Transport and Environment Committee (LCTEC) to enter into the arrangements with the British Parking Association were and continue to be delivered pursuant to section 1 of the Localism Act 2011;

(2)               the exercise of section 1 of the Localism Act 2011 to LCTEC for the purpose of providing an appeals service for parking on private land under contract on a full cost recovery basis be expressly delegated;

(3)               the LCTEC Governing Agreement to this end be amended;

(4)               the Monitoring Officer be authorised to sign, execute and return the Memorandum of Participation on the Council’s behalf.

Reason for Decision:  To allow London Councils to continue the operation of a pan-London appeals service for parking on private land under a contract with the British Parking Association.

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

The Leader of the Council proposed a ‘Vote of Thanks’ to Paul Najsarek, Council’s Interim Head of Paid Service, as this was his last Cabinet meeting in this role.  The Leader and Members applauded the work carried out by Paul as the Interim Head of Paid Service.