Agenda and minutes

Received from Councillor Anne Whitehead, Portfolio Holder for Adults and Older People.

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 October 2015. 

Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk  

No person may submit more than one question].

Councillor questions accepted were responded to and any recording placed on the Council’s website.  Councillor questions 6 to 11 were not reached at Cabinet and the Councillors would be provided with written responses which would be placed on the Council’s website. There were no public questions.

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Key Decision Schedule.

For consideration.

RESOLVED:  To note the progress made on scrutiny projects.

Report of the Divisional Director of Commissioning Services.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the draft Events Policy be approved for consultation;

(2)          the Divisional Director of Commissioning Services be authorised to take all necessary steps to consult on the proposed Policy;

(3)          it be noted that the outcome of the consultation would be reported back to Cabinet with any amendments considered appropriate, for final approval;

(4)          the application forms, terms and conditions, set out at Appendix A to the report, be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To balance the need to hold events with the Council’s obligations to residents, businesses and visitors, ensuring that these activities continue to be regarded by all as safe, lawful, successful and fair.  To ensure that Members and the public were aware of what level of service would be delivered.  To make public how this delivery would be monitored.

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

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted:  None

Report of the Divisional Director of Commissioning Services.

RESOLVED: That

(1)          the draft A-Board Policy, set out at Appendix A to the report, be approved for consultation with key stakeholders;

(2)          the Divisional Director of Commissioning Services, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Crime and Community Safety, be authorised to review the consultation responses, make amendments as appropriate and adopt the A-Board Policy;

(3)          the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Crime and Community Safety be authorised make amendments to the Policy.

Reason for Decision:  The Council recognised that advertising boards were a useful tool for small businesses but needed to balance that against the issues they presented for members of the public.  The Policy sought to ensure that A-Boards were properly set up, managed correctly and operated in a way that benefited the business, enhanced the public realm and did not cause a problem for other users of the highway.

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

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted:  None.

Report of the Interim Corporate Director of People.

RESOLVED:  That the statutory proposals to expand permanently Stag Lane Infant and Nursery School by one form of entry (30 pupils) from 1 September 2016 and Stag Lane Junior School by one form of entry (30 pupils) from 1 September 2019 be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To fulfil the Council’s statutory duties to provide sufficient school places in its area.

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

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted:  None.

Report of the Interim Corporate Director of People.

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

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.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted:  None.

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

Report of the Corporate Director of Resources and Commercial.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          it be noted that the roll out of Universal Credit (UC) was scheduled to commence in Harrow during October 2015;

(2)          the Corporate Director of Resources and Commercial be authorised to negotiate and finalise the Delivery Partnership Agreement (DPA) and agree reimbursement costs with the Department of Works and Pensions (DWP);

(3)          a Harrow Council bespoke Delivery Partnership Agreement (DPA), running from October 2015 to 31 March 2016, be approved and entered into with the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP)  to deliver a number of ancillary services relating to the roll-out of Universal Credit (UC), as detailed in the report;

(4)          the Corporate Director of Resources and Commercial, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Major Contracts, be authorised to enter into future similar arrangements for Universal Credit (UC) post 31 March 2016, subject to negotiation of appropriate funding.

Reason for Decision:  To assist the DWP with the roll out of UC and to support residents in the claim process.

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

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted:  None.

Report of the Divisional Director of Strategic Commissioning.

Having considered the confidential appendix, it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the Domestic and Sexual Violence Contract be awarded to Hestia Housing and Support for a period of two years commencing on 4 November 2015 with an option to extend, at the sole discretion of the Council, for a further period or periods of up to two years; the value of the contract for the initial two year period was £552,000 and would rise to £1,104,000 if the whole two years permissible by extension were used;

(2)          the refresh of the Harrow Domestic and Sexual Violence Action Plan be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure continuation of the provision of preventative services and intervention in high risk cases of domestic and sexual violence to help keep residents safe.

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

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member / Dispensation Granted:  None.