Agenda and minutes

None received.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 9  - Future Delivery of Arts and Heritage Services: Update and Approval of Lease Length

Councillor Sue Anderson, a member of Cabinet, declared a non-pecuniary interest in that she was a Director of Cultura London.  She would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Agenda Items 4 and 5/12 – Questions/Information, Advice and Advocacy Strategy

Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane, who was not a member of Cabinet, declared an interest in relation to the above items and some questions.  He added that, should the interest become pecuniary, he would leave the room.

General

Councillors Sue Anderson and Keith Ferry, members of Cabinet, declared non-pecuniary interests in that they were Greenhill Ward Councillors.  Councillor Sue Anderson added that she was a member of a number of organisations such as Mind in Harrow, Harrow Mencap and DAWN and which may be brought up in the discussions that evening.  They would remain in the room whilst the matters were considered and voted upon.

Councillor Richard Almond, who was not a member of Cabinet, declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was a Council appointed representative on the Harrow Citizens’ Advice Bureau.  He would remain in the room to listen to the discussions relating to this item.

(1)          Petition – Stop the “Development” of Waxwell Lane Car Park!

Councillor Norman Stevenson presented a petition signed by 76 staff and users with the following terms of reference:  “The London Borough of Harrow is proposing to build 34 new housing units in Waxwell Lane Car Park for market rent.  They intend it to be a new revenue stream for the Council.

“There is no benefit to Pinner.”  The proposal will have a negative impact on:-

·           Local traffic flow

·           Local residential street parking

·           Increase demand in local services

·           Increase demand for oversubscribed school places

·           Reduced footfall and loss of business on the top end of Bridge Street & nearby streets.”

RESOLVED:  That the petition be received and submitted to the Divisional Director of Planning and the Portfolio Holder for Business, Planning and Regeneration for consideration.

(2)          Petition – Harrow Council – Save Stop Smoking Services For Your Residents

Dr Sathyamoorthy presented a petition signed by 1,658 people who resided, worked or studied in Harrow and 2,274 in total with the following terms of reference:

“Approximately 1 in 5 adults in the UK smoke. 50% of regular smokers will die early as a result of their addiction.  Smoking results in heart disease, stroke, lung disease and cancer.

Harrow Council is proposing an end to “Stop Smoking” services in the borough because of financial cuts.  This service helps Harrow residents quit by using the most effective behavioural support methods.  The service has helped 1,751 people stop smoking since April 2013.  Harrow Council proposes to end all local “Stop Smoking” programmes, including tobacco awareness campaigns aimed at children.

The short term saving for the Council would be £279,000 per year, but because of smoking related disease the longer term economic costs will be much greater.”

The petition also included the following:  “We need 2000 signatures to trigger a full Council session to discuss this savings proposal.  Please sign this petition before 8 December 2016 to protect the future health of Harrow residents.  If you work or study in Harrow, please provide the post code for your place of work/study”.

The petition also included a letter which referenced, in summary, the terns of reference, and included additional information.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the petition be received and considered with the report on ‘Draft Revenue Budget 2017/18 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2017/18 to 2019/20’ at item 14 on the agenda and submitted to the Corporate Director of People and the Portfolio Holder for Health, Equality and Wellbeing;

(2)          it be noted that, in accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, the petition, once validated, would be referred to full Council for consideration/debate.

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, 5 December 2016. 

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

No person may submit more than one question].

RESOLVED:  Public and Councillor questions accepted were responded to and any recording placed on the Council’s website.  To note that public questions 3 and 4 were withdrawn. To note that the public questioners 6 and 7 were not present at the meeting and written responses would be provided and published on the Council’s website.  Councillor questions 13 to 51 were not reached at Cabinet and the Councillorswould be provided with written responses which would be placed on the Council’s website.

RESOLVED:  That the Key Decision Schedule be noted.

For consideration.

RESOLVED:  That the progress on Scrutiny Projects be noted.

Report of the Divisional Director of Housing Services.

Having received representations from Members of the Scrutiny Review Challenge Panel in line with the Cabinet/Scrutiny Protocol, it was

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review Challenge Panel be noted and the response to the recommendations set out in the report be agreed.

Reason for Decision:  To respond to the Challenge Panel and approve the next steps.

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 Corporate Director of Community.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the progress in the transfer of arts and heritage services to Cultura London, as outlined in the January 2016 Cabinet report and appendices ‘Future Delivery of Arts and Heritage Services’, be noted;

(2)          the decision to grant leases to Cultura London of such Council properties as the charity might occupy for the purpose of the performance of the services from a period of 25 years to a revised period of 90 years or other reasonable term to be agreed, at a peppercorn rent for Headstone Manor and Harrow Museum buildings and a rent as indicated in paragraph 4.1, Option B, of the report for the Harrow Arts Centre site, be approved;

(3)          the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community, Culture and Resident Engagement, the Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Business, Planning and Regeneration, the Directors of Legal and Governance Services and Finance, be authorised to:

·           agree the final heads of terms with Cultura London, acting in the best interests of the Council; 

·           enter into the leases and associated documents and take all other necessary actions to complete the transfer of  services to Cultura London to take effect as soon as possible following the conclusion of the required legal agreements.

Reason for Decision:  To be availed of the progress of the transfer agreed in January 2016 and amend the period of lease to the Charitable Trust to ensure the sustainable delivery of cultural services in Harrow whilst delivering savings for the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

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.

Joint report of the Divisional Director of Strategic Commissioning and Director of Adult Social Services.

Withdrawn.

Report of the Corporate Director of Resources and Commercial.

Withdrawn.

Report of the Divisional Director of Strategic Commissioning.

Withdrawn.

Report of the Corporate Director of Resources and Commercial.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the Band D equivalent number of taxable properties be calculated as shown in accordance with Government regulations;

(2)          the provision for uncollectable amounts of Council Tax for 2017-2018 be agreed at 2% producing an expected collection rate of 98%;

(3)          subject to resolutions (1) and (2) above, a Council Tax Base for 2017?2018 of 83,500 Band D equivalent properties, being 85,204 x 98%, be approved, allowing for payment in lieu of Ministry of Defence properties.

Reason for Decision:  To fulfil the Council’s statutory obligation to set the Council Tax Base for 2017-2018.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:   None.

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

Report of the Director of Finance.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the Council’s position in terms of the Multi Year Finance Settlement and Efficiency Plan, in that the Council had not applied to accept the four year offer, paragraphs 1.8 to 1.11 of the report refer, be noted;

(2)          the draft budget for 2017/18 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2017/18 to 2019/20 be approved for general consultation, as set out in appendices 1a,1b and 2, of the report.

(3)          the balanced budget position for 2017/18, the balanced budget for 2018/19, subject to £6.978m of proposals being developed, and the gap of £9.661m for 2019/20, table 2 of the report refers, be noted;

(4)          the proposal to increase Council Tax by 1.99% in 2017/18, table 2 and paragraph 1.14 of the report refer, be noted;

(5)          the proposal to increase Council Tax by 2.0% in 2017/18 in respect of the Adult Social Care Precept, table 2 and paragraph 1.14 of the report refer, be noted;

(6)          the structure of the Schools’ funding formula for 2017/18, un-changed from the 2016/17 formula agreed last year, as set out in Appendix 3 of the report, be approved;

(7)          the draft Public Health Budget for 2017/18, as set out in Appendix 4 of the report, be approved;

(8)          the Director of Finance, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Commercialisation, be authorised to agree Harrow’s 2017/18 contribution to the London Boroughs’ Grant Scheme, paragraph 1.37 of the report refers.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure publication of the draft budget for 2017/18 and a 3-year MTFS to 2019/20.

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.

Joint report of the Corporate Director of Community and the Director of Finance.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the draft Housing Revenue Account Budget be approved for consultation;

(2)          the proposed average rent for non-sheltered accommodation of £115.27 per week for 2017-18, representing a decrease of 1% in average rent from the 2016-17 figure, be noted;

(3)          the proposed average rent for sheltered accommodation of £95.43 per week for 2017-18, representing a decrease of 1% in average rent from the 2016-17 figure, be noted;

(4)          the overall average rent for the whole stock of £112.99 per week for 2017-18, representing an overall  decrease of 1%, be noted;

(5)          an average tenant service charge of £3.01 per week, an increase of 2%, as set out in Appendix 2 of the report, be approved for consultation;

(6)          the proposed increases in facility and water charges, as set out in Appendices 4 and 5 of the report, and Community Centre hire charges, as set out in Appendix 6 to the report, be approved for consultation;

(7)          the three year Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix 7 of the report, be approved for consultation.

Reason for Decision:  To publish the draft HRA budget and capital programme for consultation.

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 Director of Finance.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the new draft capital proposals, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, be noted, including that the proposals would be brought back to Cabinet and Council in February 2017 for approval;

(2)          the amendments to the budgets, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To enable the Council to have an approved Capital Programme for 2017/18 to 2019/20 and to enable preparation work to be undertaken for future years.

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 Director of Finance.

Having also considered confidential Appendix 5 to the report, it was

RESOLVED:  That 

(1)          the revenue and capital forecast positions as at Quarter 2 2016/17 be noted;

(2)          the latest quarter’s performance report from Concilium Business Service, as detailed in Appendix 5 to the report, be noted;

(3)          the Corporate Director of Resources and Commercial, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Commercialisation, be authorised to approve the varying of Concilium Business Services shareholders’ agreement via an appropriate Deed of Variation in line with the details within this report;

(4)          the proposed reduction to the 2016/17 Capital Programme, as outlined in paragraphs 3.10 to 3.13 of the report, be noted;

(5)          the addition to 2016/17 Capital Programme, as outlined in paragraphs 3.20, 3.43 and 3.44 of the report, be approved.

.

Reason for Decision:  To be availed of the 2016/17 forecast financial position as at 30 September 2016 and to approve budget adjustments in accordance with Financial Regulations.

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 Director of Finance.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          an overall net estimated surplus of £5.734m on the Collection Fund, as at 31 March 2017, be noted and that this included a surplus of £4.022m on Council Tax, Harrow share of £3.246m, and £1.712m on Business Rates, Harrow share of £0.514m;

(2)          Harrow’s share of £3.760m be agreed and be transferred to the General Fund in 2017-18.

Reason for Decision:  To be availed of the Council’s statutory obligation to estimate the surplus or (deficit) on the Collection Fund for the year end, which was a major part of the annual budget review 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 Director of Finance.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the reference from the Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee be noted.

(2)          the Treasury Management mid-year review for 2016-17 be noted;

(3)          officers investigate further “peer-to-peer” investment opportunities as discussed in paragraphs 37-43 of the report.

Reason for Decision:  To promote effective financial management and comply with the Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) Regulations 2003, other relevant guidance and the Council’s Financial Regulations.  To be availed of Treasury Management activities and performance.

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 Director of Finance.

Having also considered confidential Appendix 2 to the report, it was

RESOLVED:  That the award of the contracts for Property Liability and Terrorism insurance, from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2020, with the option to extend for a further two years in increments of 12 months, as specified in Appendix 2 of the report, be approved.

Reason for Decision: To procure major external insurance contracts through the Insurance London Consortium (ILC) under the terms of an agreement under Section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 (the ‘Section 101 Agreement’).

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 Chief Executive.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the Peer Review report be noted;

(2)          the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be requested to work with Members and officers to help shape and deliver an action plan to address some of the key recommendations and monitor progress against delivery.

Reason:  To support the Council in continuous improvement.

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.]