Agenda and minutes

The Leader of the Council proposed a minute’s silence in memory of those who had been killed in the terrorist attack at the Manchester Arena on 22 May 2017.  All those present at Cabinet observed a minute’s silence to remember the victims.

None received.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Items 8 and 16 – North Harrow Community Library

Councillor James Bond, who was not a member of Cabinet, declared a non-pecuniary interest and would remain in this room to listen to the discussion and decision making relating to the items.

Agenda Items 11 and 18 – Regeneration Programme Quarterly Update and Programme Procurement

Councillor Susan Hall, who was not a Member of Cabinet, declared a non-pecuniary interest in that she owned a business in Wealdstone.  She would remain in the room to listen to the discussion and decision making relating to the items but indicated that she would leave the room if the discussion became pecuniary.

(1)          Petition – Cecil Road, Wealdstone – Extension of 20mph Zone

Councillor Phillip O’Dell, presented a petition signed by 32 residents living in and around Cecil Road with the following terms of reference:

“We the undersigned call upon Harrow Council to extend the 20mph zone to the whole of Cecil Road, Wealdstone, as we believe this will make it a safer road to use”.

RESOLVED:  That the petition be received and referred to the relevant Corporate Director for consideration.

To receive any Councillor questions received in accordance with paragraph 17 of the Executive Procedure Rules.

Questions will be asked in the order agreed with the relevant Group Leader by the deadline for submission and there be a time limit of 15 minutes.

[The deadline for receipt of Councillor questions is 3.00 pm, 18 May 2017].

RESOLVED:  Councillor questions accepted were responded to and any recording placed on the Council’s website.  Councillor Questions 10-31 were not reached at Cabinet.  No public questions had been received.

RESOLVED:  That the Key Decision Schedule be noted and it be noted that the former Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee had agreed that Cabinet could consider exempt business in relation to Methuen Road (Minute Nos. 543 and 549refer) for the reason(s) set out in Public Notice 1.

For consideration.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Report of the Corporate Director of Community.

Following consideration of the confidential appendices, it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          a 20 year sub-lease to North Harrow Community Library (NHCL) Charitable Trust for the management of North Harrow Community Library, using the space previously occupied by North Harrow Library which closed in June 2015, be granted;

(2)          the Corporate Director of Community be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community, Culture and Resident Engagement, the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business, Planning and Regeneration, the Director of Legal and Governance Services and the Director of Finance, be authorised to conclude and give final approval to sign the sub-lease and Joint Working Agreement for the provision of services, as outlined in the report;

(3)          the Director of Finance, in conjunction with the Corporate Director of Community be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Community, Culture and Resident Engagement, Finance and Major Contracts, and the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Business, Planning and Regeneration, to authorise a funding equivalent to market rent for a maximum period of 20 years; this amount to be repaid to the Council annually by NHCL for the rent.

Reason for Decision: To provide a range of library services in a cost effective way.  The Library Strategy 2015-18 approved by Cabinet in March 2015 stated that due consideration should be given to the two applications received by the Council to re-open two of the libraries proposed for closure as community libraries.  The business case for North Harrow Community Library was subsequently approved.

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 Commissioning Services and Director of Adult Social Services.

Following consideration of the confidential appendices, it was

RESOLVED:  That the existing lease granted to the trustees of Flash Musicals in respect of their occupation of the property at Methuen Road be surrendered and a new lease for 15 years, on terms set out in the report be granted, to enable the provision of services by Flash Musicals to clients with learning disabilities in accordance with the business case prepared by Director of Adult Social Services and attached to the report.

Reason for Decision:  To enable a lease to be granted at a peppercorn in return for services to the Council equal to or in excess of the current rental value of £26,000 per annum.

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 People.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted and the action plan be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To provide an action plan to Ofsted within 70 working days of the published inspection report.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  None.

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

Report of the Divisional Director of Regeneration and Planning.

Following consideration of the confidential appendices, it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the progress of the Regeneration Programme be noted;

(2)          the procurement for the pre-construction services for Poets Corner (Phase 1), Byron Quarter (Phase 1) and the new Civic Centre be commenced and that, if viability criteria were met at the appropriate time, entry into any construction contract and the associated construction programme be subject to further Cabinet approval;

(3)          the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business, Planning and Regeneration, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Commercialisation, Director of Finance and Director of Legal and Governance, be authorised to:

a)     take all necessary steps, acting in the best interests of the Council, to progress the procurement activities set out at resolution (2) above;

b)     enter into pre-construction agreements for Poets Corner Phase 1, Byron Quarter Phase 1 and the New Civic, subject to a total contract value not greater than £3m.

(4)          the commercial and financial review of the regeneration programme as set out in Part 5 of the report and its potential implications on the delivery of the Regeneration Programme be noted, including that the outcome of the review be reported to Cabinet in September 2017.

Reason for Decision:  To continue to deliver the Regeneration Strategy approved at Cabinet in December 2014, September 2015 and May 2016.

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 Resources and Commercial.

Following consideration of the confidential appendices, it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the progress on the Council’s commercialisation activity to date since the agreement of a Commercialisation Strategy in 2015 be noted;

(2)          the year 2 Business Plan for Concilium Group be approved;

(3)          the year 2 business plan for Concilium Business Services be approved;

(4)          the Corporate Director of Resources and Commercial be appointed as the shareholder representative for Concilium Group and for Concilium Business Services and, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Commercialisation, be authorised to consider and agree matters reserved to the Council as shareholder under the companies’ governing documents;

(5)          the Divisional Director of Housing, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Employment, be authorised to agree the terms and award contracts for the management of properties acquired under the Council’s Property Purchase Initiative to Concilium Business Services;

(6)          the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business, Planning and Regeneration, be authorised to agree terms and award contracts to Concilium Business Services relating to the management of other residential properties owned on the Council’s General Fund.

Reason for Decision:  To continue to support the Council’s Commercialisation Strategy and to achieve a positive financial contribution to 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.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the timetable for the preparation and consideration of the statutory Plans and Strategies, including the non-statutory plans and strategies, set out at Appendices A and B respectively, be approved, subject to the following amendment in respect of the reporting dates for the Community Safety Plan: 27 June 2017 (Overview and Scrutiny Committee), 13 July 2017 (Cabinet) and 28 September 2017 (Council).

(2)          the Monitoring Officer, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to vary the timetable.

Reason for Decision:  To comply with the requirements of paragraph 3 of the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules set out in Section 4C of the Council’s Constitution.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  None.

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

Appendices 2 and 3 to the Report of the Corporate Director of Community.

Please refer to Minute 542for decision.

Appendices 1 and 2 to the Joint Report of the Divisional Director of Commissioning Services and Director of Adult Social Services.

Please refer to Minute 543 for decision.

Appendices 1 – 3 to the Report of the Divisional Director of Regeneration and Planning.

Please refer to Minute 545 for decision.

Appendices 1 – 4 to the report of the Corporate Director of Resources and Commercial.

Please refer to Minute 546 for decision.