Agenda and minutes

Received from Councillor Graham Henson, Portfolio Holder for Environment.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 4 – Public Questions

During public question time, Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane, who was not a Member of Cabinet, declared a non-pecuniary interest in respect of question 6, in that he worked for national Citizens Advice. He would remain in the room to listen to the answer given.

Agenda Item 11 – School Expansion Programme

Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane, who was not a Member of Cabinet, declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was a parent of a young child. He would remain in the room to listen to the discussion and decision making relating to the item.

(1)          Petition for security improvements on behalf of residents at Willow Court, 18-24 College Hill Road, Harrow Weald, HA3 7HD

Councillor Pritesh Patel, presented a petition signed by 28 residents of Willow Court with the following terms of reference:

“We live in our homes and deserve to feel safe and secure.  A terrifying incident which occurred on the evening of 8^th July, 2017 highlighted many flaws in our immediate surroundings with regards to our health and safety.  We are elderly individuals who have difficulty regarding language and speaking up.  After the incident we feel threatened in our home environment - we would like this petition to be taken extremely seriously and the items mentioned to be implemented immediately.  The incident was reported to the Metropolitan Police and the crime reference number is:  CAD 9708/8JUL17, we are extremely grateful for their help and support.

We request Harrow Council to liaise with PA ASRA Housing on our behalf to address the following security concerns:

1)            To re-instate as previously, an on-site Warden who is on duty 24 hours, to monitor the premises and provide support to residents accordingly.

2)            To make repairs to broken fencing and missing panels at the rear of the property and to secure the access to the garden area.

3)            To repair and ensure that the CCTV system is fully operational, covering the entire premises internal and external.  The CCTV system is currently not functioning in some parts.

4)            To install security lighting with sensors to operate during the night, especially at the rear of the property.

5)            To repair the anti-vandal scaling barrier vanes on top of the side entry gate into the car park.

6)            To adjust the timing of the opening and closing of the main entry gate into the car park so that it is not unnecessarily delayed.

7)            To improve upon the response times from pulling the emergency cord within the premises.

8)            For the Council to ensure that there is an increased Police presence patrolling the area.

RESOLVED:  That the petition be received and the Divisional Director of Housing and the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Employment be requested to liaise with the Housing Association with a view to responding to the terms of reference of the petition.

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 10 July 2017. 

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

No person may submit more than one question].

RESOLVED:  Public and Councillor questions taken were responded to and any recording placed on the Council’s website. 

RESOLVED:  That the Key Decision Schedule be noted, including that the item on ‘Advocacy Tender’ had been withdrawn.

Reference from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the reference from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be received and noted;

(2)          a response report to the recommendations of the Review Group be submitted by the relevant Directorate(s), including those actions taken by the North West NHS Trust to the September 2017 Cabinet meeting;

(3)          the Chair of the Review Group and an opposition Member of the Review Group be invited to present the findings in accordance with the Cabinet/Scrutiny Protocol.

Reason for Decision:  To receive and request a response for Cabinet’s consideration in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  None.

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

[Call-in does not apply].

For consideration.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted, including that the item on ‘Advocacy Tender’ had been withdrawn.

Report of the Corporate Director of People.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Council)

That the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2017 – 2019 be approved.

RESOLVED:  That the Corporate Parenting Strategy 2017 – 2019, as recommended by the Corporate Parenting Panel on 14 June 2017, be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure that all Councillors as Corporate Parents were aware of how these responsibilities were being carried out.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  None.

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

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

Report of the Divisional Director of Strategic Commissioning.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Council) 

That  the Community Safety, Violence, Vulnerability and Exploitation Strategy 2017?2020 be adopted.

RESOLVED:  That the reference from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted and the Portfolio Holder for Public Health, Equality and Community Safety be authorised to make minor amendments to the Strategy, in conjunction with Harrow Community Safety Partnership, Safer Harrow, for presentation to full Council meeting in September 2017.

Reason for Decision:  To endorse the Safer Harrow Partnership’s Community Safety Strategy 2017-2020 and adopt it as Harrow Council’s Community Safety Plan. 

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 as the decision was reserved to Council.]

Report of the Divisional Director of Environment and Culture.

RESOLVED: That

(1)          a charge of £20 to non-residents using the Harrow Re-use and Recycling Centre (HRRC) site per visit be introduced and non-residents be restricted from disposing of non-recyclable waste;

(2)          all Harrow Residents be required to produce proof of identification to demonstrate that they lived in the borough in order to dispose of household waste free of charge;

(3)          Harrow residents be prevented from disposing of non-household waste free of charge, including building waste resulting from construction or demolition works and home renovation works;

(4)          the Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems (ANPR) be used at the site to help control and restrict unauthorised usage;

(5)          the Divisional Director of Environment and Culture, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, be authorised to progress implementation of these recommendations.

Reason for Decision:  To better control and manage services at the HRRC in order to: reduce the number of vehicles visiting the site, reducing traffic congestion and the associated issues this had caused to the surrounding area, increase throughput at the site, make the HRRC a less attractive option for out of borough users, significantly reduce the levels of waste the site imported, significantly reduce the amount of residual tonnage disposed of at the site and associated disposal costs, further reduce the amount of trade and business waste that was deposited at the site, and improve recycling performance to support the Council’s recycling targets.

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

(1)          a direct award of the short breaks contract to the three providers currently on the short breaks framework be approved for a period of 9 months (1 October 2017 – 30 June 2018) at a value of £450,000 pending a competitive procurement to award a new contract from 1 July 2018;

(2)          consultation with children, young people, families and other interested parties on the future procurement of short breaks provision be agreed;

(3)          the Corporate Director of People, following consultation with Portfolio Holders for Children, Young People, Adults and Older People and Finance and Commercialisation, be authorised to consider the consultation results and to procure future short breaks services, including the award of a contract for a maximum of 5 years from 1 July 2018.

Reason for Decision:  To provide sufficient time to carry out consultation with children, young people, parents/carers and other key stakeholders to ensure future provision met needs and to allow a competitive procurement process to be concluded.

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 update on the implementation of the School Expansion Programme and the School Roll Projections 2018-2030 be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To fulfil a statutory duty 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 as the decision was noted.]

Report of the Divisional Director of Regeneration and Planning.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the proposed additions to the list of locally listed buildings in Harrow, provided at Appendix 2 to the report, be agreed;

(2)          the proposed de-listing of 66 Hutton Lane, and the former George Public House, Marsh Lane, as listed in Appendix 3 to the report, be agreed.

Reason for Decision: To comply with the National Planning Policy Framework requirement that planning authorities ensured that they made information about the significance of the historic environment gathered as part of plan-making or development management publicly accessible.  Providing locally listed status to those buildings that had local merit and removing them from those that did not help protect Harrow’s local historic and architectural interest.  To assist the Council to meet its corporate priority that sought to build stronger communities.

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 Regeneration and Planning.

RESOLVED:  That officers be authorised to undertake public consultation on:

(1)          the addition of Paines Lane Cemetery to the list of locally listed parks and gardens in Harrow;

(2)          the enhancement of the local list description for Pinner Memorial Park.

Reason for Decision:  To comply with the National Planning Policy Framework requirement that planning authorities ensured that they made information about the significance of the historic environment gathered as part of plan-making or development management publicly accessible.  Providing locally listed status to those heritage assets that have local merit would help protect Harrow’s local historic and architectural interest and assist the Council to meet its corporate priority that sought to build stronger communities.  To comply with the Harrow Core Strategy (adopted 12^th February 2012) Strategic Objective 1 for ‘heritage assets – parks and gardens’ for an ‘up to date list of locally important historic parks and gardens’.

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 revenue forecast position detailed in the report as at period 2 2017/18 be noted;

(2)          the progress on achieving the 2017/18 savings as at period 2, May 2017, be noted;

(3)          the proposed addition to the capital programme, as outlined in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.2 of the report, be approved;

(4)          the re-alignment of the Town Centre Library project, as outlined in paragraph 4.3 of the report, be noted;

(5)          a debt write off in Children’s Services of £48,000, as set out in paragraph 5.1 of the report, be agreed.

Reason for Decision:  To be availed of the 2017/18 forecast financial position as at 31 May 2017 and the progress in achieving the 2017/18 Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) savings.  To write off bad debt and  seek the approval for Capital Programme adjustments in accordance with Financial Regulations.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  None.

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

Report of the Corporate Director of Resources and Commercial.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted and Portfolio Holders continue working with officers to achieve improvement against identified key challenges.

Reason for Decision:  To be availed of performance against key measures and to identify and assign corrective action where necessary.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  None.

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

[Call-in does not apply as the decision was noted.]