Agenda and minutes

On behalf of the Cabinet, the Leader of the Council welcome Paul Walker, Corporate Director of Community, to his first Cabinet meeting.

RESOLVED:  Received from Councillors Glen Hearnden, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Employment, and Councillor Sue Anderson, Portfolio Holder for Community, Culture and Resident Engagement.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interest was declared:

Agenda Item 3 - Petitions

Councillor Stephen Greek declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was a governor of Weald Rise Primary School.  He would remain in the room to listen to the terms of reference of the petition.

(1)          Petition: Parking around Weald Rise Primary School

Councillor Ramji Chauhan presented a petition signed by 52 residents with the following terms of reference:

“As local residents, we are concerned about continued parking issues around Weald Rise Primary School, including unauthorised parking on residents’ driveways, blocked driveways, abusive language and other infringements.  We call upon the Council to:

·                     Increase parking enforcement in the area in particular, parking in residence’s driveways and blocking driveways.

·                     Ensure that the school takes all possible measures to tackle offending by parent drivers, including direct sanctions against repeat offenders.”

RESOLVED:  That the petition be received and referred to the Corporate Director of Community for a response.

(2)          Petition: To take action and curb anti-social behaviour emanating from residents of a property on College Road, Harrow Weald

Councillor Pritesh Patel, presented a petition signed by 99 residents with the following terms of reference:

“We the undersigned, are concerned that a property at College Road are housing tenants that are causing numerous incidents of anti-social behaviour affecting the safety and wellbeing of the residents in the vicinity.

We have experienced several incidents of anti-social behaviour, linked to tenants residing at the property, with frequent instances of noise disturbance, drugs abuse, drug dealing, abusive behaviour towards residents and fighting late at night.  There has been excessive litter in and around the property as well as criminal damage caused to adjacent properties.

The police have been called on numerous occasions to deal with multiple disturbances by residents at this property and despite having made a number of complaints to the Council, no corrective action seems to have taken place to address the issue.  Needless to say, the impact of such behaviour is devastating on the local residents.

Recently there has been a spate of burglaries on the road and although it is not possible to prove (at this stage) any direct link to the property this has added to the safety concerns and insecurity felt by residents, who feel neglected and badly let down by the Council and the Police.

College Road used to be a quiet, peaceful and safe residential road and we want to ensure that it to reverts to that state.

We therefore ask the Council to:

1)     Take urgent action against the occupiers of [the property] on College Road and put a stop to the disturbances and nuisance caused by its occupants;

2)     To intensify Police presence on the road so that residents are assured of their safety;

3)     To send out letters giving advice to safe-guard residents, properties and possessions;

4)     To provide smart water kits and signage to deter criminality and burglaries on the road.”

RESOLVED:  That the petition be received and referred the Corporate Director of Community for a response.

(3)          Petition: Against a part of Council Scheme DP 2017-12 –  Specifically against the introduction of speed-cushions/humps

Mr Davis, a local resident, presented a petition signed by 220 households with the following terms of reference:

“We hereby signed below object to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 615.

To receive any public questions received in accordance with paragraph 16 of the Executive Procedure Rules.

Questions will be asked in the order in which they were received.  There will be a time limit of 15 minutes for the asking and answering of public questions.

[The deadline for receipt of public questions is 3.00 pm, 13 November 2017. 

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

No person may submit more than one question].

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.

Reference from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 7 November 2017.

RESOLVED:  That

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

(2)          it be noted that a response report to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review would be considered at the January 2018 Cabinet meeting where the Chair and the Vice-Chair of the Review Group would be invited to present the findings in accordance with the Cabinet/Scrutiny Protocol.

Reason for Decision:  To receive the reference and request a response for Cabinet’s consideration.

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.

Report of the Divisional Director of Environment and Culture.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the Public Art Policy and Application Process be approved for adoption with immediate effect;

(2)          the Divisional Director of Environment and Culture, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community, Culture and Resident Engagement, be authorised to make amendments to the Public Art Policy and Application Process.

Reasons for Decision:  To enable a high quality public art in the borough.  To ensure that any proposed art installations were considered in the interests of the wider community, including recognition of the Council’s Equalities Policy.  To ensure that all proposals were evaluated in relation to their social, economic and environmental impacts.  To ensure that any proposed art installations would meet the required standards for installation and maintenance.  To contribute to a wider overarching Cultural Strategy that would provide access to arts and culture to everyone in the borough.

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 Housing and Acting Director of Adult Social Care.

An additional recommendation was moved and duly seconded and it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the Divisional Director of Housing and the Interim Director of Adult Social Care, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Housing and Employment, Adults and Older People and Finance and Commercialisation, be authorisedto procure Housing Related Support and Prevention Services and award the contracts;

(2)          the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business Planning and Regeneration, be authorised to approve the terms and completion of leases, including, if necessary, any disposal at less than best consideration, to permit the occupation and use of the Premises by the successful bidder.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure continued and more efficient provision of Housing Related Support and Preventative services to vulnerable residents and service users.  In order to adequately protect the Council’s assets, the use and occupation of the properties by the successful bidder would need to be documented by the granting of leases.  A clear delegation to the Corporate Director of Community was needed to finalise the terms of such leases and to authorise their completion.

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 Housing and Director of Finance.

RESOLVED:  That the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan update 2017 be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To put in place a 30-year HRA Business Plan for the purposes of long term planning (subject to annual review) and to enable delivery of previously agreed key housing objectives.

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

(1)          the representation received from the owners of The Lodge, appendix 2 to the report refers, and officers responses, section 4 and appendix 3 of the report refer, be noted;

(2)          The Lodge remain within the Pinner Road Conservation Area, but the boundary be amended to include the full extent of the property within the Conservation Area, appendix 1 refers, in order to rectify the anomaly of the current boundary passing through the rear conservatory of the property and officers advise the owners of The Lodge accordingly;

(3)          the Divisional Director of Regeneration and Planning be authorised to undertake the necessary statutory processes required to amend the Pinner Road Conservation Area, as outlined in resolution (2) above.

Reason for Decision:  Since 1967, local authorities have been required to protect areas which were valued for their special architectural or historic interest – the character and appearance of which it was desirable to preserve and enhance - through the designation of Conservation Areas under the provisions of Sections 69 and 70 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.  They were required to carry out reviews ‘from time to time’ to ensure areas were adequately covered.  They were also required to produce management strategies / proposals for Conservation Areas.

Having considered the representations received in relation to the inclusion of The Lodge in the Pinner Road Conservation Area, it was considered that The Lodge formed part of the special architectural and historic interest of the area and should remain within the Conservation Area. The amendment to the boundary to include the full extent of the property within the Conservation Area rectified the anomaly of the current boundary passing through the rear conservatory, thereby ensuring adequate / robust boundaries as required under the Act.

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.