Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Phillip O’Dell.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 3 – Public Questions

Councillors Krishna Suresh and Jean Lammiman declared non-pecuniary interests in that they were Trustees of Harrow Association for the Disabled and one of the public questions was from a representative of that organisation.  They would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered.

RESOLVED:  To note no petitions had been presented.

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, 12 November 2018.  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.

Report of the Corporate Director, Community

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Council) 

That the revised Statement of Principles be 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.

[Call-in does not apply as the substantive decision is for full Council.] 

Report of Director of Legal and Governance Services

RESOLVED:  That John Higgins be welcomed as the voluntary sector non?executive representative and that the manner in which the role will work be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To enable the views of Harrow’s voluntary sector to be an integral part of Harrow’s executive decision making.

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.

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Key Decision Schedule for the period December 2018 to February 2019.

RESOLVED:  That the Progress on Scrutiny Projects report be noted.

Joint Report of the Corporate Director, Community and Director of Finance.

Cabinet noted that the financial figure in the third bullet point of Recommendation 3 should read £175,000.

Having considered the confidential appendix, it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          Option 1 be approved as the most financially prudent route for the use of the 53  Private Sector Rented (PRS) units at Gayton Road (paragraph 2.3.8 refers);

(2)          the use of Concilium Assets LLP (LLP) as the Council’s Private Rented Stock investment vehicle to operate the 53 Gayton Road PRS units be approved;

(3)          authority be delegated to the Director of Finance, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Regeneration, Planning &  Employment and Finance &  Resources:

·           to make the arrangements for the allocation of Members Capital, set at a nominal value of £100 (paragraph 2.7.3 refers);

·           to set an interim budget with the Board of the LLP pending the submission of the Business Plan;

·           to make arrangements for a loan,  at a commercial rate, to the LLP,  capped at £175,000, governed by a loan agreement (paragraph 2.7.5 refers);

·           to take all other actions required on behalf of the Council to ensure that the LLP was operational and able to administer the 53 Gayton Road units, including the approval of any relevant reserved matters under the LLP Members Agreement;

(4)          authority be delegated to the Corporate Director, Community, following consultation with the Director of Legal & Governance, to authorise the form and grant of the underlease of the Gayton Road PRS units from the Council to the LLP;

(5)          authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance, to approve the use and letting, to include a letting at less than best consideration, of the ground floor community and commercial space in the Gayton Road PRS block.

Reasons for Decision:  On the 17 September 2015, Cabinet approved proposals for the development of land at Gayton Road which included the offer from Fairview New Homes PLC to build out the 53 PRS units on behalf of the Council in lieu of a receipt to the Council for its land.  The Council’s 53 PRS units are nearing completion of construction.  The units were originally intended for letting on the private rental market by the Council’s investment vehicle, Concilium Assets LLP.  Acknowledging that the Council’s original intention was three years ago and both the Council’s internal and external environment has moved on, it is considered prudent that the Council review the options available for the units to ensure the most financially prudent route is secured.

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 Housing Services

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          authority be given to officers to undertake a procurement process for a contractor to deliver a variety of Security, Health and Safety Compliance and common parts works, including fire safety works as part of general improvements to the safety of Housing Revenue Account (HRA) dwelling stock, funded entirely from HRA capital resources in financial years 2018-19 and 2019-20;

(2)          authority be delegated to the Divisional Director, Housing Services, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Housing and Finance and Resources, to award and arrange the execution of a contract with the successful tenderer,.

Reasons for Decision:  Due to the estimated value of the project of £2m, Cabinet approval was required in order to comply with the Council’s Contract Procedure. Rules.

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 Director of Adult Social Care and Divisional Director of Housing Services

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the strategic approach to increase the supply of extra care housing for older people in Harrow be approved;

(2)          the need for supported housing, particularly extra care housing for older people, be a priority for consideration in development opportunities in Harrow be approved;

(3)          authority be delegated to the interim Director of Adult Social Care and the Corporate Director Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adults and Public Health and the Portfolio Holder for Housing, to proceed with identifying and progressing suitable sites for extra care development;

(4)          authority be delegated to the interim Director of Adult Social Care and Corporate Director, Resources and Commercial, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adults and Public Health and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, to procure the provision of extra care wellbeing services;

(5)          authority be delegated to the interim Director of Adult Social Care and Corporate Director, Resources and Commercial, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adults and Public Health and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, to award the contracts for the provision of extra care wellbeing services. 

Reason for Decision:  To progress the development and implementation of the strategy to increase Extra Care housing provision in Harrow.

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, Community

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the adoption of the Harrow Indoor Sports Facility Strategy 2018-2026, including the Action Plan as outlined in Sections 6.4-6.15 of the Strategy and in paragraph 5.5 of the officer report, be approved;

(2)          the Corporate Director, Community be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Regeneration, Planning, and Employment, to proceed with the implementation of the Action Plan provided by the Strategy and take any action necessary.

Reasons for Decision:  The Harrow Indoor Sports Facility Strategy 2018?2026 would enable Harrow to plan for current and future community needs in the Borough for indoor sports facilities with recommendations to inform future facility investment.  The Strategy would allow Harrow to provide better access to indoor sports facilities and increase people’s participation in sport and physical activity to achieve improved health and wellbeing outcomes for Harrow.

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, Community

RESOLVED:   That

(1)          approval be granted for the Head of Economic Development and Research, following consultation with the Head of Procurement, to undertake a procurement process for the selection of supplier(s) to deliver the fit out of the new Greenhill Library as part of the development at Harrow Square, 51 College Road, to replace the existing Gayton Library;

(2)          the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Employment, and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, be authorised to award and arrange the execution of contracts with the successful tenderer(s) appointed through the procurement process.

Reason for Recommendations:  Due to the estimated value of the project, Cabinet authorisation was required to comply with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules.

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, Community

RESOLVED:   That

(1)          approval be granted to select the provider for the third party on-street enforcement contract;

(2)          the Corporate Director, Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, be authorised to finalise the award of the contract;

(3)          the levels of fines as shown in Appendix 2 be agreed, in line with other partner councils, to ensure a consistent approach, and that the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, be authorised to set future levels of fines in line with statutory guidance or other requirements;

(4)          the extension of the current contract for environmental enforcement with the incumbent provider until the proposed contract commences be noted and agreed.

Reasons for Decision:  Following a successful three-year pilot of on-street low level enforcement, covering areas such as littering and spitting, Harrow wished to continue its active enforcement of these issues which affected the quality of life of its residents and visitors. 

Harrow had participated in a collaborative procurement with West London Alliance (WLA) councils Ealing and Barnet that would deliver improved, beneficial contract performance and benefit local environmental outcomes.  It will also provide a consistent approach across the three neighbouring boroughs, and allow better collaboration around matters such as communications and targeted work.

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 Services and Director of Finance

RESOLVED:  That the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan update 2018, which would form the framework for the draft HRA Budget 2019?20 and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2020?21 to 2021?22 to be submitted to Cabinet on 6 December 2018, be approved.

Reason for Recommendations:  To have in place an agreed 30 years HRA Business Plan for 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, Strategic Commissioning

Having considered the confidential appendix, it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the establishment of a Community Lottery be approved in line with the plans set out in the officer report;

(2)          the award (under waiver) of a contract to Gatherwell Limited be approved for a period of 5 years for a total forecast value of £174,112 to run the lottery;

(3)          the criteria for registering organisations as beneficiaries be approved;

(4)          to the Corporate Director of Resources and Commercial be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement and Accessibility, to agree the policies and procedures necessary and/or desirable to fulfil the conditions for obtaining a licence from the Gambling Commission;

(5)          the Divisional Director of Strategic Commissioning and Head of Policy be nominated to hold the Gambling Commission licence on behalf of the local authority.

Reason for Decision:  To fulfil our commitment to work with the Voluntary and Community Sector to support it to access alternative sources of funding.  

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.

Information report of Corporate Director, Community

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

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