Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Harrow Civic Centre, Station Road, Harrow, HA1 2XY. View directions

Contact: Nikoleta Kemp, Senior Democratic & Electoral Services Officer  Tel: 07761 405898 E-mail:  nikoleta.kemp@harrow.gov.uk

Media

Items
No. Item

530.

Apologies for Absence

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Sue Anderson (Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement, Accessibility & Customer Services) and Councillor Adam Swersky (Non-Executive Cabinet Member).

531.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 102 KB

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

 

(a)          all Members of the Committee, Sub-Committee or Panel;

(b)          all other Members present in any part of the room or chamber.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  To note that the declaration of interests, which had been published on the Council website, be taken as read.

532.

Petitions

To receive any petitions submitted by members of the public or Councillors.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED: To note that no petitions had been received.

 

 

533.

Public Questions pdf icon PDF 310 KB

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, 18 October 2021.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk

No person may submit more than one question].

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED: To note that one public question had been received and responded to and the recording would be available on the website.

 

534.

Councillor Questions pdf icon PDF 320 KB

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 October 2021.]

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Councillor Questions were responded to and the recording placed on the Council’s website.

535.

Key Decision Schedule October - December 2021 pdf icon PDF 243 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Having noted that the report on “Request for authority to award the housing domestic and commercial gas contracts” had been deferred to November, Cabinet

 

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Key Decision Schedule for the period October – December 2021.

 

536.

Reference from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Race Equality in Harrow Council pdf icon PDF 250 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  To note the reference from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

 

537.

Progress on Scrutiny Projects pdf icon PDF 220 KB

For consideration

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  To note the current progress of the scrutiny reports.

538.

Covid-19 Update pdf icon PDF 399 KB

Verbal update from the Chief Executive.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Having agreed to vary the order of business, Cabinet received a presentation from the Chief Executive, which provided Members with a regular strategic update on Covid-19 cases across the borough, the Council’s ongoing response to Covid-19, testing, vaccination progress and winter planning. Acknowledging the continuous pressures on Council services and the ongoing impact on organisational capacity and staff resilience throughout this challenging period, Cabinet wished to express their gratitude to all staff for their work and ongoing commitment.

 

RESOLVED: That the verbal update and accompanying presentation from the Chief Executive, be noted.

 

 

Resolved Items

Additional documents:

539.

Maintained Schools Fire Door Upgrade Programme pdf icon PDF 323 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, Community.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)            the procurement process to appoint a contractor(s) for the installation of new fire doors across the Council’s maintained schools at an anticipated value of £915,000.00, be commenced;

 

(2)            the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, Portfolio Holder for Education and Social Services for Children and Young People and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources together with the Director of Finance, be authorised to finalise the procurement and award of the contract(s).

 

Reason for Decision:  To provide an efficient and compliant procurement route to award a contract(s) for the upgrade of fire doors in schools detailed below and maintained by the Council, in order to ensure the Council fulfilled its statutory and regulatory responsibilities for maintaining its buildings.

 

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

 

540.

Harrow Community Infrastructure Levy (HCIL) - Approval of Discretionary Social Housing Relief Policy /Statement pdf icon PDF 399 KB

Report of the Head of Planning.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Discretionary Social Housing Relief policy / statement set out in Appendix 1 to the officer report, be agreed.

 

Reason for Decision:  The Community Infrastructure Regulations 2010 (‘CIL Regulations’) required charging authorities to publish statements about the availability of discretionary social housing relief in its area for such relief to be applied.

 

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.

 

541.

Security, Health & Safety Compliance - Homesafe Works Request for Additional Budget pdf icon PDF 600 KB

Report of the Divisional Director, Housing Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)            the increase to the current Programme budget of £2.4m by an additional £1.6m to a new total budget of £4,000,000, funded from Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital resources in financial years 2021/22 and 2022/23, be approved;

 

(2)            the commencement of a procurement process to identify a suitable provider to deliver the enhanced Programme be approved; 

 

(3)            the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Housing and Finance and Resources, be authorised to award a contract to the Most Economically Advantageous Tender following the completion of a compliant procurement process;

 

(4)            the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Housing and Finance and Resources, be authorised to issue a Letter of Intent to the successful tenderer to carry out pre contract surveys and to order materials with expected long lead-in times for delivery.

 

Reason for Decision: The increased estimated Programme value required Cabinet approval for the additional budget to comply with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules and 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.

 

542.

Green Homes Grant Coalition Bid - request to access grant funding awarded pdf icon PDF 553 KB

Report of the Divisional Director, Housing Services.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)            the collaboration with the lead Borough Ealing, in order to utilise the funding awarded under the Green Homes Grant: Local Authority Delivery scheme (GHG:LAD) Phase 2 and any further phases to the West London consortium of 12 boroughs, be agreed  to enable retrofit solutions works to be delivered via an appointed managing agent procured by the lead Borough).

 

(2)            the Corporate Director of Community, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Housing and Finance and Resources and the Director of Finance, be authorised to:

 

a.     Approve the contribution of £75,000 from the HRA under Phase 2 which required the Council to match fund one third of the Green Homes Grant of £150,000 for the installation of energy efficiency measures to council owned properties.

b.  Seek and secure future funding including Phase 3 of the Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme,  Sustainable Warmth Competition, and/or Home Upgrade Grant following, following a West London Consortium competitive procurement process or other compliant procurement process, to take all necessary actions to utilise such funding and carry out further retrofit works to homes in the Borough.

 

Reason for Decision:  An indicative allocation, based on population and fuel poverty figures, of £10.788 million was awarded to the West London Consortium. Harrow’s indicative allocation for Phase 2 is £750,000 based on this formula.  This would fund the retrofitting of at least a further 75 properties in addition to the anticipated 58 in Phase 1a.

 

The delivery of retrofit activity under the scheme would enable the Council to:

 

-        Addressthe ClimateEmergency thatHarrow Councilhad declared by undertaking domestic retrofit measures in the borough.

-        Targetnot onlyHarrow’s poorestenergy performingstock butalso those households ingreatest needhelping toreduce fuelpoverty.

-        Contribute to helping the local Harrow economy by providingopportunities for local training within colleges and employmentopportunities, viaagreed socialvalue contribution/commitments.

-        Improve the energy efficiency of private properties and social housing, supported by grantfunding and £75,000 Harrow HRA funding.

 

Due to the estimated value of the proposed contract award, Cabinet authorisation was required to comply with the Council’s Contract Procedure rules and to enable utilisation of the grant 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.

 

 

543.

School Organisation Update and School Capital Programme pdf icon PDF 515 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, People.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)            the update on changes to school place provision and the School Roll Projections 2021-2033 Report and the changes in the overall school organisation landscape be noted;

 

(2)            the schools where additional SEND provision would be established including the associated Capital programme be noted;

 

(3)            changes to School Place Planning Areas that would be applied following a review of the current planning areas to ensure that they were compliant with the new Department for Education (DfE) guidance be noted (the updated planning areas would incorporate any changes to ward boundaries which would be implemented in May 2022).

 

Reason for Decision:  To enable the Local Authority to fulfil its statutory duties 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 to the decisions above as it was a noting report].

 

 

544.

Race Equality in Harrow Council pdf icon PDF 321 KB

Report of the Chief Executive.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Having noted the points raised by Councillor Stephen Greek as Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to the reference submitted by the Committee (at item 7), Cabinet

 

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)            the Council’s strategic approach on race equality in Harrow and the Race Equality Action Plan attached at Appendix A to the officer report, be agreed and the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Equality and Public Health, be authorised to implement the Plan;

 

(2)            the Zero Tolerance Statement attached at Appendix B to the officer report, be approved.

 

Reason for Decision:  In light of the murder of George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter protests and the disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on those from Black, Asian, and Multi-Ethnic backgrounds, the Council recognised the need to do more to improve the experiences and outcomes for staff.  The report set out the Council’s ambitions on race equality in Harrow Council and responded to the recommendations set out in the Independent Race Review conducted by Professor Patrick Vernon in April 2021.

 

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.