Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

None received.

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.

RESOLVED: To note that the following interest was declared:

Agenda Item 11 – Adult Social Care Mental Health Services

Councillor Hitesh Karia, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he worked in an organisation that provided adult social care and mental health services. He remained in the meeting while the item was discussed and agreed upon.

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

The following petitions were received:

(1)            From Councillor June Baxter, on behalf of Mr Les Conway and other residents of Whittington Way and surrounding roads of Pinner South, containing 106 signatures, requesting that the Council took urgent action to address health and safety issues resulting from cars and motorbikes running engines during unsociable hours and consider the installation of speed cameras;

(2)            From Councillor Phil O’Dell, on behalf of Carmelite and Hampden road residents, containing 40 signatures, requesting that the Council took urgent action about vehicles of over 5-ton weight which park in the neighbourhood overnight; and

(3)            From Mr Hugh Brown, containing 2175 signatures to date, requesting the Council to halt plans to charge for use of tennis courts and ensure that parks and facilities within them remain free for all to enjoy.

RESOLVED: That

(1)            petitions (1) and (2) be referred to the Corporate Director of Place for consideration and response; and

(2)            petition (3) be referred to the Corporate Director of Place for consideration and response as well as to the next appropriate Council meeting for debate.

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, 10 October 2022.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk

No person may submit more than one question].

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

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, 10 October 2022].

RESOLVED:  That the Councillor Questions were responded to and the recording would be made available on the Council’s website.

Having noted that the reports on “Kodak” Wealdstone Footbridge ”, “Harrow Strategic Development Plan (HSDP) – Progress and Review” and “Translation and Interpretation Services” had been deferred to the November meeting, Cabinet

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Key Decision Schedule for the period October to December 2022.

For consideration

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

Report of the Corporate Director of Place.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the outcome of the review of the Milton Road scheme be noted;

(2)            the amendment of the scheme from that commissioned by the Council to the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership (HSDP) in November 2021 and the taking of relevant steps, including applying for appropriate planning permission, be approved, noting that approval for the implementation of the amended scheme would be sought following completion of the final costs and viability; and

(3)            the Corporate Director of Place, following consultation with the Deputy Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration and Portfolio Holder for Housing, be authorised toappropriate such parts or the whole of the Milton Road and Poets Corner HSDP sites for planning purposes and to override third party rights and covenants as may be necessary.

Reason for Decision:  To enable the progress of the Milton Road development scheme and facilitate the forthcoming development of the Poets Corner site.

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 Place and the Director of Inclusive Economy, Leisure & Culture.

Having agreed to note the confidential appendices to the officer report, Cabinet

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the extension of the Council’s current Tri-borough leisure contract (with the London Boroughs of Brent and Ealing) with Everyone Active (Sports and Leisure Management) (SLM) Ltd for 1 year until 31 August 2024, be agreed;

(2)            the Corporate Director of Place and the Director of Finance, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community and Culture and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Human Resources, be authorised to complete all the required actions to extend the Council’s current Tri-Borough leisure contract (with the London Boroughs of Brent and Ealing) with Everyone Active (SLM) Ltd for 1 year until 31 August 2024, noting that the responsible officer for the completion of this task would be the Head of Service – Culture and Leisure; and

(3)            an update reporton the review of the Council’s future leisure service provision to deliver a procurement process which secured the optimal long-term arrangement for the Council, which may include a further recommendation to extend the contract for a further one-year extension be taken to a future Cabinet meeting.  

Reason for Decision:  The tri-borough contract is due to end on 31st August 2023. The leisure services market is in a state of uncertainty. An extension of the contract would allow the leisure market to recover further from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and for a strategic review of future leisure service provision. That review would include an investment strategy and appraisal of management options to be completed. That review was delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

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 Place and the Director of Environment.

Prior to introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Safety clarified that the original September to November Key Decision Schedule referred to both fly-tipping and bulky waste collection. However, as the fly-tipping elements were still being developed, it was decided to focus in this report solely on bulky waste and the multi-booking system. A separate report on fly-tipping would be taken to a future Cabinet meeting.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the introduction of a free bulky waste service for Residents from January 2023, be agreed, noting it was one collection of up to 4 items per year per household in Harrow; and

(2)            the proposed introduction of a multi booking system for visits to Household Reuse and Recycling Centre (HWRRC), be noted.

Reason for Decision: To help reduce the financial burden on residents of the rising cost of living by introducing a free bulky waste service for every household across the borough and to provide residents with more flexibility and improve the customer experience by offering an extended online booking service for use of the Household Waste, Reuse and Recycling Centre.

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, People.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the preferred option to transfer the adult social care mental health services from Central North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust to the Council, be agreed; and

(2)            the Corporate Director of People Services, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult Services and Public Health, be authorised to agree final details of the transfer and the new operating model for adults’ social care mental health services.

Reason for Decision:  To fulfil the local authority’s statutory responsibility for adult social care mental health services.

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 and Assurance.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the implementation of 1-hour free car parking in all council car parks except West House and the Leisure Centre car parks where the current arrangements will remain in place, be agreed;

(2)            the move towards a cashlite council by removing all pay and display machines, with the exemptions detailed in tables 1 and 2 of the officer report, to a cashless solution with options to pay by app, phone (card) or in cash at a local pay point shop within a five-minute walk, be agreed;

(3)            the Head of Highways, Transport and Asset Management, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Safety be authorised to consider the consultation responses and if appropriate make and implement traffic management orders; and

(4)            as part of the decommissioning of the Civic Centre site, the current kiosks at the civic centre be disabled

Reason for Decisions:  The move to a cash lite council would reduce the significant costs incurred through handling cash and the maintenance/ upgrade of all pay and display machines, whilst also ensuring effective, efficient, and sustainable services.

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 and Assurance.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the revenue and capital outturn positions set out in paragraphs 1.2 to 1.4 in the officer report, be noted; and

(2)            the Council’s Trading Update as detailed in Appendix 3 to the officer report, be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To report the 2022-23 financial forecast position at Q1 and to update Cabinet on trading company performance.

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 Acting Corporate Director of Resources.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the allocation of the third extension of the Household Support Fund as set out in the officer report be agreed;  

(2)            the purchase of select codes vouchers from Blackhawk to a value of £181k be agreed;

(3)            the transfer of approximately £753,817 to schools for them to provide free school meals (FSM) vouchers for approximately 6500 households with children during the school holidays, be agreed;

(4)            any underspend to be repurposed in the following order of priority:

a.              to provide up to £7000 to the Self Neglect and Hoarding team to support up to 100 extremely vulnerable households with mental health conditions, elderly and frail as vouchers were not suitable and 27 families with No Recourse to Public Funds;

b.              to top up the application-based scheme; or

c.               to rent arrears, if not required elsewhere.

(5)            the policy for the application-based scheme and the proposed administering process by the Revenues & Benefits team, be agreed; and

(6)            the Acting Corporate Director for Resources, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Performance, Communications and Customer Experience, be authorised to make technical scheme amendments to ensure the scheme meets the criteria set by the Government and the Council and remained within the indicative grant level.

Reason for Decision:  The recommendations in the report meet the essential criteria for the grant as set out by the Department for Work and Pensions.  The Council had considered where best to focus the funding and the proposals provide a balance of support together with focus so that the funding will not be spread too thinly.

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.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            Barnet Council’s continuing commitment to the shared legal practice be welcomed, noting their wish to continue the arrangement for a further 5 years;

(2)            Slough Borough Council be advised of Harrow’s ongoing willingness to provide their legal services; and

(3)            the Director of Legal and Governance Services, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Performance, Communications & Customer Experience, be authorised to agree an extension to the Inter Authority Agreement with the London Borough of Barnet until 2027 and with Slough Borough Council for a period of up to five years. 

Reason for Decision: The initial agreement was for 5 years and had been extended until 2022 and the proposal was to further extend until 2027. The indications were that Slough was happy with the service, and so authority was sought to extend the arrangement.

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.