Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Apologies were received from Non-Executive Voluntary Sector Representative, John Higgins.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from all Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 3 - Petitions

Councillor Mina Parmar declared a non-pecuniary interest in that her mother lived on Devonshire Road, which was mentioned in a petition presented to Cabinet.  She would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Councillor Kanti Rabadia declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was presenting a petition on behalf of residents which related to Kenmore Avenue.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Cllr Aneka Shah-Levy declared a non-pecuniary interest in that her daughter attended a school that related to a petition she had submitted on behalf of residents.  She would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Agenda Item 8 – Special Educational Needs and Disability and Alternative Provision (SENDAP) Strategy 2024-2029

Councillor Stephen Greek declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was a School Governor for Weald Rise Primary School who were hosting Kingsley High School.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

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

To note that the following petitions had been received:

1.              Cllr Kanti Rabadia presented a petition containing 44 signatures in relation to fly tipping on Kenmore Avenue, on behalf of the lead petitioner.

RESOLVED:  That the petition be referred to the Portfolio Holder for Cleaner Streets & Public Safety

2.              Cllr Aneka Shah-Levy presented a petition containing 124 signatures in relation to the Tesco development site planning application near Saint Jerome School, on behalf of the lead petitioner.

RESOLVED:  That the petition be referred to the Chief Planning Officer

3.              A member of the public presented a petition containing 75 signatures in relation to traffic calming measures along Devonshire and Sussex Road was received.

RESOLVED:  That the petition be referred to the Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel.

To note any public questions received.

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, Monday 22 July 2024.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk

No person may submit more than one question].

To note that no public questions had been received.

To receive any Councillor questions.

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, Monday 22 July 2024].

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

RESOLVED:  To note the contents of the Key Decision Schedule for the period July to September 2024.

For consideration

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

Report of the Strategic Director of Children’s Services

RSOLVED:  That

(1)            the SENDAP Strategy 2024-29 and Strategic Priorities as set out in this report and Appendix 1, be approved;

(2)            authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Childrens Services, to review and amend the Strategic Priorities, as required, during the period of the Strategy, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services.

Reason for Decision:  This would enable the Local Authority to fulfil its statutory duties for SEND provision in accordance with its duties under the Children and Families Act 2014 and to secure a continuum of provision and support, working with partners to provide support for pupils aged 0-25 with SEND and those in Alternative Provision (AP).

Report of the Corporate Director of Place

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the content of the report be noted;

(2)            Cabinet’s response be provided as the Governing Body in relation to the Housing Complaints Report 2023/2024 (Appendix 1) and that this  be published on the council’s website as part of the new statutory requirement and submitted to the Housing Ombudsman.

Reason for Decision:  The requirement to publish the Governing Body’s response to the annual Housing Complaints Report is a statutory requirement under the new Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 which introduced a range of changes to the regulation of social housing.  For these purposes Cabinet is the Governing Body.

Report of the Corporate Director of Place and Director of Environment

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the updated Highways Infrastructure Asset Management Plan and Footway and Carriageway Surfacing Programmes for 2024/2025, be noted;

(2)            the capital budget allocation of £6m in 2024/2025, supplemented by a contribution from Borough Community Infrastructure Levy (BCIL), (sum to be determined and agreed by Director of Finance (s151 Officer) and the Portfolio Holder Finance & Highways), and proposed apportionment of these budgets to these programmes be noted;

(3)            authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Culture, Environment and Economy following consultation with the Strategic Director of Finance (s151 Officer) and the Portfolio Holder for Finance & Highways, to: 1) carry out the infrastructure improvement works in accordance with the approved programme for carriageways and footways, and 2) to agree any amendments, additions and deletions to the programme as deemed necessary;

(4)            future capital investment from 2025/26 and beyond be noted and considered through the Councils budget setting process.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure that Council has an effective Highway Infrastructure Asset Management Plan and associated delivery programmes that ensure the effective management of Council’s allocated capital budget.

The implementation of the Plan will see:

·                 More cost-effective asset management

·                 Essential asset maintenance in the borough

·                 Reduced CO2 emissions (e.g., using less carbon intensive equipment and materials)

·                 Reduce tree route trip hazards.

Report of the Corporate Director of Place and Director of Environment

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the re-procurement of the Highways Works Term Service Contract be approved, which would be in two lots. Lot 1 – Highways Works (planned highways improvements and reactive and routine maintenance), and Lot 2 – Street Lighting Works.  The initial contract term would be 7 years commencing on 1 April 2025 expiring on 31 March 2032, with the option to extend for a further 7 years until 31 March 2039;

(2)            authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Culture, Environment & Economy following consultation with the Strategic Director of Finance (s151 Officer) and the Portfolio Holder for Finance & Highways to make any changes required to the procurement documents following approval;

(3)            authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Culture, Environment & Economy following consultation with the Strategic Director of Finance (s151 Officer) and the Portfolio Holder for Finance & Highways, to award contracts to the successful contractors for Lot 1 and Lot 2.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure that the Council had contracts in place that enabled it to 1) fulfil its statutory duty under section 41 of the Highways Act 1980, to ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, that the borough’s highways were maintained in a safe and fit state for its users, and 2) was able to make improvements to boroughs public highways, public spaces, street lighting and other infrastructure.

Report of the Corporate Director of Place and Divisional Director of Housing

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            authority be given to Officers to undertake a Procurement process to establish a provider to deliver and maintain Specialist Equipment for Disabled people.  The Annual Value would be £250,000 total of £1.25m with all extensions.  Initial contract length was 3 years with a further 2 years of extensions available;

(2)            authority be delegated to appoint and award a provider after an open tender process and place the execution of contracts with the provider successful with the tender to the Corporate Director Place, following  consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Housing and the Portfolio Holder for Finance & Highways.

Reason for Decision:  Cabinet authorisation was required to comply with the Council’s contract Procedure Rules and Financial Regulations, due to the estimated value of the contract.

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance

Having noted the confidential report, it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            approval be granted to commence the procurement exercise for buildings insurance for residential leaseholders;

(2)            following the procurement process, authority be delegated to the Managing Director, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Highways, to award the contract for buildings insurance for residential leaseholders and complete any legal or other documentation to commence the policy;

(3)            authority be delegated to the Managing Director following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Highways to allow any changes ahead of the final publication of the Invitation to Tender (ITT).

Reason for Decision:  As freeholder, the Council was obliged to arrange buildings insurance for its residential leaseholders under the terms of the lease.  The Long-Term Agreement (LTA) with existing insurers expired on 31 March 2025.  Therefore it was necessary to re-tender the contract on behalf of leaseholders.

Report of the Corporate Director of Place and Director of Environment

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the work undertaken to date to develop a strategic approach to delivering a Strategic CPZ Consultation Rollout Programme, be noted;

(2)            authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Culture, Environment & Economy following consultation with the Strategic Director of Finance (S151 Officer) and the Portfolio Holder of Finance & Highways to make any changes to the CPZ Consultation Rollout Programme going forward, including agreeing the consultation approach to be taken for each scheme on a case-by-case basis;

(3)            authority be delegated to the Strategic Director of Culture, Environment & Economy following consultation with the Strategic Director of Finance (S151 Officer) and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Highways to consider and make decisions on the outcome of individual scheme consultations.

Reason for Decision:  To ensure that Council has an agreed, streamlined and effective method of developing a CPZ consultation and delivery programme that met the needs of our customers by responding to the dynamically changing parking pressures in the borough.

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the contents of the report be noted and considered;

(2)            the Strategic Director of Finance, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Highways, be authorised to:

·       finalise the scheme details and consultation documentation;

·       consult with the Greater London Authority, and then publish the draft scheme and consult with other interested stakeholders on proposed changes to the existing scheme as set out in paragraph 2.12 below;

(3)            a report be submitted to Cabinet later in the year with the results of the consultation, a full equality impact assessment, and the updated proposed scheme with a recommendation to be made to full Council to agree a scheme before 11 March2025.

Reason for Decision:  With the financial pressures to close the budget gap, Harrow Council must look to all options, including reducing support for the Council Tax Support Scheme (CTS).

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the revenue and capital outturn positions as set out in paragraphs 1.2 to 1.5, be noted.

(2)            the proposed additions and amendments to the Capital Programme as set out in paragraphs 3.42 to 3.48, be approved;

(3)            the Council’s Trading Update as detailed in Appendix 4, be noted;

(4)            the Right to Buy receipts position in the HRA as detailed in Appendix 5, be noted;

(5)            the Council’s Productivity Plan in Appendix 6, be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To report the 2023-24 financial outturn position.

Report of the Strategic Director of Finance

RESOLVED:  That the Treasury Management outturn position for 2023/24, be noted.

Reason for Decision:

(1)            To promote effective financial management and comply with regulations issued under the Local Government Act 2003, the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management, and the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance, along with meeting the requirements of the Council’s Financial Regulations.

(2)            To keep Members informed of Treasury Management activities and performance for 2023/24.

Report of the Director of ICT

RESOLVED:  That the award of contract to Version1 Ltd for corporate IT application management and hosting support services for a period of up to 3 years, with an option to extend for a period of up to 1 year with effect from November 2024, be approved.

Reason: for Decision:  Endorsing the recommendation would ensure the successful supplier was awarded the contract enabling continuity and delivery of IT that underpins all Council services.

Report of the Assistant Director of Corporate Strategy

RESOLVED:  That the Council’s Information and Advice Strategy 2024 -2027 be approved.

Reason for Decision:  To support a strategy that aligned with the corporate plan and priorities of the council.

Report of the Assistant Director of Corporate Strategy

Having noted the confidential report, it was

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the extension of the current service by three months, from 1 January 2025 until 31 March 2025 to align the new service to the start of the financial year and to maximise the mobilisation period, be authorised;

(2)            the commencement of a competitive procurement for the General Information and Advice service for an initial contract term of three years from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028 with the option to extend for a further period of up to two years until 31 March 2030, be authorised;

(3)            following the tender process, authority be delegated to the Assistant Director of Corporate Strategy and the Strategic Director of Finance (S151 Officer) following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community and Culture and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Highways to award the contract for the service;

(4)            authority be delegated to the Assistant Director of Corporate Strategy following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community and Culture and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Highways to allow any changes ahead of the final publication of the Invitation to Tender (ITT) documents.

Reason for Decision:  The value of the contract to deliver the service was in excess of £500,000.  Therefore, Cabinet approval was required to re-procure the service to ensure the continuation of the general information and advice service to Harrow residents.

Report of the Managing Director

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            Portfolio Holders continued to work with officers to achieve improvement against identified key challenges (Appendix 1);

(2)            the report be noted;

(3)            the 3 year targets set against Corporate Scorecard indicators for 2024-25 to 2026-27, be approved.

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