Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Member:

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 there were no declarations of interest made by Members.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 February 2024, and the special meeting held on 11 March 2025, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 February 2025, and the special meeting held on 11 March 2025, be taken as read and signed as correct records.

To receive 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, 3 April 2025.  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 and responded to.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors.

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions had been received.

(if any).

RESOLVED:  To note that no references had been received.

Report of the Assistant Director of Corporate Strategy

Members received the Draft Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25, which had been developed by the Scrutiny Leadership Group comprising the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Scrutiny Lead Members, as well as the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Scrutiny Sub-Committees.

The Council’s Constitution required the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to report annually on its activities to Full Council.  The Draft Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25 outlined the activities of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Scrutiny Sub-Committees, and the Scrutiny Lead Members, during the 2024-2025 Municipal Year.

In the discussion that ensued, Members made comments, and asked questions, to which responses were given.

Members were concerned that the draft report read like the Council’s Corporate Plan, and not as a scrutiny document.  It did not contain any feedback on issues identified by the Committee in previous meetings.  Furthermore, Members questioned whether there was any feedback on scrutiny functions and areas of improvement.

Members were advised that feedback had been given and that that would also be part of the Induction Programme in future years.  Moreover, Scrutiny Lead Members had provided feedback and approved comments under their remits.

Members were also concerned that some reports from officers continued to be received late, which made it difficult for the Committee to provide adequate scrutiny.  This concern had not been reflected in the Draft Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-25.

Members agreed to avail the Centre for Public Scrutiny Report (2017) to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Scrutiny Lead Members, as well as the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Scrutiny Sub-Committees, to learn best practices.  The document would be beneficial to the Council’s scrutiny functions.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Council)

(1)            to approve the Scrutiny Annual Report 2024-2025, subject to the comments above.

RESOLVED: That

(2)            the Centre for Public Scrutiny Report (2017) be provided to the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Scrutiny Lead Members, as well as the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Scrutiny Sub-Committees, to learn best practices.

Report of the Director of Housing and Regeneration

Members received the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy Report, which provided a summary of the review of homelessness and rough sleeping in Harrow.  This was for the period 2025-2030.

The Homelessness Strategy was a statutory requirement under the Homelessness Act 2002.  Local authorities were all required to carry out a review of homelessness in their boroughs every five years.

In the discussion that ensued, Members made comments, and asked questions, to which responses were given.

Members were concerned that only 43% of applicants had been converted to a homelessness application based on data in slide 5 of the presentation.  It was advised that although there had been an increase in applications, which required additional resources, several factors had led to applicants not proceeding to a homelessness application.  These included engaging with property owners, and family interventions, to keep residents in their current houses.

Citing slide 10 of the presentation, Members questioned if victims of domestic abuse were housed within the borough.  It was advised that the Domestic Abuse Act 2024 provided new regulations aimed at protecting victims of domestic abuse.  Therefore, such individuals were re-housed as far away as possible from their perpetrators.

Members questioned why some tenants in supported living were being evicted, and that in some cases their mental health situation was not being considered.  It was advised that there was need to coordinate with the Adult Social Care Team to ensure that tenants in supported living arrangements were not evicted without finding alternative accommodation for them.

Members requested that the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy Report contain clear and actionable plans on strategy, with matrices on preventing homelessness.

Members queried why international events, such as conflict and economic migration, had not been classified as a serious risk to homelessness.  These incidents could lead to an influx to people coming to Harrow to seek housing.  It was acknowledged that such occurrences were a serious risk factor and would be included in the final report.

Quoting demographic information on the profile of rough sleepers being from particular ethnic groups, Members inquired whether communities and faith-based organisations, had been engaged to tackle rough sleeping.  It was advised in the affirmative.

Members queried why refugees were listed among rough sleepers in Harrow, as the Home Office was responsible for their welfare.  It was advised that when the Home Office made a positive decision on asylum applications, their status changed to refugees.  Consequently, they were no longer entitled to Government-funded accommodation and had to find their own housing.  Although the Home Office assisted refugees in the transition process, unfortunately, some of them ended up being homeless due to several factors, such as lack of income and employment.  Therefore, local authorities took over the responsibility of housing them.

Members were concerned that the number of armed forces veterans listed as rough sleepers and homelessness in Harrow had increased since 2019.  Members asked whether such residents had been prioritised for housing.  It was confirmed that armed forces veterans were prioritised for housing.  However, the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 140.