Agenda and minutes

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

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 7 – Corporate Plan 2019/2020

Councillor Jean Lammiman declared a non-pecuniary interest in that she was Chair of the Shaftesbury High School Governing Body.  She would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Agenda Item 8 - Flytipping

Councillor Graham Henson declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was Chair of the West London West Authority.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2018 and the Special meeting held on 8 January 2019 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the Special meeting held on 8 January 2019, be taken as read and signed as a correct record and the minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2018 be taken as a correct record subject to the following:

Minute 32 Draft Scope for Preventing Youth Crime Review and Highways Maintenance Review

Resolutions 2 and 3. Councillor Dan Anderson to be a member of both the Youth Crime Scrutiny Review Group and Highways Maintenance Review Group.  Councillors Jean Lammiman and Ghazanfar Ali to be members of the Highways Maintenance Review Group.

To receive any public questions received in accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 17 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

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, 7 February 2019.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk   

No person may submit more than one question].

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions, petitions or deputations were received at this meeting.

RESOLVED:  To note that none were received.

Report of the Chief Executive

The Committee considered a report on the 2019/20 Corporate Plan which set out the key priorities, activities and outcomes for the next year and the progress that had been made against these to date.  It was noted that Cabinet would be considering the Corporate Plan on 21 February 2019 prior to submission to full Council on 28 February 2019 for formal adoption.

The Leader and Portfolio Holder for Performance, Corporate Resources and Customer Services, introduced the report, stating that it sat alongside the final Revenue Budget 2019-20 and outlined what the Council intended to do and how those actions and services would be funded.  Particular attention was drawn to the five priorities set out in the Executive Summary and narrative  which highlighted that Harrow was one of the lowest funded Councils in London and the major issues around deprivation, care costs and homelessness.  He commented on the limited funding and significant pressures and that Harrow provided services at minimum cost and was doing it well.  He thanked the officers for the work undertaken in the preparation of the document.  He drew particular attention to:

·                     successful bids for external funding, however such monies were often time limited;

·                     the delivery plan which set out the key projects and initiatives to be undertaken together with progress to date would enable scrutiny to ensure that resources were appropriately targeted and benefited the right people at the right time.

The Chief Executive advised that the Corporate Plan set out the aims of Harrow Council at the highest strategic level and provided a good summary for residents.  He indicated that scrutiny would be welcomed over the coming year.

A Member referred to the £1.75bn of public and private investment in the regeneration programme and sought information on the proportion of public investment, the envisaged spend in 2019/20 and which regeneration projects would be funded in 2019/20.  The Leader of the Council undertook that the information on the amount of public investment would be provided to the Member.  With the exception of the Waxwell Lane and Haslam House schemes, the regeneration strategy was under review to look at risks around fluctuating costs and to identify the borrowing cap and resultant revenue costs.  It was noted that Ward Councillors would be notified regarding the Haslam House tender.

A Member expressed disappointment at the lack of reference to Members in the Council’s Corporate Values.  The Chief Executive supported the inclusion of Members stating that all the best Councils were characteristically strong and effective political and managerial leaderships which worked together on common objectives.  Whilst the purpose of the document was relatively internal facing as to what officers and managers should do to meet the objectives and targets, it was also necessary to reflect partnership work and its achievements for Harrow.  The Leader of the Council referred to the non-executive role for a voluntary organisation representative on Harrow’s Cabinet as an example of partnership working.  The inclusion of reference to Members in the corporate plan was supported.

A Member stated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

Report of the Corporate Director Community

The Committee considered a report which contained an overview of fly-tipping in Harrow and the current and future actions being taken to address it in the Borough.

The Head of Service (Community and Public Protection) introduced the report and drew particular attention to the legislation and factors that contributed to fly-tipping in Harrow.  The Committee was informed of the mapping of reports of incidences of fly-tipping by Ward which indicated that the lowest was 154 and the highest 850.  However there could have been multiple reporting of sites.  It was agreed that copies would be circulated to Ward Councillors as it was important that Members understood the impact on their areas.

The Committee was informed that the large scale dumping of waste had diminished and been replaced by smaller, more household waste fly tips.  In Harrow reports of fly tipping from 2011 to 2015 had increased by 5% but the tonnage had decreased.  Only 4% of fly-tipping had been identified as commercial waste, which was considered to result from the inspection regime.  A lot of black bags were left next to bins in the knowledge that they would be removed by Council operatives.

In addition, the Committee noted the increased number of HMOs (Homes in Multiple Occupation) with a 72% increase in 4 years and a 376% increase in suspected HMOs in the same period.  From December 2017 a mandatory condition on all HMOs stipulated that Council policy must be adhered to, for example on how many bins were provided.

Examples of the current approach to tackling fly-tipping were noted including:

·                     selective licensing to place specific conditions on licences for private rented accommodation regarding waste storage and disposal;

·                     work in conjunction with Kingdom regarding environmental enforcement and joint work with the London Fire Brigade;

·                     a 2018 Keep Tidy initiative of which 10 out of the 19 recommendations made were communication based;

·                     a Lean Review of Fly-tipping which examined the fact that an intelligence led approach was the best means, hitting the areas of main concern and clearing the others without delay;

·                     visits were made to schools and it was recognised that in addition to pupils being educated on the issue they put pressure on parents to dispose of litter and waste appropriately.

The Portfolio Holder for Environment stated that by accompanying the teams, she had seen the large amount of work undertaken on the issue.  With regard to questions on the work of the night riders, she informed Members that a report was generated during the day and outstanding work handed over to those on night duty.

In response to reference to fly-tipping issues at communal premises such as the alleyways behind shops, for example in Central Harrow, Members were informed that such areas were targeted but it was sometimes difficult to identify the perpetrators.  The Commercial Safety Team targeted the issue in conjunction with inspections but it took time due to the available resources. Initiatives included hot spot work in particular Wards to identify businesses that were involved.  Sometimes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

In accordance with the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 14 (Part 4B of the Constitution) it was

RESOLVED:  At 9.55 pm to continue to 10.10 pm.