Agenda and minutes

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

RESOLVED:  To note that the following interests were declared:

Agenda Item 7 – Harrow Walk-in Centre Strategy Update

Councillor Jean Lammiman declared a non pecuniary interest in that she was a patient at Pinn Medical Centre which was listed in the report.  She would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Councillor Chris Mote declared a non pecuniary interest in that he was a patient at a Walk-in Centre listed in the report.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Councillor Norman Stevenson declared a non pecuniary interest in that he was a patient at Pinn Medical Centre which was listed in the report.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

That the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 4 June 2019 and the special meeting held on 9 July 2019 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 4 June 2019 and the special meeting held on 9 July 2019 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

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, 11 September 2019.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk   

No person may submit more than one question].

Reference from Cabinet.

The Committee received a reference from Cabinet together with the report considered by Cabinet setting out the responses to the recommendations from the Regeneration Scrutiny Panel Report on Preventing Youth Violence.

RESOLVED:  That the actions taken in response to the recommendations of the Scrutiny Review into Preventing Youth Violence, as set out in the report considered by Cabinet at its meeting held on 11 July 2019, be noted.

Report of the Managing Director, Harrow Clinical Commissioning Group.

The Committee received a report of the Managing Director, Harrow CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group), updating the Committee on the Review by Harrow CCG of the existing Walk-in provision at Pinn Medical Centre and Belmont Health Centre and the proposed change of both medical facilities to GP Access Centres in 2019, subject to the approval of the CCG Governing Body.

In accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 4.1, the Committee agreed that the Chair of the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Sub-Committee who was not a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be allowed to address the meeting in respect of this item.  Another Member who was not a member of the Committee was also allowed to address the meeting.  The report on the Walk-in Centre ought to have been submitted to the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Sub-Committee at its meeting in November 2019 but had been brought forward to this meeting to allow for its earlier consideration because the decision of the CCG Governing Body was imminent.

The Managing Director of Harrow CCG introduced the report and drew out the salient points from her report.  She explained the rationale behind the proposed changes and reported that:

-               the direction of travel for all health services was set by NHS England;

-               the changes proposed to the Walk-in Centres would give local residents better access to services and continuity of care which was central to the proposals;

-               the changes made to Alexandra Avenue Walk-in Centre had been well received and the change from a Walk-in and Wait Service to an appointment only service for Harrow residents had been beneficial to local residents as shown in a recent survey. Similar changes were planned for the Belmont Health Centre from November 2019;

-               a resolution of a contractual dispute at Pinn Medical Centre would dictate the implementation date.

Members of the Committee asked questions on how they could influence the decision, savings that would be made as a result of the changes and the cost of the changes proposed.  The Managing Director of Harrow CCG responded as follows:

-               given the direction of travel and the requirement for the CCG to adhere to the guidance issued by NHS England, Councillors were not in a position to have any influence on the proposals except that the CCG would welcome any assistance and support that Councillors could provide to help get the message across to their constituents and to help change public behaviour.  The opening hours for the two Centres would remain the same;

-               given the financial situation of Harrow CCG, which was in deficit of £29.4m, no savings would result from the proposals.  The money from PMS (Personal Medical Services) would be ring-fenced towards support for primary care.  As part of the PMS Review, a sum of £1.9m was available for distribution across 33 practices in Harrow;

-               the proposed changes were expected to cost £47,000.

The Chair and Vice-Chair of Harrow CCG’s Governing Body together with the Managing Director of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

Report of the Corporate Director of Resources.

The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director of Community on the progress of the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership (HSDP) and referred Members to the report considered by Cabinet on 30 May 2019.  A presentation was made at the meeting setting out the key actions and programme activities.  He presentation slides were available on the Council’s website.

Prior to receiving the presentation, the Chair reported that the HSDP was a large project and would involve a number of decisions by Cabinet.  He stated that the project was commercially sensitivity and that Committee may need to move into a private session to allow Councillors to be briefed in detail.

The Corporate Director of Community stated that the intention was to share the progress made on the HSDP and the work carried out by officers and Cabinet Members, share the work carried out to date and the dialogue with the potential bidders.

The Corporate Director of Community, Commercial Director (Interim) and Regeneration Programme Director (Interim) referred to the presentation slides and reported as follows:

-               slides 3 and 4 showed the projects that were underway, including those involving the private sector, the number of homes built and to be built in and around the Wealdstone and Harrow Town Centre and the development opportunities on the Tesco and Safari Cinema sites.  The Council was ambitious in its Regeneration Programme and the growth and development opportunities the Station Road corridor provided;

-               slide 6 set out the background to this ambitious project and the Council’s decision to find a partner to help Build a Better Harrow (BaBH).  The sites included Poets Corner, Peel Road and Byron Quarter (Phase 1) encompassing in excess of 30 acres which might involve acquiring adjacent sites and would mean the need for relocations.  Officers were working together across the Council with specialist external advice being provided by consultants (slide 11 referred) to help deliver this corporate project;

-               slide 12 outlined the Council’s objectives, including  improved mixed tenure housing, particularly affordable housing across the three core sites, better civic and community facilities, new employment space, wider economic and social benefits for residents and to provide a new Civic Centre at no cost to the Council;

-               slide 13 set out the procurement process timetable and highlighted that thirteen bids had been received which had been evaluated down to five;

-               slide 14, set out the evaluation criteria agreed for the HSDP Programme and these requirement had been weighted;

-               legal documents would underpin the HSDP Programme;

-               slide 16 set out the emerging themes that were relevant to the project, some of which needed further work by the Council;

-               slide 17 showed that the intention was to further evaluate the number of bidders from five to up to three and the appointment would be  a decision for Cabinet in April or May 2020 following receipt of tenders with a successful bidder being selected in March 2020.  A new Civic Centre was not expected to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81.

Report of the Corporate Director of Resources.

In accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 4.1, the Committee agreed that the Chair of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Sub-Committee who was not a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be allowed to address the meeting in respect of this item.  The report on the Council’s Channel Shift Programme had been programmed for the December 2019 meeting of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Sub-Committee but had been brought forward to this meeting to allow for its earlier consideration.

The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director of Resources, which provided an update on the Council’s Channel Shift Programme through to 2021.  An officer introduced the report and reported that:

-               over the next six months, the Council would be re-launching its digital presence through a significant and innovative upgrade to the website which would include a re-platforming of the MyHarrow account;

-               the planned improvements would enable the Council to take a leap forward towards its Channel Shift Programme and to make savings set out in the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

The officer explained the proposed reduction in the telephony and email channels to a number of services, such as education, public realm, benefits, details of which were set out in the report.  Services such as school admissions and parking were, currently, only accessible via the Council’s website, MyHarrow account or self-service telephony.

The Chair of the Performance and Finance Scrutiny Sub-Committee stated that she was supportive of the achievements made to date in relation to the Channel Shift Programme and the process should continue.  She noted that the Public Realm, a vast service area, was scheduled next and expressed concern about the impact of the changes on residents.  She asked how the planned changes would be communicated to residents.

In response, the officer reported that the launch date had been pushed back to January - March 2020 and that he was working with the Communication Team on how best to convey the closure messages to residents.  He outlined various measures that were in train which would improve reporting of incidences so that they could be dealt with quickly.  He added that calls to Public Realm had reduced vastly and could be reduced further by ensuring functionality online which was currently lacking.  The Committee was briefed on the following priorities and informed of the need to ensure that suitable platforms were in place:

-               ensuring that the available technology in the Civic Centre was modern and fit for purpose;

-               resources were available to work with residents and the voluntary sector to help residents who struggled to use online services;

-               make available a precision routing telephone system for those who were unable to use online services.

The Chair of Performance and Finance Scrutiny Sub-Committee was pleased to learn that the Public Realm ‘shift’ had been delayed but was mindful that the revised implementation date of January 2020 was looming.  She asked how confident officers were that the Council would be able to manage the anticipated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 82.

Report of the Corporate Director of Resources.

The Committee received a report of the Corporate Director of Resources, which set out the draft scope for the Scrutiny Review of Shared Services in Harrow.

RESOLVED: That

(1)          the draft scope for the Scrutiny Review of Shared Services be agreed;

(2)          the membership as set out in the scope be agreed and that co-chairing arrangements be continued in respect of this Review;

(3)          it be noted that the dates and timings of the Review of Shared Services had been shared with Members and that any issues be raised at the Scrutiny Lead Members’ meetings.

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

RESOLVED:  At

(1)          9.55 pm to continue until 11.00 pm;

(2)          10.55 pm to continue until 11.20 pm.