Agenda and minutes

Council welcomed Tom Whiting to his first meeting as Interim Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service) and Chris Spencer, Corporate Director People, to his last.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2017 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2017 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

Item 8 – Final Revenue Budget 2018/19 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018/19 – 2020/21

Councillor Sue Anderson declared a non-pecuniary interest in that a family member received Disability Living Allowance and Adult Social Care.

Councillor Jeff Anderson declared a non-pecuniary interest in that a family member received Disability Living Allowance and Adult Social Care.

Councillor Michael Borio declared an interest in that his father received Adult Social Care.

Councillor Susan Hall declared an interest in that she was a member of the Greater London Authority and the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.

Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane declared an interest in that he was an LGA Peer Reviewer and sat on the LGA Resources Board.

Councillor Paul Osborn declared an interest in that he was Chair of the Lee Valley Regional Park Authority, which was a levying authority.

Councillor Lynda Seymour declared interests in that she received child benefit, her son was in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and her sister-in-law was in receipt of income support.

Councillor Krishna Suresh declared an interest in that his mother was in receipt of benefits.

Item 18 – Motions – Our children and young people should be getting the best – not just getting by Motion

Councillor Kareema Kairul Marikar declared an interest in that she worked in mental health.

Item 18 – Motions – Northwick Park: Save our Services Motion

Councillor Chris Mote declared an interest in his daughter worked at Northwick Park Hospital.

Councillor Janet Mote declared an interest in that her daughter worked at Northwick Park Hospital.

Councillor Mina Parmar declared a non-pecuniary interest in that her son was a doctor at Northwick Park Hospital.

Councillor Georgia Weston declared an interest in that her husband worked at Northwick Park Hospital.

Item 18 – Motions – RAF Northolt Motion

Councillor Chris Noyce declared an interest in that his home was under the flight path of RAF Northolt.

The Mayor drew Council’s attention to two tabled Procedural Motions and tabled amendments to Motions 2, 3 and 5.

The procedural motion under Rule 26.1 was agreed so that, in line with previous years and for the purposes of the debate on the Final Revenue Budget 2018/19 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018/19 to 2020/21, the rules of debate be varied, as set out in the tabled documents, and that the procedure therein also be applied to the reports on the Corporate Plan, the Treasury Management Strategy Statement including Prudential Indicators, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2018/19, the Final Capital Programme 2018/19 to 2020/21, the Housing Revenue Account Budget 2018/19 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018/19 to 2020/21, in so far as the recommendations be debated jointly.

The procedural motion in terms of varying the order of business to enable Agenda Item 18, Constitutional Amendment to Part 4D Executive Procedure Rules Motion, to follow Agenda Item 6, Leader and Portfolio Holders’ Announcements, was agreed.

Councillor Sachin Shah moved a Procedural Motion to vary the time for terminating the business of the meeting to 9.30 pm.  Upon being put to the vote this was carried.

RESOLVED:  That the partial suspension under Rule 26.1, regarding the moving of recommendations from Cabinet and the rules of debate (including extended time for opening speeches by the political groups), as set out in the tabled papers be approved for the purposes of the debate upon

In accordance with Rule 10, the following petitions were presented

(i)            Petition submitted by the residents of Kenton Park Avenue in relation to parking containing 70 signatures.

[The petition stood referred to the Portfolio Holder for Environment].

(ii)          Petition submitted by Councillor Manji Kara, on behalf of residents, in relation to parking at the junction of Westfield Drive and Westfield Gardens containing 108 signatures.

[The petition stood referred to the Portfolio Holder for Environment].

(iii)         Petition submitted by Councillor Primesh Patel, on behalf of residents, in relation to speeding traffic on The Heights containing 92 signatures.

[The petition stood referred to the Portfolio Holder for Environment].

(iv)         Petition submitted by Councillor Simon Brown, on behalf of residents, in relation to security at Harrow Recreation Ground containing 1,285 signatures.

[The petition stood referred to the Portfolio Holder for Public Health, Equality and Community Safety.

To note that ten questions from members of the public had been received and responded to, and the recording of these questions and the answers given had been placed on the Council’s website

(i)            The Leader of the Council, Councillor Sachin Shah, introduced the item highlighting the achievements, challenges and proposals since the last ordinary meeting.

(ii)          Other Members of the Council spoke and/or asked questions of the Leader of the Council which were duly responded to.

Motion in the names of Councillor Paul Osborn and Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane.

“This Council recommends the following amendment to 5.3 in Part 4D Executive Procedure Rules in the Harrow Council Constitution.

5.            The Council’s Allocation of Responsibilities and Executive Functions Motion

5.3       The Leader shall appoint one Non-Executive Member of  Cabinet from the Voluntary Sector and appoint one member of the Harrow Youth Parliament in an advisory and consultative capacity.  These appointees may speak but not vote on items before Cabinet in private and public meetings and have commensurate access to documents as full Cabinet Members except for draft Cabinet reports which will be restricted to Portfolio Holders.”

Upon the meeting moving to a vote upon the tabled amendment to the Motion, ten Members rose and requested a Roll Call vote.  The amendment was carried.  The voting on the tabled amendment was as follows:

Roll Call Vote (In Favour of the Tabled Amendment):  Her Worshipful the Mayor Councillor Margaret Davine, Councillors Ali, Jeff Anderson, Sue Anderson, Borio, Brown, Dattani, Dooley, Ferry, Fitzpatrick, Hearnden, Graham Henson, Maxine Henson, Kendler, Marikar, Maru, Miles, O’Dell, Parekh, Varsha Parmar, Primesh Patel, Perry, Ramchandani, Robson, Aneka Shah-Levy, Mrs Rekha Shah, Sachin Shah, Krishna Suresh, Sasikala Suresh, Swersky, Weiss and Whitehead.

Against (the Tabled Amendment):  Councillors Almond, Amadi, Ashton, Mrs Bath, Baxter, Bednell, Bond, Chana, Chauhan, Greek, Hall, Hinkley, Hirani, Jogia, Kara, Lammiman, Macleod-Cullinane, Mithani, Moshenson, Chris Mote, Janet Mote, Noyce, Osborn, Mina Parmar, Pritesh Patel, Rabadia, Seymour, Stevenson, Thakker, Weston and Wright.

Upon a vote, the substantive Motion, as set out below, was agreed:-

5.3       The Leader may appoint up to two non-executive members of Cabinet in an advisory and consultative capacity.  These appointees may speak but not vote on items before Cabinet in private and public meetings and have commensurate access to documents as full Cabinet Members except for draft Cabinet reports which will be restricted to Portfolio Holders.

RESOLVED:  That the Motion, as amended, be adopted.

Having agreed that the guillotine would not be extended the Mayor advised that the ‘guillotine’ procedure would come into operation for the determination of the remaining business on the Summons.

RESOLVED:  That the Corporate Plan (Harrow Ambition Plan) be adopted.

(i)            Further to item 8 on the Summons, the Council received Recommendation I of the Cabinet meeting held on 15 February 2018 and a report of the Chief Finance Officer.

(ii)          The Mayor requested that Members, in making the decision on this item, have regard to the Cabinet report of 15 February 2018, the sections on equalities, the equality impact assessments and the results of the budget consultation.

(iii)         Upon the meeting moving to the vote upon the substantive Recommendation and the report of the Chief Finance Officer it was carried.  The voting was as follows:

In Favour of the Motion:  Her Worshipful the Mayor Councillor Margaret Davine, Councillors Ali, Jeff Anderson, Sue Anderson, Borio, Brown, Dattani, Dooley, Ferry, Fitzpatrick, Hearnden, Graham Henson, Maxine Henson, Kendler, Marikar, Maru, Miles, O’Dell, Parekh, Varsha Parmar, Primesh Patel, Perry, Ramchandani, Robson, Aneka Shah-Levy, Mrs Rekha Shah, Sachin Shah, Krishna Suresh, Sasikala Suresh, Swersky, Weiss and Whitehead.

Against the Motion:  Councillors Almond, Ashton, Mrs Bath, Baxter, Bednell, Bond, Chana, Chauhan, Greek, Hall, Hinkley, Hirani, Jogia, Kara, Lammiman, Macleod-Cullinane, Mrs Mithani, Moshenson, Chris Mote, Janet Mote, Noyce, Osborn, Mina Parmar, Pritesh Patel, Rabadia, Seymour, Stevenson, Thakker, and Wright.

Abstain:  Councillors Amadi and Weston.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          whilst being mindful of the results of the various consultations and equality impact assessments, the 2018/19 budget be approved to enable the Council Tax for 2018/19 to be set, Appendix 2 to the Cabinet report refers;

(2)          the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) at Appendix 2 to the Cabinet report be approved;

(3)          the structure of the funding formula 2018/19 through the introduction of the National Funding Formula at Appendix 6 to the Cabinet report be approved;

(4)          the 2018/19 Members’ Allowance Scheme at Appendix 12 to the Cabinet report be approved;

(5)          the 2018/19 Annual Pay Policy Statement at Appendix 13 to the Cabinet report be approved;

(6)          the Capital Receipts Flexibility Strategy at Appendix 15 to the Cabinet report be approved;

(7)          the Model Council Tax Resolution 2018/19, at Appendix 1 to the Council report, be approved and any minor amendments be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer;

(8)          in accordance with section 38(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Chief Finance Officer be instructed to place a note of the amounts set out in (4) of Appendix 1 to the Council report  in the local press within a period of 21 days following the Council’s decision.

RESOLVED:  That the Treasury Management Strategy (TMS) Statement for 2018/19 be approved, including the:

·                     Prudential Indicators for 2018/19

·                     Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2018/19

·                     Annual Investment Strategy for 2018/19

·                     Increase in investments held over 365 days, paragraph 83 of the Cabinet report refers.

RESOLVED:  That the Capital Programme, as detailed in appendix 1 to the Cabinet report, be approved.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget for 2018/19 be approved;

(2)          the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme, as detailed in Appendix 7 to the Cabinet report be approved.

Report of the Interim Head of Paid Service

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the fees and charges listed in appendix 1 to the report for the financial year 2018/19 be approved;

(2)          the Director of Finance and relevant Corporate Director be authorised, following consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holders, to have the ability to amend fees and charges in year with the introduction of a discount rate for fees that were discretionary if there were a business need to do so.

Recommendation I: Cabinet

                                    (7 December 2017)

RESOLVED:  That the quorum of the Employees’ Consultative Forum remain as set out in paragraph 5.6 (Allocation of Responsibilities – Terms of Reference of ECF) rather than paragraph 45.2 (Executive Procedure Rules) and the Constitution be amended accordingly.

Report of the Monitoring Officer.

RESOLVED:  That the minor administrative amendments that had been made by the Monitoring Officer to the Council’s Constitution be noted.

RESOLVED:  That the Chair of the Harrow Safeguarding Children Board (HSCB) be appointed as a non-voting member of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

To note that five questions from Councillors to the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holders had been received and that a written response would be provided and placed on the Council’s website.

The following Motions have been notified in accordance with the requirements of Council Procedure Rule 15, to be moved and seconded by the Members indicated:

Motion in the names of Councillor Christine Robson and Councillor Kiran Ramchandani.

Upon a vote, the Motion was agreed.

RESOLVED:  That the Motion set out at (i)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 306.

At 9.29 pm, prior to the debate on items 7-11 it was proposed that the guillotine be extended.  This was not agreed.

RESOLVED:  That the provisions of Rules 9.2 and 9.3 be applied as set out above.