Agenda and minutes

Members of Council stood and observed a minute silence for former Councillor John Goodwin who had recently passed away.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2020 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2020 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

Councillor Susan Hall declared a non-pecuniary interest in that she was a Greater London Assembly (GLA) Member.

Councillor Paul Osborn declared an interest in that he was the Chair of a precepting authority, Lee Valley Regional Park.  He would remain in the Chamber whilst the matter was considered and voted upon but would leave if the interest became pecuniary.

Item 7 – Borough Plan 2020-2030 including the Corporate Plan

During the course of the meeting, Councillor Jean Lammiman declared a non-pecuniary interest due to her association with HAD.

Item 14 – Motions

Councillor Chris Mote declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was on the waiting list for a transplant.

Councillor Janet Mote declared a non-pecuniary interest in that her husband was on the waiting list for a transplant.

Item 12 – Non-Executive Fees and Charges 2020/21

During the course of the meeting, Councillor Susan Hall declared an interest in that her business required a Special Treatments Licence.  She left the Chamber whilst this matter was considered and voted upon.

During the course of the meeting, Councillor Ajay Maru declared an interest in that his business required a Special Treatments Licence.  He left the Chamber whilst this matter was considered and voted upon.

The Mayor drew Council’s attention to the Procedural Motion, tabled Procedural Motion and amendments to the Borough Plan 2020-2030 including the Corporate Plan and Revenue Budget 2020/21-2022/23 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2020/21-2022/23.

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 Revenue Budget 2020/21 – 2022/23 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2020/21 – 2022/23, the rules of debate be varied, as set out on the tabled Summons, and that the procedure therein also be applied to the reports on the Borough Plan 2020?2030 including the Corporate Plan, the Annual Treasury Management Strategy Statement including Prudential Indicators, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2020/21 and Capital Strategy for 2020/21, the Capital Programme 2020/21 to 2022/23, the Housing Revenue Account Budget 2020/21 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2021 to 2022-23, in so far as the recommendations be debated jointly.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          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 Summons be approved for the purposes of the debate upon

(2)          the tabled Procedural Motion be agreed.

In accordance with Rule 10, the following petition was presented:

(i)            Petition submitted by Councillor Marilyn Ashton on behalf of the residents of Dennis Lane, Stanmore and the surrounding areas, containing 80 signatures concerning traffic issues.

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

To note that no public questions had been received.

Having agreed the Procedural Motion set out in the Tabled Documents, Council received an announcement from Councillor Adam Swersky in relation to Covid -19 and the position in Harrow.

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

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

A tabled amendment was received and duly seconded.  Upon being put to the vote it was lost.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the draft Borough Plan 2020-2030 be approved for consultation;

(2)          the draft priorities for the Council for the 2020/21 year be adopted and that all service planning activity be driven by the new set of Corporate Priorities;

(3)          responsibility be delegated back to Cabinet for approving the Corporate Plan Delivery Plan by June 2020, which would set out the Council’s shorter term contribution and performance measures for delivery of the Corporate Plan (Borough Plan).

(i)            Further to item 8 on the Summons, the Council received Recommendation II of the Cabinet meeting held on 13 February 2020.

(ii)          The Mayor requested that Members, in making the decision on this item, had regard to the Cabinet report of 13 February 2020, the sections on equalities, the equality impact assessments and the results of the budget consultation.

A tabled amendment was received and duly seconded.  Upon the meeting moving to a vote on the tabled amendment, ten Members rose and requested a Roll Call vote.  The voting on the amendment was as follows:

Roll Call Vote (In Favour of the amendment):  Councillors Almond, Ashton, Bath, Baxter, Benjamin, Chauhan, Greek, Halai, Hall, Hinkley, Hirani, Jogia, Lammiman, Dr Lewinson, Mithani, Moshenson, Chris Mote, Janet Mote, Osborn, Mina Parmar, Anjana Patel, Pritesh Patel, Rabadia, Seymour and Stevenson.

Roll Call Vote (against the amendment):  Councillors Ali, Dan Anderson, Jeff Anderson, Sue Anderson, Assad, Borio, Brown, Butterworth, Dattani, Ferry, Fitzpatrick, Gilligan, Graham Henson, Maxine Henson, Jamie, Kairul Kareema Marikar, Maru, Miles, Murphy-Strachan, O’Dell, Varsha Parmar, Primesh Patel, Perry, Proctor, Ramchandani, Robson, Rekha Shah, Sachin Shah, Smith, Krishna Suresh, Sasikala Suresh, Swersky and Dr Weiss.

Abstain:  His Worshipful the Mayor Councillor Nitin Parekh.

Upon the meeting moving to the vote upon the substantive Recommendation it was carried.  The voting was as follows:

In Favour of the Motion:  Councillors Ali, Dan Anderson, Jeff Anderson, Sue Anderson, Assad, Borio, Brown, Butterworth, Dattani, Ferry, Fitzpatrick, Gilligan, Graham Henson, Maxine Henson, Jamie, Kairul Kareema Marikar, Maru, Miles, Murphy-Strachan, O’Dell, Varsha Parmar, Primesh Patel, Perry, Proctor, Ramchandani, Robson, Rekha Shah, Sachin Shah, Smith, Krishna Suresh, Sasikala Suresh, Swersky and Dr Weiss.

Against the Motion:  Councillors Almond, Ashton, Bath, Baxter, Benjamin, Chauhan, Greek, Halai, Hall, Hinkley, Hirani, Jogia, Lammiman, Dr Lewinson, Mithani, Moshenson, Chris Mote, Janet Mote, Osborn, Mina Parmar, Anjana Patel, Pritesh Patel, Rabadia, Seymour and Stevenson.

Abstain:  His Worshipful the Mayor Councillor Nitin Parekh.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the 2020/21 budget be approved, being mindful of the results of the various consultations and equality impact assessments, to enable the Council Tax for 2020/21 to be set (Appendix 2 of the report refers);

(2)          the Model Council Tax Resolution 2020/21 be approved, as set out at Appendix 11 to the report;

(3)          in accordance with Section 38(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Chief Executive be instructed to place a notice in the local press of the amounts set under recommendation 2 above within a period of 21 days following the Council’s decision;

(4)          the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) be approved (Appendix 2);

(5)          the balanced budget position for 2020/21 and the budget gaps of £11.414m and £11.178m for 2021/22 and 2022/23 respectively (table 6 of the report refers) be noted;

(6)          the intention to increase Council Tax by 1.99% in 2020/21 (paragraph 1.23 of the report refers) be noted;

(7)          the proposal to increase Council Tax by a further 2.0% in 2020/21 in respect of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 137.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2020/21 be approved including:

·           Prudential Indicators for 2020/21

·           Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2020/21

·           Annual Investment Strategy for 2020/21

(2)          the draft Capital Strategy 2020/21, set out in Appendix H to the report, be approved.

RESOLVED:  That the capital programme, as detailed within Appendix 1 to the report, be approved.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2020-21 be approved;

(2)          the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme, as set out at Appendix 7 to the report, be approved.

Report of the Chief Executive

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the fees and charges listed in Appendix 1 to the report for the financial year 2020-21 be approved and set;

(2)          the Director of Finance be authorised to amend fees and charges in year and agree new fees and charges, following consultation with relevant Corporate Directors and Portfolio Holders.

To note that no Councillor questions had been received.

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:

RESOLVED:  That the Motion set out at (i) above be adopted.