Agenda and minutes

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2021 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That, subject to noting that a number of Members had joined the meeting virtually and were not absent, the minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2021 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from all Members of the Council.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the Declarations of Interest published in advance of the meeting on the Council’s website be taken as read and noted;

(2)          it be noted that Councillor Anjana Patel had notified a pecuniary interest in advance of the meeting in that her mother had received a grant for adaptations to her bathroom and that the property was owned by Councillor Anjana Patel.  She would leave the Chamber during the budget discussion if funding for disabled facilities grants was specifically debated or voted upon;

(3)          it be noted that the following interests were also declared:

Item 9 – Revenue Budget 2022/23 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022/23 to 2024/25

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

Councillor Graham Henson declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was the Chair of the West London Waste Authority.

Councillor Stephen Greek declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was employed by the Greater London Authority.

Councillor Kareema Marikar left the Chamber for the duration of the Budget debate (items 8-12).

Councillor Paul Osborn declared an interest in that he was Chair of a precepting authority, Lee Valley Regional Park Authority.  During the course of the meeting, as Vaughan Road had been mentioned during the debate, he declared a further interest in that he resided in that road.

Item 14 – Non-Executive Fees and Charges

Councillor Susan Hall declared an interest in that she had previously held a special treatments licence but that this had now expired.

To receive and consider any procedural motions by Members of the Council in relation to the conduct of this Meeting.  Notice of such procedural motions, received after the issuing of this Summons, will be tabled.

The Mayor indicated that given the earlier start time of the Council meeting he proposed that the closure time of the meeting be 9.30 pm.  Upon being put to the vote this was agreed.

The Mayor drew Council’s attention to the Procedural Motion under Rule 26.1 included in the Tabled Documents.  The procedural motion was agreed so that, in line with previous years and for the purposes of the debate on the Revenue Budget 2022/23 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022/23 - 2024/25, 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 Borough Plan Update, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget 2022/23 and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2023/24 to 2024/25, the Treasury Management Strategy Statement including Annual Investment Strategy for 2022/23 and Capital Strategy for 2022/23, the Capital Programme 2022/23 to 2024/25, 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 Tabled Documents be approved for the purposes of the debate upon

(2)          the Procedural Motion be agreed.

To receive any petitions to be presented:

(i)            by a representative of the petitioners;

(ii)          by a Councillor, on behalf of petitioners;

(iii)         by the Mayor, on behalf of petitioners.

In accordance with Rule 10, the following petitions were received:

(i)            Petition submitted by Manji Kara containing 75 signatures in relation to speeding vehicles in Borrowdale Avenue and Grasmere Gardens.

(ii)          Petition submitted by Stephen Hickman containing 25 signatures in relation to the pavements in Dudley Gardens.

(i)            Petition submitted by Ashley Braganza containing 100 signatures in relation to the condition of road surface, footpath, kerbs and grass verges in and around Whitegate Gardens. Councillor Stephen Greek indicated that he had also intended to submit the petition in relation to Whitegate Gardens and endorsed the submission by residents.

(ii)          Petition submitted by Councillor Kareema Marikar on behalf of the residents of Fernbrook Drive containing 81 signatures in relation to improving security on the Ridgeway, West Harrow.

(iii)         Petition submitted by Councillor Richard Almond on behalf of residents in Glover Road containing 4 signatures in relation to trees in the Croft Playing Field.

(iv)         Petition submitted by Councillor Phil O’Dell on behalf of the residents of the Meadow Way containing 5 signatures in relation to upgrading the pavements.

A petition containing over 2,000 signatures has been received and has the following terms:

“Please act now to STOP the Pinner Road Development in Harrow, North West London!!!

SAVE THE BADGERS

This area is a precious green corridor and home to a plethora of flora and fauna.

A private landowner has applied to build a housing estate consisting of 4 blocks of apartments and access road. This has been planned on a small strip of woodland that lies between residential homes and the railway.

This will cause complete destruction of the woodland which is home to a family of badgers and other animals and a plethora of flora and fauna, which includes protected trees.

Let’s get this piece of woodland protected.

Please act now and sign the petition! and stop the Pinner Road Development”.

A representative of the petitioners will read the terms of the petition on behalf of the petition signatories. There is a period of one minute allocated to present. A period of ten minutes is permitted for Members to debate the Petition terms and issues.

Following discussion, the Council may choose to refer the petition to the Cabinet, a Committee or Corporate Director to consider the matter, taking into account the views expressed by Council

In accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, Council received a petition containing over 2,000 signatures as follows

(i)              Petition submitted by Alia Lewis, containing approximately 11,200 signatures  stating

““Please act now to STOP the Pinner Road Development in Harrow, North West London!!!

SAVE THE BADGERS

This area is a precious green corridor and home to a plethora of flora and fauna.

A private landowner has applied to build a housing estate consisting of 4 blocks of apartments and access road.  This has been planned on a small strip of woodland that lies between residential homes and the railway.

This will cause complete destruction of the woodland which is home to a family of badgers and other animals and a plethora of flora and fauna, which includes protected trees.

Let’s get this piece of woodland protected.

Please act now and sign the petition! and stop the Pinner Road Development”.

(ii)             Debate was held on the content of the petition.

RESOLVED:  That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director of Community for consideration.

A period of up to 15 minutes is allowed for members of the public to ask questions of members of the Executive, Portfolio Holders and Chairs of Committees, of which notice has been received no later than 3.00 pm two clear working days prior to the day of this Meeting.  Any such questions received will be tabled.

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

To receive a presentation from the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holders on business since the last ordinary meeting, followed by a question and answer session.  The item is allotted 20 minutes.

(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.

RESOLVED:  That the Borough Plan, as updated and circulated on the Council Summons, be approved.

(i)            Further to item 9 on the Summons, the Council received the Recommendation of the Cabinet meeting held on 10 February 2022.

(ii)          The Mayor requested that Members, in making the decision on this item, had regard to the Cabinet report of 10 February 2022, the sections on equalities, the equality impact assessments and the results of the budget consultation.

A tabled amendment was received, duly seconded and was lost.  The voting was as follows:

In favour of the amendment:  Councillors Almond, Ashton, Baxter, Benjamin, Chauhan, Greek, Hall, Hinkley, Hirani, Jogia, Karia, Lammiman, Dr Lewinson, Moshenson, Janet Mote, Osborn, Mina Parmar, Anjana Patel, Pritesh Patel, Rabadia, Seymour, Stevenson, Thakker and Wright.

Against the amendment:  His Worshipful the Mayor Councillor Ghazanfar Ali, Councillors Dan Anderson, Jeff Anderson, Sue Anderson, Assad, Borio, Brown, Butterworth, Dattani, Ferry, Gilligan, Graham Henson, Maxine Henson, Lee, Maru, Miles, Murphy-Strachan, O’Dell, Parekh, Varsha Parmar, Primesh Patel, Perry, Proctor, Ramchandani, Robson, Sachin Shah, Smith, Krishna Suresh, Sasikala Suresh, Swersky and Dr Weiss.

Absent: Councillor Kareema Marikar

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

In Favour of the Recommendation:  His Worshipful the Mayor Councillor Ghazanfar Ali, Councillors Dan Anderson, Jeff Anderson, Sue Anderson, Assad, Borio, Brown, Butterworth, Dattani, Ferry, Gilligan, Graham Henson, Maxine Henson, Lee, Maru, Miles, Murphy-Strachan, O’Dell, Parekh, Varsha Parmar, Primesh Patel, Perry, Proctor, Ramchandani, Robson, Sachin Shah, Smith, Krishna Suresh, Sasikala Suresh, Swersky and Dr Weiss.

Against the Recommendation:  Councillors Almond, Ashton, Baxter, Benjamin, Chauhan, Greek, Hall, Hinkley, Hirani, Jogia, Karia, Lammiman, Dr Lewinson, Moshenson, Janet Mote, Osborn, Mina Parmar, Anjana Patel, Pritesh Patel, Rabadia, Seymour, Stevenson, Thakker and Wright.

Absent:  Councillor Kareema Marikar

RESOLVED:

That

(1)          the 2022/23 budget be approved, being mindful of the results of the various consultations and equality impact assessments, to enable the Council Tax for 2022/23 to be set (Appendix 15 to the officer report refers);

(2)          the Model Council Tax Resolution 2022/23, as set out in Appendix 11 on Cabinet second supplemental agenda, be approved;

(3)          in accordance with Section 38 (2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Chief Executive be authorised 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), as set out in Appendix 2 to the officer report, be approved;

(5)          the 2022/23 Members’ Allowance Scheme, as set out in Appendix 12 to the officer report, be approved;

(6)          the 2022/23 Annual Pay Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix 13 to the officer report, be approved; and

(7)          the Capital Receipts Flexibility Strategy, as set out in Appendix 14 to the officer report, be approved.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budgets for 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the officer report, be approved;

(2)          the HRA Capital Programme 2022/23 to 2024/25, as detailed in Appendix 7 to the officer report, be approved;

(3)          the proposed average weekly rent for general needs non-sheltered and sheltered accommodation of £123.13 and £102.25 for 2022-23 respectively, as set out in paragraph 28 and Appendix 2 to the officer report, be approved noting that these increases were 4.1% from 2021/22 in line with Government rent policy;

(4)          the proposed average weekly tenant service charge of £3.38 per week, as set out in paragraph 28 and Appendix 2 to the officer report, be approved;

(5)          the proposed average weekly rents for affordable rented properties of £201.65 and the shared ownership accommodation weekly rents of £210.53 for 2022-23, as set out in paragraph 29 and 30 to the officer report, be approved noting that the increase for affordable rented properties were 4.1% from 2021/22 in line with Government rent policy;

(6)          a 5-year HRA Capital programme of £225,904,648 made up of £49,544,120 planned investment, £144,185,151 Building Council Homes for Londoners (BCHfL), £23,648,727 Grange Farm phase 3 and £8,526,650 Grange Farm Infrastructure, as set out in paragraphs 52 to 61 and Appendix 7 to the officer report, be approved noting that the figures included reprofiled carried forward expenditure of £51.98m for the Building Council Homes for Londoners (BCHFL) programme.

RESOLVED:  That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2022/23 be approved including:

·                     Prudential Indicators for the period 2022/23 to 2024/25

·                     Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2022/23, (see paragraph 2.8 and Appendix C to the officer report) 

·                     Annual Investment Strategy for 2022/23

·                     Annual Capital Strategy (Appendix G to the officer report).

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

Report of the Monitoring Officer

RESOLVED: That

(1)            the Chief Officers’ Employment Panel for the purposes only of selecting a preferred candidate as Harrow’s Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service be made up of the Leaders and Deputies from the 2 largest Groups, plus 2 councillors nominated by the Leader of the largest Group, and 1 councillor nominated by the Leader of the second largest Group;

(2)            an Extraordinary Council meeting be called during the week commencing either 9or 16 May 2022 to:

·       Appoint the Leader of the Council until May 2026;

·       Appoint a new Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service;

·       Receive notification of Deputy Leader.

Report of the Chief Executive

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the fees and charges listed in Appendix 1 to the officer report for the financial year 2022-23 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 the Corporate Director of Community and the relevant Portfolio Holder(s).

Report of the Director of Finance

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            a sector led approach be approved and that the Council opt in to appointing external auditors through an appointed person (the PSAA) as set out in option 3 of the officer report;

(2)            the Director of Finance and Assurance be authorised to accept the Public Sector Audit Appointments invitation of opting in on behalf of this Authority by 11 March 2022.

Report of the Monitoring Officer

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the amendments to the constitution set out in the appendices to the officer report be agreed;

(2)            it be noted that the Monitoring Officer had a delegation to make minor housekeeping amendments prior to the new Constitution document being published.

The Worshipful the Mayor announced that, for a number of Members, this would be their last meeting of Council as they were not standing for re-election in May 2022.  He thanked the Members for their service and work and wished them well for the future.  These sentiments were endorsed by the Leader of the Council and Leader of the Opposition Group.

A period of up to 15 minutes is allowed for asking written questions by Members of Council of a member of the Executive or the Chair of any Committee:-

(i)            of which notice has been received at least two clear working days prior to the day of this Meeting; or

(ii)          which relate to urgent matters, and the consent of the Executive Member or Committee Chair to whom the question is to be put has been obtained and the content has been advised to the Director of Legal and Governance Services by 12 noon on the day of the Council Meeting.

Any such questions received will be tabled.

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:

“MOTION - Recognition of Tamil Heritage Month & Partnership with Tamil Community in Harrow

Motion in the names of Councillor Krishna Suresh and Councillor Peymana Assad

Since 2011 we have been celebrating Thai Pongal in Harrow and it was the Leader of Harrow Council who first announced in 2020 the recognition of Tamil Heritage Month and Harrow Council was the first ever council to do so.

Under this administration, Harrow has been a trailblazer in recognising the rich contribution made by our Tamil community in Harrow, London and across the country.  In January we celebrated Tamil Heritage month and the celebration of Thai Pongal.

It is a matter of pride for us that Harrow’s significant Tamil population typifies the immense contribution made by Tamils in the UK in every walk of life including health & social care, support & sacrifices during the pandemic, politics, education, social, cultural and economic aspects.

The Council has been privileged to work with our Tamil community over the years.  It’s been a joy this year too to mark Tamil heritage month and celebrate Thai Pongal event, as we have done for the last 11 years, in Harrow Civic Centre showcasing the amazing talent of Tamil youth and celebrating the depth of Tamil culture and history.  Additionally, this year we have promoted Tamil language and poetry books in Harrow’s libraries and continued to work constructively with our Tamil community organisations to further their rich heritage and support the vulnerable people.

For Harrow, recognition of the contribution made by our Tamil community is year round and not just limited to the Tamil Heritage Month.  In recognising the contribution of the Tamil community and saluting Tamil Heritage.

Council resolves;

·                     Continue and commit to its partnership with the Tamil community celebrating Tamil heritage month and ensure that our much-valued Tamil community is supported across the borough.

·                     Thank the Tamil community for their invaluable contribution to our borough and our city.  We are profoundly grateful for the work that they do.

·                     Continue the excellent and cohesive work with all of Harrow’s communities and support the wider effects of austerity in fighting the cost of living crisis imposed by the Government.”

A tabled amendment was received and duly seconded and was lost.

RESOLVED:  That the Motion, as set out above, be adopted.

At 9.29 pm, during the debate on items 8-12, it was proposed that the guillotine be extended.  Members assented to continue until business was completed.

RESOLVED:  That the provisions of Rules 9.2 and 9.3 be applied.