Agenda and minutes

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from all members of the Council.

The Mayor invited appropriate declarations of interest by Members of the Council in respect of the business on the Summons.

Item 7 on the Summons – Revenue Budget 2010/11 to 2012/13

The following Members declared personal interests for the reasons stated in the above item and accordingly remained in the Chamber and took part in the debate and voting on this item:

Councillor David Ashton - relative employed by Harrow Council

Councillor Marilyn Ashton - relative employed by Harrow Council

Councillor Margaret Davine – member of Harrow Women’s Centre

Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane - relative employed by Harrow Council

Councillor Anthony Seymour – relative in receipt of employment benefits and homeseekers allowance.

That the minutes of the ordinary meeting and extraordinary meeting held on 29 October 2009 be taken as read and signed as correct records.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the ordinary and extraordinary meetings held on 29 October 2009 be signed as correct records.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

[Note:  Information as to recent Mayoral engagements will be tabled].

The Mayor spoke briefly on several of his recent engagements.  He expressed his congratulations to Councillor Mrs Lurline Champagnie on her recent New Year’s Honour’s Award.

The Mayor also noted with pleasure that his Chauffeur/Macebearer, Robert Deans, had been awarded the freemanship of the City of London.

RESOLVED:  That the report of the Worshipful the Mayor upon his official duties, as tabled, be noted and received.

To receive and consider any procedural motions by Members of the Council in relation to the conduct of this Meeting.

[Note:  Notice of such procedural motions, received after the issuing of this Summons, will be tabled].

The Leader of the Council, Councillor David Ashton, moved a procedural motion under Rule 26.1 that the rules of debate be varied, as set out in the tabled documents, for the purposes of the debate on the Revenue Budget, and that the tabled procedure be also applied to the debate on the Housing Revenue Account, the Treasury Management Strategy, Prudential Indicators and Minimum Revenue Provision, the Capital Programme and the Corporate Plan insofar as the recommendations and amendments be debated jointly. 

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 all three political groups) as set out in the tabled papers, be approved for the purposes of the debate on Items 7 (Revenue Budget 2010/11 to 2012/13), 8 (Housing Revenue Account 2010/11 – 2012/13), 9 (Capital Programme 2010/11 – 2012/13), 10 (Treasury Management Strategy 2010/11, Prudential Indicators & Minimum Revenue Provision 2010/11) and 11 (Corporate Plan 2010/13).

To receive any petitions to be presented:

(i)                 by a representative of the petitioners;

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

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

In accordance with Rule 11, the following petitions were presented by Members of Council on behalf of Petitioners:

(i)                 Submitted by Councillor David Perry containing 18 signatures of residents opposing the conversion of 59 Warrington Road into three self-contained flats.

[The petition stood referred to the Planning Committee and the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Development and Enterprise].

(ii)               Submitted by Councillor Eileen Kinnear containing 206 signatures requesting Post Office service provision in South and Central Harrow and Harrow on the Hill.

            [The petition stood referred to the Leader of the Council].

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 Chairmen of Committees, of which notice has been received no later than 5.00 pm two clear working days prior to the day of this Meeting.

[Note:  Any such questions received will be tabled].

The following question had been submitted by a member of the public in accordance with Rule 12.3:-

[Note:  Under the provisions of Rule 12.7, the question was answered orally by the Leader of the Council.  The member of the public asked a supplementary question, which was also answered orally].

Recommendation I:             Cabinet

                                                (11 February 2010)

(i)                 Further to Item 7 on the Summons, the Council received Recommendation I of the Cabinet meeting held on 11 February 2010.

(ii)               The Leader of the Council, Councillor David Ashton, formally moved the Recommendation.

(iii)             Following a full debate and upon a vote the Substantive Recommendation was carried and adopted.

RESOLVED:  That the substantive Recommendation be adopted in the following form:

(1)               The Revenue Budget 2010/11 to 2012/13 be approved to enable the Council Tax for 2010/11 to be set;

(2)               The model Council Tax Resolution set out below be approved;

Recommendation II:                        Cabinet

                                                (11 February 2010)

Further to Item 8 on the Summons, the Leader of the Council, Councillor David Ashton, moved Recommendation II of the Cabinet meeting on 11 February 2010.

RESOLVED: That the Housing Revenue Account for 2010/11 be approved together with the following:

(i)                 increasing rents by 2.85% on average with effect from 1 April 2010;

(ii)               increasing service charges for tenants by 2.85% and freeze charges for leaseholders pending a review of the service and charging methodology with effect from 1 April 2010;

(iii)             increasing garage and car parking rents by 2% with effect from 1 April 2010;

(iv)             increasing energy (heating) charges by 2% with effect from 1 April 2010;

(v)               increasing Community Centre charges by 2% with effect from 1 April 2010

[Note:  (1)  The Housing Revenue Account for 2010/11 - 2012/13 is enclosed at Appendix II to these minutes]

Councillors Nana Asante, Mrinal Choudhury, Bob Currie, Mrs Margaret Davine, Mano Dharmarajah, Keith Ferry, Archie Foulds, B E Gate, David Gawn, Mitzi Green, Graham Henson, Thaya Idaikkadar, Nizam Ismail, Krishna James, Jerry Miles, Phillip O’Dell, Asad Omar, David Perry, Raj Ray, Navin Shah, Mrs Rekha Shah, Bill Stephenson and Mrs Sasikala Suresh wished to be recorded as having abstained from voting.

Recommendation III:           Cabinet

                                                (11 February 2010)

Further to Item 9 on the Summons, the Leader of the Council, Councillor David Ashton, moved Recommendation III of the Cabinet meeting on 11 February 2010.

RESOLVED:  That the Capital Programme for 2010/11 to 2012/13 be agreed.

Councillors Nana Asante, Mrinal Choudhury, Bob Currie, Mrs Margaret Davine, Mano Dharmarajah, Keith Ferry, Archie Foulds, B E Gate, David Gawn, Mitzi Green, Graham Henson, Thaya Idaikkadar, Nizam Ismail, Krishna James, Jerry Miles,  Phillip O’Dell, Asad Omar, David Perry, Raj Ray, Navin Shah, Mrs Rekha Shah, Bill Stephenson and Mrs Sasikala Suresh wished to be recorded as having abstained from voting.

Recommendation IV:          Cabinet

                                                (11 February 2010)

Further to Item 10 on the Summons, the Leader of the Council, Councillor David Ashton, moved Recommendation IV of the Cabinet meeting on 11 February 2010.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators be approved;

(2)               the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy and Strategy for 2010/11 be approved;

(3)               the proposal to allocate the responsibility for the scrutiny of the Treasury Management Strategy, Policy and Activity, to the Governance, Audit and Risk Management Committee be noted.

Councillors Nana Asante, Mrinal Choudhury, Bob Currie, Mrs Margaret Davine, Mano Dharmarajah, Keith Ferry, Archie Foulds, B E Gate, David Gawn, Mitzi Green, Graham Henson, Thaya Idaikkadar, Nizam Ismail, Krishna James, Jerry Miles,  Phillip O’Dell, Asad Omar, David Perry, Raj Ray, Navin Shah, Mrs Rekha Shah, Bill Stephenson and Mrs Sasikala Suresh wished to be recorded as having abstained from voting.

Recommendation V:           Cabinet

                                                (11 February 2010)

(i)                 Further to Item 11 on the Summons, with the assent of the Council, Councillor Paul Osborn formally moved Recommendation I of the Cabinet meeting of 11 February 2010 on behalf of the Leader of the Council.

(ii)               Following a full debate and upon a vote on the Substantive  Recommendation, this was carried and adopted. 

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the Corporate Plan 2010/11 – 2012/13 be approved;

(2)               Cabinet be authorised to make any subsequent minor changes required to the Corporate Plan.

[Note:  Councillors Nana Asante, Mrinal Choudhury, Bob Currie, Mrs Margaret Davine, Mano Dharmarajah, Keith Ferry, Archie Foulds, B E Gate, David Gawn, Mitzi Green, Graham Henson, Thaya Idaikkadar, Nizam Ismail, Krishna James, Jerry Miles, Phillip O’Dell, Asad Omar, David Perry, Raj Ray, Navin Shah, Mrs Rekha Shah, Bill Stephenson and Mrs Sasikala Suresh wished to be recorded as having abstained from voting].

Recommendation I:             Cabinet

                                                (12 November 2009)          

Further to Item 12 on the Summons, the Council received a Recommendation from the Cabinet held on 12 November 2009.

The Recommendation was formally moved by Councillor David Ashton, Leader of the Council.

RESOLVED:  That the Contract Procedure Rules, Anti-Fraud Policy, Anti?Money Laundering Policy and Code of Corporate Governance be adopted.

Recommendation I:             Cabinet

                                                (14 January 2010)

Further to Item 13 on the Summons, the Council received a Recommendation from the Cabinet held on 14 January 2010.

The Recommendation was formally moved by Councillor David Ashton, Leader of the Council.

RESOLVED:  That the revised Financial Regulations be adopted.

Recommendation I:             Standards Committee

                                                (8 December 2009)

Further to Item 14 on the Summons, the Council received a Recommendation from the Standards Committee meeting held on 8 December 2009.

The Recommendation was formally moved by the Mayor.

RESOLVED:  That the revised Members’ Access to Information – Guidance and Protocol be approved and adopted.

Recommendation II:                        Standards Committee

                                                (8 December 2009)

Further to Item 15 on the Summons, the Council received a Recommendation from the Standards Committee meeting held on 8 December 2009.

The Recommendation was formally moved by the Mayor.

RESOLVED:  That the revised Protocol on Gifts and Hospitality be approved and adopted.

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 Chairman 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 Chairman 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].

No questions were submitted by Members of Council.

The following Motion has been notified in accordance with the requirements of Council Procedure Rule 15:

(i)                 At Item 17(1) the Council received a motion in the names of Councillors Brian Gate and Navin Shah, in the following terms:

“This Council notes with great concern the decision by the Mayor of London to cut the amount of money spent on London policing services by £16.4 million in the financial year 2010/11, leading to a reduction of 455 police officers in London, over the next three years.  This is despite his election promise to increase the number of police officers on the beat and his pledge that ‘tackling crime would be central to all that he does’.  These cuts will inevitably lead to cuts in specialist teams for example those tackling fraud and rape, and will again put Safer Neighbourhood teams under threat.

This Council further, notes that in addition each Borough Commander will have to make 5% cuts in their budgets in each of the next three years amounting to a total of £540,000 for Harrow over three years.  These cuts will mean that officers on the beat will have less civilian and back-office support and will have to spend more time doing paperwork rather than being on the beat and other important work will have to cease.

This Council furthermore notes that the Mayor of London has also reneged on his election promise to build a new police station in Harrow which, in particular, would have enough custody suites to avoid the necessity for Harrow police officers having to drive around outside Harrow looking for somewhere to detain the people they have arrested.

This Council condemns these cuts in policing in the strongest possible terms threatening as they do the excellent policing we have in Harrow and putting at risk the safety and security of our local diverse community.          

This Council instructs the Chief Executive to convey this Motion and the Council’s strong concerns about these matters to the Mayor of London, the Group Leaders on the London Assembly and the Home Secretary.”

(ii)               Upon a vote, the Motion was not carried.

RESOLVED:  That the Motion be not adopted.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

Further to Item 18 on the Summons, the meeting received a report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services which provided a summary of the urgent decisions taken by the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holders and Cabinet, and the use of the special urgency procedure, since the last meeting of Council on 29 October 2009.

RESOLVED:  That the urgent decisions taken by the Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holders and Cabinet since the last Council meeting, be noted.