Agenda and minutes

That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2013 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2013 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.

The Mayor invited appropriate declarations of interest.

Item 8 – Final Revenue Budget 2014/15 and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2014/15 to 2016/17

Councillor Sue Anderson declared non-pecuniary interests in that her son received support from Harrow Council and she was registered as a carer.

Councillor David Gawn declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was in receipt of mobility allowance.

Councillor Mitzi Green declared a non-pecuniary interest in that her son was in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and her mother had a care package.

Councillor Glen Hearnden declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was a Harrow foster carer.

Councillor Graham Henson declared a non-pecuniary interest in that his wife worked for a company that procured services from the Council.

Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar declared a non-pecuniary interest in that his mother was in receipt of Council Tax benefit.

Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was employed by London Councils Ltd.

Councillor Kairul Kareema Marikar declared a non-pecuniary interest in that her son received Disability Living Allowance.

Councillor Jerry Miles declared a non-pecuniary interest in that his wife was in receipt of Disability Living Allowance.

Councillor Chris Mote declared a non-pecuniary interest in that his brother was in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and his mother-in-law would be having a care assessment.

Councillor Janet Mote declared a non-pecuniary interest in that her brother-in-law was in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and her mother would be having a care assessment.

Councillor Paul Osborn declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was Vice-Chairman of Lee Valley Park Regional Authority.

Councillor Anthony Seymour declared a non-pecuniary interest in that his sister was in receipt of Council Tax benefit.

Councillor Lynda Seymour declared a non-pecuniary interest in that her sister-in-law was in receipt of Council Tax benefit.

Councillor Krishna Suresh declared a non-pecuniary interest in that his mother received a number of benefits.

Councillor Sasi Suresh declared a non-pecuniary interest in that her mother -in-law received a number of benefits.

Councillor Yogesh Teli declared a non-pecuniary interest in that his uncle was in receipt of Disability Living Allowance.

Item 15 – Proposed New Museum Building Adjacent to West House, Pinner

Councillor Mrs Lurline Champagnie OBE declared a non-pecuniary interest in that she was a patron of West House.

Councillor Keith Ferry declared a pecuniary interest in that was a trustee of West House and would leave the Chamber during the discussion and voting on this item.

Councillor Jean Lammiman declared a non-pecuniary interest as she was a trustee of West House.

Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane declared a non-pecuniary interest as he attended Councillor Chris Mote’s practice.

Councillor Chris Mote declared a pecuniary interest and would leave the Chamber during the discussion and voting on this item.

Councillor Janet Mote declared a pecuniary interest and would leave the Chamber during the discussion and voting on this item.

Councillor Navin Shah declared a pecuniary interest and would leave the Chamber during the discussion and voting on this item.

Item 22(2)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 360.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.  Information as to recent Mayoral engagements will be tabled.

The Mayor requested that Council note the engagements she had undertaken.

The Mayor thanked the Deputy Mayor, Past Mayors and Honorary Alderman for their support.

The Mayor also congratulated, on behalf of the Council, those Harrow residents that had been awarded in the recent Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

RESOLVED:  That the report of the Worshipful the Mayor, as tabled, be noted.

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.

(i)                 The Leader of the Council, Councillor Susan Hall, moved a procedural motion under Rule 25.1 that, in line with previous years and for the purposes of the debate on the Final Revenue Budget 2014/15 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2014/15 to 2016/17, the rules of debate be varied, as set out in the tabled documents, and that the procedure therein be also applied to the reports on the Corporate Plan 2014-15, the Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2017/18, the Housing Revenue Account Budget 2014/15 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2015/16 to 2017/18 and the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Prudential Indicators and Minimum Revenue Provisions Policy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2014/15 and Pay Policy Statement 2014/15, insofar as the recommendations and amendments be debated jointly.  This was agreed.

(ii)               The Mayor announced that she had received notice, within the tabled papers, of amendments in respect of the recommendations from Cabinet on item 7 – Corporate Plan 2014/15, item 8 – Final Revenue Budget 2014/15 and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2014/15 to 2016/17, item 9 - Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2017/18, item 20 – Recommended Constitutional Changes.

(iii)             Having asked whether there were any further Procedural Motions, Councillor Susan Hall moved that item 21 – Questions with Notice, be taken after item 6 – Public Questions.  This was seconded by Councillor Macleod-Cullinane and was agreed.  Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar moved that item 20 – Recommended Constitutional Changes, be taken before the guillotine.  This was seconded by Councillor Asad Omar and was agreed.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the partial suspension under Rule 25.1, regarding the moving of recommendations from Cabinet and the rules of debate (including extended time for opening speeches by the three political groups), as set out in the tabled papers, be approved for the purposes of the debate upon

(2)               the amendments to the recommendations from Cabinet in respect of item 7 – Corporate Plan 2014/15, item 8 – Final Revenue Budget 2014/15 and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2014/15 to 2016/17, item 9 - Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2017/18, item 20 – Recommended Constitutional Changes contained in the Tabled Documents be noted;

(3)               the amendments tabled by the Independent Labour Group in respect of item 8 – Final Revenue Budget 2014/15 and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2014/15 to 2016/17, and item 9 - Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2017/18 be noted;

(4)               the amendments in respect of item 20 – Recommended Constitutional Changes contained in the Tabled Documents, be noted.

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 presented:

(i)                 Petition submitted by Councillor David Perry containing 149 signatures of residents requesting that theCouncil to re-instate Harrows Flagship Community Festival ‘Under One Sky’.

[The petition stood referred to the Portfolio Holder for Community and Culture].

(ii)               Petition submitted by Councillor David Perry containing 1,276 signatures of residents requesting that a period of free parking be introduced in district centres.

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

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 3.00 pm two clear working days prior to the day of this Meeting.  Any such questions received will be tabled.

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

Recommendation I:             Cabinet

                                                (13 February 2014)

RESOLVED:  That the Corporate Plan be adopted.

Recommendation II:                        Cabinet

                                                (13 February 2014)

(i)                 Further to Item 8 on the Summons, the Council received Recommendation II of the Cabinet meeting held on 13 February 2014.

(ii)               The Leader of the Council, Councillor Susan Hall, formally moved the Recommendation.

(iii)             Councillor James Bond tabled an amendment. Councillor James Bond moved and Councillor Chris Noyce seconded the amendment which included specific proposals for the Authority’s budget for 2014/15.

(iv)             The Independent Labour Group tabled an amendment to the Recommendation.  Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar moved and Councillor Asad Omar seconded the amendment, which included specific proposals for the Authority’s budget for 2014/15.

(v)               The Labour Group tabled an amendment to the Recommendation.  Councillor David Perry moved and Councillor Sachin Shah seconded the amendment, which included specific proposals for the Authority’s budget for 2014/15 and 2015.

(vi)             Further to the decision outlined at Resolution 362 above, the amendments and the Recommendation were debated jointly.

(vii)           Following a full debate, the amendment by Councillor James Bond was voted upon but not carried.  The voting was as follows

In Favour of the Motion:  Councillors Akhtar, Bond and Noyce.

Against the Motion:  The Worshipful The Mayor Councillor Asante,  Ashton, Mrs Bath, Bednell, Mrs Champagnie, Chana, Chauhan, Dharmarajah, Ferrari, Greek, Hall, Idaikkadar, Ismail, James, Kara, Khalid, Lammiman, Macleod-Cullinane, Mrs Mithani, Moshenson, Chris Mote, Janet Mote, John Nickolay, Joyce Nickolay, Omar, Osborn, Romain, Anthony Seymour, Lynda Seymour, Stoodley, Teli, Williams and Wright.

Abstain:  Councillors Anderson, Choudhury, Davine, Ferry, Gawn, Green, Hearnden, Henson, Marikar, Maru, Miles, O’Dell, Parmar, Perry, Phillips, Ray, Robson, Navin Shah, Mrs Rekha Shah, Sachin Shah, Silver, Stephenson, Sasikala Suresh, Krishna Suresh and Wealthy.

(viii)         The amendment by Councillor Idaikkadar was voted upon but not carried.  The voting was as follows

In Favour of the Motion:  The Worshipful The Mayor Councillor Asante, Councillors Dharmarajah, Gawn, Idaikkadar, Ismail, James, Khalid, Omar and Stoodley.

Against the Motion: Councillors Anderson, Ashton, Mrs Bath, Bednell, Mrs Champagnie, Chana, Chauhan, Choudhury, Davine Ferrari, Ferry, Greek, Green, Hall, Hearnden, Henson, Kara, Lammiman, Macleod-Cullinane, Marikar, Maru, Miles, Mrs Mithani, Moshenson, Chris Mote, Janet Mote, John Nickolay, Joyce Nickolay, O’Dell, Osborn, Parmar, Perry, Phillips, Ray, Robson, Romain, Anthony Seymour, Lynda Seymour, Navin Shah, Mrs Rekha Shah, Sachin Shah, Silver, Stephenson, Sasikala Suresh, Krishna Suresh,Wealthy, Teli, Williams and Wright.

Abstain:  Councillors Akhtar, Bond and Noyce.

(ix)             The amendment by Councillor David Perry was voted upon but not carried.  The voting was as follows

In Favour of the Motion:  Councillors Anderson, Choudhury, Davine, Ferry, Green, Hearnden, Henson, Marikar, Maru, Miles, O’Dell, Parmar, Perry, Phillips, Ray, Robson, Navin Shah, Mrs Rekha Shah, Sachin Shah, Silver, Stephenson, Sasikala Suresh, Krishna Suresh and Wealthy.

Against the Motion:  The Worshipful The Mayor Councillor Asante,  Councillors Ashton, Mrs Bath, Bednell, Mrs Champagnie, Chana, Chauhan, Dharmarajah, Ferrari, Gawn, Greek, Hall, Idaikkadar, Ismail, James, Kara, Khalid, Lammiman, Macleod-Cullinane, Mrs Mithani, Moshenson,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 366.

Recommendation III:           Cabinet

                                                (13 February 2014)

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

Recommendation IV:          Cabinet

                                                (13 February 2014)

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the Housing Revenue Account Budget (HRA) for 2014/15 be approved;

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

Recommendation V:           Cabinet

                                                (13 February 2014)

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Prudential Indicators for 2014/15 be approved;

(2)               the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2014/15 be approved;

(3)               the Annual Investment Strategy for 2014/15 be approved;

(4)               the lower limit for borrowing of between 5 and 10 years be reduced from 10% to 5%;

(5)               the limit of investments for over one year be increased to £30m for 1?2 years and £10m for over 2 years.

Report of the Divisional Director of Human Resources, Development and Shared Services.

RESOLVED:  That the Pay Policy Statement 2014/15 be agreed for publication on the Council’s website.

Recommendation VI:          Cabinet

                                                (13 February 2014)

RESOLVED:  That an increase in the Empty Property Grants budget of £0.100m, as detailed in paragraph 58 of the Cabinet report, in respect of additional grant funding received in the current year be approved.

Recommendation VII:         Cabinet

                                                (13 February 2014)

RESOLVED:  That the draft West London Waste Plan, attached at Appendix 1 to the Cabinet report, be approved for publication for a minimum six-week public consultation period in March 2014 and, subject to representations, be submitted to the Secretary of State for Examination in Public.

Recommendation VIII:        Cabinet

                                                (13 February 2014)

RESOLVED:  That the Council, acting as trustee of the Pinner Memorial Park Trust,

(1)               authorise the Director of Finance and Assurance to transfer to The West House and Heath Robinson Museum Trust without recoupment the current balance of funds of circa £25,000 held by the Pinner Memorial Park Trust for the purpose of the construction of the new museum facility, subject to any necessary approval of the Charity Commission;

(2)               authorise the Corporate Director of Environment and Enterprise, acting in the best interests of the Council as trustee, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Property and Major Contracts, to take all necessary steps to agree and implement changes to the existing lease of West House in order to enable the construction and use of the new museum building.

Recommendation IX:          Cabinet

                                                (12 December 2013)

RESOLVED:  That the minimum credit criterion for The Royal Bank of Scotland be amended from F1 to F2 as discussed in paragraphs 5.2 and 5.3 of the Cabinet report.

Report of the Divisional Director Human Resources, Development & Shared Services and Recommendation I: Chief Officers’ Employment Panel (14 November 2013)

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               Paul Najsarek, Corporate Director Community Health & Wellbeing be appointed as Interim Head of Paid Service; and

(2)               Hugh Peart, Director Legal & Governance Services be appointed as Returning Officer.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

RESOLVED:  That a Special Council meeting be convened on 12 June 2014 to consider conferring the honour of Honour Alderman on Councillor Richard Romain upon his retirement from the Council as at 22 May 2014.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

RESOLVED:  That a Special Council meeting be convened to consider conferring the honour of Freedom of the Borough of Harrow on Girls Brigade North West London District and 1454 (Harrow) Squadron Air Training Corps.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

Having received an amendment in the name of Councillor William Stoodley that Paragraph 5.3 to the Executive Procedure Rules should state that there should be a minimum of one Non-Executive member from the opposition parties this was carried.

RESOLVED:  That the proposed constitutional changes outlined in the report and above be approved for adoption and addition to the Constitution where appropriate.

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.

To note that three questions from Councillors to Portfolio Holders had been received and responded to, and the recording of the questions and answers given had been placed on the website.

The following Motions have been notified in accordance with the requirements of Council Procedure Rule 14, to be moved and seconded by the Members indicated:

(i)                 At Item 22(1) the Council received a Motion in the names of Councillor William Stoodley and Mano Dharmarajah in the following terms:

“That this Council, on cross-party basis:

A)                notes that payday lenders are trapping millions of people in spirals of debt.

B)                believes that the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)’s new proposals for regulating payday lenders are a step in the right direction, but do not go far enough.

C)                further believes:

i             that the FCA’s proposals would not prevent payday lenders from drip-feeding new loans to people who already have payday debts and are struggling to pay them back.

ii           that the FCA’s proposals would not prevent people from being hit with escalating penalty fees.

iii         that the FCA’s proposals would not stop payday lenders from raiding people’s bank accounts without telling them.

D)                welcomes that some of Britain’s biggest debt, consumer and anti-poverty organisations – including Which?, Citizens Advice, StepChange Debt Charity, Church Action on Poverty and the Centre for Responsible Credit – and MPs from every Party represented at Westminster have come together to support the Charter to Stop the Payday Loan Rip-Off.

E)                resolves to:

i             endorse the Charter to Stop the Payday Loan Rip-Off which calls on the FCA to introduce tougher regulation of payday lenders.

ii           encourage residents of Harrow to support the Charter by signing the online petition at

http://www.change.org/paydayloancharter

iii         promote and publicise more affordable lending through credit unions and better facilities be given to local credit unions by the Council.

iv         work with partners on campaigns against increasing levels of personal debt.

v           Council should have more robust and better controls in relation to the local Pay Day Loan sharks and facilitate prosecution, in conjunction with the Police, wherever possible so the hard working and vulnerable residents are not exploited.

F)                 agrees that Head of Paid Service send a copy of this motion to Martin Wheatley, Chief Executive of the Financial Conduct Authority, issue a Press Release and to all local Members of Parliament, copying all local Party Leaders.”

(ii)               Upon a vote, the Motion was agreed.

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

(i)                 At Item 22(2) the Council received a Motion in the names of Councillor William Stoodley and Krishna James in the following terms:

"This Council believes that Her Majesty's Land Registry should remain in the public domain and not be sold off to the private sector.  This Council believes that in the interest of national security it is the Government itself that should hold and be the keeper of all records appurtenant to land ownership in England and Wales, not the private sector.  Furthermore this Council acknowledges the monumental efforts that H.M. Land Registry has made with respect to streamlining, efficiency, employment above the north/south divide and its excellent customer service record.  This Council therefore believes that there is neither necessity nor reason to privatise H.M. Land Registry and wishes this view to be presented to the Public Consultation on the privatisation of H.M. Land Registry."

(ii)               Upon a vote, the Motion was agreed.

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

In accordance with Rule 14.7, this Motion stood referred to the Executive.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

RESOLVED:  That the decision taken under delegation by the Director Legal and Governance Services, on behalf of Council be noted.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

To resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence, or of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972:

RESOLVED:  That in accordance with Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) for the reasons set out below:

Report of the Divisional Director of Human Resources, Development and Shared Services.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

At 10.20 pm, in the course of consideration of item 8 – Final Revenue Budget 2014/15 and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2014/15 to 2016/17 the meeting adjourned until 10.26 pm.  The Mayor sought agreement to the extension of the guillotine until 10.45 pm.  This was agreed.

At 10.40 pm, Members agreed that the guillotine procedure be suspended.  At 10.46 pm, the meeting adjourned until 11.44 pm.

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