Agenda and minutes

Moved from 28 Nov 2019, Council - Thursday 16 January 2020 7.30 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, Harrow Civic Centre, Station Road, Harrow, HA1 2XY. View directions

Contact: Alison Atherton, Senior Professional - Democratic Services  Tel: 020 8424 1266 E-mail:  alison.atherton@harrow.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

107.

MINUTE SILENCE

Minutes:

Members of Council stood and observed a minute silence for former Mayor and Councillor Ann Groves who passed away in August and former Deputy Mayor and Councillor Mary John who passed away in December.

108.

COUNCIL MINUTES pdf icon PDF 18 KB

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2019 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 18 July 2019 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

109.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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.

Minutes:

During the course of the meeting, Councillor Susan Hall declared an interest in that she was a Greater London Assembly (GLA) Member and that the Mayor of London had been mentioned in the Leader’s Announcements.

110.

PROCEDURAL MOTIONS

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.

Minutes:

The Mayor drew Council’s attention to the tabled amendment to the Motion (Supporting Residents Impacted by Universal Credit).

 

The Leader of the Opposition stated his Group’s objection to the Mayor ruling a Motion in relation to the General Election invalid in that, in his view, the Motion affected the London Borough of Harrow.  This was noted.

111.

PETITIONS

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.

Minutes:

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

 

(i)            Petition submitted by Mr Gandecha, the Case is Altered Public House, containing 1,685 signatures concerning the Harrow View Point Car Park.

 

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

 

(ii)          Petition submitted by Councillor Kam Chana containing 60 signatures of the residents of Westbury Lodge Close in relation to planning policy in relation to the conversion of garages.

 

[The petition stood referred to the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Employment].

112.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS

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.

Minutes:

To note that no public questions had been received.

113.

LEADER AND PORTFOLIO HOLDERS' ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.

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.

114.

LONG SERVICE AWARDS

Further to the decision of Annual Council on 16 May 2019, to make a presentation to Councillors Jean Lammiman, Christopher Mote and Phillip O’Dell marking 25 years’ service on Harrow Council which they completed in May 2019.

 

Minutes:

Council had previously agreed, by Resolution 192 on 18 July 1985, that Members who completed 25 years’ service with the Council be presented with framed, illuminated copy resolutions of appreciation.  Councillors Jean Lammiman, Christopher Mote and Phillip O’Dell had each completed 25 years’ service as a Member of the Authority in May 2019, and the resolutions of appreciation had been adopted by Council on 16 May 2019.

 

The Mayor, Councillor Nitin Parekh, on behalf of the Council, now formally congratulated Councillors Lammiman, Christopher Mote and Phillip O’Dell and presented each Member with a framed, illuminated copy resolution to mark their long service achievement.  Councillors Ghazanfar Ali, Richard Almond, Jeff Anderson, Sue Anderson, Marilyn Ashton, Kam Chana, Susan Hall, Graham Henson, John Hinkley, Dr Lesline Lewinson, Vina Mithani, Janet Mote, Paul Osborn, Anjana Patel, David Perry, Natasha Proctor, Kiran Ramchandani, Christine Robson, Lynda Seymour, Rekha Shah, Sachin Shah and Adam Swersky spoke in appreciation of Councillors Jean Lammiman, Christopher Mote and Phillip O’Dell’s service.

 

Councillors Lammiman, Mote and O’Dell returned thanks for their presentation.

115.

GOVERNANCE, AUDIT, RISK MANAGEMENT AND STANDARDS COMMITTEE ANNUAL REPORT pdf icon PDF 48 KB

RECOMMENDATION I:

Governance, Audit, Risk Management and Standards Committee

 

(16 September 2019)          

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Annual Report of the Governance, Audit and Risk Management Committee be noted.

116.

PENSION BOARD ANNUAL REPORT 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 47 KB

RECOMMENDATION I:

Pension Board

 

(31 October 2019)   

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Pension Board Annual Report 2018/19 be approved.

117.

STRATEGIC PERFORMANCE REPORT pdf icon PDF 47 KB

RECOMMENDATION I:

Cabinet

 

(12 September 2019)          

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the suggested adjustments in wording for the purpose of reporting against the Harrow Ambition Plan be agreed.

118.

CORPORATE PARENTING STRATEGY pdf icon PDF 47 KB

Recommendation I: Cabinet

                                    (14 November 2019)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Corporate Parenting Strategy be approved.

119.

CHANGES TO THE COUNCIL TAX SUPPORT SCHEME (CTS) FOR 2020-21 pdf icon PDF 48 KB

Recommendation I: Cabinet

                                    (9 January 2020)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)          the proposed income banded scheme for Council Tax Support claimants in receipt of Universal Credit for the financial year 2020/21 and beyond, subject to annual review, be approved;

 

(2)          the existing Council Tax Support Scheme be retained for all other claimants not in receipt of UC until the rollout of Universal Credit in Harrow had been completed;

 

(3)          the proposed income banded scheme should also benefit from £400k of extra investment.

120.

MEMBERSHIPS OF NEW COMMITTEES

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the following Members be appointed to the Appeals Committee:

 

Councillor Pamela Fitzpatrick

Councillor Pritesh Patel

Councillor David Perry

Councillor Kanti Rabadia

Councillor Adam Swersky

121.

HEALTH AND WELLBEING BOARD CHANGES TO TERMS OF REFERENCE pdf icon PDF 47 KB

Recommendation I: Health and Wellbeing Board

                                    (14 January 2020)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the amended terms of reference of the Health and Wellbeing Board be adopted.

122.

INFORMATION REPORT: DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER THE URGENT ACTION PROCEDURE - COUNCIL pdf icon PDF 20 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

123.

INFORMATION REPORT - DECISIONS TAKEN UNDER URGENCY PROCEDURE - EXECUTIVE pdf icon PDF 19 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

124.

QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE

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.

Minutes:

To note that no Councillor Questions had been received.

125.

MOTIONS pdf icon PDF 190 KB

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

 

(1)       Supporting Residents Impacted by Universal Credit Motion

 

 

To be moved by Councillor Adam Swersky and seconded by Councillor Dan Anderson:

 

Harrow Council notes that:

  • The roll-out of Universal Credit (UC) represents the largest overhaul of the welfare system for working age people in a generation.
  • If and when it is fully implemented, there will be in the region of 15,000 families in Harrow claiming the benefit, including nearly 28,000 children. 
  • The roll-out of UC has been riddled with issues that have impoverished families, driven our residents to use food banks, and made families homeless
  • The National Audit Office says UC is “not value for money now and … it’s future value for money unproven”.  Child Poverty Action Group believes it simply “isn’t working for working people”.
  • In Harrow, UC has already pushed many tenants into rent arrears.  For example 26% of Council tenants who claim Housing Benefit are in arrears compared to 73% of those claiming UC.
  • The UC application process is digital by design.  Claimants are expected to have an email address and a bank account to complete an application.  Yet there are 1.5 million unbanked adults in the UK and 38% of people on low incomes have limited access to the internet.

Harrow Council launched a cross-Party Commission on the Implementation of Universal Credit in Harrow in late 2018 to identify a set of practical actions the Council could take to support our residents. 

 

Harrow Council resolves:

  • To adopt the final report of the Commission, including its action plan.  This includes supporting residents to access digital services, improving links between Council officers and Jobcentre Plus staff, and making provision within the Council Tax Support scheme to help people migrating onto Universal Credit.
  • To continue to develop new ways of supporting people impacted by the roll-out of Universal Credit.
  • To incorporate the findings of the Commission into the development of the Borough Plan as part of the Council's drive to tackle poverty and inequality.”

 

Minutes:

(i)            Motion in the names of Councillor Adam Swersky and Councillor Dan Anderson:

 

 

“Supporting Residents Impacted by Universal Credit Motion

 

Harrow Council notes that:

·           The roll-out of Universal Credit (UC) represents the largest overhaul of the welfare system for working age people in a generation.

·           If and when it is fully implemented, there will be in the region of 15,000 families in Harrow claiming the benefit, including nearly 28,000 children. 

·           The roll-out of UC has been riddled with issues that have impoverished families, driven our residents to use food banks, and made families homeless

·           The National Audit Office says UC is “not value for money now and… it’s future value for money unproven”.  Child Poverty Action Group believes it simply “isn’t working for working people”.

·           In Harrow, UC has already pushed many tenants into rent arrears. For example 26% of Council tenants who claim Housing Benefit are in arrears compared to 73% of those claiming UC.

·           The UC application process is digital by design. Claimants are expected to have an email address and a bank account to complete an application. Yet there are 1.5 million unbanked adults in the UK and 38% of people on low incomes have limited access to the internet.

 

 

Harrow Council launched a cross-Party Commission on the Implementation of Universal Credit in Harrow in late 2018 to identify a set of practical actions the Council could take to support our residents. 

 

Harrow Council resolves:

 

·            To adopt the final report of the Commission, including its action plan. This includes supporting residents to access digital services, improving links between Council officers and Jobcentre Plus staff, and making provision within the Council Tax Support scheme to help people migrating onto Universal Credit.

·            To continue to develop new ways of supporting people impacted by the roll-out of Universal Credit.

·            To incorporate the findings of the Commission into the development of the Borough Plan as part of the Council's drive to tackle poverty and inequality.”

 

 

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

 

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

 

126.

EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

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:

 

Agenda Item No

 

Title

Description of Exempt Information

20.

Information Report – Severance Packages of £100,000 or Greater

Information under paragraph 1 (contains information relating to any individuals).

 

Minutes:

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

 

Agenda Item No

Title

 

 

Description of Exempt Information

20.

Information Report – Severance Packages of £100,000 or Greater

Information under paragraph 1 (contains information relating to any individuals).

 

[The Conservative Group wished to be recorded as having voted against the above Resolution].

127.

INFORMATION REPORT - SEVERANCE PACKAGES OF £100,000 OR GREATER

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.