Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any Substitute Members, in accordance with paragraph 4.12 of the Harrow Partnership Governance Handbook.

AGREED: To (1) note that there were no Substitute Members present;

(2)  note the apologies received (as set out above).

(if any).

AGREED: To note that there were no declarations of interests made.

That the minutes of the Board Meeting held on 26 May 2009, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

AGREED: That the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 26 May 2009 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive, Harrow Council.

The Interim Head of Economic Development introduced a report which provided an update on the activities to mitigate the effect of the recession.  Several important statistics were highlighted which included that:

·                    companies in Harrow were notifying of redundancies less than 2% of the total for West London;

·                    nationally empty Commercial Properties were up 68%;

·                    Harrow Town Centre was holding up better than other town centres in London.  Vacancy rates were half of the national average;

·                    the rate of returns for investors in Harrow Town Centre had been increasing up to the recession;

·                    the UK economy had shrunk by 0.4% in the last quarter but the rate of contraction was slowing;

·                    unemployment in West London had risen slightly by 0.8% in West London, from July to August.  Additionally in Harrow, the rate of increase in Job Seekers Allowance had been declining, month on month from July 2009 to September 2009;

·                    Jobcentreplus vacancies had risen across the UK, including West London.

The Board were then notified of the strategic responses being undertaken to address issues arising out of the recession.  A Recession Busting Group had been established and had investigated thematic workstreams.  This had generated approximately 100 actions to be performed.  The Council had additionally bid for additional resources from the Government.

The Council had implemented a ‘Shop Local’ campaign and produced a Recession Survival Guide for residents.  The Citizens’ Advice Bureau was being funded to set up an additional advice kiosk.  The Council had also made a commitment to employ 20 new apprentices.

The Board were then notified of future actions proposed to assist with combating the recession.  These included the Council establishing a Hardship Fund, which allowed businesses to claim relief on business rates where closure would be detrimental to the borough.

The area between Wealdstone and the Harrow Town Centre had also been designated as an ‘Area of Intensification’ in the London Plan.  This would enable the creation of jobs and homes in the area.  The Council were in the process of drafting a Section 106 Supplementary Planning Document which would promote local recruitment and training programmes, as well as generate revenue for infrastructure.  An Economic Summit was also scheduled to take place on 3 November 2009.

In response to questions raised by Members of the Board, the Officer explained that:

·                    there was a need to discuss and investigate actions required when complex enquiries on debt were submitted to voluntary organisations;

·                    the officer would be happy to liaise with representatives of further education to discuss colleges’ role in responding to the recession and contributing to the development of necessary skills.

AGREED: That the report be noted and that Members of the Board continue to contribute to the Recession Busting Group.

Report of the Chief Executive, Harrow PCT.

The Board received a report from the Harrow Primary Care Trust which set out a proposed Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Harrow.  The Board were informed of several factors influencing Health and Well Being within the borough, which included that:

·                    there was a broad ethnic composition in the borough.  As a result, different groups suffered from different levels of diseases;

·                    life expectancy in Harrow was generally higher than London and nationally.  However there were significant differences in life expectancy across the borough when a ward comparison was conducted;

·                    a low level of the population smoked in Harrow.  However there was also a low level of physically active adults.

The Board were then asked to participate in a group exercise to identify the following:

·                    the key changes in Harrow within the last three years that have most influenced the health of its population;

·                    what Harrow would look like if a successful Health and Wellbeing Strategy was implemented;

·                    identifying factors on the process of a successful Health and Well Being Strategy;

·                    the three immediate priorities for improving the Health and Wellbeing of residents in Harrow;

·                    how success would be measured;

·                    concerns about failure of a successful Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The Board participated in the exercise and all relevant comments were passed on to the Primary Care Trust.

AGREED: That the report be noted.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive, Harrow Council.

The Board received a report from the Council’s Policy and Partnership Team which provided an update on the reward grant for Harrow’s original Local Area Agreement and the progress made against improving partnership performance management.

An officer highlighted the key issues, which included that:

·                    Harrow was in the second year of its current Local Area Agreement. Data against the indicators would be available next month;

·                    meetings of the Board were aligned to coincide with a quarterly performance management cycle.  Future meetings would align with both a 6 monthly and end of year reporting cycle;

·                    Harrow’s original Local Area Agreement came to an end in March 2009.  However 5 indicators had yet to receive their final performance data.  Based on the performance, the Council would be submitting a claim for approximately £4 million, which was 62% of the grant available;

·                    in December 2005, the Board agreed that 50% of any reward grant be retained by the partnership to fund future partnership activities whilst the remaining 50% be distributed to organisations that delivered the stretched performance.

The officer explained that management groups were being asked to consider and commence preparation of an allocation proposal to the Board for consideration in March 2010.

During the discussion on this item, Members of the Board raised a number of issues which included that:

·                    given the considerable sums of moneys involved, management groups should utilise the same methodology when preparing an allocation proposal;

·                    the board would determine the allocation, in the event that there was disagreement between management groups.

AGREED: That the report be noted and that Chairs of the management groups consider and commence preparation of an allocation proposal to the Board for consideration in March 2010.

Joint Presentation by the Corporate Director of Community and Environment and the Corporate Director of Children’s Services.

The Board received a presentation conducted by the Corporate Director, Community and Environment, and the Corporate Director, Children’s Services.

The Board were informed that there were increasing expectations being placed on organisations and given the likely budget pressures, it was wise to investigate pooling resources.  The Council had agreed to embark on a Transformation Programme and one of the work streams associated with this programme was consideration on a future operating model.  The Board were informed that partnerships were a significant element of this work stream and the Transformation Programme generally.

A key aspect of working together was that resources in Harrow could be pooled.  The Board were informed that there was a recent event where 4 different organisations were providing the same advice.  By identifying the key messages and pooling resources, the messages could be communicated more effectively and efficiently.  Discussions had already taken place with partners on potentially pooling resources and would provide enormous benefits for residents of the borough.

A video was shown to the Board, which briefly highlighted some of the key issues involved on a total place concept.

During the discussion on this item, Members of the Board raised a number of issues, which included that:

·                    there was initial concern that the video shown to the board concentrated on partnerships with the NHS trust and not on the PCT.  The Director of Public Health, Harrow PCT, confirmed that that representatives from the PCT were present when a visit was conducted to Northwick Park Hospital.  Issues discussed included walk in centres, urgent care action and service delivery within the borough;

·                    the total place concept was about partnership.  Success meant working together to ensure that resources were pooled and providing effective and efficient services;

·                    any potential reward grant could be linked into the Transformation Programme.

AGREED: That the presentation be noted.

Report of the Corporate Director of Community and Environment.

The Board received a report from the Corporate Director (Community and Environment) which addressed climate change issues in the borough.  The Board were informed that Harrow was a typical London borough in terms of its ecological footprints.  Additionally the Audit Commission had recently published an article in which Harrow was well placed in its emphasis placed on climate change.  Councils were expected to provide leadership in combating climate change.

The Board were additionally informed that:

·                    a Climate Change Strategy was adopted by the Council.  This contained mitigation and adaptation policies;

·                    Harrow was not a borough which contained heavy industrial infrastructure.  This should favour the borough in terms of indicators against CO² production;

·                    most of the CO² emissions in the borough came through private households, so assistance have to be provided to households;

·                    the London Reduction Commitment meant that the Council’s CO² emissions would be measured and penalties could be imposed;

·                    by producing less CO², this would ensure that fewer resources would be used, which would also lead to savings associated with it;

·                    the HSP had a forum called Greener Harrow which would debate a range of issues including climate change.

During the discussion on this item, Members of the Board raised a number of issues which included that:

·                    it would be helpful if gardeners recycled all garden waste, which was then re?distributed to residents for those requiring top soil;

·                    circulation of a leaflet about the Greener Harrow meetings would generate a stronger attendance at its meetings;

·                    the NHS had a statutory requirement to reduce its CO² emissions.

In response to a question raised by the Chairman, an officer explained that CO² emissions per capita would be measured by DEFRA.  They would make assessments in terms of activity.  Further investigation would take place into exactly how the measurements would be calculated.

AGREED: That the report be noted.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive, Harrow Council.

The Board received a report presented by the Chief Executive, Harrow Council, which provided an overview of the main items considered by the Harrow Chief Executives in recent months.

The Board were informed that:

·                    there had been meetings with the Audit Commission on the progress of the Comprehensive Area Assessment.  A self evaluation had been prepared and the outcome of the process would be known in December 2009.  It was anticipated that the report would be positive;

·                    there had been a focus on the Transformation Programme. Difficult challenges were anticipated for all groups within the Board and partnership working was required to overcome these;

·                    two complaints had been considered under the Compact;

·                    work was conducted on the Local Area Agreement where bids for funding were invited where identified targets were in danger of not being met;

·                    work was conducted on ensuring that the governance and structure of the board was correct.  A consultancy, Shared Intelligence, were employed to ensure that the board was working as efficiently as possible.

AGREED:  That the report be noted and the Board receive regular updates from the Harrow Chief Executives.

(i)                 Swine Flu Update

The Director of Public Health informed the Board that there had been an increase in the numbers of those affected by Swine Flu.  The peak was expected in December 2009 and it appeared that pregnant women and children were particularly vulnerable.

It was anticipated that a number of people would be off sick, and workforce plans were required.  Vaccines were being rolled out widely amongst hospitals and GP surgeries.

AGREED: That the update be noted.

(ii)               Third Sector Strategy

The Corporate Director, Community and Environment, informed the board that a Third Sector Strategy had been completed in draft.  It was anticipated that the document would be published for consultation in December 2009 and would then be presented to Cabinet.

AGREED: That the update be noted.

(iii)             Services Framework

Mr Coker informed the board that residents were having difficulties in accessing the services provided by groups represented on the Board.  This often involved having to repeatedly contact organisations to ensure service delivery.

The Chairman advised that a report would be presented on this item at the next meeting of the Board on 7 January 2010.

AGREED: That a report be presented to the next meeting of the Board on service delivery to residents.

The next Board Meeting is scheduled for Thursday 7 January 2010.

AGREED:  That it be noted that the next meeting of the Board would be held on Thursday 7 January 2010.