Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)                 to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)               where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)             the meeting notes at the start of the meeting at the item ‘Reserves’ that the Reserve Member is or will be attending as a reserve;

(iv)              if a Reserve Member whose intention to attend has been noted arrives after the commencement of the meeting, then that Reserve Member can only act as a Member from the start of the next item of business on the agenda after his/her arrival.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Member:-

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)               all Members of the Committee, Sub Committee, Panel or Forum;

(b)               all other Members present in any part of the room or chamber.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no declarations of interests made by Members in relation to the business transacted at this meeting.

To consider whether any of the items listed on the agenda should be considered with the press and public excluded on the grounds that it is thought likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, that there would be disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence or of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

RESOLVED:  That (1) in accordance with the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the following agenda items be admitted late to the agenda by virtue of the special circumstances and grounds for urgency detailed below:-

(2)  all items be considered with the press and public present.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 July 2006, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the consideration and signing of the minutes of the meeting held on 5 July 2006, be deferred until printed in the next Council Bound Minute Volume.

To receive questions (if any) from local residents/organisations under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 8.

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were put at the meeting under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 8.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 9.

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions were received at the meeting under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 9.

To receive deputations (if any) under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10.

RESOLVED:  To note that no deputations were received at the meeting under the provisions of Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rule 10.

Councillor Eileen Kinnear will be in attendance for this item.

The Chairman welcomed the Portfolio Holder for Urban Living (Public Realm) to the meeting. The Chairman invited Members to put their questions to the Portfolio Holder and stated that they could also ask supplemental questions.

Recycling and waste

Question 1:  What progress has been made on increasing the level of recycling?

The Portfolio Holder responded that the level of recycling had increased from 26.7% to 30% this year, green box recycling had increased by 23% and the amount of plastic bottles and cans being recycled had trebled.  There had also been an increase in organic recycling but the level of contamination was high, and brown bin tonnage had increased by 17% on last year.  It was reported that the government had set a recycling target for Harrow of 40% by 2009/10 and that Harrow’s level of recycling was the ninth highest London Borough.

In response to a supplementary question the Portfolio Holder informed the Sub-Committee that anyone who had placed an order for an additional green box would have it supplied.  A Member responded that not all residents were aware they had to place an order and the Portfolio Holder requested that she be given the details of these individuals.

Question 2:  What lessons have been learned from recent changes to recycling that will be implemented when collections are changed in October?

The Portfolio Holder responded that in July 2006, there had been a change in the frequency of collections and compulsory recycling had started (except for flats) across the whole of the Borough.  The lesson that had been learned from this was that the implementation of changes should be phased in.  In response to a supplementary question about improvements, the Portfolio Holder requested that if any incidents were reported to Members, she should be informed so that they could be investigated.

Question 3:  What plans are there for extending recycling to items that are currently going to landfill?

The Portfolio Holder explained that the materials recycled would depend on the markets available but that drink cartons and all cardboard would probably be included.  However, Harrow was close to reaching the maximum that could be diverted from landfill.  She reported that Cabinet would be considering changes, including all recycled material being collected and sorted later to save time at the kerbside, and also the possible introduction of a blue box with the capacity of five green boxes.

In response to a supplementary question about where collected rubbish was taken, the Portfolio Holder explained that organic material was taken to Harefield and the rest was taken to the Civic Amenity Site.

Question 4:  How is the Council going to implement compulsory recycling in blocks of flats as anybody can put their rubbish into the flats’ bins?

The Portfolio Holder responded that there were no plans to extend compulsory recycling to flats as this would pose significant challenges as there was a lower level of personal responsibility.  However 1,500 out of 19,000 flats had on-site recycling facilities and this figure  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Report of the Director of People, Performance and Policy

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of People, Performance and Policy, which updated Members on the work undertaken by the Sub-Committee since the last meeting.

Members discussed the content of the report of the Scrutiny Challenge Panel and commented that the report should be circulated to all Members of the Council, who should be offered training on Section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act.

RESOLVED:  That (1) the report of the Challenge Panel be agreed;

(2)  the comments received from the co-opted member be incorporated into the report;

(3)  the Portfolio Holder for Business Development, subject to funding being made available, consider making available provision for suitable training to Members;

(4)  the report be referred to Cabinet and the Safer Management Group;

(5)  the report be circulated to all members of Council;

(6)  the report be drawn to the attention of the Chairmen of the Licensing and General Purposes Committee and Development Control Committee.

Report of the Director of People, Performance and Policy

The Panel received a report of the Director of People, Performance and Policy which asked Members to consider and make comments on the consultation draft of the refreshed Community Plan.  An officer explained that the Community Plan would replace the Community Strategy and set out the way in which Harrow would develop over the next 15 years.  Consultation was taking place with over 70 community groups and Members.  Members of the Sub-Committee were invited to provide comments individually or as a Sub-Committee before 27 October 2006.

In response to a question from a Member, the officer explained that 9 or 10 comments had been received from individuals and community groups and some had focused on there being too little about older people and disabled people in the report.  He reported that in November 2006, the Harrow Strategic Partnership Board would consider the comments that had been received on the Community Plan.

A Member commented that Northwick Park Hospital did not have a stroke unit and that every hospital should have one as it was imperative to treat patients immediately after they had had a stroke.  The officer informed the Member that this comment would be included as a formal comment of the report.

RESOLVED:  That the report and comments be noted.

Report of the Director of People, Performance and Policy

The Sub-Committee received a report of the Director of People, Performance and Policy, which asked Members to consider and agree the major topics to be included in the work programme for 2006/07 and to consider the scheduling of longer-term topics for the period 2006-2010.

Members considered whether the police could be invited to attend the January 2007 meeting for the items relating to alcohol misuse and performance reporting.

Members discussed the work programme for 2006/07 and the possibility of combining the proposed financial inclusion project with the fuel poverty as the next topic for review as they both related to anti-poverty initiatives and working with the voluntary sector.  It was estimated that this review would take up a substantial part of the year.

Members thanked the scrutiny officer for her work.

RESOLVED:  That (1) Anti-poverty/voluntary sector – financial inclusion and Anti-poverty – fuel poverty be combined as the next topic for review;

(2)  the Borough Commander be invited to attend the January 2007 meeting;

(3)  a representative of the police and a Council licensing officer be invited to attend the January 2007 meeting of the Sub-Committee for the item on alcohol misuse, alongside the Director of Public Health, Harrow PCT.

To note the amended terms of reference (italicised) of the Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED: That the amended terms of reference be noted.