Agenda item

Questioner:

Councillor James Bond

Asked of:

Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Business Transformation and Communications, Finance, Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services, Property and Major Contracts

Question:

“It is stated in Harrow Council's Corporate Plan for 2013?15 that it is the authority's intention to introduce a 'Harrow Card' which will be available to all who live and work in the borough to promote local shopping and the use of Council facilities as a way of supporting local business.

Can the Leader please tell me what progress has been made towards the launch of a 'Harrow Card' and when it is anticipated that such a scheme will be up and running?”

Answer:

The rationale for a ‘Harrow Card’ was to promote local shopping.  It was to be one of the tools to support Harrow businesses.  The budget setting process assumed the Harrow Card would be self-financing.  A Feasibility Study was commissioned to support the implementation of the Harrow Card.  The Study did not provide sufficient evidence to guarantee that the Harrow Card would be self-financing.  The Study highlighted that there was risk involved in assuming that sales/renewals of the Harrow Card would be sufficient to meet the cost.

However, it is always prudent to review performance and determine whether the same tools are necessary to achieve our objectives.  I am happy to say that our initiatives to promote local shopping have been successful and the average vacancy rates across Harrow town and district centres are down from 6.51% in June 2012 to 4.98% in June 2013.

Therefore, it is deemed wise to continue to focus on activities that are successfully supporting local businesses without recourse to an immediate implementation of the potentially costly Harrow Card.

Supplemental Question:

First of all, I would like to congratulate the Council on what I read in the Harrow Observer.  It is a friend and a supporter and working with small businesses.  However, that makes me think that three years have elapsed since the Harrow Card was first thought of and I know these things cannot happen instantly, although I do think three years is a too long.

Has this Council thought of crossing the border and speaking to our neighbours in Hillingdon who have an excellent “Hillingdon First” Card that does all the things that the Harrow Card should do for our residents, from parking to library books, you name it.   It is a very good scheme.  Will you look towards Hillingdon and at least look at their project and make it work for Harrow?

Supplemental Answer:

As part of the process, we have spoken to Hillingdon.  I have also spoken to one or two banks and the telephone companies.  Nobody has come forward so far. 

I think the best way to go forward is to try and get a sponsor to administer the card and they may get some promotion in return and we may get a value for it. 

The Council is facingchallenging times.  I do not think it is wise to spend a lot of money that belongs to the tax payers on the Harrow Card.  This is a difficult decision but it has to be made. 

As you would have heard before, there are other issues such as not locking park gates, cutting grass and taxi cards. I am not sure it is wise to spend half a million pounds on a Harrow Card without any guarantee that it is going to increase income.   That is my difficulty.  

Questioner:

Councillor David Perry

Asked of:

Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Business Transformation and Communications, Finance, Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services, Property and Major Contracts

Question:

“In February, full Council set the Council challenging headline budget savings for this financial year, please could you indicate the progress to date on these in-year savings targets?”

Answer:

As at Quarter 1, the Council is forecasting an overspend of £2.2m, as you rightly point out, which equates to variance of 1% against the Council’s total General Fund budget of £181m.  This forecast overspend assumes that all of the contingency budgets will be spent.  Those contingency budgets (totalling £3.2m) will be monitored as we progress throughout the year.

At Council on 29 February, Members approved savings of £22.8m for 2013/14.  These savings are monitored in detail and are rated by officers on a RED / AMBER / GREEN scale for deliverability.  At present £5.5m of the 2013/14 savings are rated as RED.  Those savings are detailed in the appendix to the Cabinet report.  Officers are working to deliver all of the savings and the status of the savings is reviewed on a monthly basis and, by Cabinet, on a quarterly basis.

Supplemental Question:

You mentioned in your first line an overspend or a projected overspend of £2.2m so my supplementary question regarding the current savings targets involved your personal decision to use your power in deliberate overspend in your office and ignoring the staffing protocols which all political groups must adhere to? 

Given the fact that as the Leader of the Council you are asking all Council departments to make savings and reductions at this time and your Group clearly are not, but overspending.  What response would you give to the hard working, loyal and committed staff, both junior and senior, at this Council and the people of Harrow, who may think that your Group’s actions is one rule for one and another rule for you and that your actions are hypocrisy at the highest level?

Supplemental Answer:

I fundamentally disagree with you David.

The problem with the political group budgets is the way they are set.  They did not expect a situation like this before.  For example if one of the Independents gets elected, would you give £3,500 to the Councillor and say “run the Leader’s office”?  How is it possible?  So it is a different scenario and the Leader needs proper support and the resolution to run the Council efficiently.  So there will be overspends, some other departments as well, then we claw it back. 

Now I have asked the Legal officer to look into the future and come up with a plan to fund the political groups in the future, depending on various scenarios.  This is a very unusual scenario. 

None of the staffing protocols were broken.  All I was looking for a research assistant to help me and then I was approached by the Council, saying that somebody may be available, we want you to take it on. I said okay.  That saved redundancy or difficult decisions to make.  So I do not think this has ever been done.  We are doing it properly and five Cabinet Members and the Leader cannot run an office on someone on barely on a London Living Wage.  It is impossible.  You may not agree but that is the reality of life.    

Questioner:

Councillor David Perry

Asked of:

Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Business Transformation and Communications, Finance, Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services, Property and Major Contracts

Question:

“Magic Car Wash based in Wealdstone, through their operations, have again and again ignored this Council, their lease arrangements and treated the surrounding neighbours in Canning Road with little respect.  Therefore as Leader of the Council please could you intervene in this on-going issue, and will you ensure the necessary enforcement action is taken without delay?”

This question was not asked at the meeting.  The following written response was sent, as requested by Councillor Perry at the meeting.

Written Answer:

Over the last 2 years or so Council officers have liaised extensively with local residents, the HA3 Residents’ Association and Ward Councillors and held numerous briefing meetings.

Following the latest information received from the Chairman of the HA3 Residents’ Association, the Council has written to the tenant to require that he stops washing rugs at the premises in contravention of the lease terms.  This letter has been followed up with a further letter and an inspection.

The Council could potentially instigate proceedings to end the lease by forfeiture, however, where the breach does not relate to non-payment of rent, there is no automatic right to forfeit.  Where the breaches are relatively minor as in this case the Court will often give tenants the benefit of doubt and award relief from forfeiture.

In the circumstances it is not currently considered appropriate to use the Council’s scarce financial resources in pursuing an action through the Courts which is unlikely to succeed.  Officers will continue to monitor the position and make regular inspections to ensure the premises are being used for the permitted use.  The situation will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis.

Therefore, from the evidence obtained over the last week, it has been agreed that a planning breach of Condition notice would not be expedient nor sustainable at this time.

Questioner:

Councillor Graham Henson

Asked of:

Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Business Transformation and Communications, Finance, Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services, Property and Major Contracts

Question:

In January 2012, a motion was adopted at Full Council that raised concerns about the expansion of RAF Northolt for commercial flights, which had been highlighted within the Guardian Newspaper.

Council instructed the Chief Executive to enlist the support of Harrow’s three MPs, the Brent and Harrow GLA member and other neighbouring local authorities, MPs and GLA members to oppose this catastrophic proposal.

On 5 September 2013, in a response to a question from Gareth Thomas MP, Harrow West, it was stated that “The Ministry of Defence (MOD) intends to increase commercial aviation flights at RAF Northolt within the current airspace capacity of 40 commercial movements per day, with a cap of 12,000 commercial movements per year.  These civilian commercial movements will be strictly in accordance with extant arrangements.  Representatives from RAF Northolt met with the Leader of London borough of Hillingdon, local councillors, and residents' associations to discuss the proposal.  No other public consultation took place”

Quite clearly the coalition Government is expanding RAF Northolt by stealth.

Will the Leader explain:-

1.                  What discussions has he, or Cabinet members, had concerning the increased use of RAF Northolt for commercial use?

2.                  What response has he, or cabinet members, made to the announcement on increased flights?

3.                  What discussions have Harrow Council Officers had concerning the increased use of RAF Northolt for commercial use?

4.                  What response has Council officers made to the announcement on increased flights?

5.                  What representations has the Leader, Cabinet Members or Council Officers made, and to whom, concerning increased flights?

6.                  What engagement or consultation will be taking place with Harrow MPs, Harrow Councillors, Residents Associations or residents concerning increased flights into Northolt airport?

7.                  What meetings have taken place with RAF Northolt Community Consultative Group, on which Harrow Councillors used to be a part of?

In responding to the points above I would like to know detail around:-

a.                  The flight landing/take off windows for commercial planes

b.                  The size of the aircraft

c.                  Results of impact assessments on local communities

d.                  What has been reported on behalf of Harrow Residents at London Councils or 2M - both of which are considering how to expand airport capacity in London?

Answer:

The Council Motion letter that was sent by the Chief Executive to Harrow’s three MPs, the Brent and Harrow GLA member and other neighbouring local authorities, MPs and GLA members.

Despite our approach, ministers have not formally consulted with this Council.

Ministers have directed that the existing self-imposed ceiling of 7,000 commercial movements per year is to be increased to 12,000, which is within the existing NATS limits of 40 commercial movements per day.  The increase is to be achieved gradually over the next 3 years.

The increase is to be achieved within existing operating parameters and there is therefore no proposal to extend the existing opening hours and the daily number of commercial movements will remain within the existing 40 movements per day permitted under NATS guidelines.

Commercial movements will continue to be restricted to quieter aircraft with capacity for no more than 30 passengers.  The airfield will remain closed to commercial traffic overnight, Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings.

Ministers have written to local Members of Parliament to inform them of the proposal to increase the number of commercial movements.  This follows consultation with DfT, CAA and NATS.  RAF Northolt is now beginning a process of discussing the proposal with local Councillors and Residents’ Groups.  It appears that this consultation did not include Harrow and therefore we do not have the details you have requested.

We will continue to work with our MPs and GLA members to ensure that there is no adverse impact on the residents of Harrow.

Supplemental Question:

This Government that talks about openness and transparency consulted with the MP from Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner, who is noted did not respond, said there were no objections but has failed to consult with the borough of Harrow where the flight path goes over and also the limits they talk about on the 12,000 is linked in with the Heathrow Airport Plan and is limited because of Heathrow Airport.

Will you as the Leader of the Council ensure that the Council officers write to the relevant Minister, raising the concerns and clearly spelling out their annoyance that they did not consult with the borough of Harrow or the residents of Harrow?

Supplemental Answer:

I entirely agree with you Graham but then our MPs have a greater responsibility of government.  You are happy to work with anybody to get the information you want.

Questioner:

Councillor Tony Seymour

Asked of:

Councillor Asad Omar, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Safety

Question:

“What was the revenue received by the Council from on street parking in the Pinner Road and Station Road North Harrow for the last three financial years?”

Answer:

Income for the area of North Harrow, West Harrow and Pinner Road is as follows:

2010 -       £14,842

2011 -       £15,519

2012 -       £18,921 (and this new pay and display bays in the County Roads increased income over previous years.  That is why it is £18,000 rather than £15,000 or £14,000).

The above income data amalgamates figures for Station Road and Pinner Road, North Harrow with data for other nearby roads.  Now data for individual road sections is not recorded and would rely in a manual trawl of income sheets for the three years in question.  However, an estimate has been made based on figures for the last half year and annualised income for Station Road and Pinner Road, North Harrow is approximately £9,000 to £10,000.

There have been no substantial changes in these roads in the last three years and it is anticipated that the income levels will have remained relatively constant around this figure. 

Members will be aware that these particular roads currently provide free parking for one hour.  This has been in place since the redevelopment of the Safeway site.  Hence the income only reflects vehicles wishing to park for a period in excess of one hour.

Supplemental Question:

That is not terribly helpful because it is all grouped together but the one trend is that the revenue is increasing. 

In light of your proposal to abolish the one hour free parking on streets in North Harrow, your reasonable expectation that by doing so will increase revenue and the recent statement made by Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, that parking charges are not a tax or a “cash cow” to plug a hole in the Council’s budget, will you reassure local businesses and residents that you will reconsider the proposal to abolish the one hour free parking in North Harrow?

Supplemental Answer:

You know as I do that one hour free parking was introduced in 2004 when the Safeway site went and what business traders and residents said they would like one hour free parking to help out the businesses.  Now businesses have gone, we have a gym on the site.  If you recall, going back to 2007/8, when you were in administration you wanted to introduce charges in North Harrow car park but again the traders were opposed to that.  The agreement reached was not to put up any charges if we get a supermarket or similar. 

We have got a gym which is working fine and the footfall has gone up.  So that is why we would like to be consistent with all other car parks in the borough.  We do not want to discriminate against others.

Questioner:

Councillor Graham Henson

Asked of:

Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Business Transformation and Communications, Finance, Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services, Property and Major Contracts 

Question:

In view of the recent statements that North Harrow Post Office may close; what representation has the Portfolio Holder made regarding:

(i)                 the future of Post Office Services in North Harrow, the future of access to Post Offices in the London Borough of Harrow (LBH),

(ii)               what work/transactions are the LBH looking at putting through Post Offices,

(iii)             what work/transactions are the LBH looking at taking away from Post Offices?

Answer:

Officers met with the Post Office’s Senior Stakeholder Manager in July to discuss Network Transformation.  The Post Office has no plans to close the North Harrow Post Office or reduce access to any Post Office in Harrow.

The Post Office has a modernisation agenda for its branches.  The Operator of the Post Office in North Harrow may change.  If the current Operator does leave, the Council has offered to assist the Post Office in finding a new operator.

The Council has promoted the Post Office’s Enterprise Community Fund to involve the Post Office in local communities.  This was promoted to businesses and community groups and interest has been shown by a number of organisations.  The closing date for community groups and businesses wishing to engage with this initiative is 18 October.

The Council will explore the Post Offices offices as one mechanism for residents to use for Personal Payments.

The use of cash giro payments ceased in April 2013.

The Council is not looking at taking away further work / transactions from the Post Office in 2013/14 or 2014/15.

Questioner:

Councillor Graham Henson

Asked of:

Councillor Asad Omar, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Safety

Question:

“How many street signs in the Borough are awaiting replacement?"

Answer:

Harrow has 14,020 street signs (not including street name plates) of which 2,134 are illuminated.

Currently, the Capital Programme allocates for a programme of replacements. Replacement is only being done on a reactive basis.

We do however have a programme of de-illuminating signs to reduce our energy consumption.  Through last year’s programme we have de-illuminated 514 signs.

Based upon age profile it is estimated that 1,200 signs need replacement, however until specific funds are available to replace these we continue to replace on a reactive basis.

Questioner:

Councillor Sachin Shah

Asked of:

Councillor William Stoodley, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration

Question:

“What instructions have you given your officers in relation to taking enforcement action against the unauthorised building and floodlights at the Barnet FC ground - The Hive?”

Answer:

Officers have already met with the owner/operator of the Hive to discuss means of resolving the current breaches of planning regulations, including the unauthorised West Stand and stadium floodlights.

In respect of the floodlights and the unauthorised West Stand which formed the basis of the Planning Committee’s recent reasons for refusal of planning permission, officers from Planning and Legal Services are in the process of preparing an enforcement notice.   This is expected to be served on the property shortly.  The enforcement notice will require the removal of both structures within a specified time period.  

Officers have also written separately, under environmental protection legislation, about the use of the floodlights and the nuisance that these have the potential to cause.  Further assessment of the floodlights’ impact as part of a process of determining whether the lights represent a statutory nuisance is planned to take place during planned events.  Evidence collected will help officers to form a view on the case for serving an abatement notice on the floodlights under this legislation.

Questioner:

Councillor James Bond

Asked of:

Councillor Asad Omar, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Safety

Question:

“Can the Portfolio Holder please inform us of the results obtained following the undertaking of the Equalities Impact Assessment survey, and how they have been interpreted in order to justify the changes being proposed to parking arrangements in the North Harrow District Centre?”

Answer:

In line with the Council’s agreed policy, an EQIA was undertaken in respect of the Parking Charges review to accompany the consultation on the review.  This was reported to Cabinet in October 2011, where it was resolved to agree the new structural format for parking and permit charges based on the parking and permit charges consultation.

The EQIA concluded that there were “No adverse impact on any equality groups has been identified.  However the revised Parking Management and Enforcement Plan will offer benefits to those requesting the provision of disabled parking spaces.”  A copy of the EQIA can be provided on request.

Questioner:

Councillor Sachin Shah

Asked of:

Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Business Transformation and Communications, Finance, Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services, Property and Major Contracts

Question:

“The report on the agenda today, shows that because of your inability to get polices either though your own group, or in relation to PRISM, past Councillor Hall, you have massively overspent your budget.  What will you be doing to bring this budget back in to balance?”

Answer:

The report on the Cabinet agenda details forecast performance against budget as at quarter 1.

As at Quarter 1, the Council is forecasting an overspend of £2.2m, which equates to variance of 1% against the Council’s total General Fund budget of £181m.  This forecast overspend assumes that all of the contingency budgets will be spent.  These contingency budgets (totalling £3.2m) will be monitored as we progress through the year.

At Council on 29 February, Members approved savings of £22.8m for 2013/14.  These savings are monitored in detail and are rated by officers on a RED / AMBER / GREEN scale for deliverability.  At present £5.5m of the 2013/14 savings are rated as RED.  These savings are detailed in the appendix to the Cabinet report.  Officers are working to deliver all of the savings and the status of the savings are reviewed on a monthly basis and by Cabinet on a quarterly basis.

Questioner:

Councillor Sachin Shah

Asked of:

Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Business Transformation and Communications, Finance, Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services, Property and Major Contracts

Question:

At the Planning meeting held on 1st August 2013 you declared a non-pecuniary interest in that you had been involved in the Hive in your capacity as Portfolio Holder for Property and Major Contracts. Given you have previously declined to answer my questions on the issue because you have not been involved, please can you set out the areas that you have been involved with, which led you to make this declaration? 

Answer:

As Portfolio Holder for Property and Major Projects within the previous administration, I was consulted on the proposals to vary the lease terms to permit professional football to be played at the Hive.  My involvement extended to a site visit to The Hive and to Underhill, to review the facilities and to witness a professional football match, and to meetings with the Corporate Director and Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration to discuss the terms under which the lease with the operator might be varied, prior to the meeting of Cabinet in July 2012.

As Portfolio Holder I have also been updated regularly on potential breaches of the lease at The Hive.

Questioner:

Councillor Phillip O’Dell

Asked of:

Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Business Transformation and Communications, Finance, Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services, Property and Major Contracts

Question:

"Please could the Leader of the Council provide an update on the Homes in Multi Occupation Registration Scheme?”

Answer:

The Housing Act has two categories of licence available for HMOs: the mandatory scheme for licensing larger HMOs and the optional, additional local scheme for licensing smaller HMOs.  Harrow operates both these schemes and, to date, has licensed a total of 531 HMOs, 189 under the mandatory scheme and 342 under the local scheme. 

The identification and licensing of HMOs remains a key work area for the Private Sector Housing team in Community Safety.  So far this financial year, a total of 25 new properties have been identified and licensed as HMOs.

Questioner:

Councillor Bill Phillips

Asked of:

Councillor Zarina Khalid, Portfolio Holder for Children, Schools and Families

Question:

SNT3

Bearing in mind the significant increase in the birth rate in Harrow that is putting enormous pressure on our education system.  What is the extra cost that is expected in the pro rata increase in the requirement for Special Needs Transport?

Answer:

The service is already experiencing an increased demand for special needs transport services to schools.   The starting number of children in September 2012 was approximately 480 and this increased during the year to approximately 520.  In September 2013 the number is already in the region of 525 and this is expected to increase to around 570 by the end of the year.  Therefore it is reasonable to assume continuing increase in the birth rate will lead to an increased need for special transport services.  Due to the increase there will be a need for growth in the financial year 2014-15 that it is difficult to estimate at this stage until the needs of individual children and the overall cohort requiring special transport services is analysed and understood more clearly.

Questioner:

Councillor Bill Phillips

Asked of:

Councillor Zarina Khalid, Portfolio Holder for Children, Schools and Families

Question:

SNT3

Where the service is to be outsourced, it is noted that the majority of the management structure is retained in house in order to manage the contracts and to define and manage the routes to be let.  Why is this when it would appear logical that outsourcing the most expensive part of the organisation, the definition of the routes and their management, would surely mean that contractors can define optimal routes that accommodate their own existing workload would surely generate a greater saving for them and consequently a much lower bid to us?

Answer:

It is proposed that the routing and scheduling of all routes remain in-house using the software introduced as part of SNT 1.  The management team have vast experience of ensuring routes are optimised as much as possible, taking into account the special requirements of individual pupils.  The team know and understand the needs of all the pupils transported which is not something that would be easily transferred to external providers.  We will obviously review this on a yearly basis.  When the outsourcing has bedded down we will consider other ways to manage this.

Questioner:

Councillor Bill Phillips

Asked of:

Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Business Transformation and Communications, Finance, Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services, Property and Major Contracts

Question:

SNT3

In recommendation 2 of the report it is noted that a major part of this contract could be let under delegated powers to the Corporate Director of Children and Families.  This is a major delegation that covers not just a major outsourcing contract but also the jobs of many of the council’s staff.  Why are the cabinet abrogating this level of responsibility for such a major decision?

Answer:

This is a delegation that is allowed under the constitution and it is appropriate for the corporate director to manage the service and staffing implications of a decision required to ensure operational effectiveness of a service within their remit (subject to the receipt of advice as appropriate).

Questioner:

Councillor Bill Phillips

Asked of:

Councillor Zarina Khalid, Portfolio Holder for Children, Schools and Families

Question:

SNT3

In section 6.1 the report notes that the vulnerable young people that use this transport will be supervised and driven by staff that “would tend to be employed on a strict ‘hours for pay’ basis” (probably a zero hours contract) “less generous sickness benefits and different pension provisions.  It is normally the case that drivers are self-employed…”.  What instance of lateness, non-show or poor driver behaviour will be acceptable under this arrangement and what penalties are to be levelled at contractors who deliver the poor service that will be a consequence of driving the contract into such a paucity of employment practices?

Answer:

Under the existing framework used currently for taxi style routes there is already a process to default any contractors who do not meet the standards laid out in the contract.  All instances of failure are pursued with individual contractors and persistent failures will lead to removal from the route.  Most contractors embrace the regularity of contract work and therefore ensure that any price bid for a route are economically viable to both them and their drivers.  Monitoring of the contractors in the current framework is already part of the management team’s role and this will become more extensive if and when more routes are outsourced.

Questioner:

Councillor Bill Phillips

Asked of:

Councillor Zarina Khalid, Portfolio Holder for Children, Schools and Families

Question:

SNT3

In section 6.5 of the report it states that the management team will need to be increased because of the increased workload managing this contract.  Could the Portfolio Holder advise us as to how much the management team will be increased.

Answer:

The wording does not actually say that the management team will need to be increased.  It is proposed the management team will actually reduce and a saving of £70k is included in the figures provided.  What is does say is that the team would spend a greater proportion of their time managing the external contractors to ensure compliance with the contract.

Questioner:

Councillor Bill Phillips

Asked of:

Councillor Zarina Khalid, Portfolio Holder for Children, Schools and Families

Question:

SNT3

In section 6.4 you state that by tendering a few routes you will be able to ensure that the leased vehicles will reach their optimal price.  How are you going to measure this and manage the balance of routes let with vehicles released for sale?

Answer:

It is proposed that the Special Needs Transport Service Manager will work with colleagues in procurement and legal services alongside Fraikin Ltd who provide the vehicles under lease to ensure the best possible price is achieved for all vehicles that need to be returned.  Making sure sufficient vehicles are kept to cover the remaining routes will be part of the service manager’s role going forward.

Questioner:

Councillor Bill Phillips

Asked of:

Councillor Zarina Khalid, Portfolio Holder for Children, Schools and Families

Question:

In section 6.6 you state that a 2^nd framework contract will have to be let. Could you explain the reason why the first framework contract is deficient as normally framework contracts by their nature allow for the increase in the number of contractors within the framework?

Answer:

Currently there are 16 contractors or providers on the existing framework and at the moment Harrow only use the framework to utilise taxi style routes with fewer individual passengers on each route.  This framework is also currently used by Barnet Council to provide transport assistances for many of their routes, including minibus style routes.  It is envisaged that the existing companies on this framework may not have the capacity to take on all the minibus style routes that Harrow will be requesting going forward.  The reason for requesting approval to let a possible second framework is to try and encourage community transport providers and charitable organisations to join and therefore give a wider variety of providers.

Questioner:

Councillor Graham Henson

Asked of:

Councillor Thaya Idaikkadar, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Business Transformation and Communications, Finance, Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services, Property and Major Contracts

Question:

What training, and on what dates, has taken place by each Cabinet Member to ensure that decisions reached by Cabinet are in accordance with their PSED.

Answer:

All Cabinet decisions are made with due regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty and Cabinet Members with voting rights have attended equalities training as follows:

Councillor Idaikkadar attended Equality and Diversity training on 1 June 2011 and training on Equality Impact Assessment on 5 March 2013 and on 5 September 2013.

Councillor Ismail attended Equality and Diversity training on 9 December 2010 and training on Equality Impact Assessment on 5 September 2013.

Councillor James attended Equality and Diversity training on 23 June 2010 and training on Equality Impact Assessment on 5 September 2013.

Councillor Khalid attended Equality and Diversity training on 23 June 2010 and training on Equality Impact Assessment on 5 September 2013.

Councillor Omar attended Equality Impact Assessment training on 5 September 2013.

Councillor Stoodley attended Equality and Diversity training on 9 December 2010.

Questioner:

Councillor Graham Henson

Asked of:

Councillor Krishna James, Portfolio Holder Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing

Question:

What engagement has taken place with service users concerning the development of "My Community ePurse" and what strategy has the Portfolio Holder developed to deal with any concerns that have been raised by users.

Answer:

My Community ePurse has been a direct development based on the feedback from service users over the last four years of Personalisation in adult social care.  The system has been designed to overcome the challenges of enabling accessibility and real choice for most service users we support.  This will dramatically improve accessibility of personal budgets and lead to greater choice of services and activities for service users.

During the final development and implementation phases of MCeP we have had a number of feedback sessions with services users and providers.  Adult services have carried out a full pilot of the solution with 50 service users and their families over the last nine months to ensure a robust final solution is implemented.  This pilot has been an example of one of the most collaborative projects across the Council with more than ten departments involved.  The Adults services Local Account Group has also looked at the solution in detail and provided very valuable input into the final stages.

Since taking over as Portfolio Holder, I have taken a strong interest in the project and I am committed to working together with service users and their families to plan and develop MCeP for the Harrow Community.  Any issues raised by users are directly fed into the project lead at regular update sessions and dealt within the framework for the overall project governance.

Questioner:

Councillor Graham Henson

Asked of:

Councillor Krishna James, Portfolio Holder Adult Social Care, Health and Wellbeing

[Response provided by Councillor Asad Omar, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Safety]

Question:

With the increased incidents of domestic violence, and the many that go unreported, what policies and strategies has the Portfolio Holder developed to support and encourage victims to report this crime. 

Answer:

National research suggests that domestic violence everywhere is under reported and there is no reason to think that Harrow is an exception to that national picture – either better or worse.  The Council, the Police, the Health Services and Voluntary and Community Organisations working in this field tend to concentrate on the victims at most risk of serious harm and less attention has been paid to earlier intervention and prevention which could be accessed with earlier reporting.

While reports to the Police of Domestic Violence in Harrow rose by 8.5% in the first quarter of 2013/14 compared with the same period in the previous year, and despite the fact that Domestic Violence represents a higher proportion of crime in Harrow than in any other London Borough, we need to place these figures in perspective. 

In Harrow in the calendar year 2012, the number of domestic violence reports to the Police was the 27^th highest in London and the rate of reporting in Harrow per 10,000 population was also the 27^th highest in London. 

It is tempting to see the increased number of reports in the first quarter of this year as evidence of increased reporting but, in the absence of new publicity encouraging earlier and more frequent reporting, this would be hard to justify. 

It is also the case that the definition of domestic violence changed with effect from March 2013 to include cases where the victim is aged between 16 and 18 which previously would have been regarded as safeguarding issues.  In Harrow, as well as normal population growth, this change brought an additional 6,343 young people within the scope of Domestic Violence reporting.

However, the number of cases referred to the Council for child safeguarding reasons that include an element of domestic abuse is increasing which provides opportunities for early intervention including recommending attendance at perpetrator programmes to address offending behaviour. 

Children’s and Families Directorate has recently created a specialist post just to focus on Domestic Violence and young people and a vulnerable Young People Panel to pick up cases of sexual exploitation, Domestic Violence, and gang related abuse of young women or girls to ensure they are offered the right support package.

The best prevention comes from educating young people about what constitutes a healthy relationship and a project to do this has recently won funding from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime and is expected to begin working soon.

Questioner:

Councillor Graham Henson

Asked of:

Councillor Nizam Ismail, Portfolio Holder for Community and Cultural Services and Housing

Question:

How will affordable housing opportunities be prioritised and how will he ensure that they will be delivered on time?

Answer:

Delivery of new affordable housing is a key priority of this Administration.  On 20 June 2013, Cabinet approved the first phase of an Affordable Housing Programme to build new affordable homes on vacant and/or underutilised land within the Council’s existing HRA estate.  This is being progressed and the tender process is underway to appoint a Development Management Service to progress the programme on the prioritised sites to enable building to commence in 2014.  Other opportunities identified in the Cabinet report on 20 June such as the potential for estate regeneration are also being progressed.  A detailed project plan is in place and progress is monitored and reported regularly, including to Improvement Board.

In addition to this new programme, in which the Council is taking charge of delivering new affordable housing on its own land, we also continue to negotiate with private developers through the planning application process for a percentage of housing on private residential developments to be provided as affordable housing.  Delivery of these homes is monitored monthly against annual targets and reported regularly, including to Improvement Board. 

As Portfolio Holder, I receive regular briefings on this very important issue and am kept appraised of progress against the project timetable.

Questioner:

Councillor Graham Henson

Asked of:

Councillor Zarina Khalid, Portfolio Holder for Children, Schools and Families

Question:

With the Council facing significant financial challenges to its budget, having to reduce costs by £75 million so far and recent announcements that further savings of £60 million will need to be made over the next few years, will the Portfolio Holder explain what strategies she has put in place to meet the increased budget pressure due to a rising number of child protection plans and new children looked after.

Answer:

The strategic approach to the increasing budgetary pressures within our continued rising number of child protection plans and new looked after children is to keep accurate and thorough sight within our revenue budget monitoring with stronger emphasis on these areas; whereby this expenditure will be scrutinised and using comparable data as part of benchmarking.  Using the Ofsted inspection as a measurable comparable to address the outcomes and using other comparable neighbouring local authorities as an additional source to support this cohort.

Questioner:

Councillor Graham Henson

Asked of:

Councillor Nizam Ismail, Portfolio Holder Community and Cultural Services and Housing

Question:

In this financial year, by month, how many Council tenants have been evicted, how many Council tenants have been threatened with eviction (up to an including court action) due to non payment of rent, how many are being prosecuted for non payment of rent and how many have reached a repayment schedule with the Council.

Answer:

We have evicted two tenants in this financial year.  One in April and one in May.

In benchmarking terms we are upper quartile in relation to this indicator.

In relation to threatened with eviction up to and including court action we have served 295 Notice Seeking Possessions between April and the end of August 2013.  In April it was 55, in May it was 72, in June it was 44, in July it was 56, and in August it was 68.

In terms of court action and actual court hearings we have instigated possession proceedings and have had court hearings in respect of 59 households between April and August 2013.

In April there were 9, in May there were 12, in June there were 11, in July there were 20, and in August there were 7.

We have made 138 arrangements with tenants in respect of rent arrears between April and August 2013.  A monthly breakdown is not available at this time due to an IT problem.

Our main priority is to support and advise tenants with rent arrears so that they can remain in their homes; the fact that we have evicted only 2 tenants this year, whilst regrettable, shows that our preventative approach is successful.

As Portfolio Holder I receive regular updates on the performance of the income management team.

Questioner:

Councillor Graham Henson

Asked of:

Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Business Transformation and Communications, Finance, Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services, Property and Major Contracts

Question:

“Recently within the local newspapers it was reported that the Council was surveying residents to ascertain demand for a Council owned bullion storage centre in either the town centre or on the civic site.  How much has been spent so far on this proposal, what are the financial estimate for delivering such a project, what are the cost implications to the residents of Harrow?”

Answer:

Following restrictions to the opening and use of safety deposit box services in London, some residents have asked me to consider setting up a facility to safely store their gold.

“We have therefore carried out an initial scoping project and survey to assess whether there is a public appetite for this and to explore the services currently available to our residents.”

This work has cost the council £3,900 in total.  The next step will be to carry out a feasibility study to see where the service might be set up and whether the overall set up costs would be worth us doing.  To be clear, the Council will not undertake this project if it was to cost taxpayers any money and if this project were to go ahead the Council would look to recoup the spend so far.

Questioner:

Councillor Janet Mote

Asked of:

Councillor Asad Omar, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Environment and Community Safety

Question:

"Though the decision has now been reversed, can you confirm why dog waste bins were removed from parks three months before the original contract was due to end, and can you confirm whether all removed bins have now been put back?"

Answer:

The waste removal contractor originally required 6 months notice to terminate services.  However, Council officers negotiated an early termination period which did not include any financial penalties.  Bin removal was scheduled to dovetail into the contract termination.

Some bins were removed and these have all been replaced.

Questioner:

Councillor Graham Henson

Asked of:

Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Business Transformation and Communications, Finance, Performance, Customer Services and Corporate Services, Property and Major Contracts 

Question:

“What plans are in place to ensure that the agreed budgets are met over the 2 financial years 2013/14 and 2014/15 in regard to Council Committee structures and the Mayoralty?”

Answer:

Agreed plans are in place to meet targets for 2013/14 and officers will work with Mayor and Group Offices to deliver on 2014/15 budget.