Agenda item

Questioner:

Councillor William Stoodley

Asked of:

Councillor Paul Osborn, Portfolio Holder for Communications, Performance and Resources

Question:

“Two Cabinet meetings ago, I raised the issue of detrimental comments made by a Mrs Melanie Lewis about a former Council Officer, Mr Andrew Trehern, on the public website "iHarrow".  I was assured the accusations made in those comments are totally false and that they should be taken down.  

At the time of writing this question those comments are still up on the "iHarrow" website.  Why is it that, even after I have brought this to your Administration's attention, still nothing has been done after all this time about these libellous comments about Mr Trehern?”

Answer:

I am not entirely sure what I am supposed to do.  We have made our position clear.  Paul Boakes from iHarrow was here at that meeting.  We had made our position clear to him at that time. 

I have to say I am very reluctant to get into the business of censoring local press or to try and make undue threats towards them.  We make it clear we think that allegation is a false allegation.  We think it is potentially libellous.

As the publisher, he should be aware that he is liable for that, and my advice to him is to take it down as was Councillor Hall’s advice.  However, he runs his website and he can do what he likes.

Supplemental Question:

I have to say I am astonished, amazed and quite frankly disappointed by that answer.

Firstly, Legal Services had no hesitation in swooping on Paul Boakes’ iHarrow site when other libellous comments were deemed to be made and getting them redacted and even the Head of Corporate Estate, Phillip Loveland-Cooper, mentioned in the Whitchurch Licensing meeting in public that he was getting very tired of his officers being libelled and slandered. 

Other comments have been acted upon within minutes of them going up.  It is not true to say there is nothing you can do except look at it and hope that Paul Boakes takes it down.  If I can quote your Deputy Leader’s favourite catchphrase “what is going on here?”?  You are the administration.  You are in charge of the Council.  There is a libellous comment about a former employee which is detrimental to this Council’s service in the public domain and you are telling me that all you can do is say “well Paul was in the room when we mentioned it should be taken down and that is it”, when in other circumstances action has been taken.

It is a contradiction in terms here.  I am not having a go at you and altruistically I have got nothing to win.  I am not Andrew Trehern.  It does not bother me.

Supplemental Answer:

You say, barely asking a question. 

Look, first of all, this statement was made whilst you were in charge as an Independent Labour administration and did not do anything.

Secondly, whilst previous administrations may be prepared to spend large amounts of taxpayers’ money going after local papers, I am not prepared to do that.  I do not recognise the statement you made about us, as a Council, going after local papers, certainly since I have been a Portfolio Holder. 

I do not believe it is something we should do, except in exceptional circumstances and I do not believe this is one of those circumstances.

[Councillor Stoodley makes a remark.]

I think it is important that you do not make the allegation at a public meeting because you are then making a slanderous comment.    

Questioner:

Councillor William Stoodley

Asked of:

Councillor Susan Hall, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Environment

Question:

"Do you believe that there is enough incentive, that enough is being done, to teach people to take care of, respect and appreciate their public realm?"

Answer:

We are certainly trying because it is vital.

We have established the new Community Engagement team, which provides a link between a number of divisions within the Environment & Enterprise Directorate and the wider community and they are really trying.  They are going round sorting out our recycling. That is part of their jobs and also attracting additional Neighbourhood Champions which I am pleased about. 

As you know, we are desperately trying to get the Neighbourhood Champions Scheme up to 2,000 before we go into the purdah period.  If we have one person in every single street that is watching out for these things, it is a very powerful message.

We have also re-launched the Weeks of Action and Secure Streets initiatives which involves a lot of work with the Police and the Fire Brigade because we do believe that if we, as a Council, show that we are passionate about making sure that we look after the streets, then hopefully that will have a knock-on effect to our residents.  It is the bad behaviour of residents throwing litter and spitting that costs our taxpayers a fortune to clear up. 

So I can see where you are coming from and I completely agree with you.  We are certainly doing as much as we can.

Supplemental Question:

I was finished here one night in October and I just roughly got to the tube station and the boarding by First National House, there were half a dozen lads there.  One of them decided to relieve himself, which I thought was pretty gross.  Just as he did, a policeman fortunately came pedalling along on his pushbike, spotted him, told him to stop.  I thought something is going to happen now, at which point the policeman just pedalled off. 

So my supplementary question is: are you happy with the fact that when people are urinating on the public realm, the Police catch them and then do nothing about it?  Or like me, do you think perhaps there should be a power to have on the spot fines like Councillor Idaikkadar was advocating?  Or even just the inconvenience of being taken down to the Police Station to give name, address and details?  I find that incredible and if there is anything you can do with your contacts in the Police, perhaps we could have a change of policy on that because now his 5 mates think that that is okay. 

Supplemental Answer:

Urinating on the public realm is certainly not what I would think was in any which way acceptable.

We are looking at Enfield Council’s spot fines because spot fining is not as easy as it would seem.  I have talked to PC Simon Evans about this because if we can use uniformed people to spot fine, then I think it is a way forward because this sort of behaviour is outrageous.  So leave it with me, we are looking at different projects that are cost effective and will stop people doing these terrible things in public.

Thank you for bringing it to my attention.

Questioner:

Councillor William Stoodley

Asked of:

Councillor Stephen Wright, Portfolio Holder for Property and Major Contracts

Question:

"Do you feel you can justify all the items of property that you currently propose to sell?"

Answer:

Yes. The 2013-14 Property Disposal Programme was fully considered and reviewed prior to its approval at Cabinet on 17 October 2013 and as you might recall, it was largely unchanged from that previously proposed by your administration.

Supplemental Question:

I do recall that.  The devil was in the detail of my question when I asked “all the items of property”.

There are 2 public lavatories listed for sale on that property and I was just wondering with respect to the previous question, whether or not it might be an idea that would give the Police and on the spot fine or uniformed people a much better excuse to stop people relieving themselves in the streets if there are lavatories round the corner, whereas if you sell them off and close them, that is going to make things a lot more awkward, all round.

Supplemental Answer:

I agree with you.

The only problem is that the 2 lavatories that are being sold were not anywhere near that particular scene, so they would not have been an awful lot of good.

Bear in mind that those toilets, one has been closed for 5 years and the other has been closed for over 15 years and there is a tremendous amount of anti social behaviour there.  I am sure you will agree with me that it is far better for those properties to be sold and for residential properties to be built on them.  We do need them in Harrow.  

Questioner:

Councillor William Stoodley

Asked of:

Councillor Kamaljit Chana, Portfolio Holder for Business and Enterprise

Question:

"At the time of writing this question (27/11/13) the President of the North West London Chamber of Commerce, Ms Carole Marblestein, has informed me that she has not heard from you and indeed has not even heard of you!  

Bearing in mind that you are the Holder for this newly and especially created Portfolio, would you please explain why, after two whole months, you have not bothered to get in touch with one of the most significant business organisations in our Borough?"

Answer:

The North West London Chamber of Commerce is one of many business membership organisations in Harrow.  The Chamber have 2 members that meet quarterly with the Economic Development Officer for Business and the last meeting was 3 December.

Since coming into office as Portfolio Holder for Business and Enterprise, I have engaged directly with businesses and with those business membership groups that have had clear propositions.

This has included the Stanmore Chamber of Trade, the Pinner Traders’ Association and the Federation of Small Businesses, who each had clear activities that they wanted to take forward with some Council support.

I have:

·                     gone directly to the workplace of local traders in the Town Centre and Station Road;

·                     I have personally visited over 100 businesses directly during their working hours to speak with them directly and discuss their issues and concerns;

·                     engaged directly with some of the largest employers;

·                     networked with new and established local businesses, business support organisations including Harrow Business and other business partners at the Harrow Means Business Event on 15 October which was over here in the Civic Centre, the Chamber.

In the New Year, a direct campaign and engagement of new businesses and with our largest business rate payers will commence.

Both the North West London Chamber of Commerce and Harrow in Business were briefed by officers of the plans for the New Year at the meeting on 3 December.

Supplemental Question:

Be that as it may, the lady to my right apparently has not heard from you, the President of the London Chamber of Commerce has not heard from you. 

Are you sure you can handle your role and do you have enough spare time to give it the dedication and attention that it deserves because if not, perhaps you should consider either giving up the day job or alternatively handing over the Portfolio Holder to somebody who does have the time to give it the attention it so deserves?

Supplemental Answer:

(answer provided by Cllr Hall)

There are 5,000 businesses in Harrow.  I could not possibly want a Portfolio Holder for Business that works harder than Councillor Kamaljit Chana.  Clearly with 5,000 businesses and us only having been in power just over 80 days, I could not expect even Superman to visit all of those in that time. 

I am extremely proud of Councillor Kamaljit Chana as my Business Portfolio Holder and he absolutely does have the time and the inclination and the capability to do the job.  

Questioner:

Councillor William Stoodley

Asked of:

Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane, Portfolio Holder for Adults and Housing

Question:

"As you know, because I copied you in on the email, one of our Borough's citizens complained to me about the appalling damp in her privately rented flat, the rent for which is paid for through housing benefit.  

Can you please explain why we are using such appalling landlords, why we are not using our registered landlord scheme or, if he is a member then how did he qualify with such an appallingly damp property, and what plans your department has to avoid this happening in the future?"

Written Answer  provided, as requested by the questioner:

The property you refer to was let via the Council’s Help2Let scheme and, as usual, was inspected before the letting.  It was in good condition when the tenant moved into the property in 2011.

We do not have a licensing or registration scheme for private landlords but they are encouraged to join the London Landlord Accreditation scheme. We are in regular contact with our Help2Let landlords, hold landlord forums and offer training and advice.

In this case, the tenant approached the Council’s Housing Advice service in April 2013 about damp in her home.  The matter was referred to Environmental Health again – they had previously been involved in 2012, when the damp and mould was treated, and they had closed the case as the problem had been dealt with.

With the recurrence of damp, a Housing Adviser has now taken on the case.

Environmental Health colleagues are once again involved and should be able to determine whether the damp is due to a structural defect, or the way the family occupy the property or possibly a combination of both. 

At our request the landlord has been co-operating to remedy the problem, and has fitted more ventilators and given the tenant money to tackle the mould.  Any property can suffer serious condensation problems if there is insufficient ventilation especially if clothes are dried indoors.

Environmental Health will be going back to the property to make a further assessment of the situation, accompanied by the landlord.

We have also offered to assist the tenant with moving if she wishes this.  We’ll pay a deposit, first month’s rent and letting agency fees, for any alternative affordable private rented accommodation she finds.

Questioner:

Councillor William Stoodley

Asked of:

Councillor Janet Mote, Portfolio Holder for Children and Schools  

Question:

"With respect to my previous question, the tenant of the flat concerned has a Doctor's certificate confirming that both she and her two children contracted pneumonia almost certainly as a result of the damp living conditions.  What machinery do you have in place for safeguarding children from living in unhealthy conditions when it is our own Council paying the rent for them to live like that?"

Written Answer provided, as requested by the questioner:

The fact a tenant receives Housing Benefit to help pay the rent doesn’t affect the powers that the Council can exercise or affect their rights

We always address a resident’s concerns regarding their properties when they are brought to our attention and will try to work with the landlord to remedy any disrepair.  We aim to do this by agreement, offering advice and practical assistance, which can include small grants, if the landlord can’t afford the repair.  If this fails, we use enforcement powers through Environmental Health.  Whilst most repairs are the landlord’s responsibility, repairs arising from tenant damage or neglect are the tenant’s responsibility.

Damp is widely recognised as a having an adverse effect on health, which is why we take it seriously.  This includes work with landlords and advising tenants at our tenant training sessions on steps they can take to avoid condensation problems.

In the event that the children have an allocated social worker already, we would liaise closely with health colleagues (health visitor, school nurse, GP or paediatrician) to ensure that the children were getting the right services, and to ensure that we assisted with any applications for alternative housing if this was a viable option.

In the event that the children do not have an allocated social worker, the family could be referred for an Early Intervention Service or to access an early help offer through a children’s centre depending on the ages of the children.  This would include support around staying healthy and could include direct access to health professionals through the children’s centres.

Questioner:

Councillor William Stoodley

Asked of:

Councillor Susan Hall, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Environment

Question:

“If the post of Chief Executive is being deleted, should we not be reconsidering the position of Assistant Chief Executive or the post has also been deleted?”

Answer:

Although Michael Lockwood, the current Chief Executive, decided to leave the Council at the end of February, no decision has been made to delete the post of Chief Executive as yet.

I can confirm that the post of Assistant Chief Executive was deleted in the senior management restructure agreed by Cabinet in December 2011.  The duties and responsibilities of that post were incorporated into the new post of Corporate Director of Resources.

So you have to pay more attention Councillor Stoodley.  Obviously you were not at that Cabinet meeting.

Questioner:

Councillor William Stoodley

Asked of:

Councillor Susan Hall, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Environment

Question:

Since the Council is introducing cashless parking with e-permits starting in December, why can’t the trial of 20 minutes free parking continue across the Borough?

Answer:

I thought this was an odd question to be honest because this is totally different.

The cashless parking system provides an alternative online means of payment for pay and display parking and parking permits via the e-permits.  However, the provision of free parking concessions is not related to the cashless parking system because the arrangement involves no payment for the first 20 minutes of parking.  Cabinet have reviewed the impact of 20 minutes free parking in a trial undertaken in Rayners Lane and decided that it was not suitable in its current form for wider use across the borough due to the significant financial impact and you have been around for those discussions.  So I am sure you know that inside out.  I feel I do anyway.

Supplemental Question:

As a professional and competent politician yourself, I am sure you realise that some things just do not go away and our question on this is, is it not the case that the cashless parking with e-permits stops people continually taking tickets?  Therefore that being the reason for stopping the 20 minutes free parking, the reason has gone and you therefore have no reason now to reintroduce it because you have got these wonderful machines that stop the repeat taking?

Supplemental Answer:

We are looking into a completely different way of producing 20 minutes free parking across the borough that would be a far better system. I am looking into that at the moment, getting the figures.  We have got to do something that benefits the residents, does not cost an absolute fortune and stops fraud altogether.  So that is being looked into as I have undertaken to do.

Cllr Stoodley:

Is the e-ticketing part of it, what you are looking into?

Cllr Hall:

As soon as it is sorted out, I will come to you with a grin on my face knowing that we have sorted it out properly.