Decisions

To approve the amended Housing Allocation Scheme.

RESOLVED: That

(1)            the amendment to section 4.5 of the Housing Allocation Scheme by inserting a new paragraph 4.5(i) as set out below, be approved:

“As of 1 April 2023, the Council will remove the 5-year residency requirement fornon-UK nationals with refugee status in the UK who would qualify for inclusion on the housing register but are unable to demonstrate at least 5 years' residence in Harrow or another place in the UK.”

Reason for Decision:  To ensure Harrow Council’s Housing Allocation Scheme’s qualification criteria for joining the housing register was in compliance with the law and that it did not directly or indirectly discriminate any particular group of housing applicants seeking to join the housing register.

To request an extension of the current contract until October 2023, give authority to procure and award two Framework Agreements for contractors to deliver Adaptations for Disabled people and provide a Handy Person Service, following the outcome of the procurement process. 

Having agreed to note the confidential appendices to the officer report, Cabinet

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            a 5-month extension to all providers on Lot 1 and Lot 2 from 20 May 2023 until 19 October 2023 be approved;

(2)            the commencement of the re-procurement of a framework agreement for the following two Lots for four years be approved:

o   Lot 1 – Standard and Nonstandard Aids and Adaptations

o   Lot 2 – Handyperson Service

(3)            the total framework value over the four years of £10,749,680, be noted; and

(4)            the Corporate Director of Place, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, be authorised to award and appoint contractors to the Framework and to call-off and arrange the execution of contracts with the successful tenderers.

Reason for Decision:  To comply with the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules and Financial Regulations, due to the aggregate estimated value of the potential call-off contracts under the Framework Agreement.

To seek approval of the new approach to engagement with Cabinet and Portfolio Holders including an associated revision to the Contract Procedure Rules and to note

the procurement programme for the period April 2023 to March 2024 and Contracts awarded in 2022.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Council) 

That

(1)            the amendments to the Contract Procedure Rules as set out in Appendix 1 to the officer report be agreed.

[Call-in does not apply to the decision above as it is reserved to full Council.]

RESOLVED:  That

(2)            the on-going updating of the annual procurement programme be delegated to the Director of Finance and Assurance following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Human Resources, noting that a procurement programme would be reported to Cabinet annually;

(3)            the procurement programme for all procurement with an aggregate value of over £100,000 for the period April 2023 to March 2024 as set out in Appendix 2 to the officer report, be noted;

(4)            all the contracts over £100,000 awarded during the period January 2022 to the end of December 2022 as set out in Appendix 3 to the officer report, be noted;

(5)            it be noted that the annual review of low value procurement activity up to £100,000 would be undertaken by the Head of Procurement following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Human Resources.

Reason for Recommendation:  To provide full oversight of the delivery of the procurement programme for the period January 2022 to end of December 2022; to provide Cabinet with an opportunity to see the planned procurement programme over £100,000 for the period April 2023 to March 2024 and to allow for early engagement of respective Portfolio Holders in each of the procurements under the programme over £500,000; and to offer assurance to Cabinet that robust local authority governance and probity was in place in all procurement under £100,000.

To seek authority to implement Council Tax Extra Support Fund for Pensioners and Alternative Fuel Payments schemes.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            a new one-off Council Tax Reduction for Pensioners and Working Age claimants in receipt of Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) as of 1 April 2023 be introduced, noting that pensioner and working age LCTS recipients would be eligible for a one-off grant as per Tables 1 & 2 in the officer report;

(2)             the Director of Finance and Assurance be authorised to administer awards under the provisions of Section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended by the Local Government Finance Act 2012), in respect of the Council Tax reduction for Pensioners & Working Age claimants; and

(3)            the need to award the Alternative Fuel Support Payments to all qualifying households be noted and the administration of the scheme on behalf of Government be agreed.

Reason for Decision:  To fulfil the Council’s obligations under the relevant guidance’s issued.

[No conflict of interests were declared or dispensations granted in relation to the above items.]

To agree to enter into a Grant Agreement with the GLA to secure £1.42m funding from the Department of Levelling Up’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund and deliver projects to improve Harrow as a place, and to support residents and businesses and delegate authority to sign the agreement to the Corporate Director of Place.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            a Grant Agreement with the Greater London Authority (GLA) be entered into and £1.4m direct funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) secured to deliver projects to improve Harrow as a place, and support residents and businesses; and

(2)            the Corporate Director of Place, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Business, Employment and Property, Community and Culture, Environment and Community Safety and Finance and Human Resources, be authorised to sign the agreement.

Reason for Decision:  As the Lead Authority to manage UKSPF in London, the GLA required each London Borough to sign a funding agreement to receive the Borough’s direct allocation of UKSPF funding.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.