Decisions

1.    Note the progress to date on the implementation of the Extra Care Strategy.

2.    Delegate authority to the Director of Adult Social Care and Corporate Director, Resources and Commercial, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adults and Public Health and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, to procure and appoint a provider for the provision of extra care wellbeing services.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the progress on the implementation of the Extra Care Strategy to date be noted;

(2)          the Corporate Director of People Services and the Director of Finance be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Adults and Public Health and Finance and Resources, to agree the final procurement strategy and undertake the  procurement of the provision of extra care wellbeing services.

(3)          the Corporate Director of People Services and the Director of Finance be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adults and Public Health and Finance and Resources, to award the contracts for the provision of extra care wellbeing services.

Reason for Decision:  To progress the development and implementation of the strategy to increase Extra Care housing provision in Harrow.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the report.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member/Dispensation Granted:  None.

Note the findings of the Mental Health Review and agree the recommendations and the next steps for implementation.

Delegate authority to the Director of Adult Social Care and Corporate Director, Resources and Commercial, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adults and Public Health and the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources, to:  procure and award contracts accommodation services; and to enter a section 75 agreement with Central North West London NHS Foundation Trust for the provision of mental health social care services in accordance with the Care Act 2014, subject to annual review of services

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the findings of the Mental Health Commissioning Review be noted and the recommendations and next steps for implementation be agreed;

(2)          the Corporate Director of People Services and the Director of Finance be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Adults and Public Health and Finance and Resources, to procure and award contracts for mental health accommodation services and agree contract extensions where appropriate.

(3)          the Corporate Director of People Services and Director of Finance be authorised, following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Adults and Public Health and Finance and Resources, to enter a section 75 agreement with Central North West London (CNWL) NHS Foundation Trust for the provision of mental health social care services in accordance with the Care Act 2014, subject to the annual review of delegated functions and integrated services.

Reason for Decision:  To fulfil the local authority’s statutory responsibility for adult social care mental health services.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the report.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member/Dispensation Granted:  None.

To approve the direction of travel of the Equalities Strategic Plan and note the action to date in responding to the Black Lives Matters and race agenda.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the Equalities, Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Framework be endorsed;

(2)          the action to date in responding to the issues raised by Black Lives Matter be noted.

Reason for Decision:  To respond to the issues highlighted by Black Lives Matter and address the racial disproportionality experienced by people of black heritage as a first step in a new approach to equality diversity and inclusion in Harrow.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the report.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member/Dispensation Granted:  None.

Delegate authority to the Corporate Director, People Services following consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Young People and Schools and Finance and Resources to issue a direct award to the incumbent provider for the Harrow’s information advice and guidance service and approve the financial contribution to be made by the Council to Harrow Clinical Commissioning Group for the Harrow’s Emotional Wellbeing Service.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the Corporate Director of People Services be authorised,  following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Children, Schools and Young People, together with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources to:

·                     issue a direct award to the incumbent provider for the Harrow information advice and guidance service; and

·                     approve the financial contribution to be made by the Council to Harrow Clinical Commissioning Group, for the Harrow’s Emotional Wellbeing Service.

Reason for Decision:  To enable the Local Authority to fulfil its statutory duties to:

·                     meet the emotional and mental health needs of children and young people

·                     encourage, enable or assist young people’s participation in education or training and to assist the most vulnerable and risk of disengaging with education or work.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the report.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member/Dispensation Granted:  None.

To approve the decision to join Capital Letters (London) Ltd.

To allow the appropriate staffing cost to be transferred to enable Capital Letters to recruit directly.

To note Capital Letters’ governance structures including the Borough Representative Body on which all boroughs are represented.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)          the decision to join Capital Letters (London) Ltd be approved;

(2)          the appropriate staffing cost to be transferred to enable Capital Letters to recruit directly be allowed.

(3)          Capital Letters’ governance structures including the Borough Representative Body on which all boroughs were represented be noted.

Reasons for Decision:

1.            This initiative was required to deliver additional affordable, suitable private sector accommodation to allow the Council to meet its homelessness duties at a cost it could sustain against the background of:

·         A challenging market with limited availability of accommodation for households on low incomes;

·         The likelihood of an increasing number of homeless households next year, following the cessation of the ban on evictions and once the extended Section 21 notice period expired;.

·         A shift in emphasis in homelessness policy towards use of resources to prevention;

·         The importance of working closely with other London boroughs to collaborate to secure accommodation.

2.            The Capital Letters’ governance process required the third wave of boroughs to secure internal approval to join the company so the Borough Representative Body could confirm their membership. However, the actual date of implementation would be designed to suit the London Borough of Harrow’s internal timescales and operational arrangements.

3.            The main financial benefit of joining the company was to access Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) funding and increase the number of private sector properties sourced in order to reduce the need for Temporary Accommodation.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:  As set out in the report.

Conflict of Interest relating to the matter declared by Cabinet Member/Dispensation Granted:  None.