The Cabinet meeting on Wednesday 24 January 2024 saw the approval of significant budgets for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for the upcoming year and the medium term, alongside the adoption of a 30-year HRA Business Plan. Key decisions were also made regarding the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership (HSDP), including the approval of overarching and phase business plans for Poets Corner and Byron Quarter, and the continuation of pothole management services.

Housing Revenue Account Budget and Business Plan Approved

The Cabinet approved the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budgets for 2024-25 and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2025-26 to 2026-27. This includes an average weekly rent increase of 7.7% for general needs, sheltered, and affordable accommodation, aligning with national rent policy for social housing. A five-year HRA Capital Programme of £186,243,545 was also approved, encompassing planned investment, building council homes, Grange Farm infrastructure, and Homes for Harrow Phase 2. The HRA 30-year Business Plan and its assumptions were also approved, aiming to ensure the HRA's viability and fund new developments. Several service charges, parking, and community hall hire charges were also approved with increases, generally reflecting inflation.

Harrow Strategic Development Partnership (HSDP) Business Plans Approved

The Cabinet noted the progress of the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership (HSDP) and approved the new Overarching Business Plan and phase business plans for Poets Corner (Phase 1) and Byron Quarter (Phase 1). Authority was delegated to the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with relevant Portfolio Holders, to enter into contract documents and take necessary actions for the delivery of these plans over the next 12 months. The HSDP was authorised to spend a maximum of £1.54m on Byron Quarter (Phase 1) and £2.24m on Poets Corner (Phase 1) over the next 12 months, with the council liable for 50% of these costs. The Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Planning, was delegated authority to determine planning gateways for Poets Corner. Financial agreements for the business plans were also delegated to the Director of Finance and Assurance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Human Resources. The Council's agreement to planning applications for Poets Corner, Byron Quarter, Grange Farm, and Milton Road was delegated to the Corporate Director of Place in consultation with the Leader of the Council. The next stage approach for Grange Farm (Phases 2 & 3) was approved, with authority delegated to the Corporate Director of Place to take necessary decisions. Progress on the Milton Road project was noted, and any amendments to the 2024/25 Treasury Management Strategy will be referred to Council. Finally, the Director of Legal and Governance Services was delegated authority to ensure the Council's participation in the HSDP complies with applicable state subsidy laws, and it was noted that the Council's main offices would remain at Forward Drive for the foreseeable future.

Pothole Management Strategy Approved

The Cabinet noted the feasibility work undertaken to identify suitable options for effectively dealing with highway defects, including carriageway potholes, on a proactive, responsive, area-wide basis. It was noted that two tranches of government highways maintenance funding for Harrow, totalling £482,000 across 2023/24 and 2024/25, would be used to fund highway maintenance, including the new pothole management programme. The Cabinet also noted the option agreed by officers for JB Riney to provide a 'find and fix' service, including a dedicated 'Pothole Squad' to proactively find and permanently fix potholes on an area-wide basis, using innovative techniques and sustainable highway products.

Strategic Performance Report Noted

The Cabinet noted the Strategic Performance Report for Quarter 2 2023-24, which summarises council and service performance against key measures and highlights areas requiring action. Portfolio Holders were encouraged to continue working with officers to achieve improvement against identified key challenges.

Business Rates Tax Base Calculation Approved

The Cabinet agreed to the approach and assumptions for the calculation of the Council's business rates yield for 2024-2025, which amounts to £13.221m to be retained by Harrow. The Chief Finance Officer was authorised to submit this calculation to the Secretary of State and the Greater London Authority (GLA), and to implement announced Autumn Budget business rates measures, including potential new or adjusted reliefs. The policies set out in Appendices 1 and 2 for Retail Relief and Supporting Small Businesses Relief were also agreed.

Fees and Charges for 2024/25 Approved

The Cabinet agreed to the implementation of Fees & Charges from April 2024, with general discretionary charges increased by 7% to reflect inflationary pressures. Several fees and charges were noted as remaining unchanged or being reduced, including cemetery fees for child burials and memorial seats. Increases were proposed for garden waste collection, parking permits, and off-street parking charges, with new tariffs introduced for some car parks. New fees were also introduced for trade waste transfer notes, HMO licensing, wedding ceremonies, and environmental information requests. The Director of Finance and Assurance was authorised to amend fees and charges in-year following consultation and approval from relevant Portfolio Holders.

Procurement of Revenue and Benefits Software Licence Approved

The Cabinet approved the procurement of a service contract for a Software licence, support, and maintenance for the Council's revenue and benefits software applications. The award of the contract to NEC Software Solutions UK Limited was authorised for a period of five years, with a total value of £787,000, including options to extend. This decision was deemed critical for income collection, as not procuring this service would limit the authority's ability to collect approximately £260m annually in Council Tax, Business Rates, Benefits, and Housing Benefit overpayments.

Timetable for Council Policy Framework Development Approved

The Cabinet noted the timetable for the preparation and consideration of the plans and strategies that comprise the Council's Policy Framework. The Monitoring Officer was authorised to vary this timetable if appropriate. This ensures compliance with the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules within the Council's Constitution.

Harrow Strategic Development Partnership (HSDP) Business Plans Approved

The Cabinet approved the overarching business plan for the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership (HSDP) and the phase business plans for Poets Corner (Phase 1) and Byron Quarter (Phase 1). Authority was delegated to the Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration, to enter into appropriate contract documents and take necessary actions for the delivery of these plans over the next 12 months. The HSDP was authorised to spend a maximum of £1.54m on Byron Quarter (Phase 1) and £2.24m on Poets Corner (Phase 1) over the next 12 months, with the council liable for 50% of these costs. Authority was also delegated to the Corporate Director of Place to determine the satisfaction of planning gateways for Poets Corner, and to the Director of Finance and Assurance to approve and enter into financial agreements. The Corporate Director of Place, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, was delegated authority to agree to the submission of planning applications for Poets Corner, Byron Quarter, Grange Farm, and Milton Road. The next stage approach for Grange Farm (Phases 2 & 3) was approved, with authority delegated to the Corporate Director of Place to take necessary decisions and enter into agreements. Progress on the Milton Road project was noted, and any amendments to the 2024/25 Treasury Management Strategy will be referred to Council. The Director of Legal and Governance Services was delegated authority to ensure the Council's continued participation in the HSDP complies with applicable state subsidy laws. It was also noted that the Council's main offices would remain at Forward Drive for the foreseeable future.

Calculation of Business Rates Tax Base for 2024-2025 Approved

The Cabinet noted the approach and assumptions for the calculation of the Council's business rates yield for 2024-2025, agreeing that the amount calculated as Harrow's business rates yield for the year shall be £13.221m. The Chief Finance Officer was authorised to submit this calculation to the Secretary of State and the Greater London Authority (GLA), and to implement announced Autumn Budget business rates measures, including potential new or adjusted reliefs. The policies set out in Appendices 1 and 2 for Retail Relief and Supporting Small Businesses Relief were also agreed.

Fees and Charges for 2024/25 Approved

The Cabinet agreed to the implementation of Fees & Charges from April 2024, with general discretionary charges increased by 7% to reflect inflationary pressures. Several fees and charges were noted as remaining unchanged or being reduced, including cemetery fees for child burials and memorial seats. Increases were proposed for garden waste collection, parking permits, and off-street parking charges, with new tariffs introduced for some car parks. New fees were also introduced for trade waste transfer notes, HMO licensing, wedding ceremonies, and environmental information requests. The Director of Finance and Assurance was authorised to amend fees and charges in-year following consultation and approval from relevant Portfolio Holders.

Procurement of Revenue and Benefits Software Licence Approved

The Cabinet approved the procurement of a service contract for a Software licence, support, and maintenance for the Council's revenue and benefits software applications. The award of the contract to NEC Software Solutions UK Limited was authorised for a period of five years, with a total value of £787,000, including options to extend. This decision was deemed critical for income collection, as not procuring this service would limit the authority's ability to collect approximately £260m per annum in Council Tax, Business Rates, Benefits, and Housing Benefit overpayments.

Timetable for Council Policy Framework Development Approved

The Cabinet noted the timetable for the preparation and consideration of the plans and strategies that comprise the Council's Policy Framework. The Monitoring Officer was authorised to vary this timetable if appropriate. This ensures compliance with the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules within the Council's Constitution.