The Cabinet of Harrow Council met on Thursday 15 February 2024, approving a balanced budget for the upcoming financial year and a significant increase in council tax. Key decisions also included the adoption of a new Local Plan for consultation, the procurement of electric vehicle charging points, and the disposal of council property.

Budget and Council Tax Approved

The Cabinet approved the final revenue budget for 2024/25, which includes a balanced position for the upcoming year. However, estimated budget gaps of £10.880m for 2025/26 and £6.732m for 2026/27 were noted. To address these pressures, the Council intends to increase core Council Tax by 2.99% and implement a further 2% increase for the Adult Social Care Precept in 2024/25, resulting in a total Council Tax rise of 4.99%. This decision was made despite a majority of public consultation respondents disagreeing with the proposed Council Tax increase.

New Harrow Local Plan Approved for Consultation

Cabinet agreed to proceed with public consultation on the draft 'Regulation 18' version of the new Harrow Local Plan. This plan, which will cover the period from 2021 to 2041, aims to replace the current, outdated Local Plan. The consultation will run for eight weeks from the end of February to the end of April 2024. Authority was delegated to the Chief Planning Officer to make minor modifications to the draft document prior to consultation.

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure to be Procured

The Cabinet approved the procurement of rapid and ultra-rapid electric vehicle (EV) charge points to be installed at various council-controlled locations, including car parks and on-street sites. This initiative aligns with the Council's adopted Electric Vehicle Strategy and aims to support the transition to electric vehicles and the decarbonisation of travel within the borough. The procurement will be conducted via the Oxford Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS).

Disposal of Vernon Lodge Property

The Cabinet resolved to appropriate the property at Vernon Lodge, 654 Kenton Lane, Harrow, Middlesex, HA3 7LH, from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) to the General Fund (GF). The property has been declared surplus to the Council's requirements due to significant costs associated with bringing it back into use and a lack of identified alternative uses. Authority was delegated to the Corporate Director of Place to market the property and negotiate terms for its disposal on the basis of obtaining the best consideration reasonably obtainable.

Final Capital Programme 2024/25 to 2026/27 Approved

The Cabinet noted and recommended the Final Capital Programme for 2024/25 to 2026/27 to the Council for approval. This programme includes significant investment in the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account, with a total gross value of £70.613m for the General Fund over the three years. Key new proposals include an extension of the Property Acquisition Programme to purchase an additional 50 homes to address homelessness, and Schools Capital Maintenance funding.

Other Decisions

• Energy Procurement Strategy 2024-28: The Council will enter into a Framework Agreement with LASER Energy Buying Group for the supply of energy to its corporate sites and schools for a period of four years, commencing 1 October 2024.
• Treasury Management Strategy Statement: The Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2024/25 was approved, including Prudential Indicators, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement, Annual Investment Strategy, and Annual Capital Strategy.
• Corporate Plan 2023-26 Review: The Cabinet considered the progress made in the first year of the Corporate Plan and recommended the plan and new Flagship Actions for 2024/25 to the Council for adoption.
• Procurement of Payroll System: Approval was given for the award of a contract for a new Payroll System for a period of up to 3 years, with an option to extend for a further year, effective from April 2024. This is to ensure the continued delivery of payroll services following the cessation of operations by the current provider.

Petitions Received

A petition containing 220 signatures regarding traffic calming in Harrow Fields Gardens was presented and referred to the Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel and the Corporate Director of Place.

Declarations of Interest

Several councillors declared non-pecuniary interests in the item concerning Electric Vehicle Rapid Charging in Harrow, as they owned electric vehicles. Councillor Stephen Greek and Councillor Kanti Rabadia declared non-pecuniary interests in the Corporate Plan review as Council appointees to the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership. In all declared cases, the councillors remained in the room for the consideration and voting on the respective matters.