Agenda, decisions and minutes

(a)  To consider whether to confer on any persons who have rendered eminent service to the Borough the Honorary Freedom of the Borough.

Nomination by the Independent Residents’ Group

Harry Matthews

Note: Under Council Procedure Rule 24.4, the nomination must be supported by two thirds of those Members present and voting at the meeting in order for it to be agreed.

(b)  To present awards to past Leaders of the Council.

Councillor Michael White

Councillor Steven Kelly

– award of Honorary Freedom of the Borough to Mr Harry Matthews – approved unanimously (52 votes to 0).

Award to past Leader of the Council – presented to Councillor Steven Kelly.

The Leader of the Independent Residents’ Group (Councillor Jeffrey Tucker) proposed that the Honorary Freedom of the Borough be bestowed upon Mr Harry Matthews, in recognition of his service to the community.

            Councillor Michael Deon Burton seconded the proposal which was supported by Councillors Roger Ramsey, Gillian Ford and Ron Ower, and greeted with general applause.

            The proposal was UNAMIMOUSLY AGREEED, by 52 votes to 0 (see voting division 1) and it was RESOLVED:  

To confer upon Mr Harry Matthews the Honorary Freedom of the Borough.

The Leader of the Council (Councillor Roger Ramsey) proposed that an award as past Leader of the Council be presented to Councillor Steven Kelly given Councillor Kelly’s history of taking on demanding roles at the Council, including that of Leader for the period prior to the Council election. The proposal was seconded by Councillor Damian White.

The Mayor then congratulated Councillor Kelly and, to Members’ applause, presented him with the past Leader’s badge.

The Leader of the Council announced that the future process for the awards of Honorary Freedom of the Borough and of the position of Honorary Alderman would be subject to a review by the Governance Committee.

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 11 June 2014 (attached).

– of meeting held on 11 June 2014 – noted that the actions of Councillor Tucker took place after the conclusion of the meeting. Minutes otherwise agreed as a correct record without division.

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 11 June 2014 were before the Council for approval.

It was AGREED, without division, that an addition to the minutes, as shown in the supplementary agenda, should read as follows:

Statement by Councillor Tucker

Councillor Tucker addressed the meeting and expressed his regret for his actions after the meeting of Council on 27 November 2013. In particular, Councillor Tucker apologised for any distress he may have caused to the then Monitoring Officer – Ian Burns after that meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 11 June 2014, including the addition shown above, be signed as a correct record.

None.

There were no disclosures of interest.

To receive a statement from the Leader of the Council – Councillor Roger Ramsey.

The Mayor announced that she had formed a Committee, independent from the Council, to raise money for charity. The Mayor’s chosen charities for the year would be Add+up, MIND and the Alzheimer’s Society.

            The Leader of the Council updated Members on reviews of overview and scrutiny and of Members’ Allowances, the position with the budget process and the proposed new river crossing between Belvedere and South Havering. The full text of the Leader of the Council’s remarks can be found in appendix 1.

            Councillor Ron Ower spoke in memory of former Councillor Diane Jenkin who had recently died.

To receive any petition presented pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 23.

Councillors John Mylod and Keith Darvill have given notice of an intention to present a petition.

Two petitions presented by Councillors Darvill and Mylod. 

Pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 23, the following petitions were presented:

From Councillor John Mylod concerning speeding traffic and road safety in Mavis Grove, Hornchurch.

From Councillor Keith Darvill concerning the provision of more parking spaces in Appleby Drive, Harold Hill.

It was NOTED that the petitions would be passed to Committee Administration for attention in accordance with the Council’s Petitions Scheme.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive relating to the Rainham and Wennington & South Hornchurch Working Party – Terms of Reference (attached).

NOTE: The deadline for amendments is midnight, Monday 14 July 2014

Amendment by Independent Residents’ Group APPROVED by 37 votes to 8; substantive motion APPROVED without division.

A report of the Chief Executive invited Council to approve the Terms of Reference for the Rainham and Wennington & South Hornchurch Working Party. This covered areas such as the Working Party’s membership, objectives and accountability & reporting arrangements.

An amendment by the Independent Residents’ Group was AGREED by 37 votes to 8 (see division 2) and it was RESOLVED that:

The Independent Residents’ Group welcomes the report of the Chief Executive relating to the Rainham and Wennington & South Hornchurch Working Party that gives residents in the south of the borough a vital voice in development proposals for the area.

The Independent Residents’ Group therefore nominates Cllr Michael Deon Burton as Chairman of the Working Party and Council agrees that the position receives a Special Responsibility Allowance equal to that paid to Audit, Pensions, Highways and Governance Committee Chairmen.

The recommendation of the Chief Executive was otherwise APPROVED without division and it was RESOLVED that:

            Council approve the Terms of Reference for the Rainham and Wennington & South Hornchurch Working party, as shown in appendix 2 to these minutes, including the amendment shown above.

To consider a report of the Governance Committee relating to amendments to the Constitution (attached).

NOTE: The deadline for amendments is midnight, Monday 14 July 2014.

– approved, without division.

A report of the Governance Committee invited Council to consider an amendment to the Constitution in order to extend the delegated authority of the Head of Regulatory Services. This would allow the restriction on the rights of residents of small-scale residential schemes to access parking permits to be considered by the Head of Regulatory Services.

The recommendation of the Governance Committee was APPROVED without division and it was RESOLVED that:

The following paragraph be added to section 3.6.6 in Part 3 of the Constitution relating to the Head of Regulatory Services:

(dd) To enter into agreements under s.16 Greater London Council (General Powers) Act 1974 to restrict the occupants of buildings from having access to residents parking permits.

Attached.

– 15 questions replied to.

Fifteen questions were asked and replies given.

            The text of the questions, and their answers, are set out in Appendix 3 to these minutes.

Attached.

A.SHARED SERVICES – Administration amendment CARRIED by 41 votes to 5 and CARRIED as substantive motion, without division.

B. BUILDING OF SCHOOLS By vote only – Administration amendment CARRIED by 25 votes to 13 and CARRIED as substantive motion by 26 votes to 6. 

C. 20 MINUTES FREE PARKING – Motion withdrawn and resubmitted to next meeting.

Motion on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group

This Council will make representations to our local MPs, the Local Government Association and the Secretary of State for Education to seek an urgent change in the law to allow councils to build schools where they are needed to enable councils to fulfil their statutory duty of providing sufficient school places to meet local need.

Amendment by the Administration

This Council supports the devolution of powers to local authorities but recognises the need for government capital funding for the provision of additional school places whether by expanding existing schools or building new ones.

The Administration amendment was CARRIED by 25 votes to 13 (see division 4) and CARRIED as the substantive motion by 26 votes to 6 (see division 5). 

RESOLVED:

This Council supports the devolution of powers to local authorities but recognises the need for government capital funding for the provision of additional school places whether by expanding existing schools or building new ones.

Motion by the United Kingdom Independence Party Group withdrawn and submitted to next Council meeting.

            The Mayor made the following statement:

            Before we conclude tonight’s meeting, I would like to inform Members that the Adjudication and Review Sub-Committee met last night to consider the events which occurred at the Council meeting on 27 November last year and remarks made by a Member at a Cabinet meeting in October last year.

            Details will be available to view on the Council’s website.

The record of voting divisions is attached as Appendix 4.