Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Apologies were received for the absence of Councillors Nic Dodin and Barbara Matthews.

Members are invited to disclose any interest in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting. 

Members may still disclose any interest in an item at any time prior to the consideration of the matter.

The Members present named in minutes 5 and 9 (the Mayoralty and various Committee Chairmanships) who were candidates for offices attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance, each declared a personal interest under the Members’ Code of Conduct as, if elected, they would benefit from the Members’ Allowance Scheme 2016-17.

The following interests were disclosed:

Councillor Alex Donald, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Brian Eagling, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Darren Wise, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Dilip Patel, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Frederick Thompson, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Garry Pain, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Gillian Ford, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Ian de Wulverton, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor John Crowder, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Keith Roberts, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Lawrence Webb, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Linda Trew, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Linda Van den Hende, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Meg Davis, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Michael Deon Burton, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Michael White, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Ray Best, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Robby Misir, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

Councillor Viddy Persaud, Personal, Nominated for a position attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance.

To receive announcements (if any).

NOTED changes to membership of the Cabinet that were announced by the Leader of the Council.

The Mayor thanked her consort – Councillor John Crowder for his support as well as her Official Chaplain – Father Hingley, the Leader of the Council, senior Council officers and the Mayoral Support Team.

The text of the announcements made by the Leader of the Council, including some changes to Cabinet portfolios are shown in Appendix 1 to these minutes.

(a)  To elect the Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

Motion on behalf of the East Havering Residents’ Group

That Councillor Linda Van den Hende be elected Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

(b)  To receive notice of the appointment of Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

Motion on behalf of the East Havering Residents Group

That Councillor Linda Van den Hende be elected Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

Following a proposing speech by the Councillor Ron Ower, seconded by Councillor Linda Hawthorne, Councillor Linda Van den Hende was ELECTED as Mayor for the municipal year 2017/18, without division.

Councillor Linda Van den Hende, having made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Mayor as required by the Local Government Act 1972, then took the Chair and thanked the Council for the honour conferred upon her. The Mayor indicated that her consort would be her husband, Laurence Chalk. 

 In accordance with the Local Government Act 1972, the Mayor signified in writing her appointment of Councillor Dilip Patel as Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year and to carry out the duties of the Mayor in case of the Mayor’s illness or absence.

Councillor Patel made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office accordingly. The Mayor indicated that the Deputy Mayor’s Consort for the year would be Mrs Nisha Patel. 

Motion on behalf of the East Havering Residents Group

That Councillor Linda Van den Hende be elected Mayor for the Municipal Year 2017/18.

Following a proposing speech by Councillor Ron Ower, Councillor Linda Van den Hende was ELECTED as Mayor for the municipal year 2017/18, without division.

Councillor Linda Van den Hende, having made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Mayor as required by the Local Government Act 1972, then took the Chair and thanked the Council for the honour conferred upon her. The Mayor indicated that her consort would be her husband, Laurence Chalk. 

The Cabinet Member for Children & Learning, and other Members, expressed the thanks of the Council to Councillor Philippa Crowder for her services during 2016/17. Councillor Crowder suitably replied.

In accordance with the Local Government Act 1972, the Mayor signified in writing her appointment of Councillor Dilip Patel as Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year and to carry out the duties of the Mayor in case of the Mayor’s illness or absence.

Councillor Patel made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office accordingly. The Mayor indicated that the Deputy Mayoress would be Mrs Nisha Patel.

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 22 March 2017 (attached).

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22 March 2017 were before the Council for approval.

It was AGREED, without division, that the minutes be signed as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22 March 2017 were before the Council for approval.

It was AGREED, without division, that the minutes be signed as a correct record.

To receive announcements (if any).

The Mayor announced that the first of her three charities would be First Step. Details of the other Mayor’s charities would be announced in due course.

A Mayor’s charity ball in aid of First Step had been arranged for 1 July.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive regarding appointing the Committees of the Council and the Scheme of Delegation (attached).

Report of the Chief Executive APPROVED without division.

There was before Council a report of the Monitoring Officer concerning the appointment of the Committees of the Council, and advising on political balance issues and the scheme of delegation.

The report was AGREED without division and it was RESOLVED:

(1)       That, so far as necessary to enable any changes proposed and agreed during this meeting to be carried in to effect, Council Procedure Rule 20.2 (proposals to amend the Constitution to be referred to Governance Committee without discussion) be suspended.

(2)       That, subject to the Council’s consideration of any motion or amendment to this report relating to changes in the Committee structure, the Committees listed in Appendix 1 of the report to Council be appointed for the 2017/18 Municipal Year and that:

(a)       As required by statute, two voting co-optees representing the Church of England and the Roman Catholic Church and three parent governor co-optees selected in accordance with the appropriate Regulations, be appointed to the Children’s Services Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee.

(b)       The other non-elected member “appointments” and invitations to attend shown in the Appendix (and particularly its annexes) be confirmed. 

(3)       Those Committees be appointed with:

(a) the membership sizes and

(b) the political balance

indicated in Appendix 2 of the report to Council.

(4)       That the delegation of non-executive functions (as defined by the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000 (amended) to officers be agreed as set out in the Council’s Constitution.

(5)       To agree that all officers with delegated powers have power to further delegate those powers to other officers under s.101 of the Local Government Act 1972 or as provided for by any other legislation and may agree a scheme of delegation to officers for their service areas.

To consider motions concerning appointing Committee Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen (nominations paper and explanatory note attached).

Members were appointed by Council to positions as follows:

Sub-Committee of the Governance Committee:

Motion on behalf of the United Kingdom Independence Party Group

That the following Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen be appointed –

Sub-Committee of the Governance Committee:

Motion on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group

That the following Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen be appointed –

Sub-Committee of the Governance Committee:

Motion on behalf of the East Havering Residents’ Group

That the following Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen be appointed –

Sub-Committee of the Governance Committee:

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group

That the following Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen be appointed –

Sub-Committee of the Governance Committee:

Amendment on behalf of the Residents’ Group

That the following Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen be appointed –

To consider motions regarding appointing Member Champions (nominations paper and explanatory note attached).

Member Champions were appointed as follows:

For Equalities and Diversity – Councillor Stephanie Nunn (RA)

For the Armed Forces – Councillor John Crowder (Cons)

For the Historic Environment – Councillor Linda Hawthorn (EHRG)

For the Over Fifties – Councillor Linda Van den Hende (EHRG)

For the Voluntary Sector Compact – Councillor Viddy Persaud (Cons)

For Younger Persons – Councillor Alex Donald (EHRG)

The following Member Champions were AGREED without division:

For the Armed Forces – Cllr John Crowder (Cons)

For Equalities and Diversity - Cllr Stephanie Nunn (RA)

For the Historic Environment – Cllr Linda Hawthorn (EHRG)

For the Over 50’s – Cllr Linda Van den Hende (EHRG)

For the Voluntary Sector Compact – Cllr Viddy Persaud (Cons)        

For Younger Persons – Cllr Alex Donald (EHRG)