Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Town Hall

Contact: Anthony Clements tel: 01708 433065  Email: anthony.clements@oneSource.co.uk

Items
No. Item

89.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 582 KB

To sign as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Council meeting held on 21 February 2018 (attached).

 

Decision:

Minutes AGREED as a correct record.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 21 February 2018 were before the Council for approval.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 21 February 2018 be approved as a correct record.

 

90.

DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

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.

 

Decision:

There were no disclosures of interest.

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of interest.

91.

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE MAYOR, BY THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL OR BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE pdf icon PDF 204 KB

To receive announcements.

Minutes:

A minute’s silence was held in memory of former Councillors Michael Lucas and Len Parmenter. Tributes to former Councillors Lucas and Parmenter were paid by the Leader of the Council as well as by other Members from across the Chamber.

 

The Leader of the Council also paid tribute to a member of staff who had passed away during the course of his duties.

 

The Mayor thanked those Members not standing at the forthcoming Council elections for their service. The Mayor also welcomed her cadet to the meeting and reminded Members of her charity walk taking place on 8 April.

 

The text of the announcements made by the Leader of the Council is attached appendix 1 to these minutes.

 

 

92.

PETITIONS

 

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

 

Councillors Frost, Barrett, Williamson, Wise, Deon Burton and Darvill have given notice of intention to present a petition.

Decision:

Received from Councillors Frost, Barrett, Williamson, Wise, Deon Burton and Darvill.

Minutes:

The following petitions were presented:

 

By Councillor Frost concerning a request to convert a grass verge into hard standing in order to increase parking capacity in Horndon Close, Collier Row.

 

By Councillor Barrett relating to the installation of a 20 mph zone at Dury Falls estate.

 

By Councillor Williamson against the overdevelopment of Havering.

 

By Councillor Wise relating to a request for a pelican crossing in Farringdon Avenue.

 

By Councillor Deon Burton concerning a request for an increase in the amount of free car waiting time at Hilldene Shopping Centre.

 

By Councillor Darvill relating to increase public toilet provision at Hilldene shops, Harold Hill.

 

 

93.

REVIEW OF PLANNING DECISION MAKING PROCESSES AND PROCEDURES pdf icon PDF 85 KB

 

NOTE: The deadline for receipt of amendments to all reports published with the final agenda is midnight, Monday 19 March 2018.

 

To consider a report of the Governance Committee on Planning Decision Making, Processes and Procedures (attached).

Additional documents:

Decision:

Amendment by Independent Residents’ Group NOT CARRIED by 36 votes to 8; amendment by Residents’ Group NOT CARRIED by 32 votes to 18; substantive motion by Administration that the report be adopted and its recommendations carried into effect AGREED without division.

Minutes:

 

A report of Governance Committee proposed a number of changes to the Council’s Constitution in order to facilitate the setting up of a Strategic Planning Committee to deal with strategic applications and any other matters and a Planning Committee to deal with other planning matters.

 

Deemed motion on behalf of the Administration

 

That the report be adopted and its recommendations carried into effect.

 

Amendment by the Independent Residents’ Group

 

That the recommendations of the report be replaced with the following:

 

That Council agrees to refer this report back to Governance Committee for further consideration after the May 2018 Council elections.

 

Amendment by the Residents’ Group

 

That the recommendations of the report be replaced with the following:

 

1.    That progressing of this report be put on hold until after the local elections in May.

2.    That a cross-party group be formed after the May 2018 local elections to carry out a comprehensive review of this and all committees of the Council to ensure that they are fit for purpose, outcomes focussed and cost effective.

 

Following debate, the amendment by the Independent Residents’ Group was NOT CARRIED by 36 votes to 8 (see division 1), the amendment by the Residents’ Group was NOT CARRIED by 32 votes to 18 (see division 2) and the  substantive motion by Administration that the report be adopted and its recommendations carried into effect AGREED without division.

 

RESOLVED:

 

1.         That the setting up a new Strategic Planning Committee to deal with strategic applications and any other strategic planning matters and a Planning Committee to deal with other planning applications and planning matters be approved.

 

2.         That the main changes to the Constitution set out in Appendix A of the report of the Governance Committee and the consequential minor amendments to the Constitution set out in Appendix B be agreed.

 

3.         that the following documents be included in the Constitution:

·                the Functions Delegated to Staff, in Appendix C;

·                the Functions Not the Responsibility of the Executive, in Appendix D;

·                the Planning Committee Procedure Rules, in Appendix F; and

·                the Planning Code of Good Practice, in Appendix G.

·                 

4.         that these changes be implemented after the May 2018 local elections.

 

94.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES, SUB-COMMITTEES AND MEMBER CHAMPIONS pdf icon PDF 5 MB

To consider the annual reports of Committees, Sub-Committees and Member Champions (attached).

Decision:

All reports ACCEPTED by Council, without division.

Minutes:

The following annual reports were accepted by Council, without division:

 

Audit Committee

Pensions Committee

Overview and Scrutiny Board

Children and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee

Crime and Disorder Sub-Committee

Environment Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee

Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee

Individuals Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee

Towns and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee

Member Champion for the Armed Forces

Member Champion for Equality and Diversity

Member Champion fir the Historic Environment

Member Champion for the Over 50s

Member Champion for the Voluntary Sector Compact

Member Champion for Younger People

95.

PAY POLICY STATEMENT 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 88 KB

To consider a report of the Chief Executive on the Pay Policy Statement 2018/19 (attached).

Additional documents:

Decision:

Report AGREED by 45 votes to 6.

Minutes:

As required under the Localism Act 2011, a report of the Chief Executive asked Council to approve the Council’s Pay Policy 2018/19

 

The pay policy set out:

 

·         The remuneration of the Council’s Chief Officers

·         The remuneration of its lowest-paid employees

·         The relationship between the remuneration of its Chief Officers and its other employees

 

The report was AGREED by 45 votes to 6 (see division 3) and it was RESOLVED:

 

That the Pay Policy Statement 2018/19 (attached as appendix 2 to these minutes) be approved.

 

96.

DATES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 84 KB

To consider a report of the Chief Executive on the Dates of Council Meetings 2018/19 (attached).  

Decision:

Report AGREED without division.

Minutes:

In accordance with the Constitution, a report of the Chief Executive requested Council to agree the dates of future Council meetings.

 

The report was AGREED without division and it was RESOLVED:

 

That the Council fixes the date of its meetings for the Municipal Year 2018/19 and, on a provisional basis, the balance of 2019 as follows:

 

 

2018

23

May (Annual Meeting following elections on 3 May)

11

July

12

September

21

November

 

 

 

2019

23

January

20

February (Council tax Setting)

20

March

15

May (Annual Meeting)

10

July (provisional)

18

September (provisional)

20

November (provisional)

 

97.

MEMBERS' QUESTIONS pdf icon PDF 153 KB

Attached.

Additional documents:

Decision:

15 questions replied to.

Minutes:

Fifteen questions were asked and replies given. The text of all questions submitted, together with their answers, is shown as appendix 3 to these minutes.

98.

HARE LODGE DEMOLITION (AGENDA ITEM 12A)

Minutes:

Motion on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group

 

This Council calls on the Executive to seek to safeguard Havering as an independent local authority within a reformed Greater London Authority.

 

Amendment by the Conservative Group

 

The Council notes that the status of local authorities within Greater London is governed by statute and commends the Executive on the independent stance taken in dealings with the London Mayor including police station closures and the draft London Plan.

 

The amendment by the Conservative Group was CARRIED by 31 votes to 9 (see division 4) and AGREED as the substantive motion without division.

 

RESOLVED:

 

The Council notes that the status of local authorities within Greater London is governed by statute and commends the Executive on the independent stance taken in dealings with the London Mayor including police station closures and the draft London Plan.

 

99.

CHAFFORD SPORTS COMPLEX

Minutes:

Motion on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group

 

 

Council calls on the Executive to reach agreement with Harris Academy, Rainham, and SLM to keep Chafford Sports Complex open until a new leisure centre is built in the south of the borough.

 

 

Amendment by the Conservative Group

 

 

This Council notes that its officers are currently examining with Harris Academy Rainham and SLM the legal and financial arrangements required to maintain for public use the Chafford Sports Complex following the acquisition of title to it by the School through a Land Adjudication Tribunal ruling.  

 

 

The amendment by the Conservative Group was CARRIED by 43 votes to 9 (see division 5) and AGREED as the substantive motion without division.

 

RESOLVED:

 

This Council notes that its officers are currently examining with Harris Academy Rainham and SLM the legal and financial arrangements required to maintain for public use the Chafford Sports Complex following the acquisition of title to it by the School through a Land Adjudication Tribunal ruling.  

 

100.

USE OF PLASTICS

Minutes:

Motion on behalf of the Residents’ Group

 

 

This council recognises the serious problems caused by the large use of plastics and calls on the Executive to:

 

a)            Reduce the Council’s  own use of plastics

b)            Encourage businesses and residents to reduce their use and

c)            Provide clarity to residents on what plastics can be recycled

 

 

Amendment by the Independent Residents’ Group

 

 

Replace the first sentence with the following sentence.

 

Council agrees the recycling regime promoted by climate change legislation has made waste deposal very expensive and led to an epidemic of fly-tipping resulting in our rivers and oceans being polluted by plastic. And further agrees the solution is the incineration of waste, reduced landfill taxes and promotion of alternatives to non-biodegradable plastic and calls on the Executive to consider the following measures to reduce the problem in a small way:-

 

 

Amendment by the Conservative Group

 

 

This Council recognises the serious ecological problems resulting from the excessive and unnecessary use of plastic and also the need to reduce the volume of all household waste generally including recycling items as a result of increasing waste disposal costs. Further it notes that officers have been reviewing the steps which can be taken to address these issues and will be reporting to the Executive once this process has been completed.

 

The amendment by the Independent Residents’ Group was NOT CARRIED by 38 votes to 10 (see division 6), the amendment by the Conservative Group was CARRIED by 36 votes to 16 (see division 7) and AGREED as the substantive motion, without division.

 

RESOLVED:

 

This Council recognises the serious ecological problems resulting from the excessive and unnecessary use of plastic and also the need to reduce the volume of all household waste generally including recycling items as a result of increasing waste disposal costs. Further it notes that officers have been reviewing the steps which can be taken to address these issues and will be reporting to the Executive once this process has been completed.

 

101.

COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULES

Minutes:

Motion on behalf of the Labour Group

This Council calls upon the Governance Committee to review the Council Procedure Rules relating to Full Council Meetings and also to consider adopting a protocol relating to email communications between members of the Council.

Amendment by the Independent Residents’ Group

 

Continue last sentence of motion to read ….. ‘for the purpose of strengthening the democratic rights and privileges of backbench members to hold the Executive, and allies, to account’.

 

 

 

The amendment by the Independent Residents’ Group was NOT CARRIED by 32 votes to 20 (see division 8); the motion on behalf of the Labour Group as AGREED as the substantive motion by 39 votes to 11 (see division 9).

 

RESOLVED:

 

This Council calls upon the Governance Committee to review the Council Procedure Rules relating to Full Council Meetings and also to consider adopting a protocol relating to email communications between members of the Council.

 

102.

VOTING RECORD pdf icon PDF 127 KB

Minutes:

The record of voting decisions is attached as appendix 4 to these minutes.