Agenda item

Motion on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group

This Council regrets: the pre-election decision to merge all Havering’s back-office administrative services with Newham [rather than await the outcome of the elections], the failure of the former council leader to announce his intention to resign when giving the shared services presentation [before rather than after the vote], the misrepresentation of the figures [which gave gross rather than net forecast savings] and the lack of consultation with local residents before the vote was taken [merger plans not included in the Have Your Say consultation]!

Amendment by the Administration:

This Council notes that following its decision passed by an overwhelming majority to proceed with the merger of back office services with Newham the oneSource joint service has been created to provide these services to the two councils and other councils wishing to participate and that the savings arising from this will be an important part of the budget measures needed to meet the severe challenge arising from reduction in central government funding in the next two years and will help preserve more of the front line services which would otherwise be under threat. This Council further appreciates the high level of cooperation shown by its partner council and the considerable interest in participation being shown by other councils.

Following debate, the Administration amendment was CARRIED by 41 votes to 5 (see division 3) and CARRIED as the substantive motion without division.

RESOLVED:

This Council notes that following its decision passed by an overwhelming majority to proceed with the merger of back office services with Newham the oneSource joint service has been created to provide these services to the two councils and other council wishing to participate and that the savings arising from this will be an important part of the budget measures needed to meet the severe challenge arising from reduction in central government funding in the next two years and will help preserve more of the front line services which would otherwise be under threat. This Council further appreciates the high level of cooperation shown by its partner council and the considerable interest in participation being shown by other councils.

During debate on this item, the Mayor gave the following statement:

The Council has a duty to promote and maintain high standards of conduct by members. To do so it has adopted a Code of Conduct, and delegated to the Adjudication & Review Committee the duty to determine and report upon any allegations of breach of the Code.

It is perfectly reasonable for complaints to be made if it is thought that there is a potential breach. Such allegations are considered by the Assessment Sub-Committee, which determines whether complaints require investigation.

In respect of the matter being referred to, the Assessment Sub-Committee on 12 December 2013 decided that 5 complaints should be referred for investigation and report to a Sub-Committee Hearing Panel. An investigation was carried out, and the Sub-Committee met on 15 July 2014 to consider the allegations and the investigator’s report.

The matter has been concluded and the results will be posted on the Council’s website.

It is perfectly proper for the Council to have a system where complaints can be made, and can be considered properly. It is the role of the Assessment Sub-Committee to determine whether a complaint needs to be investigated. If, on the face of it, it is without merit, it would be dismissed at that stage.

Not all cases that are referred for investigation will necessarily result in a finding against the member complained of. That does not entitle the member complained of to receive either an apology or compensation for the fact that he or she has been the subject of a complaint.

This matter has followed the proper process, and is now resolved, and I will not allow any further debate on it this evening.