To sign as a true record the minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 17 May 2017 (attached).

Minutes AGREED as a correct record.

The minutes of the Annual Meeting of Council held on 17 May 2017 were before the Council for approval.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Council held on 17 May 2017 be signed as a correct record.

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.

None.

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive announcements (if any).

All Members joined the Mayor in sending their condolences to those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire and by the terrorist attacks in London and Manchester. A letter from Havering Islamic Cultural Centre, sending condolences to the victims of the Manchester attack and their families, was read out by the Mayor.

The Mayor wished good luck to all areas of the borough entered in the forthcoming London in Bloom awards and confirmed that her other charities for the year would Dementia UK, Admiral Nursing and the Havering Volunteer Centre. The Mayor’s Cadet for 2017/18 would be a Police Cadet and the recent Langtons Concert had been very successful. The Mayor also sent congratulations to the three local MPS who had been elected at the recent General Election.

Councillors Wendy Brice-Thompson and Michael Deon Burton have given notice of intention to present a petition.

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

Petitions presented by Councillors Brice-Thompson and Ramsey.

Petitions were presented by Councillor Brice-Thompson concerning a request by parishioners of Romford Elim Church for a new church building in the area and by Councillor Ramsey regarding a request for parking restrictions in Hillview Avenue.

Note: the deadline for amendments is midnight, Monday 12 June 2017.

To consider a report of Cabinet on the pension fund deficit from the former Greater London Council (report attached, subject to approval by Cabinet).

Report AGREED without division.

Council had before it a report of Cabinet that had been agreed by Cabinet on 13 June 2017. This related to proposals to fund the Council’s liability for part of the pension fund deficit from the former Greater London Council. This was a legal liability that was shared amongst all London Borough Councils. The total estimated liability for Havering was estimated to be £2.132m and it hoped to negotiate a repayment term of up to 30 years, which would be advantageous to the Council.

Payments for 2017/18 would be funded from the corporate risk budget and would be incorporated into the base budget from 2018/19 onwards as part of the budget setting process.

The report was AGREED without division and it was RESOLVED:

That a payment of £2.132m towards the pension fund deficit of the Greater London Council over a period of up to 30 years be approved.

To receive a statement by the Leader of the Council.

Received.

The text of the statement given by the Leader of the Council is attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes. It was noted that there would be an opportunity to debate the statement at the July meeting of the Council.

Attached.

12 questions replied to.

Twelve questions were asked and replies given. The text of the questions, together with their answers, is shown as Appendix 2 to these minutes.

This motion was withdrawn by the Labour Group.

Motion on behalf of the Residents’ Group

Over many years, members have voiced their concerns about the ineffectiveness of the Overview and Scrutiny process. As a result, this council therefore calls for an immediate cross party review to consider changes to the current process to bring about service improvements for our residents, as well as ensuring that all members play their active part and this important function provides better value for money. Additionally, this Council calls for this review to be completed in time for any changes to be implemented with effect from the new council in May 2018. 

Amendment by the Conservative Group

This Council recognises that despite the findings of previous cross party working groups and these having been considered in the changes made in 2014 members have continued to voice their concerns about the ineffectiveness of the Overview and Scrutiny Process. This Council therefore notes with approval that the Administration has already commenced informal discussions about a further cross party review to consider changes to the current process and calls for such a review to be completed in time for any recommendations to be considered by the new council elected in 2018. 

Following debate, the amendment on behalf of the Conservative Group was CARRIED by 30 votes to 14 (see division 1) and AGREED as the substantive motion without division.

RESOLVED:

This Council recognises that despite the findings of previous cross party working groups and these having been considered in the changes made in 2014 members have continued to voice their concerns about the ineffectiveness of the Overview and Scrutiny Process. This Council therefore notes with approval that the Administration has already commenced informal discussions about a further cross party review to consider changes to the current process and calls for such a review to be completed in time for any recommendations to be considered by the new council elected in 2018. 

Motion on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group

The Planning Inspector has approved gravel extraction on Green Belt land by Wennington Village APP/B5480/W/16/3159082 despite only 30% of the gravel coming from the land and 70% from processing imported inert waste.

This motion therefore calls on the Council to recommend to the Executive that the decision be legally challenged as contrary to Green Belt policy and because this landfill scheme involves 270 HGVs (135 in/out) everyday, plus a smaller number on Saturdays for next 9 years and is clearly another over-development too far in the south of the borough.

Amendment by the Conservative Group

It is noted that the Planning Inspector approved gravel extraction on Green Belt land by Wennington Village APP/B5480/W/16/3159082 on appeal from the refusal of the application by this Council and that in this as in other cases it is only appropriate to make a legal challenge by way of appeal when there are sufficient grounds to do so. 

This motion was dealt with on a vote only basis. The amendment by the Conservative Group was CARRIED by 28 votes to 16 (see division 2) and AGREED as the substantive motion without division.

RESOLVED:

It is noted that the Planning Inspector approved gravel extraction on Green Belt land by Wennington Village APP/B5480/W/16/3159082 on appeal from the refusal of the application by this Council and that in this as in other cases it is only appropriate to make a legal challenge by way of appeal when there are sufficient grounds to do so. 

The record of voting decisions is attached as Appendix 3 to these minutes.