Apologies have been received from Councillor Osman Dervish.

To receive any other apologies for absence.

Received from Councillors Osman Dervish, Brian Eagling, Sarah Edwards, James Glass, Linda Hawthorn, Robby Misir and Susan Ospreay.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Osman Dervish, Brian Eagling, Sarah Edwards, James Glass, Linda Hawthorn, Robby Misir and Susan Ospreay.

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 1 March 2023 (attached).

Agreed as a correct record.

Councillor Goode made a point of information that he had been incorrectly advised that there were no longer any Group Leaders meetings. Rather, due to an oversight, Councillor Goode had not been invited to several such meetings. Councillor Goode also requested that future points of clarification such as this be included in the meeting minutes.

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 March 2023 were otherwise agreed 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 disclosures of interest.

To receive announcements.

A past Leader’s badge will be presented to Councillor Damian White.

A former Leader’s badge was presented by the Mayor to Councillor Damian White.

The Mayor passed on his condolences on the recent passing away of Mr Ken Bryant – Havering’s last Yeoman Warder. The Mayor also reported that his forthcoming civic dinner was now sold out.

The Leader of the Council stated that Robert South – Director of Children’s Services would shortly be leaving Havering. The Leader thanked Mr South for his service to the Council and wished him luck in his new role. This was greeted with warm applause from all sides of the Chamber.

Notice of intention to present a petition has been received from Councillors Philippa Crowder, David Taylor, Dilip Patel and Judith Holt (three petitions).

Received from Councillors David Taylor re a request for the reinstsatement of CCTV at the Rotunda Block and from Councillor Judith Holt re 1. The introduction of a school crossing patrol at Frances Bardsley School, Brentwood Road 2. The introduction of a school crossing patrol at Hylands Primary Scholl, Globe Road, Hornchurch and 3. A request for the Council to commence legal action against the Mayor of London re the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone.

The following petitions were received:

From Councillor Taylor requesting the reinstatement of CCTV in the Rotunda Block.

From Councillor Holt requesting a school crossing patrol in Brentwood Road, near Frances Bardsley School.

From Councillor Holt requesting a school crossing patrol in Globe Road, Hornchurch, near Hylands Primary School.

From Councillor Holt opposing expansion of the ULEZ to Havering.

The subject matter of the petition due to be presented by Councillor Philippa Crowder – the improvement of sightlines in Heath Drive had now been resolved and Councillor Crowder passed on her thanks to Highways officers for their assistance with this.

The petition due to be presented by Councillor Dilip Patel was held over to a future meeting due to the petition organiser being unwell.

Note: The deadline for amendments to all reports published in the final agenda is midnight, Monday, 20 March.

Report of Chief Executive attached.

Report AGREED without division.

A report of the Chief Executive detailed the Council’s Pay Policy for the forthcoming year. The report was AGREED without division and it was RESOLVED:

That the Pay policy Statement 2023/24 be approved.

Report of Chief Executive attached.

Report AGREED without division.

A report of the Chief Executive gave dates of Council meetings for the forthciming municipal year.

The report was AGREED without division and it was RESOLVED:

1.     That the Council fixes the date of its meetings for the Municipal Year 2023/24 and, on a provisional basis, the balance of 2024, as shown in the report.

2. Changes to the date of meetings of Council be determined by the Mayor,   following consultation with Group Leaders;

Report of Chief Executive attached.

Report AGREED without division.

A report of the Chief Executive listed recent Executive Decisions where exemption from call-in was granted and the reasons for this.

The report was AGREED without division and it was RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Report of Chief Executive attached.

Report AGREED by 47 votes to 0 with 1 abstention.

A report of the Chief Executive sought Council’s agreement to support work to oppose plans by the City of London Corporation to move three wholesale markets to the Barking area, potentially posing a risk to the sustainability of Romford Market and its traders.

The report was AGREED by 47 votes to 0 with 1 abstention (see division 1) and it was RESOLVED:

That being satisfied that the City of London (Markets) Bill as currently drafted conflicts with the London Borough of Havering’s market rights to protect the continued commercial viability of Romford Market pursuant to the Royal Charter of the Liberty of Havering, by failing to provide that the markets proposed for relocation to the site at Dagenham Dock may only operate for the supply of goods on a wholesale basis, the Council is accordingly satisfied that it is expedient to:

1. Oppose the said Bill in Parliament pursuant to its powers under section 239 of the Local Government Act 1972, and

2. Insofar as may be necessary to ratify its Petition to oppose the said Bill as already lodged in Parliament in order to comply with the Parliamentary timetable;

And the Council does accordingly resolve to oppose the said Bill in Parliament and insofar as may be necessary to ratify its Petition to oppose the said Bill.

Attached.

15 questions asked and responded to.

Fifteen questions were asked and responded to at the meeting. A summary, including of the supplementary questions and answers given, is attached as appendix 1 to these minutes.

Attached.

Note: Details of amendments to motions will be published in due course in a supplementary agenda.

A.    INDEPENDENT STRATEGIC GROWTH REVIEW

Amendment on behalf of Havering Residents Association Group AGREED by 30 votes to 16 with 2 abstentions and AGREED as substantive motion without division.

B.    RESIDENTS REPAIR BOARD

Amendment on behalf of Havering Residents Association AGREED by 27 votes to 20 with 1 abstention and AGREED as substantive motion without division.

C.   MOBILE CAMERAS

Composite motion in wording of Havering Residents Association amendment AGREED by 48 votes to 0 with 0 abstentions and AGREED as substantive motion without division.

D.   DECLARATION OF CLIMATE EMERGENCY

Motion on behalf of Labour Group AGREED by 42 votes to 0 with 5 abstentions and AGREED as substantive motion without division.

INDEPENDENT STRATEGIC GROWTH REVIEW

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group

Council calls on this Administration to commission an independent Strategic Economic Growth Review of Havering to identify sectors/businesses of potential growth and to recommend locally available options to support/promote expansion of the private sector.

Amendment on behalf of the Havering Residents Association Group

This Council recognises that the Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy adopted by the previous Administration only 28 months ago in November 2020 acts as the strategic backdrop against which all economic growth policies and projects are assessed. Like all strategies the Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy is kept under review and will be refreshed in due course.

Following debate, the amendment by the Havering Residents Association Group was AGREED by 29 votes to 17 with 2 abstentions (see division 2) and AGREED as the substantive motion without division.

RESOLVED:

This Council recognises that the Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy adopted by the previous Administration only 28 months ago in November 2020 acts as the strategic backdrop against which all economic growth policies and projects are assessed. Like all strategies the Inclusive Economic Growth Strategy is kept under review and will be refreshed in due course.

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group

Havering Council commits to establishing a Resident Repair Board, empowering residents to scrutinise the work of council contractors and to make recommendations to relevant committee directors. 

Amendment on behalf of the Havering Residents Association Group

This Council welcomes scrutiny of the work carried out by contractors and others. There is an established mechanism for raising suggestions through to the Overview and Scrutiny Board to Cabinet. This provides additional forms of scrutiny within the established Governance system.

We know that when tenants are fully involved in decisions relating to the repair and maintenance of their homes, the outcomes are significantly better. This is a priority in our asset management strategy. Therefore, this Administration will work to encourage tenant’s involvement in how we can work collaboratively to improve our repairs and property maintenance services, developing our existing Resident Participation Panel.

Council notes that in addition, this Administration has recently agreed changes to its corporate complaints policy that will see much greater oversight from Cabinet Members, ensuring any lessons learnt from complaints are actively taken forward. Thus creating continuous improvement in performance, including that of Council Contractors.  

Following debate, the amendment on behalf of the Havering Residents Association Group was AGREED by 27 votes to 20 with 1 abstention (see division 3) and AGREED as the substantive motion without division.

RESOLVED:

This Council welcomes scrutiny of the work carried out by contractors and others. There is an established mechanism for raising suggestions through to the Overview and Scrutiny Board to Cabinet. This provides additional forms of scrutiny within the established Governance system.

We know that when tenants are fully involved in decisions relating to the repair and maintenance of their homes, the outcomes are significantly better. This is a priority in our asset management strategy. Therefore, this Administration will work to encourage tenant’s involvement in how we can work collaboratively to improve our repairs and property maintenance services, developing our existing Resident Participation Panel.

Council notes that in addition, this Administration has recently agreed changes to its corporate complaints policy that will see much greater oversight from Cabinet Members, ensuring any lessons learnt from complaints are actively taken forward. Thus creating continuous improvement in performance, including that of Council Contractors.  

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group

This council, in light of recent events, calls upon the Administration to invest in more mobile cameras to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour across the Borough. 

Amendment on behalf of the Havering Residents Association Group

This Council agrees that safety and security of its residents is a top priority as evidenced in the recent budget consultation process and welcomes the recent Administration's Cabinet decision, to roll out the first of three phases to upgrade improved CCTV both fixed and mobile across the borough.

A composite motion in the wording of the Conservative Group motion and the Havering Residents Association amendment was agreed for consideration by Council.

The composite motion, in the wording of the motion by the Conservative Group and the amendment by the Havering Residents Association Group was AGREED by 48 votes to 0 with 0 amendments (see division 4) and AGREED as the substantive motion, without division.

RESOLVED:

This council, in light of recent events, calls upon the Administration to invest in more mobile cameras to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour across the Borough. 

This Council agrees that safety and security of its residents is a top priority as evidenced in the recent budget consultation process and welcomes the recent Administration's Cabinet decision, to roll out the first of three phases to upgrade improved CCTV both fixed and mobile across the borough.

Motion on behalf of the Labour Group

This Council resolves to declare a Climate Change Emergency.

This Council notes that:

Climate Change is being caused by human activity emitting greenhouse gases. According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (‘IPCC’) urgent and unprecedented changes are needed to keep global warming to a maximum of 1.5 degrees centigrade.

There has been a dramatic change in the climate as a result of carbon emissions generated by human activity including:-burning of fossil fuels (like petrol, diesel and gas) for energy; deforestation; farming; and, the manufacture of cement, metals and chemicals.

Over the past 100 years, human activity has significantly increased the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. This has enhanced the ‘greenhouse effect’ heating the atmosphere and oceans, destabilising the climate and endangering people and the planet. Pollution levels have reached epidemic proportions with 9,500 Londoners (50,000 people countrywide) a year dying of pollution related causes. A loss of biodiversity has seen 25% of mammals, 41% of amphibians and 13% of birdlife under threat.

The world has already warmed 1 degree centigrade since records began (higher over land where people live) with the 10 highest years recorded occurring since 2005, (NASA published 2019) with the 5 warmest years in the last five years. In the UK the seven hottest years ever recorded in the UK have all occurred since 2003 (Meteorological Office)

Climate Change has impacted on Havering with increased number of flooding events and recently wildfires endangering life and damaging property. .

The Council approved its Climate Change Action Plan on 17^7h November 2021 and resolves to revise and update it annually in view of the emergency which exists and which has recently been emphasised by the United Nations General Secretary (26/10/2022) and by the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy which stated that “the UKs critical infrastructure is exposed due to ‘extreme weakness’ in it, in view of climate change.

The UN’s IPCC reports state that we must take radical action to keep climate change within safe levels. Beyond this, catastrophic and irreversible change is expected. Yet as of 2023 the amount of greenhouse gases we are emitting continues to rise. The action planned in the UK to date is not enough to meet its climate commitments.  The Council’s Climate Change Action Plan (as revised from time to time) sets an ambitious target to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2040. Given the recent reports, science and events in Havering the Council believes now is the time to declare a climate emergency.

(No amendments received).

The motion on behalf of the Labour Group was AGREED by 42 votes to 6 (see division 5) and AGREED as the substantive motion, without division.

RESOLVED:

This Council resolves to declare a Climate Change Emergency.

This Council notes that:

Climate Change is being caused by human activity emitting greenhouse gases. According to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (‘IPCC’) urgent and unprecedented changes are needed to keep global warming to a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

The record of voting decisions is attached as appendix 2 to these minutes.