Agenda and minutes

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 20 July 2011

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 20 July 2011 be signed as a true record.

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

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

Councillors Steven Kelly, Jeff Brace, Robby Misir and June Alexander each declared a personal interest as a director of Homes in Havering in relation to matters likely to be referred to in the course of debate on the motion at agenda item 12A, Management of Council housing (see minute 37 following).

The Mayor referred to the recent retirement of Christine Dooley, Assistant Chief Executive, and to the forthcoming resignation of Andrew Ireland, Group Direct, who would be taking up a post with Kent County Council.

He paid tribute to the work undertaken by both officers during their service with Havering. The Leader of the Council, Leader of the Opposition and Leaders of the Labour and Independent Residents’ Groups added their tributes on behalf of their respective Groups.

The Mayor’s Announcements are attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes.

Councillors Andrew Curtin and Damian White have each given notice of an intention to present a petition.

Pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 23, petitions were presented as follows, by Councillors:

Andrew Curtin -                     From residents of Clifton Road, seeking inclusion of Clifton Road and Park Lane in the Controlled Parking Zone

Damian White -                     From residents of Maygreen Crescent, calling upon the Council not to proceed with the removal of washing lines and plants form balconies.

It was NOTED that each petition would be passed to Committee Administration for attention in accordance with the Petitions Scheme.

To consider a report of the Cabinet

Note: the deadline for Members’ questions about, or amendments to, the attached report is midnight, Monday 19 September 2011

Cabinet reported upon the need for changes in the Council’s Cemetery Regulations.

No amendment was proposed and the recommendations of the Cabinet were ADOPTED without debate or division. It was, accordingly, RESOLVED:

That the amendments to the Cemetery Regulations set out in Appendix 2 to these minutes be approved, to be effective from 31 October 2011

To consider a report of the Governance Committee

Note: the deadline for Members’ questions about, or amendments to, the attached report is midnight, Monday 19 September 2011

The Council received a report of the Governance Committee, setting out further changes proposed to the Council’s Constitution.

No amendment was proposed and the Committee’s recommendations were ADOPTED without debate or division.

RESOLVED:

That the amendments to the Constitution set out in Appendix 3 to these minutes be approved, to be effective from 21 September 2011

To consider a report of the Chief Executive

Note: the deadline for Members’ questions about, or amendments to, the attached report is midnight, Monday 19 September 2011

The Chief Executive reported that, following the retirement of the Assistant Chief Executive Legal & Democratic Services and the imminent resignation of the Group Director Social Care & Learning, authority was required to enable certain staff to exercise statutory powers

No amendment was proposed and the recommendations of the Cabinet were ADOPTED without debate or division. It was, accordingly, RESOLVED:

1          That the following individuals be authorised to exercise the responsibilities of the statutory officers indicated:

(1) Monitoring Officer: Ian Burns, Acting Assistant Chief Executive, with immediate effect;

(2) Director of Children’s Services: Sue Butterworth, Acting Director, with effect from the date on which Andrew Ireland leaves the Council’s service; and

(3) Director of Adult Social Services: Lorna Payne as Interim Director, with effect from the date on which Andrew Ireland leaves the Council’s service.

2          That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make such changes as are necessary to enable the Acting/Interim officers to carry out the duties assigned to them.

To receive the reports

Note: the deadline for Members’ questions about, or amendments to, any of the attached reports is midnight, Monday 19 September 2011

Council received and considered the Annual Reports of the Member Champions for:

The 14-19 Diploma

Diversity

Historic Environment

The Over 50s

The Voluntary Sector Compact

Youth

Each Annual Report was ADOPTED without debate or division. The recommendations of the Member Champion for the Historic Environment and for the Voluntary Sector Compact set out in those respective reports were ENDORSED.

RESOLVED:

That the Annual Reports of the Member Champions be approved and the recommendations of the Member Champion for the Historic Environment and for the Voluntary Sector Compact be endorsed.

14 questions were asked and replies given.

The texts of those questions and their answers, together with those not asked orally, are set out in Appendix 4  to these minutes.

A procedural motion, that the meeting continue until all business is finished, was proposed on behalf of the Labour Group.

On being put to the vote, the procedural motion was LOST by 17 votes to 26 (see division 1)

Motion on behalf the Independent Residents’ Group

This Council supports bringing the management of council housing back in-house and will encourage tenants to support this option.

1          Amendment on behalf the Administration

Amend to read:

This Council notes the support that this Administration has given Homes in Havering over a number of years and will encourage all its tenants to take part in the consultation on its future.

2          Amendment by the Labour Group

Delete all of the words after “This Council supports” and insert the following:-

“the Administration proposal to consult with Council Tenants to seek their views on whether to continue with the current arrangement whereby the stock is managed by Homes in Havering or whether to bring this function  back in house and re-integrate it into the Housing service and considers that the consultation period with Tenants should not exceed 3 months in duration”

Following debate, the Administration amendment was CARRIED by 28 votes to 9 (see division 2), and the Labour amendment was LOST by 10 votes to 28 (see division 3). The Administration amendment was then put to the vote as the substantive motion, and CARRIED by 28 votes to 9 (see division 4).

RESOLVED that:

This Council notes the support that this Administration has given Homes in Havering over a number of years and will encourage all its tenants to take part in the consultation on its future.

Motion on behalf the Residents’ Group

This Council agrees that any bookings made and deposit paid for the use of Tweed Hall, New Windmill Hall or Dukes Hall are duly honoured and fully incorporated into any new management/leasing arrangements in respect of these facilities.

1          Amendment on behalf the Administration

Amend to read:

This Council agrees that any bookings made and deposits paid for the use of Tweed Hall, New Windmill Hall or Dukes Hall are duly refunded, and the Council uses its best endeavours to help those affected

Following debate, the Administration amendment was CARRIED by 28 votes to 14 (see division 5) and CARRIED as the substantive motion by 28 votes to 14 (see division 6).

With the consent of the Council, the following motions were withdrawn by the Labour Group:

12C COUNCIL OWNED GARAGE SITES

12D ELDERLY PERSONS SHELTERED ACCOMMODATION

The record of voting divisions is attached as Appendix 5 to these minutes.