Agenda and minutes

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 21 September 2011

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 21 September 2011 be signed as a true record.

The Mayor made the following announcement:

Before we begin, I would personally like to thank Father Sean Sheils for the reading of our prayers tonight. It was particularly poignant, as it was the last time that he will lead prayers and entertain us with his colourful sermons in this Chamber, before his retirement at Christmas.

I would like to recognise the great service that Father Sheils has given to this borough during his 33 years at Corpus Christi Church, in Collier Row, by presenting him with this token of our appreciation and extend to him our very good wishes for a happy and fulfilling retirement. Father Sean, we will miss you.

Members stood and applauded Father Shiels as he retired from the Chamber.

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 Paul McGeary and Michael White each declared a personal interest in relation to matters likely to be referred to in the course of debate on the report at agenda item 12 and motion at agenda item 14D, relating to the Queens Hospital, Romford (see minute 47 following).

The Leader of the Council referred to the recent death of Sue Braeger, Chairperson and Treasurer of the Havering Family Diabetes Group, and on the Council’s behalf expressed condolences to her family.

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

Procedural Motion on behalf of the Administration

That the debates on agenda items 12 (Report: The future of Queens Hospital) and 14D (Motion: Queens Hospital) be amalgamated and take place immediately after agenda item 6 (Petitions)

Procedural Motion on behalf of the Labour Group

That the times allowed for:

(i)         the combined debates on the report and motion relating to the future of Queens Hospital (agenda items 12 and 14D) be limited to 50 minutes;

(ii)        the debate on the report relating to the proposed new Parliamentary Constituencies (agenda item 11) be limited to 30 minutes; and

(iii)       the debate on Council-owned garage sites (agenda item 14A) be limited to 30 minutes.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12, the motions were considered without debate, and were agreed without division.

RESOLVED:

1          That the debates on agenda items 12 (Report: The future of Queens Hospital) and 14D (Motion: Queens Hospital) be amalgamated and take place immediately after agenda item 6 (Petitions)

2          That the times allowed for:

(i)         The combined debates on the report and motion relating to the future of Queens Hospital (agenda items 12 and 14D) be limited to 50 minutes;

(ii)        The debate on the report relating to the proposed new Parliamentary Constituencies (agenda item 11) be limited to 30 minutes; and

(iii)       The debate on Council-owned garage sites (agenda item 14A) be limited to 30 minutes.

With the consent of the Council, the Labour Group WITHDREW the motion on Elderly Persons’ Sheltered Accommodation at agenda item 14B.

Councillor Denis Breading has given notice of an intention to present a petition.

Pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 23, a petition with 95 signatories was presented by Councillor Denis Breading, from St. Laurence Church, Upminster and Upminster Shop Owners objecting to the new Controlled Parking Zone proposed for Upminster.

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

To consider a report of the Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee

In accordance with the procedural motions referred to in minute 46 above, agenda items 12 (Report of Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee) and 14D (Motion on behalf of the Administration) were debated together.

Councillors Paul McGeary and Michael White each declared a personal interest in the matters to be debated.

The Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee reported upon two matters affecting the future of the Queens Hospital.

The Council was first reminded that the Committee and others in the Outer North East London sector had jointly referred proposals for rationalisation of hospital and other health services in the sector to the Secretary of State, who had subsequently requested the Independent Review Panel (IRP) to review the proposals and report upon them. The IRP’s report had now been published and the Secretary of State had accepted its recommendation that the proposals should proceed, but only when it was clear that the Queens Hospital had the capacity to cope with the resultant increased workload.

Secondly, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had, following the raising of significant concerns about standards of care in the maternity, elective vascular surgery and accident & emergency services at the Hospital, carried out an investigation, the report of which had also recently been published. The CQC had found issues in respect of all three services, though the most significant concerns related to maternity services. Investigators had listed a series of long-standing problems in maternity at the hospital, in particular including poor clinical care, a lack of managerial leadership and, perhaps most seriously, abusive behaviour by some staff to patients

The Committee was in the process of holding Topic Group meetings to examine both issues and now invited the Council to note the current position.

Motion on behalf of the Administration

This Council noting with concern the recent report of the investigation by the Care Quality Commission into the A & E and Maternity services at Queens Hospital Romford

(i)                 recognises the fears of Havering residents as to the Hospital’s capacity to cope with the additional demand arising from the transfer of these services from King George’s Hospital Ilford

(ii)               resolves to monitor through Overview and Scrutiny the steps to be taken to address the deficiencies identified and to make further representations to the Secretary of State in response to the recommendations of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel as to the transfer and

(iii)             resolves wherever appropriate to work with the Hospital Trust as it addresses these matters.      

Amendment on behalf of the Labour Group

Add the following

(iv)       requests the Chief Executive of the Barking, Havering & Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust that she prepare a monthly report on how the Trust is working towards meeting the targets set out in the CQC Report such report to be published on the Health for NE London website along with waiting list and medical staffing figures

(v)        seeks an assurance that the two month deadline for Caesarian sections to be brought back Into the Trust to prevent women having to travel to Hackney is on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

To consider a report of the Cabinet

In accordance with the CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management, Cabinet had submitted for approval the mid-year review report, which included some recommended changes to the prudential indicators and the investment criteria.

No amendment was proposed and the Cabinet’s recommendations were ADOPTED without debate or division, and the Council RESOLVED:

1)                 To approve the changes to the prudential indicators (including the changes set out in paragraph 2.2 and 2.3 of the appendix to the report now submitted relating to the  HRA reform).

2)         To approve the changes to the investment criteria as set out at paragraph 1.2 of that appendix.

To consider a report of the Cabinet

The Council received a report of the Cabinet, inviting approval of the baseline HRA Business Plan model as part of forthcoming changes in the reform of housing finance consequent upon the Localism Act 2011.

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

RESOLVED:

That the Council approve the baseline HRA Business Plan model.

To consider a report of the Cabinet

The Council Cabinet had approved proposals for development at the Briar Road estate intended to provide new homes by redevelopment of a redundant shopping area, as part of which the Council would be improving the environment of the area. Capital provision of £2million for the environmental improvements now needed to be added to be added to the Council’s Capital programme.

In the absence of any amendment, the Cabinet’s recommendations were ADOPTED without debate or division.

RESOLVED:

That the addition of the £2m Capital Budget to the Council’s Capital Programme be approved.

To consider a report of the Governance Committee

In accordance with the Electoral Administration Act 2006, a review of polling districts and polling places had recently been carried out. The Governance Committee had considered the results of the review, and had agreed a number of adjustments to polling districts across the borough while recommending that other suggested changes be not pursued.

No amendment was proposed to the Committee’s recommendations, as set out in Appendix 2 to these minutes, which were ADOPTED without debate or division.

RESOLVED:

That the Council endorse the recommendations for changes in polling districts accepted by the Governance Committee.

The Council received a report of the Governance Committee, inviting approval of amendments to the Constitution, as set out in Appendix 3 to these minutes.

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

RESOLVED:

That, with effect from 23 November 2011, the amendments set out in Appendix 3 be incorporated in the Constitution and become effective from that date.

To consider a report of the Governance Committee

In consequence of the Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011, the Boundary Commission for England had published proposals for the realignment of the Borough’s Parliamentary Constituencies. There would be two Constituencies within the borough, Hornchurch & Upminster and Romford, but with radically different boundaries to the existing Constituencies, and one Constituency, Dagenham North, comprising a number of Wards in Barking & Dagenham, together with the Brooklands and Mawneys Wards.

The Governance Committee, having considered the proposals, had recommended that the Council advise the Boundary Commission that its proposals were unacceptable and suggest an alternative alignment building on the existing Constituency boundaries.

Amendment on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group

This Council resolves to write to the Boundary Commission for England in support of their proposals that restore the original Parliamentary constituency of Hornchurch, which includes Upminster and Rainham and whose borders are mostly the same as the historic Hornchurch Urban District Council.

After debate of the recommendations of the Governance Committee, the Independent Residents’ Group amendment was LOST by 33 votes to 14 (division 3). The Committee’s recommendations were then AGREED by 33 votes to 12 (division 4).

RESOLVED:

That the Boundary Commission for England be advised that, while the Council recognises the statutory requirement to balance electorates within the electoral quota, in its view the Commission is wrong to disregard both existing, strong local community ties and the fact that there was significant change to constituency boundaries as recently as May 2010; and accordingly the Council urges that:

(a)               The Hornchurch & Upminster constituency should retain its existing boundaries, on the grounds that it has an existing electorate within the electoral quota;

(b)              The Romford Constituency should retain its existing boundaries within the borough and that the Chadwell Heath ward of the Borough of Baking & Dagenham should be added to it in order to achieve an electorate within the electoral quota, on the grounds that:

i.              the Brooklands ward contains a significant proportion of the Romford Town Centre area and it would be wholly inappropriate for such a significant area to be within a constituency known only as “Dagenham North”;

ii.            there are several major public facilities particularly associated with Romford in Brooklands Ward, such as The Queens Hospital and Romford Greyhound Stadium and it would be wholly inappropriate for such facilities to be within a “Dagenham North” constituency; and

iii.          Chadwell Heath is considered part of Romford for Post Office purposes and, indeed, is often thought erroneously to be part of Havering; and

(c)       The Dagenham & Rainham Constituency should retain its existing boundaries, other than Chadwell Heath ward, and that further wards from Barking & Dagenham should be added to it (rather than Havering wards) in order to bring its electorate within the electoral quota.

10 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.

            Motion on behalf the Labour Group

            This Council calls upon the Administration forthwith to review its policy of closing for sale and development its garage sites throughout the Borough.

Amendment on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group

Add after the word "Borough":

“with the aim of keeping as many garages in use as possible and, where that is not possible, ensuring that local Councillors and residents are consulted about options, that sites are not over-developed and that as much open space as possible is retained.”

Amendment on behalf of the Administration

This Council supports the Administration policy on garage site disposals because it provides much needed homes for Havering tenants and deals with anti social behaviour on some of our garage sites.

After debate, the Independent Residents’ amendment was LOST by 8 votes to 40 (division 5). The Administration amendment was then CARRIED by 41 votes to 8 (division 6) and was AGREED as the substantive motion without division.

RESOLVED that:

This Council supports the Administration policy on garage site disposals because it provides much needed homes for Havering tenants and deals with anti social behaviour on some of our garage sites.

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

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Mayor

1 February 2012