Agenda, decisions and minutes

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 26 February 2014 (attached).

of Meeting on 26 February 2014 – approved without division.

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 26 February 2014 were before the Council for approval.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 26 February 2014 be signed as a correct record.

None.

There were no disclosures of interest.   

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

Two petitions presented by Councillor Murray.

Pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 23, the following petitions were presented:

From Councillor Pat Murray concerning road safety measures outside Brookside School.

From Councillor Pat Murray concerning security arrangements at Central Park, Harold Hill.

It was NOTED that the petitions would be passed to Committee Administration for attention in accordance with the Council’s Petitions Scheme.

To receive a report of the Chief Executive on the Council’s Pay Policy 2014/15 (attached).

Note: The deadline for amendments is midnight, Monday 24 March 2014.

Approved, without division.

The Localism Act 2011 required the Council to prepare a pay policy statement by the 31 March each year before it came into force. The pay policy statement was required to be approved by a full meeting of the Council and published on the Council’s website.

The Council’s pay policy statement must set out:

·       The remuneration of the its Chief Officers

·       The remuneration of its lowest-paid employees

·       The relationship between the remuneration of its Chief Officers and its other employees

Under the Localism Act 2011, Chief Officers in Havering are defined as those remunerated on the following grades:

·           HG1 (Chief Executive)

·           HG2/HG2S Group Director)

·           HG3 (Assistant Chief Executive/Assistant Director)

·           HS 1/2/3 (Head of Service)

·           NHS VSM (Director for Public Health)

The recommendations of the Chief executive were APPROVED without division and it was RESOLVED that:

The Pay Policy statement 2014/15 as shown in Appendix 1 of the minutes be approved.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive on the Council’s Licensing Strategy (attached).

Note: The deadline for amendments is midnight, Monday, 24 March 2014.

Approved, without division.

A report of the Chief Executive invited Council to consider adoption of the Council’s licensing strategy. The strategy sought to reduce alcohol related crime and irresponsible alcohol sales or consumption in Havering’s town centres. The strategy also sought to reduce the level of drug use in licensed premises and to maintain thriving and viable daytime and night-time economies.

This would be achieved by measures such as reducing age-restricted sales, controlling street drinking and bringing a more coordinated approach to the licensing and planning regimes.

The recommendation of the Chief Executive was APPROVED without division and it was RESOLVED that:

That the Licensing Strategy, as shown in appendix 2 to these minutes, be adopted.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive on the Schedule of Council Meetings 2014/15 (attached).

Note: The deadline for amendments is midnight, Monday 24 March 2014.  

Approved, without division.

The Council was invited to agree the dates of its meetings in the municipal year 2014/15. It was noted that with both the Municipal and European Parliamentary Elections taking place on 22 May, the latest possible date for the Annual Meeting of Council would be 11 June 2014.

It was RESOLVED without division:

            That the Council fixes the dates of its meetings for the Municipal Year 2014/15 and, on a provisional basis, the balance of 2015 as follows:

To consider the annual reports of Committees and Member Champions (attached, report of the champion for the over-50s to follow).

Note: The deadline for amendments (if any) is midnight, Monday 24 March 2014.

All received, without division.

            Council received and considered the Annual Reports of the following:

Audit Committee

Pensions Committee

Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education

Member Development Group

Children & Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Crime & Disorder Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Individual Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Towns & Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Value Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Member Champion for the Armed Forces

Member Champion for Equalities and Diversity

Member Champion for the Historic Environment

Member Champion for the Over 50s

Member Champion for the Voluntary Sector

Member Champion for Younger Persons

Each Annual Report was ADOPTED without debate or division.

RESOLVED:

That the Annual Reports as listed be approved.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive on the Collective Investment Vehicle.

Note: The deadline for amendments is midnight, Monday 24 March 2014.

Procedural motion by the Labour Group to hold a debate on this item NOT CARRIED by 43 votes to 8; recommendation of Pensions Committee APPROVED by 43 votes to 8.

A report of the Chief Executive asked Council, in the event that Pensions Committee recommended that the council took part, to approve participation in a Collective Investment Vehicle – a body comprising boroughs across London that would assist with the investment of some of the Council’s pension funds.

Council noted that Pensions Committee had recommended to Council that a decision on joining the proposed Collective Investment Vehicle be deferred in order that more clarity be obtained on the financial cost and governance issues.

A procedural motion was proposed by the Labour Group that a debate be held on this issue. The procedural motion was NOT CARRIED by 43 votes to 8 (see division 1).  

The recommendation of the Pensions Committee was APPROVED by 43 votes to 8 (see division 2).

            RESOLVED:

            That a decision on joining the proposed Collective Investment Vehicle be deferred in order that more clarity be obtained on the financial cost and governance issues.

See attached paper.

15 questions asked and replied to.

Fifteen questions were asked and replies given.

The text of the questions, and their answers, are set out in Appendix 3 to these minutes

See attached paper.

A.POTHOLES AND ROAD DEFECTS – Administration amendment CARRIED by 38 votes to 10 and CARRIED as substantive motion by 48 votes to 0.

B. SHARED SERVICES By vote only – Administration amendment CARRIED by 32 votes to 3 and CARRIED as substantive motion by 33 votes to 7. 

C. PUBLIC SERVICES INFRASTRUCTURE – By vote only, Administration amendment CARRIED by 40 votes to 5 and CARRIED as substantive motion, without division.

D. REGULATORY SERVICES COMMITTEE – By vote only, Administration amendment CARRIED by 32 votes to 8 and CARRIED as substantive motion by 32 votes to 8.

This Council notes the proliferation of potholes and road defects appearing on our roads and agrees to adopt a long term solution through:

a) releasing enough resources to equip the StreetCare department with sufficient funding to undertake the necessary works

b) establishing a full audit of all roads which is open to public inspection

c) introduce a performance indicator that gives a timescale from when a pothole is reported to when it should be repaired

d)  introduce a quarterly monitoring report which becomes a standing item on the Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee

Amendment by the Administration

This Council notes with approval the substantial and additional funds allocated by the Administration to dealing with potholes and road defects appearing on our roads.

Following debate, the Administration amendment was CARRIED by 38 votes to 10 (see division 3) and CARRIED as the substantive motion by 48 votes to 0 (see division 4). 

RESOLVED:

That this Council notes with approval the substantial and additional funds allocated by the Administration to dealing with potholes and road defects appearing on our roads.

            Motion on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group

            The Council regrets that the Administration did not advise the Council of the possible change of leadership and the former Leader’s potential new employment when the shared services presentation was given to the Council meeting held on 27^th November.

Amendment by the Administration

The Council notes that the former Leader’s potential new employment had no bearing on or connection with the Shared Services presentation given to the Council meeting held on 27^th November.

The Administration amendment was CARRIED by 32 votes to 3 (see division 5) and CARRIED as the substantive motion by 33 votes to 7 (see division 6).

RESOLVED:

That the Council notes that the former Leader’s potential new employment had no bearing on or connection with the Shared Services presentation given to the Council meeting held on 27^th November.

Motion on behalf of the Labour Group

This Council believes there is a need for new affordable housing in the Borough to address the lack of supply and the high demand for homes, however, recognises the need to address the consequential demands on public services and therefore proposes, with its partners in the public and private sectors, to plan and implement improvements in the Borough’s infrastructure to address the needs of all residents.

Amendment by the Administration

This Council notes with approval the new affordable housing in the Borough procured by the Administration, often in the face of opposition from the Labour Group, to address the high demand for homes and, recognising the need to address the consequential demand on public services, supports the work done to progress the community infrastructure levy.

The Administration amendment was CARRIED by 40 votes to 5 (see division 7) and CARRIED as the substantive motion without division.

RESOLVED:

That this Council notes with approval the new affordable housing in the Borough procured by the Administration, often in the face of opposition from the Labour Group, to address the high demand for homes and, recognising the need to address the consequential demand on public services, supports the work done to progress the community infrastructure levy.

       Motion on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group

This Council reminds Members and substitutes on the Regulatory Services Committee that they must not undermine public confidence in the planning process by completely disregarding officer advice and the Council’s Green Belt planning policy when voting on planning applications.

Amendment by the Administration

This Council supports the code of conduct in dealing with planning applications and the provision of training for those Members who need it.

The Administration amendment was CARRIED by 32 votes to 8 (see division 8) and CARRIED as the substantive motion by 32 votes to 8 (see division 9).

RESOLVED:

That this Council supports the code of conduct in dealing with planning applications and the provision of training for those Members who need it.

The record of voting divisions is attached as Appendix 4.