Agenda, decisions and minutes

– all Members nominated for positions that attract a Special Responsibility Allowance were considered to have declared a personal interest under the Members’ Code of Conduct. 

The Members named in minutes 3, 8 and 11 (the Mayoralty, Leader and various Committee Chairmanships) who were candidates for offices attracting a Special Responsibility Allowance, each declared a personal interest under paragraph 8 of the Members’ Code of Conduct as, if elected, they would benefit from the Members’ Allowance Scheme 2014.

The Mayor will make a presentation to the Mayor’s Cadet for 2013/14.

The Mayor made a presentation to the fourth Mayor’s Cadet of Havering, Tom Naggs of 452 (Hornchurch) Squadron, Air Training Corps and thanked him for his services during the Mayoralty.

(a)  To elect the Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year 2014/15 (see attached motions paper).

(b)  To receive notice of the appointment of the Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year 2014/15.

– motion by the Conservative Group that Councillor Linda Trew be elected as Mayor for the municipal year 2014/15, AGREED without division.

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group

That Councillor Linda Trew be elected Mayor for the Municipal Year 2014/15.

The Conservative Group proposal was AGREED without a vote. It was, therefore, duly RESOLVED:

That Councillor Linda Trew be elected Mayor for the Municipal Year 2014/15.

Councillor Linda Trew, having made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Mayor as required by the Local Government Act 1972, then took the Chair and thanked the Council for the honour conferred upon her. The Mayor indicated that her consort would be Graham Trew.

Councillor Robert Benham and other Members expressed the thanks of the Council to Mr Eric Munday for his services in 2013/14.

In accordance with the Local Government Act 1972, the Mayor signified in writing her appointment of Councillor Barbara Matthews as Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year and to carry out the duties of the Mayor in case of the Mayor’s illness or absence.

Councillor Matthews made the Declaration of Acceptance of Office accordingly. The Mayor indicated that the Deputy Mayor’s Consort for the year would be Terry Matthews.

Councillor Roger Ramsey proposed the following procedural motion:

That in accordance with Council procedure rule 11.10 (b) the lists of nominations submitted by the Independent Residents’ Conservative, Residents’ and UKIP Groups for appointments shown at agenda items 11 and 15 be withdrawn and revised lists submitted for consideration by Council.

The purpose of the revised nomination lists is to ensure that, where possible, the allocation of positions for Chairman and Deputy Chairman of committees, Mayor and Deputy Mayor reflects more accurately the political balance of the Council.         

The procedural motion was AGREED without division. 

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 26 March 2014 (attached) and to authorise the Mayor to sign them.

– of the meeting held on 26 March 2014 – agreed without division.

It was RESOLVED:

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

To receive announcements (if any).

Council stood for a minute’s silence in respect of former Councillor Diane Jenkin who had recently died. Several Councillors paid personal tribute to former Councillor Jenkin and her work on the Council.

Council noted that this was the final meeting that would be supported by the Monitoring Officer – Ian Burns who would be retiring shortly and Members passed on to Mr Burns their best wishes for his retirement.

In accordance with the Local Government Act 2000, as amended, the Leader is elected for a term of four years ending at the Annual Meeting of the Council following the borough elections in 2018.

At the meeting, the Council will consider nominations for the appointment and the candidate obtaining the most votes will be elected (see attached motions paper).

Motions by the Independent Residents’ and Conservative Groups.Conservative motion that Councillor Roger Ramsey be elected to the office of Leader of the Council for the municipal years 2014/18 CARRIED by 44 votes to 5.

            The Council noted that, in accordance with the Local Government Act 2000, as amended, the Leader would be elected for a term of four years ending at the Annual Meeting of the Council following the borough elections in 2018.

            Motion submitted by the Independent Residents’ Group

            That Councillor Jeffrey Tucker be elected to the office of Leader of the Council for the municipal years 2014/18.

Motion by the Conservative Group

That Councillor Roger Ramsey be elected to the officer of Leader of the Council for the municipal years 2014/18.

The Conservative Group motion was CARRIED  by 44 votes to 5 (see division 1) and it was RESOLVED:

            That Councillor Roger Ramsey be elected to the office of Leader of the Council for the municipal years 2014/18.

In accordance with the Local Government Act 2000, as amended, the Leader may appoint up to nine other Members of the Cabinet, one of whom must be appointed as Deputy Leader. The Council’s Constitution requires that the Leader must announce the names of the Deputy and other Cabinet Members at this meeting.

The Deputy Leader may be removed from office by the Leader at any time, and replaced. Notice of any such removal and replacement will be given to Council at its next convenient meeting after such an event.

The other Cabinet Members may be removed from office by the Leader at any time, and a replacement appointment may be made. Notice of any such removal and replacement will be given to Council at its next convenient meeting after such an event.  

– the following appointments were noted:

Deputy Leader of the Council – Councillor Damian White

Cabinet Members – Councillors Robert Benham, Wendy Brice-Thompson, Meg Davis, Osman Dervish, Damian White and Melvin Wallace

Statutory Lead Member for Children’s Services – Councillor Meg Davis

Chairman of Health and Wellbeing Board and Representative on East London Waste Authority – Councillor Steven Kelly

The Council noted that, in accordance with the Local Government Act 2000, as amended, the Leader was empowered to appoint up to nine other Members of the Cabinet, one of whom must be appointed as Deputy Leader. The Council’s Constitution required that the Leader announce the names of the Deputy and other Cabinet Members at this meeting.

            Accordingly, the Leader announced that Councillor Damian White would be Deputy Leader and that the Members of the Cabinet would be Councillors:

                                    Damian White

                                    Robert Benham

                                    Wendy Brice-Thompson

                                    Meg Davis (Statutory Lead Member for Children’s Services)

                                    Osman Dervish

                        Melvin Wallace

Councillor Steven Kelly would be Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Council’s representative on the East London Waste Authority.

The Council NOTED the appointments made by the Leader of the Council.

To consider the report of the Monitoring Officer (attached) about establishing Committees within the Council’s Constitution and about the political balance requirements and any other relevant issues, and then to establish:

(a)  The following statutory Committees:

(i)            Overview & Scrutiny Committees

(ii)          The Licensing Committee

(iii)         The Health and Wellbeing Board

(b)  Other, non-statutory Committees to deal with matters which are neither reserved to the Council nor are executive functions, as set out within the Council’s Constitution.

– Report approved, without division.

            There was before Council a report of the Monitoring Officer concerning the appointment of the Committees of the Council, and advising upon political balance issues.

            The report was AGREED without debate or division and it was RESOLVED:

            That:

(1)          The Committees listed in Appendix 1 be appointed for the 2014/15 Municipal Year.

            (2)       Those Committees be appointed with:

(a)  the membership sizes and

(b)  the political balance

indicated in Appendix 1

(3)       The voting co-optees, the two representing Church of England and Roman Catholic interests and the three governor co-optees selected in accordance with the appropriate Regulations, be appointed to the Children and Learning Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Council, having appointed Committees, to appoint their Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen.

It is customary for each Committee to have one Vice-Chairman, apart from the Adjudication & Review Committee (two Vice-Chairmen) and Licensing Committee (three Vice-Chairmen) both of which have more than one Vice-Chairman in order to facilitate the chairing of Initial Assessment Panels and Licensing Sub-Committees.

It is customary for Groups to put forward their preferred nomination by motion (or, once a motion has been proposed, by amendment) listing the offices sought and the name(s) of Members who are the candidates. At the meeting, the Council will consider nominations for the various appointments and the candidates obtaining most votes will be elected (see motions paper attached).

Procedural motion by all Groups that revised lists of nominations for agenda items 11 and 15 be submitted for consideration by Council – agreed without division.

The following appointments were agreed without division:

·         Adjudication and Review Committee – Chairman: Councillor Joshua Chapman, Vice-Chairmen: Councillors John Mylod and Roger Westwood

·         Audit Committee – Chairman: Councillor Frederick Thompson, Vice-Chairman: Councillor Ray Morgon

·         Governance Committee – Chairman: Councillor Michael White, Vice-Chairman: Councillor Clarence Barrett

·         Pensions Committee – Chairman: Councillor John Crowder, Vice-Chairman: Councillor David Johnson

·         Licensing Committee – Chairman: Councillor Linda Van den Hende, Vice-Chairmen: Councillors Garry Pain, Viddy Persaud and Keith Roberts

·         Regulatory Services Committee – Chairman: Councillor Robby Misir, Vice-Chairman: Councillor Ron Ower

·         Highways Advisory Committee – Chairman: Councillor Ian de Wulverton, Vice-Chairman: Councillor Ray Best

·         Children & Learning Overview & Scrutiny Committee – Chairman: Councillor Gillian Ford, Vice-Chairman: Councillor Jason Frost

·         Crime & Disorder Committee - Chairman: Councillor David Durant, Vice-Chairman: Councillor John Wood

·         Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Chairman: Councillor Ray Morgon, Vice-Chairman: Councillor Carol Smith

·         Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Chairman: Councillor Nic Dodin, Vice-Chairman: Councillor Dilip Patel

·         Individuals Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Chairman: Councillor June Alexander, Vice-Chairman: Councillor Philip Hyde

·         Towns and Communities Overview & Scrutiny Committee – Chairman: Councillor Lawrence Webb, Vice-Chairman: Councillor Linda Hawthorn

·         Value Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Chairman: Councillor Clarence Barrett, Vice-Chairman, Councillor Philippa Crowder

·         Appointments Sub-Committee – Chairman: Councillor Roger Ramsey, Vice-Chairman: Councillor Clarence Barrett

·         Rainham and South Hornchurch Working Party – Chairman: Councillor Graham Williamson

A. Motion on behalf of Conservative, Residents’ UKIP and Independent Residents’ Groups

          That the following Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen be appointed –

Sub-Committee of the Governance Committee:

Other Committee:

The motion was AGREED without division and it was accordingly RESOLVED:

That the following Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen be appointed:

Sub-Committee of the Governance Committee:

Other Committee:

Report attached.

– Report agreed, without division.

A report of the Group Director Resources asked Council to approve an interim arrangement for the allocation of Special Responsibility Allowances, should the total number of such allowances payable exceed the total of 27 previously agreed by Council. This interim arrangement would continue until such time as Council adjusted the budgetary position.

            The report was APPROVED without division and it was RESOLVED:

            That interim arrangements be made for all Special Responsibility Allowances to be allocated until the next meeting of Council where a report on SRAs will be submitted for consideration.

The Council has a legal obligation to appoint a monitoring officer (report attached).

– Report agreed, without division.

A report of the Chief Executive asked Council to authorise the appointment as Monitoring Officer of Helen Edwards, Director of Legal & Governance (OneSource) pending the appointment of a new Head of Legal Services.

            The report was APPROVED without division and it was RESOLVED:

            That the following individual be authorised to exercise the responsibilities of the statutory officer indicated:

            Monitoring Officer: Helen Edwards, Director Legal and Governance (oneSource) with immediate effect. 

To appoint Member Champions for the following roles:

(i)            The Armed Forces

(ii)          Equalities and Diversity

(iii)         The Historic Environment

(iv)         The Over Fifties

(v)          The Voluntary Sector

(vi)         Younger Persons

It is customary for Groups to put forward their preferred nominations by motion (or, once a motion has been proposed) by amendment, listing the offices sought and the name(s) of Members who are the candidates. At the meeting, the Council will consider nominations for the various appointments and the candidates obtaining most votes will be elected (see motions paper attached).

– The following appointments of Member Champions were agreed, without division:

• For the Armed Forces – Councillor John Crowder
• For Equalities and Diversity – Councillor Stephanie Nunn
• For the Historic Environment – Councillor Linda Hawthorn
• For the Over 50’s – Councillor Patricia Rumble
• For the Voluntary Sector – Councillor Viddy Persaud
• For Younger Persons – Councillor Joshua Chapman

A. Motion on behalf of the Conservative, Residents’ UKIP and Independent Residents’ Groups

That the following be appointed Champions as indicated:

For the Armed Forces – John Crowder

For Equalities and Diversity – Stephanie Nunn

For the Historic Environment – Linda Hawthorn           

For the Over 50’s – Patricia Rumble

For the Voluntary Sector Compact – Viddy Persaud

For Younger Persons – Joshua Chapman        

The motion was AGREED without division and it was accordingly RESOLVED:

That the following be appointed Member Champions as indicated:

            For the Armed Forces – John Crowder

For Equalities and Diversity – Stephanie Nunn

For the Historic Environment – Linda Hawthorn      

For the Over 50’s – Patricia Rumble

For the Voluntary Sector Compact – Viddy Persaud

For Younger Persons – Joshua Chapman

Council received a statement from the Leader of the Council – Councillor Roger Ramsey. Councillor Ramsey congratulated the Mayor on her appointment and felt that there was an opportunity to work with colleagues across the Council Chamber.

Councillor Ramsey felt that tough decisions would be needed over the next four years and he looked forward to engaging with all Groups in making these decisions.

The record of voting divisions is attached as appendix 2.