Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Town Hall

Contact: Anthony Clements  Email: anthony.clements@oneSource.co.uk

Items
No. Item

87.

PROCEDURAL MOTION

Minutes:

A procedural motion that motion 14D on an Article 4 Direction be heard as the first motion for debate was CARRIED by 50 votes to 0 (see division 1).

 

88.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 104 KB

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 25 February 2015 (attached).

 

Decision:

AGREED as a correct record without division.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 25 February 2015 were before the Council for approval.

                                   

It was AGREED, without division, that the minutes be signed as a correct record.

           

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 25 February 2015, be signed as a correct record.

 

89.

DISCLOSURE OF PECUNIARY INTERESTS

Members are invited to disclose any pecuniary interest in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting. 

 

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

 

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of interest.

 

90.

ANNOUNCEMENTS BY THE MAYOR, BY THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL OR BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

To receive announcements (if any).

Minutes:

The Mayor thanked Councillor Robert Benham for organising a successful fundraising evening for the Mayor’s charity. The Mayor also thanked Councillor Jeffrey Tucker for his donation to the auction at the civic dinner.

 

The Leader of the Council thanked Members for the mature and responsible way in which the budget process had been conducted. Recent capital investments had included revitalising public spaces in Rainham as well as an expansion and modernisation of the Royals Youth Centre. Both these works had been undertaken with support from the Veolia North Thames Trust. Work had also recently been undertaken to improve the smaller shopping centres across Havering and investment such as this would continue where possible.

 

91.

PETITIONS

Councillors Joshua Chapman, Keith Darvill and Michael Deon Burton have given notice of an intention to present a petition.

 

 

Minutes:

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

 

From Councillor Joshua Chapman concerning tarmacking in Repton Gardens.

From Councillor Keith Darvill concerning Homes of Multiple Occupation on the Harold Hill estate.

From Councillor Michael Deon Burton concerning the relocating of a bus stop in South End Road.

From Councillor Gillian Ford concerning opposition to the introduction of car parking charges in Avon Road, Cranham.

 

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

 

92.

HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT CAPITAL AND REVENUE BUDGET 2015-16 pdf icon PDF 192 KB

To consider a report of the Cabinet on Housing Revenue Account Capital and Revenue Budget 2015-16 (attached).

 

Note: The deadline for amendments is midnight, Monday 23 March 2015.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Report AGREED without division.

Minutes:

A report of the Cabinet invited Council to approve the proposed Housing Revenue Account Major Work Capital Programme 2015/16 – 2017/18, the budget for which had been agreed by Cabinet on 11 February 2015. This followed changes resulting from the introduction of the Self Financing system which allowed the planning of major works expenditure beyond one year at a time.

           

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

 

Council ratifies the HRA Major Works Capital Programme as set out in appendix 1 to these minutes. 

 

93.

REVISION TO THE PROCEDURE FOR THE NOMINATION AND APPOINTMENT OF HONORARY FREEMAN AND HONORARY ALDERMAN pdf icon PDF 153 KB

To consider a report of the Governance Committee on a Revision to the Procedure for the Nomination and Appointment of Honorary Freeman and Honorary Alderman (attached).

 

Note: The deadline for amendments is midnight, Monday 23 March 2015.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Report AGREED without division.

Minutes:

A report of the Governance Committee asked Council to agree a revised procedure for the appointment of Honorary Freemen and Honorary Aldermen for the London Borough of Havering. This procedure would arrange for proposed nominations to be discussed initially by Group Leaders and then considered by Governance Committee, prior to being voted on at full Council.

The recommendations of the Governance Committee were APPROVED without division and it was RESOLVED that:

 

1.             The protocol for the nomination and appointment of Honorary Freemen and Honorary Aldermen for the London Borough of Havering attached as Appendix 2 to these minutes be approved.

 

2.             That a common form for both Aldermen and Freemen be devised so that all applications could receive equal consideration.

 

3.             That the Council’s Monitoring Officer be authorised to make the necessary changes to the Council’s Constitution.

 

94.

LOCAL PENSIONS BOARD pdf icon PDF 216 KB

To consider a report of the Governance Committee on the Local Pension Board (attached).

 

Note: The deadline for amendments is midnight, Monday 23 March 2015.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Report AGREED without division.

Minutes:

            A report of the Governance Committee asked Council to agree arrangements for the establishment of a Local Pension Board as required by Regulation 106 of the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013. The Local Pension Board would be a free-standing Committee and would not be established under section 101 of the Local Government Act and hence the Member’s Code of Conduct would not apply to it. As required by Regulations, administration costs of the Board would be funded entirely by the Pension Fund itself.   

 

The recommendations of the Governance Committee were APPROVED without division and it was RESOLVED that:

 

1.            Additions to the Constitution be made as detailed below:

 

Changes to the Constitution: To establish this board in the Council’s Constitution are as follows

 

At Part 2 Appendix (Council Bodies) add a new paragraph

 

                        “Havering Local Pension Board

Membership: to be determined in accordance with the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 2013, not being a body constituted under section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972.”

 

At Part 3 Section 1.4 Statutory and non-statutory bodies

 

Add: Name – “Havering Local Pension Board”

 

Functions: “Assisting the scheme manager (i.e. the Council) in relation to the following matters.

(a)    securing compliance with the scheme regulations and other legislation relating to the governance and administration of the scheme and any statutory pension scheme that is connected with it;

(b)    securing compliance with requirements imposed in relation to the scheme and any connected scheme by the Pensions Regulator;

(c)    such other matters as the scheme regulations may specify.”

 

At Part 3, Section 3.7.7 Functions of the Director of Legal and Governance

 

Add paragraph (s) and make consequential amendments to the lettering of the succeeding paragraphs:

 

“To take any necessary action to address any conflicts of interest arising in the Havering Local Pension Board.”

 

2.            The attached documents as detailed in appendices 3-5 of the minutes be adopted:

-               Terms of Reference for the Local Pension Board

-               Code of Conduct for members of the Local Pension Board

-               Conflict of Interest Policy for members of the Local Pension Board

 

3.            The power to make any further amendments to the Constitution (including oneSource delegations) as may be necessary and to revise the Terms of Reference, Code of Conduct and Conflicts of Interest policy be delegated to the Monitoring Officer, after consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Value.

 

95.

THE COUNCIL'S PAY POLICY 2015/16 pdf icon PDF 83 KB

To receive a report of the Chief Executive on the Council’s Pay Policy 2015/16 (attached).

 

Note: The deadline for amendments is midnight, Monday 23 March 2015.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Report AGREED without division.

Minutes:

A report of the Chief Executive asked Council to agree the Council’s Pay Policy 2015/16 as required under the Localism Act 2011. This showed the remuneration of the Council’s chief officers and of its lowest-paid employees as well as the relationship between the remuneration of its Chief Officers and its other employees.

 

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

 

The Pay Policy Statement, 2015/16, as shown in appendix 6 to these minutes, be approved.

 

 

96.

RESIGNATION OF THE MEMBER CHAMPION FOR THE OVER FIFTIES pdf icon PDF 17 KB

To consider a report of the Chief Executive on the resignation of the Member Champion for the Over Fifties (attached).

 

Note: The deadline for amendments is midnight, Monday 23 March 2015.

Decision:

Councillor Van den Hende ELECTED as Member Champion for the Over 50s by 30 votes to 19.

Minutes:

Following the resignation of Councillor Patricia Rumble as Member Champion for the Over 50s, a report of the Governance Committee invited nominations for a new Member Champion. Councillors John Mylod and Linda Van den Hende were nominated for the position and voting for the position of Member Champion for the Over 50s was as follows (see division 2). 

 

Councillor John Mylod – 20 votes

Councillors Linda Van den Hende – 30 votes

 

It was accordingly RESOLVED that:

 

 

Councillor Linda Van den Hende be elected as the Member Champion for the Over 50s.

 

 

97.

SCHEDULE OF COUNCIL MEETINGS 2015/16 pdf icon PDF 81 KB

To consider a report of the Chief Executive on the Schedule of Council Meetings 2015/16 (attached).

 

Note: The deadline for amendments is midnight, Monday 23 March 2015.

Decision:

Report AGREED without division.

Minutes:

A report of the Chief Executive asked Council to agree the dates of meetings of full Council for the municipal year 201516 and provisionally for the remainder of 2016.

                       

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

 

The following future dates for Council meetings be agreed:

 

2015

10 June

15 July

16 September

25 November

 

2016

27 January

24 February (Council Tax Setting)

23 March

18 May (Annual Meeting)

13 July (provisional)

14 September (provisional)

23 November (provisional)

 

98.

MEMBERS' QUESTIONS pdf icon PDF 242 KB

Attached.

Additional documents:

Decision:

11 questions replied to.

Minutes:

Eleven questions were asked and replies given.

           

The text of the questions, and their answers, are set out in Appendix 7 to these minutes.

 

99.

ARTICLE 4 DIRECTION (agenda item 14D) pdf icon PDF 208 KB

Attached.

 

 

Decision:

A.   PROPOSALS FOR DUNTON GARDEN SUBURB AND A127 ENTERPRISE PARK – Motion by the Conservative Group CARRIED without division.

B.   EXTENSION OF CCTV NETWORK TO RAINHAM – Amendment by the Conservative Group CARRIED by 38 votes to 8 and CARRIED as substantive motion without division.

C.   TAX AVOIDANCE – Motion by the United Kingdom Independence Party Group NOT CARRIED by 36 votes to 12.

D.   ARTICLE 4 DIRECTION – Amendment by the East Havering Residents’ Group CARRIED without division. 

E.   UKRAINE CRISIS – Motion by the Independent Residents’ Group NOT CARRIED by 38 votes to 5.

 

Minutes:

Motion on behalf of the United Kingdom Independence Party Group

 

Recent months have seen a proliferation of properties being converted to HMOs (bedsits) in various places across the borough, most notably in Harold Hill. Where the property does not exceed two storeys, no prior planning application has to be made. This has led to an increase in noise, parking conflicts and a general increase in tension within the community.

This Council therefore agrees to introduce an Article 4 Direction for Harold Hill to remove permitted development rights in respect of the Harold Hill area so that planning permission is required for all developments, regardless of height.

Amendment on behalf of the East Havering Residents’ Group

 

This Council requests Cabinet to consider an Article 4 Direction under the Town & Country Planning Act dealing with the change of use of a building from a dwelling house to a house of multiple occupation in respect of all or defined parts of the borough.

          (Note: An amendment on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group was withdrawn prior to the start of the debate).

 

Following debate, the East Havering Residents’ Group motion with a slight amendment agreed by that Group, was CARRIED without division.

 

RESOLVED:

 

This Council requests Cabinet to consider as a matter of urgency an Article 4 Direction under the Town & Country Planning Act dealing with the change of use of a building from a dwelling house to a house of multiple occupation in respect of Harold Hill or any other appropriate area.

 

100.

PROPOSALS FOR DUNTON GARDEN SUBURB AND A127 ENTERPRISE PARK

Minutes:

 

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group

 

This Council expresses its serious concern as to the proposals for the Dunton Garden Suburb and for the Enterprise Park on the A127 contained in the Draft Brentwood Local Development Plan because of their impact on the Green Belt and on the A127 and other infrastructure within Havering especially the traffics lights at Ardleigh Green and the Gallows Corner junction.

 

Following debate, the motion by the Conservative Group was CARRIED without division.

 

 

RESOLVED:

This Council expresses its serious concern as to the proposals for the Dunton Garden Suburb and for the Enterprise Park on the A127 contained in the Draft Brentwood Local Development Plan because of their impact on the Green Belt and on the A127 and other infrastructure within Havering especially the traffics lights at Ardleigh Green and the Gallows Corner junction.

 

101.

EXTENSION OF CCTV NETWORK TO RAINHAM (agenda item 14B)

Minutes:

Motion on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group

 

 

Following continued improvements to the CCTV network which were highlighted by Administration members in the Romford Recorder this Council agrees to extend the CCTV network to Rainham Village to complement local policing and ensure Rainham is treated equally to other areas within Havering.

 

Amendment on behalf of the Conservative Group

 

Following continued improvements to the CCTV network which were highlighted by Administration members in the Romford Recorder this Council agrees to extend the CCTV network to other areas within Havering when the Council is in a financial position to do so.

 

Following debate, the amendment by the Conservative Group was CARRIED by 38 votes to 8 (see division 3) and CARRIED as the substantive motion without division.

RESOLVED:

Following continued improvements to the CCTV network which were highlighted by Administration members in the Romford Recorder this Council agrees to extend the CCTV network to other areas within Havering when the Council is in a financial position to do so.

 

102.

TAX AVOIDANCE (agenda item 14C)

Minutes:

Motion on behalf of the United Kingdom Independence Party Group

 

It is estimated that corporate tax avoidance in the UK costs the treasury about £5.5 billion each year.

Given that services to the residents of Havering are having to be scaled back because of a reduction in Central Government funding, this Council agrees that it will only contract or do business with those companies that pay their fair amount of UK tax as determined by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.

 

          The motion by the United Kingdom Independence Party Group was NOT CARRIED by 36 votes to 12 (see division 4).

 

103.

UKRAINE CRISIS (agenda item 14E)

Minutes:

Motion on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group

 

In the interests of the wellbeing of the residents of Havering, this Council calls on our local members of Parliament to make representations to Government to seek an end to US/EU sanctions against Russia and military involvement in the Ukraine that threatens world peace, the welfare of our military and civilian residents and the UK economic recovery resulting in further deep cuts to our local government funding, in favour of a diplomatic and peaceful resolution to the Ukrainian crisis.      

         

          The motion by the Independent Residents’ Group was NOT CARRIED by 39 votes to 5 (see division 5).            

 

104.

VOTING RECORD pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Minutes: