Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Received from Councillors Eagling, Mylod and Roberts.

Apoogies for absence were received from Councillors Brian Eagling, John Mylod and Keith Roberts.

To sign as a true record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22 February 2017 (attached).

Minutes AGREED as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22 February 2017 were before the Council for approval.

It was AGREED that the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 22 February 2017 be signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 22 February 2017 be signed as a correct record.

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

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

None.

There were no disclosures of pecuniary or personal interests.

To receive announcements (if any).

The Mayor passed on condolences to Father Hingley following the recent death of his mother. The Mayor also announced that Father Hingley would now be the Mayor’s official Chaplain. The Mayor also reminded Members of several functins relating to her charity fundraising. These included a borough history tour on 7 Aptil, charity golf day on 28 April, the Civic service on 30 April and the Mayor’s call on 6 May.

The text of the announcements made by the Leader of the Council is attached as appendix 1 to these minutes.

Councillor Tucker and Smith have given notice of an intention to present a petition.

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

Petitions presented by Councillors Smith and Tucker.

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

From Councillor Tucker concerning opposition to a proposed housing development on the old Rainham Library site.

From Councillor Smith concerning a request for removal of a telecomminications pole and associated boxes from a site in Hornchurch Road.

Note: the deadline for amendment to all reports published with the Council agenda is midnight, Monday, 20 March 2017.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive on the Pay Policy statement 2017/18 (attached).  

Report AGREED without division.

A report of the Chief Executive asked Council to agree the Pay Policy Stastement 2017/18. The Council was required by law to publish such a statement setting out the remuneration of its chief offices and lowest paid employees as well as the relationship between the remuneation of its Chief Officers and its other employees.

The report was AGREED without division and it was RESOLVED:

That the Pay Policy Statement 2017/18 (attached as appendix 2 to these minutes) be approved.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive on the dates of Council meetings 2017/18 (attached).

Report AGREED without division.

A report of the Chief Executive asked Council to agree the dates of future Council meetings for the next municipal year and on a provisional basis for the remainder of 2018.

The report was AGREED without division and it was RESOLVED:

That the Council fixes the dates of its meetings for the Municipal Year 2017/18 and, on a provisional basis, the balance of 2018, as follows:

Attached.

15 questions replied to.

Fifteen questions were asked and replies given. The text of the questions, together with their answers, is shown as appendix 3 to these minutes.

Motions paper attached.

Procedural motion by the Conservative Group that all motions be dealt with under the intermediate debate procedure AGREED without division.

A.   PLANNING ENFORCEMENT ISSUE

Amendment by Conservative Group CARRIED by 31 votes to 15 and AGREED as substantive motion by 31 votes to 16.

B.   SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAMS AND NEW POLOCING MODEL

Amendment by Conservative Group CARRIED by 30 votes to 14; amendment by Labour Group NOT CARRIED by  35 votes to 12; amendment by Conservative Group AGREED as substantive motion by  40 votes to 9.

C.   GRAMMAR SCHOOLS

Motion withdrawn and resubmitted to next Council meeting.

A procedural motion by the Conservative Group that all motions be dealt with under the intermediate debate procedure was AGREED without division.

A PLANNING ENFORCEMENT ISSUE

Motion on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group

As Members recall a motion before council regarding 2 metre high front walls was referred to the Towns and Communities O&S sub-committee for further consideration and they in turn deferred the matter until the planning department had received legal advice on the legality of the walls.

Planning concluded that part of the wall nearest the house was permitted development and the bit nearest the highway was unlawful. Planning then asked the owner on threat of enforcement action to lower the wall nearest the highway and they responded by submitting a Certificate of Lawfulness saying the entire walls were lawful. This was refused by planning and the owner appealed and the Government Inspector dismissed the appeal without qualification ruling the walls unlawful. (Planning Inspectorate APP/B5480/X/16/3152643)

But in response planning officers are once again intending to ask the owner to lower part of the wall nearest the highway or face enforcement. This is not good enough. Planning should enforce against the entire single structure walls and tell the owner to lower the entire walls or remove them completely. This is necessary in the public interest because the walls are anti-social and need to be deterred and because this is fair not punitive enforcement considering the Government Inspector ruled the entire walls unlawful.

Thus Council calls on officers to consider enforcing against the entire walls, but allowing the owner the option of lowering their entire height to avoid having to remove them completely.

Amendment by the Conservative Group

This Council requests the Town and Communities O & S sub committee to review again the case involving 2 metre high front walls referred to it on 25 November 2015 in the light of the subsequent appeal decision (Planning Inspectorate APP/B5480/X/16/3152643) and updated legal advice received.

The motion on behalf of the Conservative Group was CARRIED by 31 votes to 15 (see division 1) and AGREED as the substantive motion by 31 votes to 16 (see division 2).

RESOLVED:

This Council requests the Town and Communities O & S sub committee to review again the case involving 2 metre high front walls referred to it on 25 November 2015 in the light of the subsequent appeal decision (Planning Inspectorate APP/B5480/X/16/3152643) and updated legal advice received.

B SAFER NEIGHBOURHOOD TEAMS AND NEW POLICING MODEL

Motion on behalf of the Independent Residents’ Group

The Council Leader volunteered Havering to pioneer a Tri-borough police merger with Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham, rather than await the outcome of a reorganisation elsewhere in London. The reorganisation like the Newham merger, will be difficult to reverse even if further mergers are not progressed across London. The Council Leader says being a pioneer has advantages because the reorganisation includes strengthened Safer Neighbourhood Teams with designated ward officers!

Nevertheless Council calls on the Executive not to support the Tri-borough without guarantees that SNT designated ward officers won’t be re-designated response officers and sent to police events outside the borough.

Amendment by the Conservative Group

Amend to read:

This Council thanks the Borough Commander for the thorough and informative briefing to members of the Council given on the 20^th February about the Tri-borough policing pilot involving Havering Redbridge and Barking and Dagenham and his offer of a follow up session before the pilot concludes and notes that:

• it is one of two pilot schemes for a programme to be rolled out across the whole of Greater London
• the Metropolitan Police identified our three boroughs for one of the pilots
• it Is reversible
• it gives the opportunity to focus on the policing needs of the Borough
• it provides the ability to influence the eventual shape of the London-wide scheme.

Amendment by the Labour Group

Delete the motion and replace with the following:

This Council welcomes the Metropolitan Police Service initiative promoting cross Borough cooperation recognising the benefits to London wide policing to reduce and prevent fraud, cyber crime and terrorism. It also welcomes the commitment of the Mayor and the MPS to real neighbourhood policing with stronger Safer Neighbourhood Teams which should remain a top priority in Havering.

The amendment on behalf of the Conservative Group was CARRIED by 30 votes to 14 (see division 3); the amendment on behalf of the Labour Group was NOT CARRIED by 35 votes to 12 (see division 4); the amendment on behalf of the Conservative Group was AGREED as the substantive motion by 40 votes to 9 (see division 5).

Motion on behalf of the Labour Group

This Council opposes the introduction of Grammar Schools in the London Borough of Havering.

Amendment by the Conservative Group

Amend to read:

This Council takes pride in the achievements of all its children and young people through the provision of good quality education available to all students and we await further detail about any national scheme for the establishment of new Grammar Schools before taking a considered view on the matter.

This motion was withdrawn by the Labour Group and resubmitted to the next meeting of Council at which motions will be debated.

The record of voting decisions is attached as appendix 4 to these minutes.