To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Received from Councillors Mandy Anderson, Stephanie Nunn, Tim Ryan, Michael White and Reg Whitney.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mandy Anderson, Stephanie Nunn, Tim Ryan, Michael White and Reg Whitney.

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 22 November 2023 (attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 November 2023 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

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 interest.

To receive announcements (if any).

A minute’s silence was held in memory of former Councillor Frederick Thompson who had sadly passed away recently. Tributes were paid to former Councillor Thompson from all sides of the Chamber.

The Deputy Mayor asked Members to support Havering’s bid to be named London Borough of Culture. Council passed on its best wishes to the Mayor whose daughter had recently given birth to a baby girl and to Councillor Michael White was undergoing medical treatment.

The Chief Executive reported that an additional Council meeting had been arranged for Wednesday 6 March as the decision regarding the Council’s application for a capitalisation order may not be confirmed by central Government by the time of the scheduled Council Tax setting meeting on 28 February. It was noted that, should the decision be received earlier, the 6 March meeting could be cancelled or be formally opened and then closed again.

Notice of intention to present a petition has been received from Councillors Keith Darvill, James Glass, Jane Keane and Brian Eagling.

To receive any petition presented pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 14.

Received from Councillor Katharine Tumilty re asbestos from work in the Tring Gardens area; from Councillor James Glass re crime issues in Hayburn Way; from Councillor Jane Keane re assistance for shopping parades in the St Albans ward and from Councillor Brian Eagling against parking charges in parks.

The following petitions were received:

From Councillor Katharine Tumilty re asbestos from work in the Tring Gardens area.

From Councillor James Glass re crime issues in Hayburn Way.

From Councillor Jane Keane re assistance for shopping parades in the St Albans ward.

From Councillor Brian Eagling against parking charges in parks.

NOTE: The deadline for amendments and questions on reports is

midnight, Monday  15 January 2024.

A.       To consider the report of the Governance Committee on Appointments to Outside Organisations 2023/24 (attaced);

Report AGREED without division.

A report of Governance Committee asked Members to agree and note, as appropriate, some proposed appointments to outside organisations.

The report was AGREED without division and it was RESOLVED:

1.    That Councillor Jacqueline Williams be appointed to the Poyntz Charity Trust and the vacancy arising from Mr Ron Ower’s resignation from the charity be noted.

2.    That the current situation in regard to the Lucas Play Charitable Trust, as detailed in the report, be noted.

3.    That Councillor Paul Middleton be appointed to the Havering Theatre Trust Board in place of Mr Melvin Wallace.

4.    That it be noted that Councillor Darvill had replaced Councillor McGeary as the Council’s representative on Capital Letters.

5.    That the additional information on the election of Governors to the North East London NHS Foundation Trust, as presented in the report, be noted.

Attached.

13 questions asked and responded to.

Thirteen questions were asked and responded to at the meeting. A summary, including of the supplementary questions and answers given, is attached as appendix 1 to these minutes.

Attached.

A.    HOME TO SCHOOL TRANSPORT

Altered amendment by Administration accepted for debate by 25 votes to 19 with 4 amendments; withdrawal of Labour Group amendment accepted by 30 votes to 19 with 0 abstentions; amendment by Administration AGREED by 29 votes to 19 with 1 abstention and AGREED as substantive motion without division.

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group

This Council calls on the Cabinet not to proceed with the proposed cuts and changes in service, proposed in the Home to School Transport consultation.

It further recognises that such cuts would have a detrimental impact on both children and parents, causing them increased stress and anxiety.

Amendment on behalf of the Havering Residents Association Group

This Council calls on the Cabinet to proceed with the proposed changes in service by adding to existing options presently available to children and parents to give greater choice and flexibility as proposed in the Home to School Transport consultation, always ensuring to minimise the impact on children, parents and carers.

Amendment on behalf of the Labour Group

This Council calls on the Cabinet to review the proposed changes in services set out in the Home to School Transport Consultation, subject to scrutiny and any recommendations by the People's Overview & Scrutiny Sub-Committee, thereby expanding the existing options presently available to children and parents to create greater choice and flexibility as proposed in the Consultation, whilst always ensuring to minimise any negative impact on children, parents, and carers.

A proposal was put forward by the Havering Residents Association Group that the motion on behalf of this Group be altered to read as follows:

This Council recognises the financial challenges that it is currently facing in order to produce a balanced budget (which it must do by law) and further recognises that the Council is required to make difficult operational choices. This Council therefore calls on the Cabinet not to proceed with changes to service delivery, (including Home to School Transport) without having carried out proper consultation and scrutiny.

The Council further recognises that the current budgetary constraints have the potential to have a detrimental impact residents of the Borough, but recognises that Cabinet is seeking to promote a budget that minimises the same.

A point of order by the Conservative Group that this alteration was not valid was disallowed. The Monitoring Officer did however apologise for any confusion caused by the allowing of the original amendment and undertook to review timescales etc to ensure this would not reoccur in future.

The altered amendment by the Havering Residents Association Group was accepted for debate by 26 votes to 19 with 4 amendments (see division 1). The withdrawal of the Labour Group amendment was accepted by 30 votes to 19 with 0 abstentions (see division 2).

Following debate, the altered amendment by the Havering Residents Association Group was AGREED by 29 votes to 19 with 1 abstention (see division 3) and AGREED as the substantive motion without division.

RESOLVED:

This Council recognises the financial challenges that it is currently facing in order to produce a balanced budget (which it must do by law) and further recognises that the Council is required to make difficult operational choices. This Council therefore calls on the Cabinet not to proceed with changes to service delivery, (including Home to School Transport) without having carried out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

The record of voting decisions is attached as appendix 2 to these minutes.