Apologies have been received from Councillors Mandy Anderson and Katharine Tumilty.

To receive any other apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillords Mandy Anderson, Osman Dervish, Sarah Edwards, Barry Mugglestone, Katharine Tumilty and Chrsitine Vickery.

Councillor Damian White was absent from the meeting.

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 26 February 2025 (attached).

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 26 February 2025 were agreed 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.

There were no disclosures of interest.

The award of Freedom of the Borough will be presented to Mr Ken Hay MBE.

Tributes will be paid to former Councillor John Mylod who sadly passed away recently.

To receive any other announcements.

The Mayor presented Ken Hay MBE, a D-Day veteran with the award of Freedom of the Borough. The presentation was greeted with warm applause on all sides of the Chamber.

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

The Mayor congratulated his Official Chaplain on his recent appointment as a Canon.

The Chief Executive advised Council that a report on the agenda concerning the Council’s Pay Policy was required under the Localism Act 2011. The report did not however agree any specific pay awards which were decided nationally. The Chief Executive would not be accepting this year’s pay increase. The Chief Executive acknowledged that some grades offered in Havering were lower than the equivalent jobs in other London Councils. It was therefore important that Havering grades were competitive in order to recruit the best people.

Notice of intention to present a petition has been received from Councillors Judith Holt and Bryan Vincent.

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

The following petitions were received:

From Councillor Judith Holt concerning a request for double yellow lines in Regarth Avenue Romford at the junction with South Street.

From Councillor Bryan Vincent re noise issues emanating from a building in Fentiman Way, Hornchurch.

NOTE: The deadline for amendments is midnight, Monday 24 March 2025

A.             To consider a report of the Chief Executive on the Council’s Pay Policy 2025/26 (attached);

B.             To consider a report of the Chief Executive on Dates of Council Meetings 2025/26 (attached);

C.            To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer on Amendments to the Constitution (attached).

D.            To consider any other report or motion presented pursuant to Council Procedure Rule 2(h)

THE COUNCIL’S PAY POLICY 2025/26

As required under the Localism Act 2011, a report sought the approval by Council of the Pay Policy Statement 2025/26. The Pay Policy set out:

·       The remuneration of its Chief Officers

·       The remuneration of its lowest-paid employees

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

The report was AGREED by 43 votes to 3 with 2 abstentions (see division 1) and it was RESOLVED:

That the Pay Policy Statement 2025/26 be approved.

DATES OF COUNCIL MEETINGS 2025/26

A report of the Chief Executive asked Council to agree the dates of its meetings for the forthcoming municipal year.

The report was AGREED without division and it was RESOLVED:

1. That the Council fixes the date of its meetings for the Municipal Year 2025/26 as shown in the report.
2. That changes to the date of meetings of Council be determined by the Mayor, following consultation with Group Leaders.

AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

A report of the Monitoring Officer asked Council to agree a number of changes to the sections of the Constitution that had previously been approved by the Constitution Working Party and Governance Committee.

The report was AGREED without division and it was RESOLVED:

1.             That the revised Parts 1-3 of the Constitution, as attached to the report to Council, be approved.

2.             That the existing Parts 1-3 of the Constitution shall be replaced in their entirety. 

Attached.

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

Attached.

HAVERING VOLUNTEER CENTRE

Motion on behalf of the Labour Group

This Council recognising the importance of volunteers in supporting local people and organisations calls on the Administration to evaluate its arrangements and policies supporting the Havering Volunteer Centre, including the engagement with partners to examine potential new sources of finance and collaboration and to bring forward a plan to ensure maintenance of a strong volunteer force for the collective benefit of all Havering Residents.

(Received 10/3/25, 2236).

(No amendments received).

Following debate, the motion on behalf of the Labour Group was AGREED unanimously by 48 votes to 0 (see division 2) and it was RESOLVED:

This Council recognising the importance of volunteers in supporting local people and organisations calls on the Administration to evaluate its arrangements and policies supporting the Havering Volunteer Centre, including the engagement with partners to examine potential new sources of finance and collaboration and to bring forward a plan to ensure maintenance of a strong volunteer force for the collective benefit of all Havering Residents.

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