Reverend Ken Wylie, of St Andrew’s Church, Hornchurch opened the meeting with prayers.

Received from Councillors Jason Frost, Michael White, Julie Wilkes, Jacqueline Williams and Darren Wise.

To receive any other apologies for absence.

Receievd from the Mayor (Councillor Gerry O’Sullivan) and from Councillors Frost, Wilkes, Williams, Ruck, Walker, Wise, Benham, Taylor and D White

Apologies were received from the Mayor (Councillor Gerry O’Sullivan) and from Councillors Robert Benham, Jason Frost, Philip Ruck, David Taylor, Julie Wilkes, Jacqueline Williams, Frankie Walker, Darren Wise and Damian White

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Extraordinary and Annual Meetings of the Council held on 22 May 2024 (attached).

Agreed as a correct record.

The minutes of the Extraordinary and Annual Meetings of the Council held on 22^nd May 2024 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.

None

There were no disclosures of interest.

To receive announcements (if any).

The Deputy-Mayor did not make any announcements.

The Leader of the Council welcomed Councillor Michael White back to the Chamber.

The Chief Executive announced that the Improvement and Transformation Plan Report had been presented to the Overview & Scrutiny Board meeting the previous night and a recommendation had been made. It was announced the Chief Executive has delegated powers to make the changes to the report.

Notice of intention to present a petition has been received from Councillor Julie Wilkes (Councillor Stephanie Nunn to present the petition on behalf of Councillor Wilkes) and from Councillor Dilip Patel (two petitions).

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

Received from Councillor Stephanie Nunn re the closure of Elm Park Library and two from Councillor Dilip Patel re closure of Collier Row Library from Parklands School and Crownfield School.

The following petitions were received:

From Councillor Stephanie Nunn re the closure of Elm Park Library.

Two petitions from Councillor Dilip Patel re the closure of Collier Row Library from Parklands School and Crownfield School.

To elect the Chairman of the Licensing Committee, Vice-Chair of the Licensing Committee and Vice-Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

Chairman of Licensing Committee:

Nomination by the Havering Residents’ Association Group – Councillor Philippa Crowder.

Nomination by the Labour Group – Councillor Jane Keane.

Vice-Chair of Licensing Committee:

Nomination by Havering Residents’ Association Group – Councillor Christine Smith

Nomination by Labour Group – Councillor Jane Keane (unless elected as Chairman).

Vice-Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Board:

Nomination by Havering Residents’ Association Group – Councillor Julie Wilkes

Nomination by Labour Group – Councillor Matthew Stanton

Councillor Philippa Crowder ELECTED as Chairman of the Licensing Committee by 23 votes to 9 with 5 abstentions.

Councillor Christine Smith elected as Vice-Chair of the Licensing Committee.

Councillor Julie Wilkes ELECTED as Vice-Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Board by 22 votes to 10 with 3 abstentions.

Councillor Philippa Crowder was ELECTED as Chairman of the Licensing Committee by 23 votes to 9 votes for Councillor Jane Keane with 13 abstentions (see division 1).

As Councillor Jane Keane was referred to in error on the nomination paper, Councillor Christine Smith was ELECTED as Vice-Chair of the Licensing Committee (Councillor Keane would also continue in this role).

Councillor Julie Wilkes was ELECTED as Vice-Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Board by 23 votes to 9 votes for Councillor Matthew Stanton with 13 abstentions (see division 2).

NOTE: The deadline for amendments to all reports published in the final agenda is midnight, Monday 22 July 2024

Report of Cabinet on the London Borough of Havering OFSTED Improvement Plan (attached, subject to approval by Cabinet);

Report AGREED without division.

The OFSTED Improvement Plan Report was AGREED without division.

Report attached, subject to approval by Cabinet.

Report AGREED without division.

The Improvement and Transformation Plan Report was AGREED without division.

Report attached, subject to approval by Cabinet.

Report AGREED without division.

The New Productivity Plan Report was AGREED without division.

Report to follow.

Amendment on behalf of Labour group NOT AGREED by 35 votes to 8 with 2 abstentions.

Substantive motion in wording of the Administration AGREED without a division.

Deemed motion by the Administration

That the report be adopted and its recommendations carried into effect.

Amendment by the Labour Group

That the Political balance table in the report be amended as shown on the table attached to the motion paper.

Following debate, the amendment on behalf of Labour group was NOT AGREED by 35 votes to 8 with 2 abstentions (see division 3) and the substantive motion in the wording of the Administration deemed motion was AGREED without a division.

RESOLVED:

That the report be adopted and its recommendations carried into effect.

Report of Chief Executive attached.

Report agreed to be withdrawn without division.

The report on the Resolution to Extend the Six Month Rule Attendance Rule was witthdrawn with the agreement of Council.

Report of Monitoring Officer attached.

Report AGREED without division.

The Flag Flying Policy and Social Media Protocol Report was AGREED without division.

Report of Chief Executive attached.

Report AGREED without division.

The Exceptions to the Call-In (Requisition) Procedure Report was AGREED without division.

Reports attached:

-       Audit Committee

-       Pensions Committee

-       Overview and Scrutiny Board

-       People Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee

-       Corporate Parenting Panel

-       Places Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee

-       Member Champion for Equalities and Diversity

Additional reports to be given verbally at meeting.

Received.

The following annual reports were received by Council:

Audit Committee

Pensions Committee

Overview and Scrutiny Board

People Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee

Places Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee

Member Champion for the Equality and Diversity

The remaining Member Champion reports would be presented to Council at a future meeting.

Attached.

15 questions asked and responded to.

Fifteem 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.

Further amendments may follow.

A.    PAIRING SYSTEM FOR MEMBERS

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group NOT AGREED by 30 votes to 14 with no abstentions.

B.    LIBRARY SERVICES

Motion by the Conservative group agreed to be withdrawn without division.

C.   FULL COUNCIL – FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group NOT AGREED by 30 votes to 14 with no abstentions.

D.   CHARTER AGAINST MODERN SLAVERY

Amendment on behalf of Havering Residents Association Group AGREED by 22 votes to 21 with 1 abstention and AGREED as substantive motion without division.

A.    PAIRING SYSTEM FOR MEMBERS

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group

This council agrees to implement a pairing system for members, to ensure that serious illness does not impact the political balance of the Chamber. 

(No amendments received).

Following debate, the motion on behalf of the Conservative Group was NOT AGREED by 30 votes to 14 with 1 abstentions (see division 4).

B.    LIBRARY SERVICES

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group

Council calls upon Cabinet to maintain the operation of all local libraries, acknowledging the critical social impact of their potential closure, and to encourage the use of financial reserves to ensure their continued funding.

Amendment on behalf of the Labour Group

Council calls upon Cabinet to maintain the operation of all local libraries, acknowledging the critical social impact of their potential closure, and to encourage regeneration of the library sites to facilitate wider community use.

Amendment on behalf of the Havering Residents’ Association Group

Please note that the amendment on behalf of the Havering Residents Association Group had previously been transcribed incorrectly and should have read as shown:

To maintain the operation of all local libraries, acknowledging the social impact of their potential closure, The Council encourages the new Government to review Havering’s underfunding urgently, as it is not prudent or sustainable to use financial reserves to ensure their continued operation.

The motion was withdrawn by the Conservative group.

C.   FULL COUNCIL – FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group

Council agrees to amend the Constitution to allow for 2 follow-up questions during full council meetings.

(No amendments received).

Following debate, the motion on behalf of the Conservative Group NOT AGREED by 30 votes to 14 with 1 abstention (see division 5).

D.   CHARTER AGAINST MODERN SLAVERY

Motion on behalf of the Labour Group

This Council adopts the Co-operative Party’s Charter Against Modern Slavery as shown on the attached.

Amendment on behalf of the Havering Residents’ Association Group

This Council confirms the Council’s Modern Slavery Transparency Statement for 2023/24 incorporates all applicable principles of the Co-operative Party’s Charter Against Modern Slavery as shown on the attached.

Amendment on behalf of the Conservative Group

This Council adopts the Co-operative Party’s Charter Against Modern Slavery as shown on the attached. Havering council will join the Salvation Army in marking Anti-Slavery Day on 18th October.

Following debate, the amendment on behalf of Havering Residents Association Group AGREED by 22 votes to 21 with 2 abstentions (see division 6) and AGREED as the substantive motion without division.

RESOLVED:

This Council confirms the Council’s Modern Slavery Transparency Statement for 2023/24 incorporates all applicable principles of the Co-operative Party’s Charter Against Modern Slavery as shown on the attached.

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