Apologies have been received from Councillors Jacqueline Williams and Darren Wise.

To receive any other apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Robert Benham, John Crowder, Philippa Crowder, Robby Misir, Philip Ruck, Katharine Tumilty, Jacqueline Williams, Darren Wise and John Wood.

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 20 November 2024 and of the Extraordinary meeting held on 4 December 2024 (attached).

The minutes of the meeting of Council on 20 November 2024 and of the Extraordinary meeting on 4 December 2024 were as 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.

To receive announcements.

Note: The award of Freedom of the Borough is due to be presented to Mr Ken Hay.

The Mayor advised that Mr Ken Hay was unfortunately unwell but hoped to be present later in the year to receive his Freedom of the Borough award.

The Mayor advised Council of his planned Civic Dinner on 31 January.

Notice of intention to present a petition has been received from Councillors Philippa Crowder, Stephanie Nunn, Barry Mugglestone and Judith Holt.

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

The following petitions were received:

From Councillor Christine Smith, on behalf of Councillor Philippa Crowder concerning the condition of pavements in Links Avenue and Hockley Drive.

From Councillor Stephanie Nunn re a request for traffic calming measures in Airfield Way.

From Councillor Barry Mugglestone objecting to a planning application in Diban Avenue.

From Councillor Judith Holt re a request for further road safety measures near Hylands Primary School, Globe Road.

NOTE: The deadline for amendments is midnight, Monday 13 January 2025.

A.       To consider the report of the Chief Executive on Overview and Scrutiny Rules – Exception to the Call-In (Requisition) Procedure (attached):

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

Overview and Scrutiny Rules – Execeptions to the Call-in (Requisition) Procedure

As required under the Constitution, a report of the Chief Executive gave details of recent Key decisions for which exemptions from call-in had been granted and the reasons for doing so. 

The report was AGREED without division and it was RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

Resolution to Extend the Six Month Attendance Rule

A report of the Chief Executive asked Council to extend the Six Month Attendance Rule for Councillor Katharine Tumilty who, due to ill health, had been unable to attend meetings in recent months.

The report was AGREED without division and it was RESOLVED:

That Councillor Katharine Tumilty’s non-attendance at meetings be approved and that she be deemed to be exempted from the requirements of Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 and, accordingly, shall continue to be a Member of the Council.

To receive the Annual Report of the Member Champion for Young People (report and question on report on behalf of Conservative Group attached).

The report of the Member Champion for Young People was before Council.

The following question on the report was submitted by the Conservative Group:

Following the recommendation that Council have a dedicated session to allow Havering's youth to ask questions of Cabinet, would the Member Champion agree that it would be beneficial to also have similar sessions in the overview and scrutiny sub-committees, providing our youth the chance to provide feedback to the committees on various reports?

In response, the Member Champion stated that she supported this proposal, provided appropriate safeguarding procedures were in place. She felt that any such meeting should be of value and that the progress of any recommendations made by young people should be followed.

Attached.

Fourteen 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.

A. REFUGE ACCOMMODATION (motion resubmitted from November Council meeting)

Motion on behalf of the Labour Group

This Council condemns violence against women and children and recognises the particular challenges of finding emergency refuge accommodation for mothers with boys over the age of 12 years old. This Council calls upon the Administration to work with refuge organisations to find solutions to the lack of available refuge places.

(Received 5/11/24, 1548)

Amendment on behalf of the Conservative Group

This Council condemns all domestic violence and recognises the particular challenges of finding emergency refuge accommodation for mothers with boys over the age of 12 years old. This Council calls upon the Administration to work with refuge organisations to find solutions to the lack of available refuge places.

(Received 11/11/24, 1948)

Amendment on behalf of the Havering Residents Association Group

This council condemns all domestic violence and recognises the particular challenges of finding emergency refuge accommodation for mothers with boys over the age of 12 years old.  This Council calls on the Administration to lobby the Mayor of London and the government, to do more to address gaps in provision across the capital, and nationally to ensure Havering residents have access to refuge care whether in Havering or not.

(Received 5/1/24, 1942)

Following debate, the amendment by the Conservative Group was NOT CARRIED by 27 votes to 16 with 2 abstentions (see division 1); the amendment by the Havering Residents’ Association Group was CARRIED by 36 votes to 9 with 0 abstentions (see division 2) and AGREED as the substantive motion, without division.

RESOLVED:

This council condemns all domestic violence and recognises the particular challenges of finding emergency refuge accommodation for mothers with boys over the age of 12 years old.  This Council calls on the Administration to lobby the Mayor of London and the government, to do more to address gaps in provision across the capital, and nationally to ensure Havering residents have access to refuge care whether in Havering or not.

B. FAST FOOD OUTLETS

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group

As the Administration has previously stated that they would consider adopting tougher restrictions on the opening of new fast-food outlets within a certain radius of schools, this Council calls on the Administration to commit to the commissioning of an economic impact assessment in order to understand the implications of such restrictions on the commercial viability of small parades (including a number within the local authority’s own property portfolio) ahead of any policy decision.

(Received 23/12/24, 1955)

Amendment on behalf of the Havering Residents Association Group

As the Administration has previously stated that they would consider adopting tougher restrictions on the opening of new fast-food outlets within a certain radius of schools (as part of a whole system approach to a healthy weight alongside other public sector partners), this Council calls on the Administration to commit (in the event that such a decision is actually taken) to the commissioning of an economic impact assessment in order to understand the implications of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

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