Attached.

9A. LIBRARIES

Motion on behalf of Councillors Keith Prince and Michael White

This Council calls upon the Administration to halt all plans to pass on, sell or demolish the three libraries which were closed in 2025 (namely Harold Wood, Gidea Park and South Hornchurch libraries). Harold Wood library shall be the exception, where Officers should continue their discussions with the local community group who have already put forward proposals to make use of the site.

(Received 5 January, 13:34)

Amendment on behalf of the Conservative Group

This Council calls upon the Administration to halt all plans to pass on, sell or demolish the three libraries which were closed in 2025 (namely Harold Wood, Gidea Park and South Hornchurch libraries) until alternative business plans have been presented to and considered by Cabinet. Harold Wood library shall be the exception, where Officers should continue their discussions with the local community group who have already put forward proposals to make use of the site.

(Received 12 January, 21:55)

Amendment on behalf of the Labour Group

This Council calls upon the Administration to halt all plans to pass on, sell or demolish the three libraries which were closed in 2025 (namely Harold Wood, Gidea Park and South Hornchurch libraries) until alternative business plans have been presented to and considered by Cabinet. Harold Wood library shall be the exception, where Officers should continue their discussions with the local community group who have already put forward proposals to make use of the site. In the interim, every effort should be made to identify meanwhile uses in order to maintain community access to the spaces and generate income to the Council.

(Received 9 March, 20:42)

Following debate, the amendment by the Conservative Group was NOT AGREED on the casting vote of the Mayor by 25 votes to 24 with 0 abstentions (see division 4) and the amendment by the Labour Group was NOT AGREED on the casting vote of the Mayor by 25 votes to 24 with 0 abstentions (see division 5). The motion on behalf of Councillors Keith Prince and Michael White was NOT AGREED by 24 votes to 5 with 3 abstentions (see division 6).

Note: a number of Members left the meeting at this point.

9B. TAX RISES

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group

This Council recognises the vital role that pubs and small businesses play in the economic and social life of the London Borough of Havering. This Council condemns recent government tax changes which have increased costs for these businesses locally, putting Havering jobs and livelihoods at risk, and calls on the government to urgently reverse the rises.

(Received 5 January, 20:16)

Amendment on behalf of the Labour Group

This Council recognises the essential contribution that pubs and small businesses make to the economic vitality and social fabric of the London Borough of Havering. While acknowledging that taxation is necessary to fund vital public services, this Council notes that changes to national tax policy must be kept under review, and calls on the government to ensure that future changes are proportionate and strike an appropriate balance between the need for sustainable public revenue and the viability of small businesses in our community.

(Received 9 March, 20:42)

The amendment on behalf of the Labour Group was AGREED by 23 votes to 3 with 6 abstentions (see division 7) and AGREED as the substantive motion, without division.

RESOLVED:

This Council recognises the essential contribution that pubs and small businesses make to the economic vitality and social fabric of the London Borough of Havering. While acknowledging that taxation is necessary to fund vital public services, this Council notes that changes to national tax policy must be kept under review, and calls on the government to ensure that future changes are proportionate and strike an appropriate balance between the need for sustainable public revenue and the viability of small businesses in our community.

9C. A CROSS PARTY COMMITMENT TO STRENGTENING SEND PROVISION AND ENSURING CONTINUITY ACROSS ADMINISTRATIONS

Motion on behalf of the Labour Group

This Council recognises the increasing pressure on SEND services, the importance of delivering the approved new SEND school in Gidea Park, and the need to protect progress from disruption during any change in political administration; therefore, this Council resolves to adopt a cross party guarantee to deliver planned SEND expansion, safeguard funding and capacity, and commit to a clear multi year plan with targets for reducing out of borough placements, improving EHCP timeliness, strengthening inclusion, and asks for an early public update from any incoming administration alongside annual reporting to ensure stability for children and families.

(Received 2 March, 22:16)

The motion by the Labour Group was AGREED by 31 votes to 0 with one abstention (see division 8).

RESOLVED:

This Council recognises the increasing pressure on SEND services, the importance of delivering the approved new SEND school in Gidea Park, and the need to protect progress from disruption during any change in political administration; therefore, this Council resolves to adopt a cross party guarantee to deliver planned SEND expansion, safeguard funding and capacity, and commit to a clear multi year plan with targets for reducing out of borough placements, improving EHCP timeliness, strengthening inclusion, and asks for an early public update from any incoming administration alongside annual reporting to ensure stability for children and families.

9D: PROTECTING HAVERING’S COMMUNITY ASSETS THROUGH A CROSS-PARTY ASSETS PROTECTION CHARTER

Motion on behalf of the Labour Group

This Council acknowledges residents’ concerns about the loss and future security of key community assets and the risk of further changes during periods of political or financial uncertainty; accordingly, this Council resolves to adopt a cross party Community Assets Protection Charter to safeguard community buildings and spaces by requiring full public consultation before any disposal or change of use, establishing a community Right of First Bid, publishing an annual Community Assets Register, creating a cross party and community representative advisory panel to review proposals, and asks that any incoming administration reviews these protections at its first ordinary meeting to provide transparency, stability and long term confidence for residents.

(Received 2 March, 22:16)

The motion by the Labour Group was NOT AGREED by 21 votes to 8 with 3 abstentions (see division 9).

9E. LOCAL PLAN – LIST OF SITES

Motion on behalf of Councillors John Tyler and Laurance Garrard

As part of the current Local Plan update, Havering Council ran a Call for Sites in 2023. Due to the developing national Grey Belt policy and the amount of surveying of existing Green Belt sites that is currently being undertaken in Havering, it is important that Members be made aware of the location of the sites put forward as part of the Call for Sites. Therefore, this Council agrees that the list of sites submitted (including location maps) should be made available to Members as a Confidential Document within two weeks of this motion being passed.

(Received 3 March, 15:13)

Amendment on behalf of the Labour Group

As part of the current Local Plan update, which this Council recognizes must now be expedited in full to ensure timely and informed decision-making, Havering Council ran a Call for Sites in 2023. Due to the developing national Grey Belt policy and the amount of surveying of existing Green Belt sites that is currently being undertaken in Havering, it is important that Members be made aware of the location of the sites put forward as part of the Call for Sites. Therefore, this Council agrees that the list of sites submitted (including location maps) should be made available to Members as a Confidential Document within two weeks of this motion being passed.

(Received, 9 March, 20:42)

The amendment on behalf of the Labour Group was NOT AGREED by 22 votes to 6 with 4 abstentions (see division 10). The motion on behalf of Councillors Tyler and Garrard was AGREED as the substantive motion, without division.

RESOLVED:

As part of the current Local Plan update, which this Council recognizes must now be expedited in full to ensure timely and informed decision-making, Havering Council ran a Call for Sites in 2023. Due to the developing national Grey Belt policy and the amount of surveying of existing Green Belt sites that is currently being undertaken in Havering, it is important that Members be made aware of the location of the sites put forward as part of the Call for Sites. Therefore, this Council agrees that the list of sites submitted (including location maps) should be made available to Members as a Confidential Document within two weeks of this motion being passed.