Attached.

URGENT MOTION – MERCURY LAND HOLDINGS

Members discussed whether this emergency motion by the Administration should be treated as such. The Monitoring Officer advised that the motion had been submitted correctly.

Motion by the Administration

This Council recommends a revision of the Mercury Land Holding business plan, to focus the company on delivering much needed affordable housing and driving down temporary accommodation costs, once it has reached its breakeven number of properties.

A procedural motion to have an open ended meeting was NOT CARRIED by 41 votes to 7 with 0 abstentions (see division 1).

A procedural motion that the meeting be adjourned and reconvened at a later date was NOT CARRIED by 25 votes to 23 with 0 abstentions (see division 2).

A procedural that the meeting be extended to 23:00 was CARRIED by 28 votes to 14 with 6 abstentions (see division 3).

A procedural motion that the meeting be extended to 23:15 was AGREED without division.

Revised urgent motion by the Administration:

That the motion by the Administration:

That a revision of the Mercury Land Holding Business Plan be made, to focus the company on delivering much needed affordable housing and driving down temporary accommodation costs, once it has reached its breakeven number of properties

be agreed on the proviso that Mercury Land Holdings be on next week’s Places Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee agenda and an emergency full Council meeting be added to the diary for an emergency motion if required.

was AGREED by 40 votes to 6 with 2 abstentions (see division 4) and it was RESOLVED:

That the motion by the Administration:

That a revision of the Mercury Land Holding Business Plan be made, to focus the company on delivering much needed affordable housing and driving down temporary accommodation costs, once it has reached its breakeven number of properties

be agreed on the proviso that Mercury Land Holdings be on next week’s Places Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee agenda and an emergency full Council meeting be added to the diary for an emergency motion if required.

9A. CASE TRACKER SYSTEM

Motion on behalf of the Conservative Group

This Council calls on this Administration to halt the current rollout of the new Case Tracker System on the grounds that its design threatens to undermine the ability of elected members to properly and effectively serve their residents. 

Amendment on behalf of the Havering Residents Association Group

This Council calls on this Administration to review the current rollout of the new Case Tracker System in order to consider its effectiveness in consultation with councillors regarding the design, implementation and intended use of the system.

This motion was withdrawn by the Conservative Group and resubmitted to the next available meeting of Council.

9B. 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.

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.

This motion was withdrawn by Councillors Prince and Michael White and resubmitted to the next available meeting of Council.

C. 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)

(No amendments received).

This motion was withdrawn and resubmitted to the next available meeting of Council.

D. HAVERING VOLUNTEER CENTRE

Motion on behalf of the Labour Group

That this Council congratulates Havering Volunteer Centre on celebrating its tenth anniversary indispensably assisting the residents of Havering, and commits to formalising its financial support for the Havering Volunteer Centre in its forthcoming budget.

(No amendments received).

The motion on behalf of the Labour Group was CARRIED by 46 votes to 0 with 2 abstentions (see division 5) and it was RESOLVED:

That this Council congratulates Havering Volunteer Centre on celebrating its tenth anniversary indispensably assisting the residents of Havering, and commits to formalising its financial support for the Havering Volunteer Centre in its forthcoming budget.

9E. COUNCIL MEETING DATES

Motion on behalf of the Residents’ Association Independent Group

This Council agrees that to enable both Members and Officers with school age families to avoid potential conflict between council and family responsibilities, and encourage more people to become involved in local government, future Full Council Meetings should be scheduled outside of the London Borough of Havering's published school holiday dates.

The motion on behalf of the Residents’ Association Independent Group was AGREED by 30 votes to 1 with 17 abstentions (see division 6) and it was RESOLVED:

This Council agrees that to enable both Members and Officers with school age families to avoid potential conflict between council and family responsibilities, and encourage more people to become involved in local government, future Full Council Meetings should be scheduled outside of the London Borough of Havering's published school holiday dates.