Issue - meetings

MOTION P (2006/7):

Councillor Mughal has given notice that he will move in the following terms:

 “This Council recognises the vital role played by private sector businesses towards the present and future economic well being of Haringey and its residents, and believes that more work needs to be done to make Haringey an attractive place to do business, and to foster an enterprise culture within the Council.

This Council therefore resolves to make 2007 the 'year of business' for the Council, pursuing with greater vigour the promotion of enterprise in the borough wherever possible, including through the production and promotion, through council publications, of business directories for the borough; the creation of a business services desk in the Council, with the establishment of identified business champions in appropriate council departments, and the development and promotion of a brand for Haringey as a great place to do business”.

MOTION Q (2006/07):

Councillor Whyte has given notice that she will move in the following terms:

This Council believes that the Freedom of Information Act 2000, which came into force on 1^st January 2005, is a significant and most welcome piece of legislation in empowering citizens and ensuring all forms of government and public bodies are effectively scrutinised and held to account.  This Council celebrates the significant benefits of this legislation to the public which far exceed its administrative costs.

This Council believes that it is vital that the Freedom of Information legislation is better publicised throughout Haringey and that every step should be taken to ensure that this Council meets all relevant requests for information within the specified time requirements set out by the legislation.

This Council also opposes current proposals to significantly change, after a very short period of time, the administration of this significant legislation, especially relating to the dangerous proposal that unrelated requests by the same individual or organisation to an authority should be aggregated and refused if the aggregated cost exceed the specified financial limits.   This Council believes this proposal could severely ration use of the Act by the local media and campaigning organisations.

This Council urges Haringey’s two Members of Parliament to defend the basic principles of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and to ensure that the harmful proposals as set out in the current consultation by the Department of Constitutional Affairs are opposed.

The two Motions P & Q were not heard due the lack of time.