Agenda and minutes

At this point in the proceedings the Chief Executive announced that the Mayor was unwell and not therefore in attendance.  The Chief Executive sought nominations for the Chair for the duration of the meeting.

The Chief Whip - Councillor Dobbie nominated Councillor Thompson as Chair, and also proposed Councillor Griffith as Vice Chair for the duration of the proceedings.

There being no other nominations Councillor Thompson and Councillor Griffith were elected Chair and Vice Chair for the duration of the proceedings.

COUNCILLOR S. THOMPSON IN THE CHAIR

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Adamou, C Harris, Rainger and Stanton.

See Minute 114

A member with a personal interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered must disclose to that meeting the existence and nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration, or when the interest becomes apparent.

A member with a personal interest in a matter also has a prejudicial interest in that matter if the interest is one which a member of the public with knowledge of the relevant facts would reasonably regard as so significant that it is likely to prejudice the member's judgement of the public interest.

Councillor Dobbie declared a personal interest in Item 12 – Motion V, as he was an employee of the North Middlesex NHS Trust.  He also commented that he had been advised that this interest was not considered a prejudicial one and therefore he would be remaining and taking part in the debate.

Councillor Rahman Khan declared a personal interest in item 11 – Appendix 1 point 12.

Councillor Davies declared a personal interest in Item 12 – Motion V as he was an employed by the Health Care Commission.

Councillor Reid declared a personal interest in item Item 12 – Motion V as he was a Unison Shop Steward.

Councillor Haley declared a personal interest in Item 12 – Motion V, as he was an employee of the Camden and Islington Health Authority.

Councillor Dobbie, on behalf of all Members of the Labour Group declared a personal interest in item 11 in relation to the report from the General Purposes Committee in respect of Member Allowances.

Councillor Aitken, on behalf of all Members of the Liberal Democrat Group declared a personal interest in item 11 in relation to the report from the General Purposes Committee in respect of Member Allowances.

Copies of the Minutes having been circulated, they were taken as read.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 19 February 2007 be signed as a true record.

1. The Deputy Mayor was sad to announce the death of Mary Neuner who died earlier in the afternoon in the Whittington Hospital. The Deputy Mayor informed the meeting that Mary was a Councillor in Crouch End Ward from 1986 to 1990 and represented Alexandra Ward from 1990 until her retirement in 2002. Mary served as Deputy Mayor in 1989/1990, and 2000/2001, and served as Mayor in 1990/1991 and 2001/2002. 

The meeting stood for a 1 minute silence in memory of Mary Neuner.

The Leader of the Council spoke in tribute to Mary Neuner. Councillors Dobbie, Aitken, Adje, Rahman Khan, Patel, and Haley,  also spoke in tribute.

The Council requested that its condolences be passed to the family.

2. The Deputy Mayor passed on the Mayor’s thanks to her son Andreas and Cllrs Peacock and Amin for joining her on the Lord Mayor’s Sponsored Walk on Sunday 4 March, and also thanks also to colleagues and friends who have sponsored the Mayor. The Deputy Mayor also advised of 2 events – the first A Dog Show on Saturday 21^st April at the Civic Centre and the Mayor’s End of Year Dinner and Dance at the Cypriot Centre on Friday 27^th April. Further details would be sent out shortly.

3. The Deputy Mayor advised of the Kurdish New Year–Newroz–on Wednesday 21 March 2007. The Deputy Mayor also referred to a celebration in the Council Chamber on 16 March 2007 attended by members, including the Leader and the Borough’s two serving MPs – David Lammy and Lynne Featherstone. The Deputy Mayor commented that the Kurdish Community was the largest ethnic minority community in Haringey. The Deputy Mayor passed on his best wishes for very happy new year.

4. The Deputy Mayor commented on an event on 8 March 2007 whereby 400 businesses attended Awards at the Decorium in Wood Green. 10 businesses won awards and this successful occasion was given high profile coverage in the Journal. The Deputy Mayor was pleased that many members attended and he passed on his particular thanks to the Leader of the Council and the Executive Member for Enterprise and Regeneration for their contributions.   

An addendum to the Chief Executive’s report was tabled.

The Leader of the Council thanked Davina Fiore, Head of Legal Services, for her services to the Authority and wished her well in her new role as Head of Legal and Democratic Services at the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.

RESOLVED

1.      That the Deputy Head of Legal Services be appointed as the Council’s Monitoring Officer with effect from 30 March 2007 until permanent recruitment to the post of Head of Legal Services.

2.      That Councillor Egan replace Councillor Dobbie on the Homes for Haringey Board.

There were no matters to report.

A deputation from Ms Sue Sparks was received in respect of library restructuring.

Questions were then put to Ms Sparks.

The Mayor thanked Ms Sparks for her attendance.

There was a further request for a deputation from Milton Park Neighbourhood Watch and Residents’ Association concerning parking controls. The request was not accepted given that the matter would be coming before the Executive on 24 April following public consultation.

RESOLVED:

1.      That, subject to the comments of the Haringey Strategic Partnership, the Haringey Sustainable Community Strategy 2007-2016/2017 be adopted.
 

2.      That the Chief Executive be delegated authority, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make agreed consequential changes to the Haringey Sustainable Community Strategy 2007-2016/2017 following the HSP meeting on 22 March 2007. 

The Mayor agreed to the admission of this report as urgent business. Under Standing Orders, notice of questions was not requested until eight clear days before the meeting, following which matters raised had to be researched and replies prepared, in order to be given at the meeting.

There were 10 oral questions and 27 for written answer.

Oral Questions 9 & 10 were not reached in the allotted time and written answers were supplied to these questions.

a)     The Executive – Report 15. 2006/7

b)     General Purposes Committee – Report 4. 2006/7

In accordance with Council Rules of Procedure No. 12(1), the Chief Executive will submit a report, if appropriate, listing any recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee requiring policy change or executive action.

RESOLVED:

1.      That Executive report number 14 be received and adopted.

2.      That General Purposes Committee report number 4 be received and that the recommendation on Members Allowances be adopted subject to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor’s allowances being referred to both Party Groups for consultation and that following this a further report be submitted as appropriate. That the allowances paid to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor remain at the current level pending any further report.

3.      That the General Purposes Committee’s recommendation that approval in principle be given, subject to formal decisions in due course by Annual Council and the June Licensing Committee, to the amendments to the terms of reference of the full Council, the Licensing Committee and the Licensing Sub-Committees, and the alterations to the scheme of delegation to officers and the Local Licensing Procedure Rules set out in Appendices 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 to the General Purposes Committee’s report.

MOTION U (2006/07):

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

 “This Council notes current proposals from the police to reduce the front desk service at night-time hours at Wood Green Police Station.

This Council believes that a 24-hour staffed front desk at the police station in Wood Green is and should remain a key part of the policing arrangements for Haringey, and in particular Wood Green.

This Council calls on the Leader and Executive Member for Crime and Community Safety to ask the police to reconsider their proposals to ensure that the proven demand for front desk services is balanced with the need for officers on the streets.”

MOTION V (2006/07):

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

“This Council 

Recognises and welcomes the extra resources that have been put into the NHS by Labour since 1997, following years of under funding by the Conservative Government; But, 

expresses anger and dismay at;

·         the continuing financial crisis in the NHS and the impact that is having on frontline health services in Haringey, and on Haringey PCT’s ability to properly plan services;

·         the London Strategic Health Authority repeated raiding of Haringey PCT’s budget, with over £10 million top-sliced from the 2006/07 budget;

·         the Health Authorities threat to again top-slice the PCT’s budget by up to 3.6% in 2007/08, taking up to £12.5 million away from health services in Haringey to be ‘loaned’ to other parts of the Health Service in London;

·         the absence of any commitment from the Secretary of State for Health in her recent letter as to when this £12.5 million ‘loan’ will be returned to the PCT;

·         the PCT’s latest budget forecasts for 2007/08, which shows a £11.4m funding gap between what the Trust needs to spend to cover wage rises, inflation and new Government targets, and what has been provided by the Labour Government;

opposes the Labour Government’s incompetent management of the National Health Service; 

further opposes Haringey Labour Party’s feeble acquiescence in this mismanagement, and their lack of opposition to the continued raiding of Haringey PCT’s budget;  

and calls on the Labour Leader of Haringey Council and the Labour MP for Tottenham to join Haringey Liberal Democrats and Lynne Featherstone MP in arguing with Ministers against these cuts and standing up for Haringey’s Health Service”

MOTION W (2006/07):

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

“Council recognises that:

1. Crime and the fear of crime remain major concerns of residents in Haringey, in particular fuelled by the persistence of so-called low level crime and antisocial behaviour, the shortage of police officers on the beat, and the difficulty in getting an adequate response to incidents from an overstretched police force;

2. The general public's confidence in safely visiting by day and night all parts of Haringey must be reinforced, in particular by tackling at source known centres of disorder;

3. Whilst partnership arrangements have led to better co-ordination between agencies  ...  view the full agenda text for item 116.

MOTION U (2006/07):

It was moved by Councillor Egan and seconded by Councillor Dobbie that:

“This Council notes current proposals from the police to reduce the front desk service at night-time hours at Wood Green Police Station.

This Council believes that a 24-hour staffed front desk at the police station in Wood Green is and should remain a key part of the policing arrangements for Haringey, and in particular Wood Green.

This Council calls on the Leader and Executive Member for Crime and Community Safety to ask the police to reconsider their proposals to ensure that the proven demand for front desk services is balanced with the need for officers on the streets.”

The Motion was then put to the meeting and agreed unanimously.

MOTION V (2006/07):

It was moved by Councillor Wilson and seconded by Councillor Winskill that:

“This Council 

Recognises and welcomes the extra resources that have been put into the NHS by Labour since 1997, following years of under funding by the Conservative Government; But, 

expresses anger and dismay at;

·         the continuing financial crisis in the NHS and the impact that is having on frontline health services in Haringey, and on Haringey PCT’s ability to properly plan services;

·         the London Strategic Health Authority repeated raiding of Haringey PCT’s budget, with over £10 million top-sliced from the 2006/07 budget;

·         the Health Authorities threat to again top-slice the PCT’s budget by up to 3.6% in 2007/08, taking up to £12.5 million away from health services in Haringey to be ‘loaned’ to other parts of the Health Service in London;

·         the absence of any commitment from the Secretary of State for Health in her recent letter as to when this £12.5 million ‘loan’ will be returned to the PCT;

·         the PCT’s latest budget forecasts for 2007/08, which shows a £11.4m funding gap between what the Trust needs to spend to cover wage rises, inflation and new Government targets, and what has been provided by the Labour Government;

opposes the Labour Government’s incompetent management of the National Health Service; 

further opposes Haringey Labour Party’s feeble acquiescence in this mismanagement, and their lack of opposition to the continued raiding of Haringey PCT’s budget;  

and calls on the Labour Leader of Haringey Council and the Labour MP for Tottenham to join Haringey Liberal Democrats and Lynne Featherstone MP in arguing with Ministers against these cuts and standing up for Haringey’s Health Service”

An amendment to motion V was moved by Councillor B Harris and seconded by Councillor Bull that:

Delete all after ‘Conservative Government’ and insert;

“And welcomes the commitment this Council has shown to improving health care facilities in the borough.

The council is committed to continuing robust discussions with the PCT and fighting for the high quality frontline health care services which best meet Haringey’s needs.

This council pledges to continue to work with the PCT, the Department of Health, and our local representatives to ensure the NHS in Haringey has the resources it needs to provide the consistently high standard  ...  view the full minutes text for item 116.