Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from the Chief Executive due to the birth of her first grandchild. 

See minute numbers 54, 60  & 61.

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.

Members were asked by the Mayor to declare any personal interest in respect of items on the agenda.  In accordance with Part 2 of the Members Code of Conduct set out in the Council Constitution, any Member disclosing a personal interest which was also prejudicial would be asked to withdraw from the Chamber during consideration of the item and neither were they to seek to improperly influence a decision on the said item.

Councillor Dobbie declared on behalf of all Members of the Labour Group, a personal interest in respect of Members Allowances at Item 11.

Councillor Aitken declared on behalf of all Members of the Liberal Democrat Group, a personal interest in respect of Members Allowances at Item 11.

Councillor Stanton declared a personal and prejudicial interest in respect of Item 10, Council reshaping, as his partner was a senior officer of the Authority and referred to in the body of the report.  Councillor Stanton advised that he would withdraw from the Council Chamber during consideration of this item.

Councillor Lister declared a personal interest in respect of Item 10 as he was employed by UNISON in a representative role, and that his employer had been consulted in terms of certain of its Members affected by the proposals. He stated that he was not actually representing any person affected by the proposals and therefore this did not represent a prejudicial interest.

Councillor Davies declared a personal interest in respect of Item 14 – Motion H, as he worked for an organisation involve in campaigning on climate change.

The Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer declared a personal interest in item 10, Council reshaping, as her post was referred to in the report.

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

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 9 October 2006 be signed as a true record.

1.      The Mayor thanked everyone who attended and supported the Remembrance Services in the borough yesterday in Wood Green, Tottenham and Hornsey.  The Mayor commented that she believed it was important that the commitment and sacrifices of those who had fought and suffered in the cause of freedom was acknowledged. The Mayor also stated that it was also a time to support and recognise the good work of the Royal British Legion.

2.      The Mayor expressed her delight to attend the celebration to mark the 100th birthday celebration of Bruce Castle Museum on 25 October. Her congratulations were expressed to all the staff for making this one of the most exciting museums in North London.

3.      The Mayor asked all Members to give their support to her Special Fund – Building for Babies – which will take place in St Joseph’s Church Hall in Highgate on Wednesday 22 November. “A Night with Elvis” – which was a very special musical evening. Tickets were available through the Mayor’s office.

4.      The Mayor, on behalf of the Council passed on her congratulations to the Chief Executive and her family at the birth of her first grandchild.  The Mayor also reported the birth of her 4^th grandchild ten days prior to this meeting. Members extended their congratulations to the Mayor.  

The Mayor agreed to admit the report as urgent business. The report dealt with matters considered at Party Group meetings within the last few days. These required approval to permit appointments to Council committees to be made.

RESOLVED:

That the Membership changes to the Licensing Sub-Committees, as detailed below, be noted:

Sub-Committee A:

Cllr Patel (Chair)

Cllr Demirci                                                                      

Cllr Vanier                         

Sub-Committee B:

Cllr Peacock (Chair)

Cllr Mughal                             

Cllr Lister        

Sub-Committee C:

Cllr Beacham (Chair)          

Cllr Reid        

Cllr Dobbie     

There were no matters to report.

There were no matters to report.

A deputation from Mel Cairns of the Combined Residents Action Group in relation to North Middlesex Cricket Club was received. 

Questions were then put to Mr Cairns.

The Mayor thanked Mr Cairns for his attendance.

Councillor Stanton, having earlier declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item withdrew from the proceedings.

Councillor Lister declared a personal interest in this item as he was employed by UNISON in a representative role, and that his employer had been consulted in terms of certain of its Members affected by the proposals. He stated that he was not actually representing any person affected by the proposals and therefore this did not represent a prejudicial interest.

The Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer declared a personal interest in this item as her post was referred to in the report.

During her introduction of the report, the Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer explained that there was an omission in the report in that two posts had not been included in the paragraph on organisational change arrangements (paragraph 14). These were: the Head of Partnerships, open ring fence to the Head of Neighbourhoods and the vacant Head of Policy; and the Head of Performance & Policy, open ring fence to the Head of Improvement & Performance and the vacant Head of Policy.

The Leader of the Council proposed that the Appointments Panels for the two Director posts, as considered by General Purposes Committee, be increased in size to 9 members.

RESOLVED:

1.      That the organisational structure proposed at paragraph 12.5 and detailed at Appendix A of the report be adopted.

2.      That the grades proposed at paragraph 13.8 of the report be agreed and implemented from the date of appointment to the various posts.

3.      That the organisational change process described at paragraph 14.1 of the report be noted as the Council’s standard procedure.

4.      That the arrangements to implement the organisational changes proposed at paragraph 14.4 of the report onwards be agreed. 

5.      That the resultant Constitutional changes arising from adoption of the Council reshaping report be implemented by officers.

6.      That in respect of the establishment of Appointments Panels to interview for the posts of Director of Urban Environment, and Director of Adults, Culture & Community Services, the size of the panels be increased to 9 Members.

All 57 members of the Council declared a personal interest in this item.

On a vote there being 30 for and 27 against it was:

RESOLVED:

1.      That the basic allowance for Councillors in Haringey be set at £10,000 p.a.

2.      That the Special Responsibility Allowance for the Leader of the Council (band 4) be set at £30,000 in addition to the basic.

3.      That the bandings for the awarding of Special Responsibility Allowance proposed in paragraph 8 of the report be adopted.

4.      That all allowances be increased annually in line with the headline figure for the England Local Government Officers National pay settlement from April 1^st each year.

5.      That an annual allowance for the Mayor be set at £10,000 p.a. and the Deputy Mayor at £2,500 p.a. in addition to the basic allowance.

6.      That the increases as detailed in 1-5 above take effect from the 1^st of the month of agreement by Council (1^st November 2006). 

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 8 oral questions and 27 for written answer.

a)     The Executive – Reports 7 & 8 - 2006/7 (report no. 8 to follow)

b)     General Purposes Committee – Report 2 - 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.

THE EXECUTIVE – REPORT NO. 7 & 8  2006- 07 (Agenda Item 13):

The Mayor agreed to the admission of this report as urgent business. The report was not available at the time of dispatch as the matters contained in it were not considered by the Executive until 31 October and potentially subject to call in up to Thursday 9 November.

The report was urgent because there was a legislative deadline to adopt a Gambling Policy before the end of 2006.

RESOLVED:

1.      That reports 7, and 8 of the Executive be received.

2.      That the increase in the external borrowing operational boundary for 2006/07 by £17 million be approved and that it be noted that the overall authorised limit would remain as previously approved.

3.      That the Statement of Gambling Policy as set out in Appendix A of the report be adopted with effect from 15 January 2007 and published beforehand as legally required.

GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE – REPORT NO. 2 2006/07

RESOLVED:

1.      That the amendments to Council Standing Order 43 set out in Appendix 1 to the report be adopted and that Part E.8 of the Council’s Constitution be amended accordingly.

2.      That the amendments to the Members’ Code of Conduct for the Planning Applications Sub-Committee set out in Appendix 2 to the report be adopted and that Part C.4 of the Council’s Constitution be amended accordingly.

3.      That the amendments to the Scheme of Delegation to Officers set out in Appendix 3 to the report be adopted and that Part F.7 of the Council’s Constitution be amended accordingly.

The Council agreed to vary the order of MOTIONS to permit Motion J to be taken first.

MOTION H (2006/07):

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

“This Council resolves to follow over 120 other UK local authorities and sign the new Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change, relaunched at Nottingham on 5 December 2005, and in so doing, this Council acknowledges that:

•         Evidence shows that climate change is occurring.

•         Climate change will continue to have far reaching effects on the UK’s people and places, economy, society and environment.

This Council welcomes the

•         Social, economic and environmental benefits which come from combating climate change.

•         Emissions targets agreed by central government and the programme for delivering change, as set out in the UK Climate Change Programme.

•         Opportunity for local government to lead the response at a local level, encouraging and helping local residents, local businesses and other organisations - to reduce their energy costs, to reduce congestion, to adapt to the impacts of climate change, to improve the local environment and to deal with fuel poverty in our communities.

•         Endorsement of this declaration by central government.

This Council commits itself to

•         Work with central government to contribute, at a local level, to the delivery of the UK Climate Change Programme, the Kyoto Protocol and the target for carbon dioxide reduction by 2010.

•         Participate in local and regional networks for support.

•         Within the next two years develop plans with our partners and local communities to progressively address the causes and the impacts of climate change, according to our local priorities, securing maximum benefit for our communities.

•         Publicly declare, within appropriate plans and strategies, the commitment to achieve a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from our own authority’s operations, especially energy sourcing and use, travel and transport, waste production and disposal and the purchasing of goods and services.

•         Assess the risk associated with climate change and the implications for our services and our communities of climate change impacts and adapt accordingly.

•         Encourage all sectors in our local community to take the opportunity to adapt to the impacts of climate change, to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions and to make public their commitment to action.

•         Monitor the progress of our plans against the actions needed and publish the results.

This Council acknowledges the increasing impact that climate change will have on our community during the 21st century and commits to tackling the causes and effects of a changing climate on our borough.

MOTION I (2006/07):

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

“This Council notes that air travel is an exceptionally environmentally damaging form of travel, resulting in far larger quantities of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere than alternative rapid surface travel by train or coach.

This Council notes that with 1600 more train services each year than in 1997, 1850 new railway vehicles with better access for disabled people since 2002, greatly increased speeds of travel by rail from London, a 36%  ...  view the full agenda text for item 64.

MOTION J (2006/07):

It was moved by Councillor Williams and seconded by Councillor C Harris that:

“This Council resolves:

To move a vote of no confidence in the Executive Member for Housing as provided for in the Councils' Standing Order 28”.

The Motion was put to the vote and declared LOST.  There being 26 for and 30 against.

MOTION H (2006/07)

It was moved by Councillor Haley and seconded by Councillor Jones that:

“This Council resolves to follow over 120 other UK local authorities and sign the new Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change, relaunched at Nottingham on 5 December 2005, and in so doing, this Council acknowledges that:

•         Evidence shows that climate change is occurring.

•         Climate change will continue to have far reaching effects on the UK’s people and places, economy, society and environment.

This Council welcomes the

•         Social, economic and environmental benefits which come from combating climate change.

•         Emissions targets agreed by central government and the programme for delivering change, as set out in the UK Climate Change Programme.

•         Opportunity for local government to lead the response at a local level, encouraging and helping local residents, local businesses and other organisations - to reduce their energy costs, to reduce congestion, to adapt to the impacts of climate change, to improve the local environment and to deal with fuel poverty in our communities.

•         Endorsement of this declaration by central government.

This Council commits itself to

•         Work with central government to contribute, at a local level, to the delivery of the UK Climate Change Programme, the Kyoto Protocol and the target for carbon dioxide reduction by 2010.

•         Participate in local and regional networks for support.

•         Within the next two years develop plans with our partners and local communities to progressively address the causes and the impacts of climate change, according to our local priorities, securing maximum benefit for our communities.

•         Publicly declare, within appropriate plans and strategies, the commitment to achieve a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from our own authority’s operations, especially energy sourcing and use, travel and transport, waste production and disposal and the purchasing of goods and services.

•         Assess the risk associated with climate change and the implications for our services and our communities of climate change impacts and adapt accordingly.

•         Encourage all sectors in our local community to take the opportunity to adapt to the impacts of climate change, to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions and to make public their commitment to action.

•         Monitor the progress of our plans against the actions needed and publish the results.

This Council acknowledges the increasing impact that climate change will have on our community during the 21st century and commits to tackling the causes and effects of a changing climate on our borough”.

An amendment to the motion was moved by Councillor Butcher and seconded by Councillor Hare proposing:

Delete from "work with central government…" to "…the actions needed and publish the results" and insert:

•         Work with central government to contribute, at a local level, to the delivery of the UK Climate Change Programme, the Kyoto Protocol and the target for carbon dioxide reduction by 2010.  

•         Participate in local and regional networks for support.

•         Within the next 6 months develop plans with our partners and local community to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65.

MOTIONS I & K (2006/07)

The remaining two Motions I & K were not heard due the lack of time.