Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Hoban, Lister, Mughal, Reid, and Vanier, and for lateness from Councillor Patel.

See Minute 48

RESOLVED:

That the order of the business be varied to consider item 14 – Motion D after Item 10 – Motion C.

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 judgment of the public interest and if this interest affects their financial position or the financial position of a person or body as described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct and/orif it relates to the determining of any approval, consent, licence, permission or registration in relation to them or any person or body described in paragraph 8 of the Code of Conduct.

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’s 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 Rainger declared a personal interest in Item 10 - MOTION C – as she was an employee of RAC which was a lobbying organisation.

Councillor Williams declared a personal interest in Item 10 - MOTION C – as he was an employee of a trade association within the Pub Industry.

Copies of the Minutes of the last meeting having been circulated were taken as read.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 16 July 2007 be signed as a true record.

1.      The Mayor informed the Council that he was delighted to receive a Silver Award for the Borough at the London in Bloom Ceremony held at the Emirates Stadium on 20^th September. The Mayor congratulated the Parks Department and all those who had worked so hard to help achieve this award.

2.      The Mayor also announced that Era Varellas, the catering manager of the Council’s meals on wheels services had won a national award.  The National Achievement Award was presented by the National Association of Care Catering and was given to the person who had contributed most to social services catering. The Mayor advised that regretably Ms Varellas could not be present this evening. The Council acknowledged this very special achievement and the Mayor, on behalf of the Authority, thanked Ms Varellas for over 20 years of service.

3.      The Mayor reminded Members that Local Democracy week had begun and would finish on Sunday 21^st October.  Again this year, the week was centred on encouraging and informing young people about Local Democracy. The Mayor advised that he had met with the Youth Council on the previous Wednesday and that he was aware that many of Members would be attending local schools.

4.      The Mayor expressed his delighted in announcing that Haringey had won the National Customer Service Award 2007 for the WOW of the year category. This was in recognition of Haringey being the first public sector organisation in the UK to subscribe to the awards which had provided an exciting new way for our customers to let us know when they have received exceptional customer service. The Mayor was pleased to announce that the Authority had now received more than 1000 nominations.

RESOLVED:

That the membership of the Licensing Committee be amended by the deletion of Councillor Dobbie and replacement with Councillor Dodds.

There were no items to report.

RESOLVED:

That appointments to outside bodies as detailed in the attached appendix be agreed.

A deputation was received, which was lead by Joyce Oyeyi-Effiong of the Suffolk Road Residents Association in respect of the management of the Bridge NDC.

Members asked questions of the deputation and received responses thereto.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, and the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Enterprise responded to the deputation.

The Mayor thanked Ms Oyeyi-Effiong for her presentation.

Motion C (2007/08)

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

FIRST RESOLUTION OF COUNCIL

HARINGEY  LONDON  BOROUGH  COUNCIL

“That the Council approves the inclusion in a bill or bills to be promoted by Westminster City Council or, as the case may be in a bill or bills to be promoted jointly by Westminster City Council and any other person as appropriate, of provisions effecting all or some of the following purposes -

(a)     to make provision about the decriminalisation of offences relating to public health, highways and road traffic and making contravention of the relevant legislation subject to a civil penalty charge regime; the introduction of a local levy, administrated by London borough councils, on the provision of disposable shopping bags or to introduce a prohibition on the provision of disposable shopping bags; the introduction of a local levy administrated by the London borough councils on the sale of chewing gum; an extension of the type of premises in respect of which a street litter control notice can be issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to include a wider range of non-domestic premises; to enable councils to better control the feeding of wild birds; to enable borough councils to make charges for the use of urinals; to make further provision about the control of the placing of items on the highway; altering London borough councils’ powers to fix signs and apparatus to buildings; amending London borough councils’ powers to charge for the provision of amenities on highways under Part VIIA of the Highways Act 1980; controlling the placing of household waste in street litter bins; to enable London borough councils to recover costs incurred by them in rectifying damage caused by them when removing unlawful advertisements; to enable London borough councils, as local housing authorities, to take enforcement action and recover costs in cases where there has been a failure to comply with a duty imposed in relation to the management of houses in multiple occupation under regulations made under Section 234 of the Housing Act 2004; imposing a requirement in respect of food premises which are subject to inspection by London borough councils under the Food Safety Act 1990 to display copies of inspection notices or summaries thereof on the premises; to impose a new licensing regime for social clubs; to alter the requirements relating to the service of documents under the City of Westminster Act 1996, which deals with sex establishments; to enable London borough councils to exert better control over the licensing of premises which, but for the Licensing Act 2003 would be required to be licensed as sex encounter establishments; to enable London borough councils to delegate their functions under existing street trading legislation and  enable other bodies to manage street markets; to alter the street trading legislation in the City of Westminster so as to enable Westminster City Council, without a court order, to dispose of articles seized under the Act; to make further alterations to street trading  ...  view the full agenda text for item 46.

MOTION C (2007/08):

It was moved by Councillor Meehan and seconded by Councillor Kober that:

first resolution of the council

haringey london borough council

“That the Council approves the inclusion in a bill or bills to be promoted by Westminster City Council or, as the case may be in a bill or bills to be promoted jointly by Westminster City Council and any other person as appropriate, of provisions effecting all or some of the following purposes -

(a)     to make provision about the decriminalisation of offences relating to public health, highways and road traffic and making contravention of the relevant legislation subject to a civil penalty charge regime; the introduction of a local levy, administrated by London borough councils, on the provision of disposable shopping bags or to introduce a prohibition on the provision of disposable shopping bags; the introduction of a local levy administrated by the London borough councils on the sale of chewing gum; an extension of the type of premises in respect of which a street litter control notice can be issued under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 to include a wider range of non-domestic premises; to enable councils to better control the feeding of wild birds; to enable borough councils to make charges for the use of urinals; to make further provision about the control of the placing of items on the highway; altering London borough councils’ powers to fix signs and apparatus to buildings; amending London borough councils’ powers to charge for the provision of amenities on highways under Part VIIA of the Highways Act 1980; controlling the placing of household waste in street litter bins; to enable London borough councils to recover costs incurred by them in rectifying damage caused by them when removing unlawful advertisements; to enable London borough councils, as local housing authorities, to take enforcement action and recover costs in cases where there has been a failure to comply with a duty imposed in relation to the management of houses in multiple occupation under regulations made under Section 234 of the Housing Act 2004; imposing a requirement in respect of food premises which are subject to inspection by London borough councils under the Food Safety Act 1990 to display copies of inspection notices or summaries thereof on the premises; to impose a new licensing regime for social clubs; to alter the requirements relating to the service of documents under the City of Westminster Act 1996, which deals with sex establishments; to enable London borough councils to exert better control over the licensing of premises which, but for the Licensing Act 2003 would be required to be licensed as sex encounter establishments; to enable London borough councils to delegate their functions under existing street trading legislation and  enable other bodies to manage street markets; to alter the street trading legislation in the City of Westminster so as to enable Westminster City Council, without a court order, to dispose of articles seized under the Act; to make further alterations to street trading  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

The Opposition gave notice of their wish to debate “Fair Funding for Haringey's Schools”

Following a succinct commentary by Councillor Williams on Fair Funding for Haringey's Schools, Councillor Santry responded on behalf of the Majority Group.

The Mayor thanked both Councillors Williams and Santry for their contributions.

The Mayor agreed to the admission of this Item 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 28 for written answer.

Oral Question 8 was not reached in the allotted time and a written answer would be supplied to this question.

a)     The Cabinet – Report No. 2, 3 & 4 / 2007-08

b)     General Purposes Committee – Report No. 1 / 2007-08

(a) CABINET REPORT 2, 3 & 4 - 2007/08 (b) GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE REPORT  1 - 2007/08 :

At this point in the proceedings the Leader of the Council made a statement in respect of the future of Alexandra Palace.

The Leader advised that he was making the statement as Leader of the local authority and taking care not to encroach on the remit of the Alexandra Park & Palace Board which had full delegated powers to make decisions on behalf of the Council as trustee of the Park & Palace.

The Leader noted with regret the judgement of the High Court in the recent judicial review proceedings which had prevented the Council as trustee from granting a long lease of the Palace to Firoka within the previously agreed timescale. The Leader further commented that he had been advised that that the Court’s decision did not contain any criticism of the Alexandra Park & Palace Board’s general strategy of granting a long lease to a commercial developer. It was the consultation process adopted by the Charity Commission which was found to be inadequate and resulted in their Order being quashed. There was nothing in the Court’s judgement to prevent a fresh Order being made after a further and fuller public consultation process.

The leader further stated that he was pleased to note that the meeting of the Alexandra Park & Palace Board on 10 October resolved to confirm the Board’s general strategy and its policy on the lease to Firoka subject to any variations that may be necessary as a result of the fresh public consultation to be undertaken by the Charity Commission, and that if all proceeds successfully, the Council as trustee could be in a position to grant the lease before the end of January 2008. In the meantime the Leader confirmed that the local authority would continue to provide financial support to the Alexandra Park & Palace trust in accordance with its statutory obligations to keep the Palace open as a place of public recreation.

Councillors Hare and Williams responded to the statement on behalf of the Opposition.

Councillor Adje and the Leader responded to points raised in relation to Councillor Adje’s position as member of the Alexandra Palace Trading Company (APTL) and that this position would be reviewed in the near future.

The Leader then gave a brief resume of the reports of Cabinet which were before the meeting for consideration.Other Members questioned details of the reports and the Leader and Cabinet Members responded accordingly.

Councillor Rahman-Khan outlined the contents of the report of the General Purposes Committee – the contents of which had been the subject of Item 10 - MOTION C which was passed by the Authority earlier in the proceedings. 

RESOLVED:

1.      That the Cabinet reports nos. 2, 3 & 4 be received and adopted.

2.      That the General Purposes Committee report no.1 be received and adopted.

Motion D (2007/08):

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

“This Council notes;

the continuous support from parents and men of the calibre of Eric Grant who suggest that the Lemuel Findlay Supplementary School (LFSS) has been serving the Black Community in this borough well - East and West - for 32 years, and that;

it was first funded in 1989 by Haringey Council's Education Department, using Section 11 funding, granted by Central Government for the relief of educational disadvantage among "New Commonwealth" descendants.

Section 11 funding has now been replaced by the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG), and the case for continued funding for LFSS is still strong.

that the Council cannot blame the voluntary Management Committee if the Council was ignorant of LFSS' performance and wage structure because Haringey Council and not the Management Committee has long employed and is responsible for its Co-ordinating Officer and 16 teachers there;

that the year-end funding withdrawal is likely to close the school, because management has been too occupied to make alternative funding applications;

This Council resolves;

to follow best practice elsewhere, amend the cut, and review its funding-sources and grants to this and all the borough's other 32 Supplementary schools relative to size, acknowledging their vital role in helping minority ethnic children, and give reality to Haringey's belief in cultural diversity.

to review the relevant internal controls and improve the clarity and  understanding among responsible officers and Cabinet members of the funding sources of services so that examples like employing teachers directly for many years in a supplementary school will not come as a surprise to the Heads of Department or Cabinet Members responsible”.

The meeting agreed that the order of the business be varied to consider item 14 – Motion D after Item 10 – Motion C.

MOTION D (2007/08):

It was moved by Councillor Oakes and seconded by Councillor Gorrie that:

“This Council notes;

the continuous support from parents and men of the calibre of Eric Grant who suggest that the Lemuel Findlay Supplementary School (LFSS) has been serving the Black Community in this borough well - East and West - for 32 years, and that;

it was first funded in 1989 by Haringey Council's Education Department, using Section 11 funding, granted by Central Government for the relief of educational disadvantage among "New Commonwealth" descendants.

Section 11 funding has now been replaced by the Ethnic Minority Achievement Grant (EMAG), and the case for continued funding for LFSS is still strong.

that the Council cannot blame the voluntary Management Committee if the Council was ignorant of LFSS' performance and wage structure because Haringey Council and not the Management Committee has long employed and is responsible for its Co-ordinating Officer and 16 teachers there;

that the year-end funding withdrawal is likely to close the school, because management has been too occupied to make alternative funding applications;

This Council resolves;

to follow best practice elsewhere, amend the cut, and review its funding-sources and grants to this and all the borough's other 32 Supplementary schools relative to size, acknowledging their vital role in helping minority ethnic children, and give reality to Haringey's belief in cultural diversity.

to review the relevant internal controls and improve the clarity and  understanding among responsible officers and Cabinet members of the funding sources of services so that examples like employing teachers directly for many years in a supplementary school will not come as a surprise to the Heads of Department or Cabinet Members responsible”.

An amendment to motion D was moved by Councillor Santry and seconded by Councillor Kober that:

Delete all after “…has been serving the Black Community in this borough well - East and West - for 32 years;” and insert:

“that Haringey Council has provided financial support to LFSS since 1989 and that the funding to the school in the last 12 months amounted to £70,000 ;

that this support to the school has been provided by including the staff on the Council’s payroll which is a practice that is no longer appropriate and needs to change;

that since 1989 Haringey has become much more diverse and now includes 36 active supplementary and community language schools only some of which receive modest funding from the council;

that a fairer and more equitable method of apportioning the available funding for supplementary and community language schools  is required urgently.

This Council resolves:

-         to support the introduction from 1 April 2008 of the new scheme for apportioning a budget of £100k to supplementary and community language schools;

-         to continue to help LFSS, so they may continue their good work, in their applications to the increasing number  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50.