Agenda and minutes

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Bob Harris and for absence from Councillors Aitken, Beynon, Bloch, Bull, Demirci and Weber.

See minutes 81 & 88.

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 Meehan declared a personal interest in Item 12 – Financial Planning as a Freedom Pass Holder.

Councillor Winskill declared a personal interest in Item 12 – Financial Planning as he was a Leaseholder within the Borough and also that a relative was a user of facilities provided by Social Services.

Councillor Adje declared a personal interest in Item 12 – Financial Planning as he was an employee of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority for which a portion of the precept was paid to.

Councillor Butcher declared a personal interest in Item 12 – Financial planning, as he was an appointed Member of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority for which a portion of the precept was paid to and was a joint leaseholder of a Homes for Haringey property.

Councillor Peacock declared a personal interest in Item 12 – Financial Planning as a Freedom Pass Holder.

Councillor Mallett declared a personal interest in Item 12 – Financial Planning as she was carer in the Borough.

Councillor Patel declared a personal interest in Item 12 – Financial Planning as a Freedom Pass Holder.

Councillor Lister declared a personal interest in Item 12 – Financial Planning as he was employed as a full time official of Unison.

Members to whom this applies must make a declaration if they are present at any part of the meeting and must not vote on any matter relating to the budget.  It is not sufficient for such members to refrain from voting or to absent themselves from the chamber for particular parts of the meeting.

Members were reminded of the need to consider whether they needed to make a declaration in accordance with Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 in relation to unpaid community charge or council tax liability, which was two months or more outstanding. 

No such declarations were made.

The Mayor agreed to the admission of this Item as urgent business. Due to the very short timescale between the last meeting and the despatch date of the summons for this meeting, it had not been possible to circulate the minutes with the Summons, and that minutes should be confirmed at the next available Council meeting.

Copies of the Minutes had been TABLED, and they were taken as read.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 21 January 2008 be signed as a true record.

1.      The Mayor congratulated Haringey’s Planning Department who received an award from the Mayor of London.  The commendation was for the Tottenham Hale Master Plan.  Haringey came 2^nd behind the Kings Cross Development.

2.      The Mayor thanked all the Officers and Members for their work in organising four events to mark this year’s Holocaust Memorial. The Kindertransport Exhibition would remain in the Wood Green Library until the 24^th February, and the Mayor urged Members to make time to visit this they had not already done so.

RESOLVED

1.      That the appointment of John Suddaby as Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer with effect from 14 January 2008 be noted.

2.      That the appointment by the Licensing Committee of Councillor Dodds to a vacancy on its Licensing Sub-Committee C (arising from the resignation of Councillor Dobbie) be noted.

There were no matters to report.

There were no matters to report.

There were no deputations or petitions.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor George Meehan, gave the following “State of the Borough” address:

Mr Mayor, fellow Councillors, Chief Executive, Officers, ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to stand before you once again in this chamber as Leader of this Labour administration, to report on the state of the borough at the end of this municipal year.

Mr Mayor, Haringey today is a place where people from all corners of the world can find a welcome and become part of our community. We are one of the most diverse communities in the country, if not in Europe, but we are a cohesive borough, where eight out of 10 of our residents agree that people from different backgrounds get on well together.

In a time of continuing tension worldwide, with communities too often divided on religious or ethnic lines, this is a considerable achievement.

And it is an achievement which has not come about by accident. It is the result of our continuing commitment as a Council to equality, to listening to all our people, and to acting in the interests of all.

Mr Mayor, I was forcefully reminded of that commitment in October, when the eyes of the world were on us as we celebrated the life and achievements of one of our most famous residents, Oliver Tambo.

On that day I had the privilege of unveiling the memorial at Albert Road Recreation Ground, with the First Lady of South Africa Mrs Mbeki, the Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw, members of the Tambo family, and other dignitaries from home and abroad.

Mr Mayor, the Tambo family came to Haringey to escape persecution, and found a community that embraced them and supported their struggle.  And many families over the years have made that same journey, to find a welcoming home in our borough.

In celebrating the life of Oliver Tambo on that wonderful day in October, we and our people were re-affirming our values of equality and fairness for all.

Those are the values that underpin our commitment as a Council, and we will continue to assert those values as we move forward, working together with all our people, and with our partners.

We can improve services and meet the needs of all our residents better by harnessing our resources and the resources of our partners so we move forward together. Maintaining the strong effective partnerships we enjoy with public bodies and private organisations, is an important priority for this council.

That is the way, Mr Mayor, that we will deliver the best possible services for our residents: in partnership. Formally co-ordinating our work and pooling our resources through the Haringey Strategic Partnership - and informally, on a daily basis with residents, community groups, businesses and other public authorities.

And equality is of course central to our Partnership vision, to make Haringey a place for diverse communities that people are proud to belong to.

To that end, on March 3rd this year, I will launch a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

a)     The Cabinet – Report number 8 – 2007/8 – Financial Planning 2008/9 -2010/11.

b)     Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Report number 3 – 2007/8 (To follow).

The Mayor agreed to the admission of the TABLED Overview and Scrutiny Committee report as urgent business. The report was not available at the time of despatch as the meeting was not held until 31January 2008.

Councillor Adje introduced the Cabinet Report 8-2007/08 – Financial Planning 2008/09 to 2010/11. A debate ensued and other Members contributed to the discussion. 

On a VOTE there being 29 for, and 19 against, it was

RESOLVED:

That report 8 /2007-8 of the Cabinet be received and adopted and that the following recommendations contained in the appendix to report number 8 be agreed:

1.      To agree the changes and variations set out at paragraph 9.3 and appendix B of the report.

2.      To note the outcome of the consultation processes set out at paragraph 11 of the report.

3.      To agree the new investment proposals set out in appendix D of the report.

4.      To agree the revised and new savings proposals set out in appendix E of the report.

5.      To approve the approach and provision for redundancies as set out in paragraph 13.5 of the report.

6.      To agree the proposals for the children’s services (DSG) budget set out in appendix F of the report.

7.      To agree the proposals for the HRA budget set out in appendix G of the report.

8.      To approve the housing rent increase at an average of £4.77 per week (6.5%) and that this element of the budget package be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for comment.

9.      To approve the housing service charge increase at an average of £2.55 per week.

10. To agree the proposals for the capital programme and funding set out in appendices H and J and the capital resource allocation policy at appendix I of the report.

11. To agree the treasury management strategy and policy and prudential limits set out in appendix K of the report.

12. To agree the proposed general fund budget requirement of £399.578m, subject to the decisions of precepting and levying authorities, and the consequences for council tax levels.

13. To note that the final decision on budget and council tax for 2008/09 will be made at the Council meeting on 18 February.

Councillor Egan (in the absence of Councillor Bull) introduced the TABLED  Overview and Scrutiny Committee report no 3. Following some clarifications it was agreed to receive the report and its contents.

RESOLVED

That the report no. 3 of the special meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 31 January 2008 be received and noted.