Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence was received from Councillors Alexander, Baker, Beynon, Hoban, Oakes and Stanton.

See minutes 93, 101 & 105.

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.

Councillor Beacham declared a personal interest in item 15 –Motion H, as he was an employee of London Underground.

Councillor Butcher declared a personal interest in item 11 – Financial Planning and approval of the Council Tax for 2008/09 as he was a Member of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority for which a portion of the precept was paid to.

Councillor Cooke declared a personal interest in item 10 – deputation on Wood Green Police Station design, as he was a resident of Bounds Green.

Councillor Adje declared a personal interest in item 11 – Financial Planning and approval of the Council Tax for 2008/09 and Motion H, as he was an employee of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority for which a portion of the precept was paid to.

Councillor Reith declared a personal interest in Motion H, as she was an appointed Member of London Travel Watch, which was part of the GLA group. Councillor Reith also declared a personal interest in Emergency Motion I, as she was a former Council tenant.

Councillor Engert declared a personal interest in Motion H, as she was an appointed Member of London Travel Watch, which was part of the GLA group.

Councillor Haley declared a personal interest in item 11 – Financial Planning and approval of the Council Tax for 2008/09 and Motion H, as he was employed as a Waterways Commissioner – part of the GLA group.

Councillor Bevan declared a personal and prejudicial interest in item 15 – Emergency Motion J  relating to Post Office closures, as he was a member of Post Office Watch.

Councillor C Harris declared a personal interest in Emergency Motion I, as she was a former Council tenant.

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. Failure to make a relevant declaration constitutes a criminal offence.

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 admit the minutes as urgent business. Because of the short timescale between the last meeting and this, it was not possible to circulate the minutes with the summons. The minutes should be confirmed at the next available meeting of the Council.

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

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 4 February 2008 be signed as a true record.

1. The Mayor on behalf of the Full Council congratulated graduate trainees Becky Cribb and Lucy Cranshaw who will represent Haringey next month at the Young Local Authority of the Year 2008 final.  They won their place in the final by winning the London Borough Council of the Year.  This competition recognised outstanding new talent within local authorities. The Mayor wished both Becky and Lucy good luck.

2. The Mayor reminded Members of his second fundraising Jazz Evening on Wednesday 29^th February  at Elements Wine Bar . Tickets were only £10 available now or on the door and all proceeds would go towards supporting Haringey Young Musicians.

There were no matters to report.

There were no matters to report.

There were no matters to report.

At this point Councillor Whyte moved that Emergency Motion I be considered after Item 10. The meeting agreed to the variation of business on the agenda.

A deputation was received from residents opposing the design of Wood Green Police Station. The deputation was lead by Kate Franzman.

The Monitoring Officer advised members of the Planning Committee not to speak on this item as it was likely to be subject to a planning application.

Members asked questions of the deputation and received responses thereto.

The Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Safer Communities responded to the deputation.

The Mayor thanked the deputation for attending.

It was moved by Councillor Williams and seconded by Councillor Whyte that:

This Council calls on the Leader to make an urgent statement on media reports that sensitive personal data has been left dumped in a vacated council building in Crouch End, including all the information required to commit identity fraud.

This council calls for an independent review on how this situation has arisen, and to contact urgently all those affected whose confidentiality has been compromised.

This council calls on the Leader of the council to apologise to the people of Haringey for this disgraceful and damaging breach of confidentiality.

Other Members contributed to the debate.

The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED unanimously.

The Mayor agreed to admit the report as urgent business. The report could not be circulated earlier as vital information was awaited from the preceptors.  The report needed to be admitted in order that the Council Tax may be set for 2008/09.

Councillor Adje highlighted the recommendations as detailed in the report. Other Members contributed to the debate.

At this point Councillor Whyte moved that Emergency Motion K be considered. The meeting agreed to the variation of business on the agenda.

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

“This Council

Notes that Labour councillors are writing to residents saying that Labour is to again change its policy of charging those over 65s for leisure services.

Calls on the Leader of the Council to urgently clarify the position of the majority group at the Full Council on Monday 18^th February.

Calls on the Council to scrap any changes to the charging structure for leisure services, and to finance the retention of the current charging structure by deleting Cabinet posts as proposed in the Lib Dem alternative budget a the Full council meeting on 2^nd February 2008”.

 Other Members contributed to the debate.

On a vote there being 19 for, and 30 against the motion was declared LOST.

Councillor Adje then moved the budget report. There being 30 for and 19 against it was:

RESOLVED:

1.      That the final settlement be noted and the way forward as outlined in the circulated report in respect of the levying authorities and Local Authority Business Growth Incentive scheme be agreed.

2.      That the business unit cash limits, set out in Appendix C of the report, be agreed.

3.      That the Greater London Authority precept be noted.

4.      That the reserves policy as set out in Appendix E of the report, be agreed.

5.      That the budget resolution in the specified format as set out in the attached appendix be agreed.

At this point Councillor Whyte moved that Emergency Motion J be considered after Item 12. The meeting agreed to the variation of business on the agenda.

The opposition gave notice of their wish to debate Crime in Haringey.

Councillor Aitken spoke on behalf of the Opposition Group. Councillor Canver responded on behalf of the Majority Group.

The Mayor thanked Councillors for their contributions

Itwas movedby Councillor Williamsand secondedby CouncillorWilson that:

“This Council deplores the Government's plans to close 2,500 post offices across the UK.

This council notes how vital all the boroughs Post Offices are to the communities and retail centres of Haringey.

This Council will oppose any plans to close Post Office branches in Haringey.

This Council therefore calls on the Government to:  

1. Scrap the consultation due to start on 19th February, and end its branch closure programme;
2. Remove the Royal Mail restrictions on the Post Office to open up further business opportunities for the network;
3. Stop removing Government business from Post Offices;
4. Carry out a review of which additional Government functions could be carried out through the Post Offices;
5. Invest in the Post Office Network”.

The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED unanimously.

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 7 oral questions and 25 for written answer.

Oral Questions 3 -7 were not reached in the allotted time and written answers were supplied to these questions.

The Mayor announced that he wished to bring the meeting to a close as it was past 22.00 hours.

The Chief Executive read out Council Procedure Rule 7 relating to the procedure for dealing with remaining business. In view of the ambiguity within Council Procedure Rule 7, the Monitoring Officer advised that the previous practice of adopting outstanding reports without debate and the remaining business falling should be adhered to, but it would be open to the Mayor to agree that the remaining Motion H be carried over to the following meeting as an acceptable solution whilst the Council Procedure Rule was clarified.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet report number 9 be received and adopted.