Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alexander, Engert, Erskine, Gorrie, Newton, Scott and Stennett.

At this point in the proceedings the Chief Whip – Councillor Egan requested a variation in the proceedings to consider agenda Item 17 – Reports of Committee after agenda item 12, in order to ensure that the item is considered during the evening’s proceedings.

The meeting agreed the variation to the order of business nemine contradicente.

The Assistant Chief Executive – Mr Young advised that there were 2 late item of business, which could not be available earlier, and which would need to be dealt with at this meeting.

Item 9 – Report of the Assistant Chief Executive

Mr Young advised that the report detailed an amendment to the Membership of the Overview and Scrutiny – Scrutiny Review Panels, agreed by Full Council on 21 May 2012,  to reflect the agreed protocol for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and its Scrutiny Review Panels. The amendment required was identified after the summons for the meeting was despatched.

Item 16  – Questions and Written Answers

Mr Young advised that notice of questions was not requested until 8 clear days before the meeting, following which the matters raised have to be researched and replies prepared to be given at the meeting.

A member with a disclosable pecuniary interest or a prejudicial interest in a matter who attends a meeting of the authority at which the matter is considered:

(i) must disclose the interest at the start of the meeting or when the interest becomes apparent, and

(ii) may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must withdraw from the meeting room.

A member who discloses at a meeting a disclosable pecuniary interest which is not registered in the Register of Members’ Interests or the subject of a pending notification must notify the Monitoring Officer of the interest within 28 days of the disclosure.

Disclosable pecuniary interests, personal interests and prejudicial interests are defined at Paragraphs 5-7 and Appendix A of the Members’ Code of Conduct

Councillor Mallett sought clarification from the Monitoring officer in that she thought that she may have a disclosable pecuniary interest as a Member of the Credit Union, in agenda item 16 - oral question 1.

The Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer – Mr Ryan advised that this did not constitute a disclosable pecuniary interest.

 Councillor Adje declared a personal interest in Item a Member of the Local Government Pension Scheme.

The Assistant Chief Executive advised of an advance personal declaration received from Councillor Rahman Khan in agenda item 18 – Motion B.

NOTED

1. The Mayor welcomed pupils from Gladesmore School who gave a performance of their soon to be released charity song ‘Everybody dreams’.

After the performance the Council stood and gave a resounding round of applause to the performers.

2. The Mayor presented Councillor Gina Adamou with the Past Mayor’s         Certificate, the contents of which read “with sincere thanks and                 appreciation for the services rendered to the borough during the past        year by both Cllr Adamou and Mayor’s consort Andreas. The Council gave a round of applause to Councillor Adamou.

3. The Mayor informed the meeting that Paul Dennison - Political Adviser to the Lib/Dem Group was leaving the Council’s service in early August and this would be his last Council meeting. On behalf of the Council the Mayor thanked and wished Mr Dennison well for the future.   The Council gave a round of applause.

The following item is likely to be the subject of a motion to exclude the press and public from the meeting as it contains “exempt” information as defined within paras 1,3 & 5 of Section 12A of the Local Government Act 1972: namely that it contains information that relates to a particular employee, information relating to the business or financial affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information) and also information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained.

On a MOTION by the Mayor it was:

     RESOLVED

that the press and public be excluded from the meeting as Item 5 contained exempt information as defined in Section 100a of the Local Government 1972 – paras 1,3 & 5  ; namely information relating to an individual, information relating to the business or financial affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information), and information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings, namely a counsel’s opinion.

The meeting adjourned at 19.43hrs and reconvened at 19.51hrs.

SUMMARY OF EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL PROCEEDINGS

CNCL 024 - Corporate Committee – Report No. 1 – 2012/13 & b) Special Committee -  Report No. 1 – 2012/13

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

a) CORPORATE COMMITTEE REPORT NO 1 - 2012/13 - 28 JUNE 2012

b) SPECIAL COMMITTEE REPORT NO 1 - 2012 /13  - 5 JULY 2012

Corporate Committee – Report No. 1 – 2012/13 & b) Special Committee -  Report No. 1 – 2012/13

The Mayor asked thatCouncillor Kober to present the report that went to Special Committee on 5 July 2012 under Part 4 Paragraph 3 of the Council’s Constitution together with the recommendations contained therein. The report was a joint report that went to both the Special Committee on 5 July and Corporate Committee on 28 June and was marked “A “in the papers before Council.

Councillor Koberoutlined the process for consideration of the report before the Council – beingthe report marked “A” which went to both the Special Committee on 5 July and Corporate Committee on 28 June relating to the early retirement of Chief Executive. Following consideration and debate on the report and its recommendations the meeting will then move to a vote on the recommendations contained in the report. Councillor Kober advised that the relevant recommendations from Special Committee which the Council needed to approve were contained in paragraphs 2.6 and 2.7 of the Joint Report. The recommendations that went to Corporate Committee for approval were contained in paragraphs 2.1 to 2.4 of the joint report.

Councillor Kober further advised that the Assistant Chief Executive – Mr Young would remain during consideration of this part of the proceedings, and following the vote Mr Young will then leave the proceedings for consideration of the report marked “B” which went to the Special Committee on 5 July and related to the Interim arrangements for the Head of Paid Service in the event the proposals set out in the earlier report are agreed. The meeting would then consider the recommendations contained in the report marked “B” in the Council pack and then MOVE to a vote.

Councillor Kober then formally MOVED the recommendations contained in paragraphs 2.6 to 2.7 of the report that went to Special Committee on 5 July and which is marked “A” in the Council pack, and reserved her right to speak until later in the debate.

 Councillor Meehan asked that the Council to note and approve the decisions and recommendations of the Corporate Committee contained in the report that went to the Corporate Committee on 28 June and the report from Corporate Committee to Council, and he reserved his right to speak until later in the debate.

Other members then contributed to the debate.

Councillors Meehan and Kober responded to the comments at the end of the debate.

The Mayor asked if the recommendations from the Special Committee and Corporate Committee as set out in the report to Special Committee on 5 July and Corporate Committee on 28 June 2012 and as stated in the reports received from both Committees were agreed.

A named vote was requested.

For: The Mayor (Councillor Browne), the Deputy Mayor (Councillor Peacock), Councillors Adamou, Adje, Amin, Basu, Bevan, Brabazon, Bull, Canver, Christophides, Cooke, Demirci, Diakides, Dogus, Egan, Ejiofor, Gibson, Goldberg, Griffith,  Khan, Kober, Mallett, McNamara, Meehan, Reith, Rice, Stewart, Strickland, Vanier, Waters,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

RESOLVED

That the public and press be readmitted to the meeting for the remainder of the business.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 23 May 2011 be signed as a true record.

The Mayor agreed to the admission of this report as urgent business. The an amendment to the Membership of the Overview and Scrutiny – Scrutiny Review Panels, agreed by Full Council on 21 May 2012,  to reflect the agreed protocol for the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and its Scrutiny Review Panels. The amendment required was identified after the summons for the meeting was despatched.

The Chief Whip – Councillor Egan, in moving the recommendations within the report, advised of  the an amendment to the membership of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee – Scrutiny Review Panels,  and a variation  in respect of the current membership of the Disciplinary and Dismissal Appeal/Job Evaluation Appeals /Grievance Panel.

In respect of the membership of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee Scrutiny Review Panels – the wording shown in the appendix 1 attached to the report be amended by the deletion of the words ‘who do not sit on the OSC’ after the word ‘non- executive’.

In respect of the Membership pool of  Disciplinary and Dismissal Appeal/Job Evaluation Appeal /Grievance Panels, the inclusion of Councillor Lyne Weber into the pool of members.

 .

The Opposition Chief Whip – Councillor Whyte seconded the MOTION and its amendment/variation.

RESOLVED

 i.  that the composition of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee -  Scrutiny Review Panels be amended as follows:

The Chair of each of the 4 Scrutiny Review Panels shall be a member of the OSC, to be determined by the OSC at their first meeting.The composition  of each Scrutiny Review Panel shall be between 3 and 7 members , and be politically proportionate as far as possible (including the Chair), and that apart from the Chair, the other Panel members to be non-executive members.

Each Scrutiny Review Panel shall be entitled to appoint up to three non-voting co-optees.

If there is a Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Review Panel, the membership shall include the statutory education representatives of OSC. The education representatives would also attend the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings where reports from a relevant Scrutiny Review Panel are considered.

ii. that the membership pool of the Disciplinary and Dismissal   Appeal/Job Evaluation Appeal /Grievance Panels, be varied by the inclusion of Councillor Lyne Weber into the pool of members.

There were no matters to report.

Report of the Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer.

The Chief Whip MOVED and it was:

RESOLVED:

That with immediate effect;

(i)     that approval be given to The Members’ Code of Conduct as  attached at Appendix 1 of the report;

(ii)  that approval be given to the arrangements for dealing with allegations that a member had failed to comply with the code, as attached at Appendix 2 of the report;

(iii)that the terms of reference of the Standards Committee, Assessment Sub-Committee and Hearing Sub-Committee as set out in Appendix 3 of the report be reaffirmed;

(iv)that approval be given  to the amendments to the Constitution consequential to the changes to the ethical framework, as set out at Appendix 4 of the report;

(v)  that Rachel Hatch and Christopher Watts be appointed as the Council’s Primary and Secondary Independent Persons respectively  for a period of four years pursuant to Section 28 of the Localism Act; and

(vi)that in respect of (v) above remuneration of the for the Primary Independent Person be £1000 per annum and  the Secondary Independent person £250 per annum from 1 July 2012- 30 June in any year, pro-rata from the date of appointment for 2012/13.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive

The Chief Whip MOVED and it was:

RESOLVED

That approval be given to the adoption of the Council Plan 2012-14.

In accordance with the agreed variation Item 17 would next be considered

a) Corporate  Committee Report No 2 - 2012/13 

a) CORPORATE COMMITTEE REPORT NO 2  2012/13

Councillor Meehan MOVED the recommendations as contained in the report.

Members sought clarification to matters contained within the report.

RESOLVED:

That Treasury Management activity and performance during 2011/12 be noted.

RESOLVED:

That the appointments to outside bodies be approved, as detailed in the Appendix to the report.

There were no deputations or petitions to report.

The Assistant Chief Executive outlined the procedure for the fourth occasion where the Council had a Haringey Debate.

The Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Social Inclusion , Councillor Strickland, gave an introduction of the debate on Positive Futures – Tackling the impact of the UK Jobs Crisis  in Haringey.

Councillor Strickland introduced Mr Peter Kyle – ACEVO, and Ms Monique Knight – Supamums who would address the meeting,.

The Mayor invited Mr Kyle and then Ms Knight to each give a  5 minute presentation. Both addressed the meeting and following each of their personal addresses and questions from Members and responses, the Mayor thanked both for their addresses and they received a round of applause

Following this the Mayor announced that there would be 45 minutes for debating, with a maximum of 3 minutes speaking time for each speaker.

At the conclusion of the debate, the Mayor invited Councillor Goldberg to respond.

The Mayor thanked members for their participation.

ORAL QUESTION 1 – TO THE CABINET MEMBER FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL INCLUSIONFROM COUNCILLOR RAHMAN-KHAN

In light of the council’s support for the local credit union, can the portfolio holder outline some of the advantages for residents of joining as a member of a credit union?   

ORAL QUESTION 2 – TO THE CABINET MEMBER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT FROM COUNCILLOR REECE:

What changes were made to the introduction of fortnightly residual waste collections in Phase 2 after the pilot in the Spring?

ORAL QUESTION 3 – TO THE CABINET MEMBER FOR FINANCE AND CARBON REDUCTION FROMCOUNCILLOR GIBSON

Can the portfolio holder give an update on the council’s plans for furthering the use of solar panels in Haringey? 

ORAL QUESTION 4 – TO THE CABINET MEMBER FOR FINANCE AND CARBON REDUCTION FROMCOUNCILLOR JENKS

Why has the Council not used the £300k saving identified in IT to reopen Day Centres, Drop-in Centres and Luncheon Clubs?

ORAL QUESTION 5 – TO THE CABINET MEMBER FOR CHILDREN FROM COUNCILLOR STENNET

Can the portfolio holder give us an update on the initial stages of the Education Commission?

ORAL QUESTION 6 –TO THE CABINET MEMBER FOR FINANCE AND CARBON REDUCTIONFROM COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS

Why is the Council paying to advertise the ‘One Borough One Future’ fund in Westminster?

ORAL QUESTION 7 – TO DEPUTY LEADER OF THE COUNCIL AND CABINET MEMBER FOR HEALTH AND ADULT SERVICESFROM COUNCILLOR STENNET

Can the portfolio holder outline what the council is doing to help tackle the issue of childhood obesity in the borough?

ORAL QUESTION 8 – TO THE CABINET MEMBER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT FROM COUNCILLOR ALEXANDER:

How many residents have reported missed collections since the introduction of fortnightly residual waste collectionscompared with same period last year?

The Chief Whip MOVED that due to the late hour it would not be possible to consider Oral Questions 1-8 and written answers be supplied to these questions.

The MOTION was carried nemine contradicente.

Motion A (2012/13)

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

This Council

·        recognises the importance of local post offices to decent neighbourhoods and strong communities.

·        welcomes the fact that after 20 years of reductions of service and closure of post offices to the detriment of local communities, the current coalition government is investing £1.3 billion to stabilise, improve and extend the services of post offices throughout the UK.

Council notes

·        the recent request from the Post Office Minister for councils to enter into strategic relationships with the Post Office to:

        Review the current location of post offices

        Review the services which they provide at present and could do in the future

        Look at ways of enhancing co-operation between the Post Office and all public sector bodies, but particularly the Council

        Develop methods for working together to deal with problems of financial exclusion. 

The Council resolves

·        To ask the Chief Executive to write to the chair of the Post Office to invite talks for the establishment of such a partnership in Haringey and to offer that the council provides a lead.

Motion B (2012/13)

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

This Council believes:

-         At a time when many low/middle income families are struggling to cope with the impact of tax and benefit changes and rising households costs, it is wrong for the Government to prioritise giving a £40,000 income tax cut to 14,000 millionaires across the UK    

-    This is particularly the case given that low income households with children in Haringey have been disproportionately hit by cuts in working tax credits since April 2012 

This council notes:

-     Around 1880 Haringey families in part time work have seen their working tax credits cut by up to £3,870 a year as a result of the Government increasing the amount of hours couples are required to work from 16 to 24 hours     

-         In the current economic climate, the majority of couples in part time work will find it difficult to increase the hours they work in order to be eligible for tax credits. 

-         The cuts in working tax credits are impacting the lives of around 5000 children in Haringey

-         Around 1900 families in Haringey are at the same time losing help with childcare costs.

-         For those families affected by the tax credit changes, the cuts negate any small benefit obtained from the rise in the income tax threshold introduced in April 2012

-         The cuts in working tax credits undermine the Government’s claims to be ‘making work pay’ as extra financial support for the low paid in part time work is withdrawn at a time of rising rents, transport costs and childcare costs  

This Council resolves:

-         To write to the chancellor asking that he cancels the proposed cut in the top rate of income tax being introduced in April 2013

-         To ask the chancellor to reinstate working tax credits for low paid  ...  view the full agenda text for item 36.

Motions A & B (2012/13)

Motions A & B was not reached due to the late hour.