Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bloch, Brabazon, Dogus, Gorrie Stewart, and Winskill,  and for lateness from Councillor Browne.

NOTED

The Chief Executive advised that there were two late items of business, which could not be available earlier, and which would need to be dealt with at the meeting.

Item 9a –  To receive reports from the following Bodies

a.    Corporate Committee Report No 4 2013/14

The Chief Executive advised that the report was late for consideration and could not be forwarded to Full Council until Corporate Committee had met on 20 March 2014  and agreed recommendations for full Council  in respect of the  of the Pay Policy Statement 2014.

Item 12  –  Questions and Written Answers

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

The Mayor MOVED and it was agreed nemine contradicente that both Items 9a and 14 be admitted.

NOTED

The Chief Executive advised that he had received one advance notice of a declaration of interest.

Councillor Reith gave advance notice of a personal interest as her partner was making a deputation to the meeting under Item 11 – Deputations and Petitions.

NOTED

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 26 February 2014 be signed as a true record.

1. The Mayor reported that the first meeting of the Haringey Council took place on 26^th May 1964, with Haringey being formed by the merging of Hornsey, Wood Green and Tottenham, so the Council was now in the 50^th year of Haringey as a new Borough.  The Mayor informed the meeting  that the first Leader of the Council at that time was Cllr Donald McIllwain and it was hope to have him and other members from that auspicious committee at the next Full Council meeting.

2. The Mayor was pleased to report her attendance at the following events:

i.                    3^rd March – representing  the Borough at the Nelson Mandela Memorial service at Westminster Abbey – a  very moving occasion with over 2,000 people present.

ii.                  8^th March - International Women’s Day,  together with Councillors Mallett and Weber - presented awards to 49 women who had been nominated as Unsung women, one of the recipients was the DLL - Rosemary Warne.

iii.                10th March  – at the ceremony where the Mayor raised the Commonwealth Flag to commemorate Commonwealth Day, attended by many people plus Leaders of all different faiths from across the Borough. The mayor advised that she had read out a letter sent to us from the Queen to mark the occasion.

iv.               11th March – to attending and hosting  the second very successful meeting of the newly formed FAITH group, which comprised of many priests of all religions, plus Iman’s and Rabbis, and welcoming also the guest speaker the  Borough Commander Victor Olisa.

v.                  15^th March – attending the festival of Purim at the house of Mr Shmuel Davidsohn with the Leader of the Council, plus Councillors Goldberg and Basu, and meeting many residents of the area plus children who were all in fancy dress to celebrate the joyous occasion.

vi.                20^th March - at the Lords Cricket ground to witness the All London Finals of the Junior cricket teams, with over 250 teams from schools from all over London competing in the hope to get to the finals. Haringey was lucky in that a team representing Year 6 from St Michaels, North Hill got through to the finals. The Mayor had watched the team play and beat a team from Waltham Forest and then a team from Ealing to get the through to the final, played against Hackney and won on the final ball of the match, a very close finish. In attendance also was the Speaker of Hackney watching every ball played with baited breath. The Team was presented with the huge cup by cricketer Mike Gatting,. Well done St Michaels!

3. The Mayor reported that, as she had promised, she had visited many neighbourhood Forums from across the Borough and now would be  visiting all the Sheltered schemes coffee mornings. The mayor also advised that she also had had the pleasure of officially opening the new extension to The Haven day centre in Waltheof Gardens and so now there were 2  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.

The Mayor advised thateveryone present was aware that the meeting was welcoming the Deputy Lord Lieutenant – Rosemary Warne who as many of you will know was retiring from the position on after 16 years of service.

The Mayor said a few words few words about the Deputy Lord Lieutenant’s exceptional time in office and her personal thanks. The Mayor then called on on Councillor Kober to move a formal resolution of thanks to Rosemary to be seconded by Councillor Wilson.

Councillor Kober spoke in fondest regard in respect of the Deputy Lord Lieutenant then MOVED that this Council formally places on record its hearty thanks to Major Rosemary Warne, M.B.E, D.L  for the care and diligence with which she has undertaken her duties during her term as Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Haringey form 1998 to 2104.

Councillor Wilson also spoke in respect of his memories and appreciation of the Deputy Lord Lieutenant and seconded Councillor Kober.

It was:

RESOLVED

that this Council formally places on record its hearty thanks to Major Rosemary Warne, M.B.E, D.L  for the care and diligence with which she has undertaken her duties during her term as Representative Deputy Lieutenant for the London Borough of Haringey from 1998 to 2104.

The Mayor then presented the Deputy Lord Lieutenant with a framed certificate in recognition.

A presentation of flowers  was then made by  reps from the Police Cadets and Armed forces.

A resounding round of applause was be given by the Council.

The Mayor asked and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant addressed the meeting.

A resounding round of applause was  given by the Council.

The Mayor reminded Members that there would be a small reception at the conclusion of the Council meeting in Committee Rooms 1 & 2 and that all Members were invited to attend.

i.              Establishing a Pensions Committee from 1 April 2014 and appointing members thereto – TO FOLLOW

ii.            Calendar of meetings 2014/15 – TO FOLLOW

iii.           Members Allowances 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015 – TO FOLLOW

The Chief Executive advised that in respect of his reports before the meeting for consideration, the report marked (i) sought approval of Full Council to the establishment of a Pensions Committee with effect from 1 April 2014, and the  report marked (ii) sought  approval of Full Council to the Calendar of meetings for 2014/15.

The Chief Executive advised  that the report marked (iii) sought approval of Full Council to the Members Allowance Scheme for the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015. The Chief Executive asked that Full Council note that  in agreeing to the report the Council was being  asked to delegate to the Assistant Director for Corporate Governance authority to make changes to paragraph  11.1 of the Scheme -  Member allowances, as detailed on page 34 of the circulated report to reflect the recent changes brought in by the DCLG in the rules affecting Councillors joining the LGPS as of 1 April 2014.

The Chief Whip moved and it was:

RESOLVED

(i)            That in respect of the circulated report marked 7(i):

a.     that approval be given to the  establishment of a Pensions      Committee, with effect from 1 April 2014, with the terms of reference of the Committee as set out at Appendix 1 of this report;

                        b.  that  approval be given,  in accordance with the rules on political proportionality, for the five councillor membership of the Pensions Committee –   to be split on a ratio of 3:2 in favour of Labour for the remainder of the current municipal year and that, for the remainder of the current municipal year 2013/14, the membership and Chair will be as follows:

Councillor Meehan (Chair)

Councillor Amin

Councillor Khan

Councillor Wilson

Councillor Beacham

c.    That it be noted that the Constitution would be updated accordingly by the Assistant Director for Corporate Governance to give effect to the new Pensions Committee, including amendments to the terms of reference and protocol of the existing Corporate Committee to reflect the changes agreed at (a) and (b) above.

ii.    That in respect of the circulated report marked 7(ii) the schedule of   meetings for 2014/15 be agreed, subject to any minor variations to meeting dates that may be required in the course of the Municipal Year 2014/15; and.

iii.         That in  respect of the circulated report marked 7(iii) the current Members’ Allowances Scheme as from 31 March 2014 be revoked, and that the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 1 April 2014 – 31 March 2015 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be adopted, and that this be adopted as the replacement for Part 6 of the Council’s Constitution, and that authority be delegated to the Assistant Director for Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer to make changes to paragraph  11.1 of the Scheme -  Member allowances, as detailed on page 34 of the circulated report to reflect the recent changes brought in by the DCLG in the rules affecting Councillors joining the LGPS as of 1 April 2014  .

There were no matters to report.

a)    Corporate  Committee Report No.3 2013/14 – TO FOLLOW

b)    Special Committee Report No.1 2013/14

c)    Special Committee Report No.2 2013/14

a.    Corporate Committee Report No 4 2013/14

Councillor Meehan – Chair of the Corporate Committee briefly introduced the TABLED report of the Corporate Committee of 20 MARCH 2014 in respect of the Pay Policy Statement 2014/15 and MOVED the adoption of the recommendations contained therein.

RESOLVED

That approval be given to the Pay Policy Statement for 2014/15 as detailed in Appendix A attached to the report.

b.      Report of the Special Committee – Report No 1 - 2013-14

Councillor MeehanMOVED the report of the Special Committee arising from the appointment of Assistant Director - Commissioning confirmed by the Special Committee that took place on 6 March 2014.

RESOLVED

That it be confirmed that in accordance with the authority’s pay policy statement, that the appointment to the post of Assistant Director – Commissioning would be in excess of  £100,000 (the salary range being £105-£120,000) and that  the offer to the successful candidate be at £110,000.00.

c.      Report of the Special Committee – Report No 2 - 2013-14

Councillor Kober  MOVED the report of the Special Committee arising from the appointment of the Deputy Chief Executive confirmed by the Special Committee that took place on 7 March 2014.

RESOLVED

That it be confirmed that in accordance with the authority’s pay policy statement, that  the appointment to the post of Deputy Chief Executive would be in excess of  £100,000 (the salary range being £130-£142,000) and that  the offer to the successful candidate be at £135,000.00.

The Chief Executive advised that the circulated report sought approval to an appointment to an outside body.

The Chief Whip MOVED and it was:

RESOLVED

That the appointment to an outside body as detailed in the schedule attached to the report be approved.

The Chief Executive reported that there was one deputation to address the meeting, and one petition. He further advised that there had been  a deputation request from Mr Petrou (local resident) and  the Mayor had ruled that this deputation be put to the Cabinet meeting on 25 June 2014.

The Chief Executive advised that the deputation was received from Quentin Given  – on behalf of Friends of the Earth and the nature of the deputation was in relation to the links between fossil fuels/extreme weather and requesting the Council to adopt a position opposing the development of any shale gas extraction in Haringey - ‘fracking’.  Mr Given was accompanied by 5 supporters of the deputation request.

The Chief Executive advised that the petition had been received from people  in respect of Rowans Site at Finsbury Park.  As the petition was in excess of 2200 signatures a debate would follow receipt of the petition and the procedure to consider this matter would be outlined by the Mayor when the petition matter was reached.  The Lead petitioner Mr Christopher Mahon was in attendance and accompanied by 3 other petitioners who have accompanied him into the Chamber.

The  Mayor asked that Mr Given address the meeting  and   keep to his allowed 5 minutes.  The Mayor advised that following questions from members to the deputee the Cabinet Member would be given 3 minutes to respond.

Mr Given addressed the meeting in respect links between fossil fuels/extreme weather and requesting the Council to adopt a position opposing the development of any shale gas extraction in Haringey - ‘fracking’. 

Members asked questions of the deputation and received responses thereto.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Employment and Carbon Reduction responded to the deputation.

The Mayor reported that a petition had been received from residents in respect the Rowans Site at Finsbury Park.  The Mayor advised that as the petition was in excess of 2200 signatures a debate would follow receipt of the petition.

The Mayor asked that the named representative give a brief presentation to the meeting for no more than 5 minutes. Mr Mahon spoke in respect of the Rowans Site for 5 minutes.

Members sought clarification on points of clarification of the petitioners.

A 15 minute debate amongst members of the essence of the petition took place.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement responded to the petitioners.

The Mayor thanked both the deputee and petitioners for their attendance.

ORAL QUESTION 1 - TO THE Cabinet Member for Finance, Employment and Carbon Reduction FROM COUNCILLORChristophides:

The Department of Energy and Climate Change has just announced that Haringey will lead one of the first Green Deal Community Fund schemes; can the Cabinet Member update members on what this means for the borough?

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

The cabinet decision on implementing a borough wide 20mph limit was first due to be taken in November 2013, but has now been postponed several times and no longer even appears on the Council's forward plan.  Has the Labour cabinet u-turned on 20mph limits?

ORAL QUESTION 3 - TO THE Cabinet Member for Planning and Enforcement FROM COUNCILLOR Demirci:

Can the Cabinet Member update members on the Council’s work to tackle problems around HMOs in the borough?

ORAL QUESTION 4 - TO THE LEADER OF THE COUNCIL FROM COUNCILLOR WILLIAMS:

Can she confirm that two sitting Labour councillors received court summons for non-payment of council tax between April 2011 and March 2012, and say what action she has taken to ensure Labour councillors pay council tax?

ORAL QUESTION 5 - TO THE Cabinet Member for Communities FROM COUNCILLOR KHAN:

In the face of ongoing police cuts, can the Cabinet Member tell us what the Council is doing to ensure that our community safety provision in the borough is not affected?

ORAL QUESTION 6 - THE CABINET MEMBER FOR ENVIRONMENT FROM COUNCILLOR JENKS:

How many pot holes have been reported since the February Full Council meeting?

ORAL QUESTION 7 - TO THE Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Housing FROM COUNCLLOR BASU:

Given that the Government has not committed to fund the Decent Homes Programme post 2014/15, can the Cabinet Member outline what the Council’s plans are for continued investment?

ORAL QUESTION 8 - TO THE CABINET MEMBER FOR housing and regeneration FROM COUNCLLOR WILSON:

In the last 5 years how much decent homes money has been spent on council homes which the council now wish to demolish in the High Road West area?

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 12 for written answer. Oral Question 8 was not reached for which a written answer would be provided.

NOTED

MOTION D 2013-14

Councillor Wilson has given notice that he will MOVE the following MOTION:

This Council notes that local residents will be concerned to read news stories published by the Haringey Independent and the Morning Star that suggest Labour Councillor Alan Strickland led a Council delegation earlier this month to Cannes in the south of France to meet property developers on board a luxury yacht, and that this trip cost £16,000.

This Council calls on the Chief Financial Officer and the Monitoring Officer to urgently investigate the costs and propriety of making such a trip, to establish:

- which councillors and officers took part in this trip, and how and when the decision to travel to Cannes was made;

- who was aware of this decision and why most councillors only discovered this trip had been made through the news media;

- what were the itemised expenses and total cost of the trip;

- whether the trip was sponsored by private companies who might profit from redevelopment plans, and whether this could result in potential conflicts of interest amongst councillors and officers who took part; and

- the names of the individuals and companies which the delegation met

This Council further calls on the Chief Council Officer and the Monitoring Officer to publish the findings of their investigation within 1 month of this full council meeting and send copies of their report to all councillors

MOTION E 2013-14

Councillor Bull has given notice that he will MOVE the following MOTION:

This Council believes:

• Clause 119 of the Government’s Care Bill is a major change in Government policy on reconfiguration that will allow the Health Secretary to make major changes to hospitals above the heads of local people and local clinicians

• Clause 119 is not only taking decision making powers away from local commissioners but shortchanging patients. The Francis report was clear that we need to find better ways of hearing the patient voice.

• Given the financial pressures on many NHS organisations, the special administration process is likely to be used on an increasing basis in the future, raising the prospect of the Secretary of State forcing hospital closures over the heads of local communities

• There is sometimes a need to make changes to local services, but the TSA route is the wrong way to do this. It is a dramatically wrong solution to a very real problem.

This Council notes:

• Under the current Government, £2.7 billion has been cut from local council budgets for adult social care and the system is now close to collapse. Charges for vital care services, like home help and meals on wheels, are increasing fast and preventative services have all but disappeared in many areas.

• The Institute for Fiscal Studies says “Once adjusted for age, the NHS is being cut by 9% between 2010 and 2019. Suffering five years of annual 4% "efficiency saving" cuts, with the same for another five years to come; it has a £30bn funding gap.”

• Clause 119 gives the  ...  view the full agenda text for item 103.

Motion D (2013/14)

The Mayor advised that in respect of MOTION D an amendment had been submitted by the Lib/Dem Group to their substantive MOTION D.

In respect of the substantive MOTION D and the amendment by the Lib Dem Group the Mayor advised that it would be Councillor Reece to move the MOTION and not Cllr Wilson as stated on the summons, and Councillor  Wilson would second the MOTION.

The amendment was moved by Councillor Reece and seconded by Councillor Wilson that:

This Council notes that local residents will be concerned to read news stories published by the Haringey Independent and the Morning Star that suggest Labour Councillor Alan Strickland led a Council delegation earlier this month to Cannes in the south of France to meet property developers on board a luxury yacht, and that this trip cost £16,000.

This Council notes the results of the Deputy Monitoring Officer's investigation which was sent to all councillors on 21st March and which reveals:

- that the cost of the trip was £22,000 rather than the £16,000 claimed in the Council's press release of 12th March;

- that over £3,000 was spent on accommodation and travel for Cllr Strickland and the Director of Regeneration;

- according to Haringey's constitution the decision to spend money on this trip should have been made public and reported at a cabinet meeting, but this did not happen; and

- sponsorship was received from five private companies with a commercial interest in Haringey's redevelopment plans, without any particular consideration for potential conflicts of interest

This Council calls on the Leader of the Council to:

- publish the Deputy Monitoring Officer's report on the Council's website;

- ensure all future delegated decisions are properly reported at cabinet according to the constitution, particularly those involving foreign trips;

- increase transparency about the Council's relationship with developers and consultants and other private firms that stand to benefit from regeneration projects, and avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest; and

- commit to ensuring the regeneration of Tottenham benefits ordinary residents rather than just developers and consultants. 

The Mayor asked if the amendment to the MOTION was accepted.

On a VOTE there being 16 for, 30 against and 3 abstentions the amendment was lost.

Councillor Reece then MOVED, and Councillor Wilson seconded, the substantive MOTION D as follows:

This Council notes that local residents will be concerned to read news stories published by the Haringey Independent and the Morning Star that suggest Labour Councillor Alan Strickland led a Council delegation earlier this month to Cannes in the south of France to meet property developers on board a luxury yacht, and that this trip cost £16,000.

This Council calls on the Chief Financial Officer and the Monitoring Officer to urgently investigate the costs and propriety of making such a trip, to establish:

- which councillors and officers took part in this trip, and how and when the decision to travel to Cannes was made;

- who was aware of this decision  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103.