Agenda and minutes

1.            To elect the Mayor for the ensuing year.

[The Local Government Act 1972 provides as follows with regard to election of Mayor:-

Schedule 2, paragraphs 2(1) and 13(3) – The Mayor shall be elected annually by the Council from among the Councillors.

Schedule 2, paragraph 3(1) – The election of the Mayor shall be the first business transacted at the Annual Meeting of the Council.

Schedule 2, paragraph 3(3) – In the case of an equality of votes, the person presiding at the meeting shall give a casting vote in addition to any other vote he/she may have.

The Mayor called for nominations for the Office of Mayor for the Municipal Year 2014/15.

Councillor Meehan moved and Councillor Egan seconded that Councillor Amin be elected Mayor.

It was:

RESOLVED:

1.                 That Councillor Kaushika Amin be elected Mayor for the Municipal Year 2014/15.

2.                 The Mayor made and signed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, which was witnessed by Councillors Meehan and Egan.

3.                 The Mayor then addressed the Council, gave thanks for her election and outlined her objectives for her year of office.

4.                 The Mayor’s Consorts, Sitara Amin Tilly, and Tara Scott were then invested with their Badges of Office.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors G Bull, Doron, Goldberg, Hare and Hearn.

The Chief Executive advised of the need to agree the admission of the following late items of business, which could not be available earlier, and which needed to be dealt with at this meeting. The reasons for lateness and urgency were as follows:

Item 10 -  Committees and Sub-Committees- Report of the Chief Executive

To agree the report detailing the appointments procedure,  and the appointments to Committees, Sub-Committees and other bodies for the Municipal Year 2014/15.

The Chief Executive advised that the report was not available at the time of despatch as it included recent changes proposed following party group meetings. It was urgent in order to permit changes to be made to committee memberships.

Item 11 – Appointments to outside bodies

To agree the report detailing the appointments to outside bodies for the Municipal Year 2014/15.

The Chief Executive advised that the report was not available at the time of despatch as it included recent changes proposed following party group meetings. It was urgent in order to permit changes to be made to to outside organisation memberships.

Item 12 – Noting the appointments made by political groups and to take such action as may be appropriate

The Chief Executive advised that the report was not available at the time of despatch as it included recent changes following party group meetings.

RESOLVED

That approval be given to the admission of Items 10, 11, and 12 as late items of business as detailed in the introduction by the Chief Executive.

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 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.

No declarations were made.

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 24 March 2014 be signed as a true record.

[The Local Government Act 1972 provides as follows with regard to the appointment of Deputy Mayor:-

Schedule 2, paragraph 5(1) – The Mayor may appoint a Councillor of the Borough to be Deputy Mayor, and the person so appointed shall, unless he/she resigns or becomes disqualified, hold office until a newly elected Mayor becomes entitled to act as Mayor (whether or not he/she continues until that time to be a Councillor).

Schedule 2, paragraph 5(2) – The appointment of a Deputy Mayor shall be signified to the Council in writing and be recorded in the minutes of the Council.]

The Chief Executive reported that the Mayor had signified in writing the appointment of Councillor Jennifer Mann as Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year.

Councillor Mann was invested with her Badge of Office.

The Mayor announced that the Deputy Mayor would have two Deputy Mayor’s Consorts  – the Deputy Mayor’s husband Steven Mann, and her daughter Clare Mann.  The Deputy Mayor’s consorts – Steven Mann, and Clare Mann were then invested with their badges of office.

1. The Mayor advised that she would be supporting the Citizens Advice Centre (CAB) and some local projects, and that further information about these activities would be posted the Mayor's Webpage. The Mayor advised that  she would be announcing fundraising events throughout the year and looked forward to support from the Councillor present.

2. The Mayor also reported that Mun Thong Phung – Director of Adult and Housing Services was leaving the Council’s service and on behalf of the Council to wish him well and gave the Council’s appreciation and thanks for the work that he had done. Councillor Vanier also spoke in praise of Mun Thong Phung’s work and transformation of Adults and Housing Services since his arrival some 8 years previous, and excellent and supportive, nurturing style of management, together with his support to Cabinet Members.

The Council gave a resounding round of applause.

NOTED

A vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor and Consort and the retiring Deputy Mayor and Deputy Mayor’s Consort was moved by Councillor Claire Kober and seconded by Councillor Sarah Elliot.

The retiring Mayor was presented with a badge marking her year of office. The Leader also presented the retiring Mayor with a gift for her year in office.

RESOLVED:

That the Council extend to the retiring Mayor, Councillor Sheila Peacock, the retiring Mayor’s consort Mark Grosskopf,  Deputy Mayor, Councillor Kaushika Amin , and the retiring Deputy Mayor’s Consorts Sitara and Zakeeya Amin-Tilly , its sincere thanks and appreciation for the services they had rendered to the Borough during the past year.

The retiring Mayor addressed the Council.

Councillor Strickland proposed that Councillor Claire Kober be elected Leader of the Council for four consecutive Municipal Years from 2014 to 2018.

Councillor Arthur seconded.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Claire Kober be elected Leader of the Council for four consecutive Municipal Years from 2014 to 2018.

(List of Committees, Sub-Committees and other bodies to be appointed, with Chairs and Vice Chairs indicated, is  ‘TO FOLLOW’ or will be tabled).

The Chief Whip - Councillor Egan moved recommendations 1,2, 3 and 4 as detailed in the circulated report.

Councillor Morris moved an amendment to recommendation 2 and appendix A  that Councillor Connor be appointed Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Councillor Elliott seconded.

Councillor Egan responded to the amendment.

On a vote there being 8 for and 44 against, the amendment was LOST.

Councillor Egan MOVED the substantive MOTION and it was

RESOLVED:

1.                 That the process for appointing to Committees, Sub-Committees and Chairs/Vice Chairs be approved on the “slate” basis prescribed.

2.                 That the membership of committees, sub-committees and appointment of Chairs be agreed as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report (SEE ATTACHED MARKED B).

3.                  That the change to the constitution as detailed in para 4.6 of the circulated report ( SEE ATTACHED MARKED A) relating to the Alexandra Palace and Park Panel, and the Alexandra Palace and Park Consultative Committee, the Membership be agreed and any consequent changes to the constitution to be delegated to the Monitoring Officer.

4.                     That it be agreed that the strict proportionality rules will not  apply to the  Overview and Scrutiny Committee and any panels or sub-committees when considering matters relating to Education issues as detailed in  paras 5.1 to 5.3 of the circulated report( SEE ATTACHED MARKED A) .

The Mayor agreed to the admission of this TABLED report as urgent business.  Appointments had only recently been finalised at Party Group Meetings and needed approval to permit appointments to outside organisations to be made.

The Chief Whip MOVED and it was:

RESOLVED:

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

The Mayor agreed to the admission of this report as urgent business as it dealt with matters considered at Party Group meetings within the last few days. 

RESOLVED:

That the composition of the following political groups be noted:                      

The Labour Group

Leader:                           Councillor Kober

Deputy Leader:               Councillor Vanier

Chief Whip:                     Councillor Egan

Chair:                             Councillor Weston

Vice Chair:                      Councillor M Blake

Secretary:                       Councillor Christophides

Assistant Whips:             Councillors Ahmet, Mallett, McShane

Group Treasurer             Councillor Stennett

Non-Executive members Councillors Bevan, Ibrahim

Councillors:

The Liberal Democrat Group

Leader:                           Councillor Elliott

Deputy Leader:                Councillor Engert

Chief Whip:                     Councillor Beacham

Deputy Whip                   Councillor Carter

Group Chair                    Councillor Ross

Deputy Group Chair        Councillor Morris

Councillors:

i.              Record of decision taken under urgency procedures or delegated authority - Reallocation of delegated officer powers to Senior Leadership Team following management restructure

The Chief Executive  advised that the report before Full Council detailed decisions  taken under urgency procedures and delegated authority and was for noting.

The Chief Whip MOVED that the report be noted, and it was:

RESOLVED

That the circulated report to Full Council detailing decisions taken under urgency procedures and delegated authority be noted;

The Assistant Director of Corporate Governance and  Monitoring Officer advised that the report before the meeting gave details of the outcome of the  Standards  Hearing Sub-Committee of 29 April  2014 in respect of a Standards Complaint against an elected Member of this Council.

The Chief Whip MOVED that the report be noted.

Councillor Carter spoke briefly in respect of the report’s findings.

It was:

RESOLVED

That the report be noted.

The Chief Whip MOVED and it was:

RESOLVED:

That the statement of members’ attendance for 2013/14 be noted.

The Chief Whip MOVED and it was:

RESOLVED:

That the allowances paid to each Member for 2013/14 be noted.

a)    Special Committee Report No. 1 14/15

a.         Special Committee Report No 1 2014/15

Councillor Kober moved the recommendations contained in the report, and it was:

 RESOLVED

That it be confirmed that in accordance with the authority’s pay policy statement, that the appointment to the post of Director of Children’s Service,  would be in excess of  £100,000 and that  the offer to the successful candidate be at the salary range being £120000-£130,000 and the offer to the successful candidate be at £120,000.

MOTION A (2014/15):

The Leader has given notice that she will move in the following terms:

“This Council welcomes the re-election of a Labour administration and adopts the Haringey Labour Party 2014 Manifesto as its policy for the next 4 years, and instructs the Chief Executive to incorporate the Haringey Labour Party 2014 Manifesto into all Borough plans as appropriate.”

The Mayor advised that Motion A had been withdrawn.