Agenda and minutes

Please note this meeting may be filmed or recorded by the Council for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site or by anyone attending the meeting using any communication method. Although we ask members of the public recording, filming or reporting on the meeting not to include the public seating areas, members of the public attending the meeting should be aware that we cannot guarantee that you will not be filmed or recorded by others attending the meeting. Members of the public participating in the meeting (e.g. making deputations, asking questions making oral protests) should be aware that they are likely to be filmed, recorded or reported on.  By entering the meeting room and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings.

The chair of the meeting has the discretion to terminate or suspend filming or recording, if in his or her opinion continuation of the filming, recording or reporting would disrupt or prejudice the proceedings, infringe the rights of any individual or may lead to the breach of a legal obligation by the Council.’

The Mayor referred to the details as shown on the summons in relation to filming at meetings.

NOTED

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 2015/16.

Councillor Jogee moved and Councillor Weston seconded that Councillor Mann  be elected Mayor.

It was:

RESOLVED:

1.                 That Councillor Jennifer Mann be elected Mayor for the Municipal Year 2015/16.

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

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, Stephen and Clare Mann were then invested with their Badges of Office.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Adamou, Adje, M Blake, Marshall, and Meehan.

NOTED

The Chief Executive asked for agreement to 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 – Noting the appointments made by political groups and to take such action as may be appropriate

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

Item 11 – Report of the Special Standards Committee of 12 May 2015

The report of this Committee was not available at the time of despatch as the special Standards Committee did not meet until 12 May 2015.

Item 12 -  Appointments of Committees and Sub-Committees for the Municipal Year 2015/16 - Report of the Chief Executive

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 13 – Appointments to outside bodies

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 outside organisation memberships.

Item 16 -  To receive a statement of Councillors’ attendance at meetings of the Council, Committees and Sub-Committees in accordance with Council procedure rules

The report was late due to the receipt and checking of data in terms of attendances during the Municipal Year 2014/15

 Item 17 - To note the end of Municipal Year Financial Statement for 2014/15

The report was late due verification of information contained therein.

The Mayor MOVED and it was agreed nemine contradicente that the late items of urgent business as detailed be admitted for consideration.

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 23 March 2015 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 Ozbek as Deputy Mayor for the ensuing year 2015/16.

Councillor Ozbek was invested with his Badge of Office.

The Mayor announced that the Deputy Mayor would have two Deputy Mayor’s Consorts  – the Deputy Mayor’s nieces Hamdan Ozbek & Zubeyde Simsek.  The Deputy Mayor’s consorts  were then invested with their badges of office.

The Mayor thanked Cllrs Jogee and Weston as proposer and seconder to her appointment – for their continuing support. The Mayor expressed her honour of welcoming so many guests to the meeting, especially as it was the start of celebrations for the borough's 50^th anniversary   -  and in particular a former a councillor  from 1965 - Mr Skudder, from Devon,   and the newly elected MP Catherine West. The Mayor said that she was privileged to be surrounded by supporting family - her own family, faith, and political family – and the attendance of Fr Sean as well as the support of many faith leaders across Haringey.

The  Mayor went on to state her intention to carry out her duties during the forthcoming year with the dignity and people-centred awareness that she had gleaned from Cllr Amin, and thanked her for all the opportunities and special events she had attended as Deputy Mayor during 2015/16 which had prepared her for the role. As Mayor and first citizen it was her privilege to  uphold the good name of Haringey Council at all times.  It was also fortunate to have the distinction of serving as Mayor in a year where the borough was marking its 50^th anniversary.

The Mayor commented that Haringey was a fantastic borough – whose story was often undersold. With the world on its doorstep, the strength of which was shown in the incredible diversity and warmth of its communities and energy of its neighbourhoods, it was a place where people pulled together, where people support each other.... and she was greatly looking forward to seeing this first hand in her Mayoral Year.

The Mayor wished to highlight some of the past events of Haringey’s including the opening of the New River Sports Centre in the 1970 which saw it quickly become a hub for aspiring Olympic athletes like Daley Thomas and Sebastian Coe, the fall and glorious rise of Alexandra Palace – a rise that was set to continue with Heritage Lottery investment, as a borough it that had continued to make a huge contribution to Britain’s cultural landscape, from thought-leaders like Bernie Grant, through to world class artists and writers like Adele, Jonathan Pryce, Peter Capaldi and Michael Rosen.

The Mayor referred to Haringey’s fair share of challenges, and set-backs. But the true test of adversity was how to respond, and the image that would stand the test of time in the Tottenham riots was not one of rubble, but how the community came together in the days that followed with their brooms and shovels, helping people get back on their feet as quickly as possible. It was a community that was not easily defeated and rest assured the future of Haringey, with the investment starting to pour into it communities, was very bright indeed. The Mayor concluded that she looked forward to celebrating the wonderful borough throughout her Mayoral year as she carried out her duties, and looked forward to serve Haringey in an  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

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 Gail Engert.

The retiring Mayor was presented with a badge marking her year of office. The Leader also presented the retiring Mayor with a photo framed collage of her year in office.

RESOLVED:

That the Council extend to the retiring Mayor, Councillor Kaushika Amin, the retiring Mayor’s Consorts Sitara Amin Tilly, and Tara Scott,  Deputy Mayor, Councillor Jennifer Mann , and the retiring Deputy Mayor’s Consorts Stephen and Clare Mann , its sincere thanks and appreciation for the services they had rendered to the Borough during the past year.

The retiring Mayor addressed the Council.

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 McShane

Chair:                                    Councillor Weston

Vice Chair:               Councillor Mallett

Secretary:                            Councillor Christophides

Assistant Whips:                Councillors Amin, Peacock Opoku,

Group Treasurer                Councillor Gallagher

Non-Executive members Councillors G Bull, Patterson

Councillors:

The Liberal Democrat Group

Leader:                                  Councillor Engert

Deputy Leader:                 Councillor Morris

Chief Whip:                          Councillor Beacham

Deputy Whip                        Councillor Carter

Group Chair                         Councillor Ross

Deputy Group Chair          Councillor Newton

Councillors:

a)    Special Standard Committee Report No 2 14/15 TO FOLLOW

The Mayor agreed to the admission of the TABLED report as urgent business, as the Special Standards Committee had not met until 12 May 2015.

a.         Standards Committee Report No 1 2015/16

The Mayor asked the Chair of Standards committee -  Councillor Rice to move the tabled report.

Councillor Rice introduced the TABLED reports of the Standards Committee which were  considered by Standards Committee on 12 May 2015. In respect of the report entitled  the abolition of Area Committees and Area Forums, marked A,   he moved that the recommendations of the Standards Committee as detailed be agreed; in respect of the report entitled Amendment to the Member Allowances Scheme for 2015/16 marked B,  he moved that the recommendations of the Standards Committee as detailed as  be agreed; and in respect of the report entitled  Removal of the designated independent person requirement for the dismissal of the Head of paid Service, Monitoring Officer, and Chief Financial Officer as marked C,  he moved that the recommendations of the Standards Committee as detailed be agreed.

The Mayor asked if there were any questions or comments from members.

Councillor Newton commented that as the last Chair of the Muswell Hill, Alexandra, Fortis Green and Highgate Area Forum and Committee he was raising objections to the wholesale abolition of these Forums, and that what was particularly galling was the lack of consultation with residents and residents associations. Councillor Newton quoted the comments of the chair of a residents association with around 300 members:
"No I have not been consulted and am very unhappy about this. We would certainly wish the Forum to continue." , and from members of CrossSafe N10, WalkSafe N10 and Pinkham Way Campaign:
"What a shame. They're such a good way to share important local news and developments" "these forums are necessary but perhaps that is why they are being scrapped; so that things can be done in secret, keeping residents in the dark"

Councillor Newton further commented that Area Forums could work, and in the case of the Muswell Hill Area, had been very successful attracting up to 100 residents for each meeting to discuss a wide range of topics and allowing residents to be involved which could only be a positive thing for the Council. There was no detail of what was being proposed for ward budgets, and there had been such budgets before, previously labelled 'Making the Difference' and he further quoted from a Cabinet paper of 25 January 2011 on the abolition of Neighbourhood Management, which says of the Making the Difference funding "...is expensive to operate and can be divisive. The current process requires vast amounts of officer time to administer."
He commented that he understood that the administration of the Making the Difference actually cost more than the grants themselves.

Councillor Newton MOVED an amendment to the recommendation 1 that proper public consultation should take place and detailed costing should be provided for ward budgets and for Area Forums to continue in their current form where  ...  view the full minutes text for item 90.

(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 Mayor agreed to the admission of the TABLED report as urgent business.  Appointments had only recently been finalised at Party Group Meetings and needed approval to permit appointments to Committees and sub committees to be made.

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

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

Councillor McShane responded to the amendment.

On a vote there being 9 for and 43 against, the amendment was LOST.

Councillor McShane MOVED the substantive MOTION on recommendation  2. There being 43 for, 9 against and nil abstentions 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; and .

3.    That the  terms of reference of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be amended to reflect the Council’s position in relation to the appointment of  two representatives to the standing Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for North Central London.

The Mayor agreed to the admission of the 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 Chief Executive advised that there were no items to report.

NOTED

The Assistant Director of Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer advised that that there were no items to report.

NOTED

The Mayor agreed to the admission of the TABLED report as urgent business.  It had been necessary to verify data pertaining to attendance which could not be completed until after the publication of the Council summons.

The Chief Whip MOVED and it was:

RESOLVED:

That the statement of members’ attendance for 2014/15 be noted.

The Mayor agreed to the admission of the TABLED report as urgent business.  It had been necessary to verify data pertaining to details within the statement which could not be completed until after the publication of the Council summons.

The Chief Whip MOVED and it was:

RESOLVED:

That the allowances paid to each Member for 2014/15 be noted.