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 they 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

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors G. Bull, Christophides, Connor, Doron, Jogee,  Marshall, McNamara, Morris, and Reith, and for lateness from Councillor Peacock.

The Mayor, with great sadness, reported to the meeting the death of   Councillor George Meehan who passed away on Thursday 16 July 2015.

The Mayor informed the meeting that the Council had been advised by Councillor Meehan’s family that  the funeral service would take place on  Thursday 30th July at 11am,  at St Pauls Church on Station Road,  Wood Green. 

The Mayor advised that as a mark of respect, as  a mark of respect, following discussion with the Leader and both Whips it had been agreed that the business on the agenda would be varied to only consider essential operational matters, and therefore the order of business would be Items 3, 4 , 5, 7, 9, 10,  and then item 6  .

The Mayor also informed the meeting that it was also intended to call a special meeting of the Council in the Autumn of 2015 in memory of Councillor George Meehan.

NOTED

The Chief Executive advised that there were 2 late items of business, which could not be available earlier, and which will need to be dealt with at this meeting.

Item 7(iv)  -  Committees and Sub-Committees - Report of the Chief Executive

The Chief Executive advised that the report detailed the amendments to appointments to Committees, Sub-Committees and other bodies for the Municipal Year 2015/16. The report had not been 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 9 – Appointments to outside bodies

The Chief Executive advised that the report detailed appointments to outside bodies for the Municipal Year 2015/16.

The report had not been 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.

The Mayor asked and it was agreed that these matters be considered.

There were no declarations.

NOTED

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 14 May 2015 be signed as a true record.

i.              Record of decisions taken under urgency procedures

ii.            Attendance at meetings of an authority by a member

iii.           Designation of the Council’s Chief Finance (S.151) Officer

iv.           Amendment to appointments to Committees & Sub-Committees (TO FOLLOW)

The Chief Executive advised that in respect of his reports before the meeting for consideration, the report marked (i) advised Full Council of action taken between Council meetings and asks the Council to note and agree these actions. The report marked (ii) was withdrawn. The report marked (iii) recommended to Full Council the designation of the post of Chief Operating Officer as the Chief Financial Officer as required under Section 151 of the Local Government Act 2011, and sought  approval of this designation. The report marked (iv) sought approval to the variation to an appointment to a Committees.

On a MOTION by the Chief Whip it was:

RESOLVED

i.              That in respect of the circulated report marked 7(i) reporting to Full Council  decisions  taken under urgency procedures and delegated authority be   noted, and agreed;

ii.            That in respect of the  circulated report marked (iii)  approval be given to  the designation of the post of Chief Operating Officer as the Chief  Financial Officer as required under Section 151 of the Local Government Act 2011; and 

iii.           That in respect of the circulated report marked 7(iv) Amendments to  appointments to Committee 2015/16 approval be given to the change to the Membership of the Corporate Committee as attached at Appendix 1 of the circulated report.

Nil Items

To follow.

The Chief Executive advised that the circulated report sought approval to appointments to outside bodies.

On a MOTION by the Chief Whipit was:

RESOLVED

That the appointments to outside bodies as detailed in the schedule attached to the report be approved.

a)    Corporate Committee Report No. 1 15/16 – Treasury Management

b)      Overview & Scrutiny Committee Report No. 1 15/16 – Annual report

a.    Corporate Committee Report No 1 2015/16

Councillor Barbara Blake – Chair of the Corporate Committee MOVED the report of the Corporate Committee of 22 June 2014 in respect of the Treasury Management 2014/15 Outturn and MOVED the adoption of the recommendation contained therein.

RESOLVED

That the Treasury Management activity and performance during  2014/15 be noted.

b.   Report of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee – Report No 1 – 2015/16

Councillor Wright -  Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee MOVED the report of the Annual Report of the  Overview & Scrutiny Committee for 2014/15 be received and noted.

RESOLVED

That the report of the Annual Report of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee for 2014/15 be received and noted.

Item not considered.

ORAL QUESTION 1 - TO THE Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Social Inclusion and Sustainability FROM COUNCILLOR WRIGHT:

The Cabinet Member will share the concern not only of members in around Wood Green but also of residents across the borough at the news that Marks and Spencer is planning to shut up shop in Wood Green after more than a hundred years of trading. Could the Cabinet Member tell us what representations the council have made to M&S?

ORAL QUESTION 2 - TO THE Cabinet Member for Housing and regnenERATION FROM COUNCILLOR ENGERT:

Do you agree with local residents that Hornsey Town Hall should be listed as a community asset?

ORAL QUESTION 3 - TO THE Cabinet Member for health and welLbeing FROM COUNCLLOR amin:

Can the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing update us on access to primary care, particularly GP access in Tottenham, and the work of the NHS England Task and Finish Group?

ORAL QUESTION 4 - TO THE Cabinet Member foR HOUSING AND REGENERATION FROM COUNCILLOR NEWTON:

Do you agree that viability assessments are a barrier to increasing the level of affordable housing on developments?

ORAL QUESTION 5 - TO THE Cabinet Member for CHILDREN and FAMILIES FROM COUNCLLOR GUNES:

Could the Cabinet Member update us on the percentage of Haringey Schools now judged to be Good or Outstanding by Ofsted ?

ORAL QUESTION 6 - TO THE Cabinet Member FOR ENVIRONMENT FROM COUNCILLOR HARE:

What is the council’s position on the building of a third runway at Heathrow, given the impact it will have on air quality across London and the borough?

Item not considered.

Item not considered.

MOTION A 2015/16

Councillor Engert  has given notice that she will MOVE the following MOTION:

RIGHT TO BUY FOR HOUSING ASSOCIATION TENANTS

This Council notes with concern the Conservative Government’s proposal to extend the right to buy to housing association tenants, which is to be paid for by selling off the highest valued council homes.

This Council also notes that this could lead to the sale of 149 council homes in Haringey in the first five years of the policy.

This council further notes:

• the shortage of affordable rented homes in Haringey and across the country
• that last year there were 9203 households on Haringey’s housing waiting list
• the recent LGA ‘First 100 Days’ campaign which highlighted there are 1.7 million households on waiting lists for affordable housing across England and that more than 3.4 million adults between 20 and 34 live with their parents
• that a recent opinion poll showed that only 16% of the public believed that extending Right to Buy to housing association tenants would be the most useful way of tackling the affordability crisis; the public’s top choice was to help housing associations or councils to build more affordable homes, selected by 46% of the public
• recent reports which show there could be a funding gap of over £1 billion to pay for the right to buy scheme for housing association tenants.
• that even the Conservative Mayor of London has said he did not want to see councils “deprived at a rapid rate of their housing stock”.

This council is concerned that the Conservative Government is also failing to:

• recognise that housing associations will end up just replacing homes lost under the right to buy scheme, rather than building a greater number of affordable homes.
• address the housing crisis in areas of high housing demand, such as Haringey.

This Council recognises the desire by many to own their own homes and agrees that proposals put forward by the Liberal Democrats including the ‘rent to own’ model and shared ownership are better means of promoting home ownership.

This Council calls on the Government to meet with local authorities and housing associations to find a way of tackling the housing crisis rather than exacerbating it.

This Council resolves to oppose the forced sell-off of council housing to pay for the right to buy scheme for housing association tenants.

Item not considered.

The Mayor reported to the meeting the sad news of the death of Councillor George Meehan who passed away on Thursday 16 July 2015, following a short illness.

The Mayor also reported the death of former Councillor Pat Tonge who passed away at the weekend. The Mayor commented that former Councillor Tonge served on the Council from 1982 to 1986 as elected Member for Coleraine Ward, and from 1987 to 1994 as elected member for Green Lanes Ward.

The Mayor asked Councillor Rice, to say a few words in his memory.

Councillor Rice, in thanking the Mayor for the opportunity to speak, informed the meeting that Pat Tonge served as a Councillor for Coleraine Ward from 1982 -1986. In 1986 he had the dubious distinction of being the first Labour member to be defeated by a Liberal in a public election. He was replaced by Councillor Alex L’Estrange, the old-school type Liberal. He wasn’t away from the Council for very long, as he won a by-election for the Green Lanes Ward in 1987 and served until 1994. Unfortunately, around 1993/4 he had a stroke and lost the use of his voice, which is a dreadful thing to happen to any politician. However his speech was lovingly restored by the nurses, doctors and therapists at the North Mid hospital, for which he was eternally grateful.

Councillor Rice advised the Pat had chaired the Contracts and Construction Committee, and he also chaired the Labour Group. Councillor Rice recalled that he was a kind, jovial man, always with a chuckle and a laugh. He worked for British Rail and during the latter part of his life he suffered from a whole number of ailments, which he took in extremely good cheer. Councillor Rice also informed the meeting that Pat was predeceased by his wife Margaret, but his daughter survived him, and she lived in the United States. Councillor Rice concluded that Pat Tonge had both a common sense approach to politics, a kindness and joviality to his colleagues and the community at large for which his colleagues would be eternally grateful.

The Mayor thanked Councillor Rice for his tribute and then said a few words in memory of Councillor Meehan.

The Mayor remarked that many of those present would have worked with Councillor Meehan, who served the people of Haringey for more than 40 years.

The Mayor advised that Councillor Meehan was first elected as a Labour Party ward councillor in 1971, serving Green Lanes Ward from 1971 to 82, then for Tottenham Central Ward from 1982 to 1986. He was re-elected as a councillor in 1990, and served Coleraine Ward from 1990 -98, and then Woodside Ward from1998 till his death. He had lived in Haringey with his wife Mary since moving to London from County Donegal, Ireland in 1963. He served three separate periods as Leader of the Council, from 1983 to 1985; 1999 to 2004 and from 2006 until 2008. Councillor Meehan was also Deputy Leader of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 110.