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 drew attendees’ attention to the notice on the summons regarding filming at meetings.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Adamou, Ahmet, Brabazon, G Bull, Carroll, Ejiofor, Elliott, Gallagher, Gunes, Hearn, Ibrahim, Jogee, McNamara, Rice and Stennett.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors Adje, Berryman, Bevan, M Blake and Opoku.

The interim Chief Executive requested that the report of the Corporate Committee at item 12c be admitted, which was late given the Committee had met and considered the report recently, and that the responses to written questions be admitted at item 17 as tabled, explaining they were unavailable earlier given the time required to research and prepare answers

Cllr Demirci declared that, as a member of Unison and an employee of a local authority, he had an interest in the deputation at item 11.

The Mayor declared an interest, as a member of the Communications Workers Union, in Motion D to be debated at item 18.

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 24 July 2017 were agreed.

The Mayor drew attendees’ attention to the note in the Summons of some of the events he had undertaken as Mayor, and thanked his deputy and predecessors for their support. He drew attention to the recent Gala dinner in support of his Special Fund, and to the honour of leading the Borough’s Remembrance Sunday commemoration recently, thanking the work of the Armed Forces and Christian Erikson of Tottenham Hotspurs in tidying the Wood Green War Memorial.

The Mayor had recently presented Yvonne Denny a lifetime award at Homes for Haringey’s Rewarding Resident Volunteers evening, and Cathy Alberman the award for Music Teacher of the Year. He would be making his own awards for his ‘What Makes You Happy’ competition in primary schools in January.

Finally, the Mayor led the meeting in a minute’s silence in memory of former Councillor Nilgun Canver, who had passed away recently.

To consider the report of the Staffing and Remuneration Committee.

Cllr Sahota, Chair of the Staffing and Remuneration Committee, introduced a report that recommended Zina Etheridge be appointed Chief Executive. The recommendation was agreed by acclamation.

RESOLVED

That Zina Etheridge be appointed Chief Executive as outlined in the attached report.

The Chief Executive had no matters to report.

The Monitoring Officer had no matters to report.

To consider appointments to outside bodies.

Councillor Peter Mitchell, Assistant Chief Whip, moved the report setting out some changes to the Council’s representatives on outside bodies. The recommendations were agreed by acclamation.

RESOLVED

That Full Council agree:

1)    That Councillor Jennifer Mann be the Council’s representative on Hornsey Parochial Charities until the appointment comes up for renewal in May 2021.

2)    That Councillor Lorna Reith be the Council’s representative on Walthamstow Wetlands until the appointment comes up for renewal in May 2018.

The Mayor had accepted a deputation from Haringey Unison on local government pay, which was introduced by Sean Fox, accompanied by Gerard McGrath and Andrea Holden. Mr Fox set out that local government pay had declined in the last seven years by 22 per cent in real terms, and that pay restraint had not meant jobs being protected. He called for an increase of 5 per cent, the deletion of the bottom three spinal points and for local authorities to lobby to break the pay freeze to combat poverty of employees.

In response to a question from Cllr Kober on whether he would support a campaign for Government to fund a pay increase for local government workers, Mr Fox set out that trades union had been lobbying Government direct.

Responding to the Deputation, Councillor Demirci, Cabinet Member for Corporate Resources, said the Cabinet was sympathetic to the trade union, and that they could not respond unilaterally to the request. There was on-going work with colleagues across local government to press Government on adequate funding for local government workers and that he looked forward to working with the trade union in future.

To consider the inclusion of the Planning Protocol in the Council’s Constitution.

Councillor Amin, Chair of the Standards Committee, introduced a report that recommended that the Planning Protocol be incorporated into the Council’s Constitution. The recommendation was agreed by acclamation.

RESOLVED

That Full Council adopt the Planning Protocol as part of the Constitution.

To consider the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s Annual Report for 2016/17.

Cllr Wright, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, introduced the Committee’s Annual Report for 2016/17, and thanked Members for their participation in scrutiny.

NOTED.

To consider an update report on Treasury Management

The Mayor accepted this report as late. Councillor Barbara Blake, Chair of the Corporate Committee, introduced her report that updated Members on the Treasury Management Strategy. The report’s recommendation was agreed by acclamation.

RESOLVED

That Full Council note the Treasury Management activity undertaken during the six months to 30^th September 2017 and the performance achieved.

To consider a Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2018-19

Cllr Arthur, Cabinet Member for Finance and Health, introduced the report on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. The recommendations of the report were agreed by acclamation.

RESOLVED

That Council:

                      i.        Agree to adopt the CTRS 2018/19 as contained in Appendix C of the accompanying report and as summarised in Appendix C which retains the same level of support as agreed since 2013/14 and which remains unchanged from 2017/18 for: pensioners claimants to continue to receive support for the payment of council tax.

                    ii.        Agree claimants in receipt of certain disability benefits to continue to receive support for the payment of council tax.

                   iii.        Agree all working age claimants Council Tax Support to continue to be capped at 80.2% of council tax liability.  

                   iv.        Note that an Equalities Impact Assessment (Appendix Eof the accompanying report) has been undertaken in relation to the CTRS and that the findings of this EIA must be taken into account when making a decision regarding the Scheme for 2018/19.

                    v.        Authority to be given to the Chief Finance Officer and the Assistant Director of the Shared Service Centre to take all appropriate steps to implement and administer the Scheme.

To consider an application for consent for disposal of HRA land

Councillor Strickland, Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning, introduced the report.

Responding to questions from Cllr Diakides, Cllr Carter, Cllr Engert, Cllr Bevan and Cllr Amin, Cllr Strickland outlined the engagement with tenants in High Road West, the work being done to build council housing and provide affordable housing, the differences between this scheme and the Haringey Development Vehicle and some further information around service charges and freehold arrangements.

Following a request by eight members standing in their place, the Mayor agreed to put the recommendation in the report to a named vote.

On being put to a vote:

There being 27 in favour of the recommendation (Councillors Ayisi, Amin, Arthur, Basu, B Blake, C Bull, Christophides, Demirci, Doron, Goldberg, Griffith, Kober, Mallett, J Mann, S Mann, McShane, Mitchell, Ozbek, Patterson, Peacock, Reith, Sahota, Strickland, Tucker, Vanier, Waters and Wright) and

8 against (Councillors Beacham, Carter, Connor, Engert, Hare, Morris, Newton and Ross) and

No abstentions

The recommendation was agreed.

RESOLVED

That Full Council give approval for the Director of Regeneration to submit an application under section 32 of the Housing Act 1985 to the Secretary of State for consent to dispose (as agreed by Cabinet on the 12^th September and the 9^th October 2017) of the land belonging to the Council situated within the High Road West Area and held within the Housing Revenue Account, as shown on the Site Plan shaded green and accompanying property list at Appendix 4 of the accompanying report.

The Mayor invited Councillor Engert to introduce the debate.

Councillor Engert introduced the debate, including the scale of the challenge in relation to housing and the cost pressures that inadequate provision imposes on the Council. She set out the Council’s performance on the provision of affordable housing, and the level of right-to-buy receipts that had been surrendered to the Exchequer. She outlined activity elsewhere, including Sutton, where the Council’s wholly-owned development company had delivered housing with a high degree of engagement with tenants and leaseholders.

Councillor Mitchell discussed how housing issues was a challenge for all Members in their casework, and the associated cost to the Council. He noted that the Government’s policies did not support social housing, meaning Haringey had to take new approaches to tackling the crisis, including the High Road West scheme and the HDV.

Councillor Jennifer Mann noted the number of people on the housing waiting list and homeless in the borough, and the number of local organisations working to support people that are faced with housing difficulties. She suggested the Finnish Housing First principle had been successful in avoiding a housing crisis.

Councillor Carter recalled the Council’s Housing Strategy, which he felt suggested a direction of travel on social housing. He felt the HDV was too big, too risky and too complicated to deliver the housing promised. He compared Haringey’s efforts to deliver affordable or social housing, such as at Hornsey Town Hall, with other boroughs’.

Councillor Wright discussed the national decline of completions on social housing, in particular since the coalition Government had reduced the grant available for social housing. He set out how declining wages and increasing house prices were creating a market failure, requiring intervention by the Council.

Councillor Kober sought to put the debate in a wider context by noting the London-wide nature of the housing crisis, and the difference between house prices and incomes. This meant new options had to be explored. She noted the higher number of people in the private rented sector, who needed specific support and protections.

Councillor Hare discussed the uniqueness of the HDV, which was distinct from other boroughs’ efforts and seemed to be more in pursuit of a greater council tax base rather than to deliver social housing. He further discussed the Sutton example, which meant profits were retained locally and more green infrastructure could be pursued.

Councillor Doron sought to correct the depiction of Haringey’s record on the level of housing provided as affordable or at social rent levels. He noted that joint ventures, like the HDV, were used elsewhere and he hoped that pragmatic solutions could be supported rather than rejected for ideological reasons.

Responding to the debate, Councillor Strickland, Cabinet Member for Housing, Regeneration and Planning reflected that Haringey had provided more affordable housing than all but three London boroughs. He was proud of the Borough’s record in successfully attracting funding for affordable housing from the Greater London Authority. The Government’s policies and funding restrictions had been a restriction on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 49.

To consider the Annual Carbon Report and the response to the Zero by 2050 Commission’s report

Councillor Goldberg, Cabinet Member for Economic Development, Social Inclusion and Sustainability introduced the Seventh Annual Carbon Report and the report on the Zero by 2050 Commission. He outlined the success that Haringey had achieved in this area, and the level of ambition that had been demonstrated. He thanked Councillor Doron for his work on the Zero by 2050 Commission, and hoped that the work would be continued in the future.

Councillor Doron set out the scale of the challenge associated with tackling climate change, and the disproportionate impact that climate change would have on the poor. He noted that Haringey had a strong reputation in this area, and welcomed the focus on inequality. He hoped the Council’s record would be upheld in the future.

NOTED

Oral question one

Cllr Amin to the Cabinet Member for Communities:

Do you share my concerns about the level of discrimination and anti-Muslim hate faced by Muslim communities across the UK as reported by the Runnymede Trust in their publication last month ‘Islamophobia, still a Challenge for us all’

Oral question two

Cllr Engert to the Cabinet Member for Environment:

How many residents have signed up to the charged green waste collection service?

Oral question three

Cllr Brabazon to the Cabinet Member for Environment:

Would the Cabinet Member like to tell us about her proposals for improving conditions for tenants in private rented housing in the borough?

Oral question four

Cllr Morris to the Cabinet for Children and Families:

Do you agree that is unacceptable that 67% of schools in the borough have been given a nil or limited assurance rating by the auditors this year, what actions are being taken to improve support to schools?

Oral question five

Cllr B Blake to the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Culture:

Could the Cabinet Member update the Council about the work undertaken across the borough which led to Haringey achieving the White Ribbon Local Authority Award?

Oral question six

Cllr Newton to the Cabinet Member for Communities:

Moped crime is increasing in Haringey, with a number of serious attacks recently in Highgate and Crouch End, what are the council and police doing to combat this problem?

The Mayor accepted the admission of responses to written questions as late items of business, as the answers to questions had needed to be researched and prepared after the summons had been dispatched.

Oral questions one to six were then asked and responded to.

Motion D: Crown Post Offices

Proposer: Cllr J Mann

Seconder: Cllr Elliott

Over the course of a year, the Post Office announced the franchise (privatisation) of 99 Crown Offices in 3 “Tranches”.

Tranche 1 – January 2016

39 Crown Offices to be franchised

3 actual closures

The proposed franchised Crown Offices in tranche 1 include those in Crouch End and Muswell Hill.

Tranche 2 – July 2016

A further 40-50 Crowns to be franchised which could include other Haringey offices.

Tranche 3 – January 2017

37 Crown Offices to be franchised

Altogether placing up to 1,000 Post Office employee jobs at risk.

This Council believes:

•        Closure and franchising of our High Street Crown Post Offices is detrimental to our local communities.

•        The plan to move Post Offices into shops such as WH Smiths will mean a worsening of services, a potential loss of experienced staff and a possible deterioration of workers conditions such as pay and pensions.

This Council resolves:

•        To support local residents and community groups and businesses, the Communication Workers Union and other relevant local unions' who are campaigning to save the Haringey Crown Post Offices and helping to protect decent local jobs.

•        To write to Margot James, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Minister stating the council’s opposition to the Crown Post Office closure and franchising programme.

•        To write to local MPs informing them of our position and encouraging them to oppose the Crown Post Office closure and franchising programme.

Motion E: Tackling Moped Crime

Proposer: Cllr Morris

Seconder: Cllr Newton

This council believes that the Labour Mayor of London should be doing more to tackle the scourge of moped crime on Haringey streets.

This council notes that:

•        thieves on scooters and pedal cycles are committing up to 50,000 criminal offences in London each year

•        thefts involving mopeds or motorcycles are currently running at 13,000 over the past 12 months, a 41% increase over the previous period

This council also notes that:

•        there has been a significant increase in moped crime in North London and in particular in Haringey, Camden and Islington, with a huge rise in phone and handbag snatches by moped gangs

•        police statistics show that between February and March, Haringey saw a 21% rise in “theft of person” crimes

•        that gangs have stepped up the level of violence, with the use of hammers, acid and other weapons

•        that a number of local residents have been seriously injured by moped gangs stealing property

•        This council is concerned that:

•        a moped gang attacked Gail’s bakery on Highgate High Street, smashing the windows with a hammer, stealing property and injuring a resident

•        a moped gang attacked a delivery driver in Tottenham where the victim had a corrosive substance sprayed in his face

•        a moped gang forcibly entered a restaurant in Crouch End and tried to steal a laptop

This council is further concerned that the Labour Mayor of London has recently  ...  view the full agenda text for item 52.

Councillor Jenifer Mann moved Motion D, setting out the importance of post offices in local communities. She regretted the way the post office had been handled by the Government.

The motion was seconded by Councillor Mitchell, who was concerned at the so-called ‘modernisation’ programme of post offices, including the further siting of post offices in retail stores.

Councillor Engert moved an amendment to the motion, setting out that the private sector could work to deliver public services, as long as there were adequate safeguards. Councillor Newton seconded the amendment.

Councillor Tucker criticised the amendment as being supportive of privatisation, and believed that there could not be adequate safeguarding of public services when managed by the private sector.

Councillor Jennifer Mann responded to the debate, urging Members to reject the amendment. 

The amendment was put to the vote, where it was NOT CARRIED.

The original motion was put to the vote, where it was AGREED.

The Mayor then invited Councillor Morris to move Motion E. She believed more needed to be done to tackle the issue of moped crime, which involved increasing levels of violence. She reflected that motorcyclists are often themselves the victims of crime, and should not be penalised by efforts to tackle criminality and would be supporting the amendment to the motion.

Councillor Newton seconded the motion, noting the incidents of moped crimes that he was aware of in his ward. He supported widespread tagging of motorcycles.

Councillor Ayisi moved the amendment, and set out his work with police locally to tackle moped crimes and work quickly to investigate crimes. The amendment was seconded by Councillor Clare Bull.

Councillor Peacock spoke in favour of the amendment, and in support of motorcycle-owners who were often the first victims of moped crime.

Councillor Ross spoke of his regret at the announced closure of police counters, and his hope the Mayor of London may help improve coordination between boroughs’ police teams and encourage tagging of motorcycles and mopeds.

Councillor Reith noted the agreement in the chamber in relation to the seriousness of the issue, but felt that the Mayor of London’s ability to tackle these issues was constrained by a lack of resource from Government despite specific requests for funding to tackle crime in the capital.

Councillor Carter described to Members a recent incident he had witnessed of reckless behaviour by moped riders in Wood Green

Responding to the debate, Councillor Morris re-stated that she supported the amendment.

Following a vote, which was unanimous, the amendment was CARRIED.

The motion as amended was then put to the vote, where it was AGREED unanimously.

RESOLVED

Motion D: Crown Post Offices

Over the course of a year, the Post Office announced the franchise (privatisation) of 99 Crown Offices in 3 “Tranches”.

Tranche 1 – January 2016

39 Crown Offices to be franchised

3 actual closures

The proposed franchised Crown Offices in tranche 1 include those in Crouch End and Muswell Hill.

Tranche 2 – July 2016

A further 40-50 Crowns to be franchised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.