Agenda item

Please note: the amendment proposed at the Corporate Committee meeting on 16 November 2021 is attached for reference. (Additional information to follow.)

This item was resumed from the first part of the meeting on 16 November 2021.

The Chair highlighted that a late paper had been circulated on the day of the meeting and asked whether members required some time to consider the paper. At 7.05pm, the Committee agreed to a short adjournment. The meeting resumed at 7.10pm.

The Assistant Director for Commissioning introduced the report which provided a response and further information in relation to the motion moved by Cllr Ejiofor at the Committee meeting on 16 November 2021. It was explained that the report proposed to take forward the process for the renaming of Black Boy Lane based on the Committee decision made on 17 March 2021 whereby there would be a further period of consultation to provide further assurances to the residents of Black Boy Lane and to elicit their support for the change of street name. It was highlighted that residents and other groups were informed about the Committee’s decision in March and would have a legitimate expectation that further consultation would be undertaken. It was proposed that the consultation would run from 1 December 2021 to 19 January 2022 and that a further paper would be reported to the Committee on 1 February 2022.

In response to a question about the decision in March 2021 to undertake further consultation, it was explained that there had been delays due to the pre-election period where council business was restricted, that there had been a new Cabinet, and that the council was still responding to the demands of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cllr Ejiofor noted that the paper referred to the requirement for an executive decision to fund the package of support for residents in the event that the renaming of Black Boy Lane was agreed. He added that the previous decision of the Committee had noted that funding for the street renaming had been identified and enquired whether this could be used. The Assistant Director for Commissioning explained that there could be some changes based on the results of further consultation with residents in the immediate vicinity and the proposal for an executive decision would allow for any alterations in case the existing funding was insufficient.

Cllr Ejiofor enquired about the time period between a decision in February 2022 and any implementation, noting that the pre-election period for the council elections would start in 2022. The Deputy Monitoring Officer stated that he was not aware of a minimum time period for the implementation of street renaming but that it might be necessary to check the requirements for this process.

Cllr Amin enquired about the timescales for consultation and enquired whether the figures could be benchmarked against similar work that had been undertaken by other authorities. The Assistant Director for Commissioning explained that the proposed consultation period would run from 1 December 2021 to 19 January 2022; this would end before the Committee meeting in February and would provide a good time period for consultation, acknowledging the bank holidays at the end of 2021. It was noted that the proposed support package was based around the costs associated with street renaming and it was considered to be an appropriate amount. It was added that data from other authorities could be considered.

Cllr Dogan commented that, at the time of the previous street renaming consultation, it had been difficult to reach out to residents in the normal ways due to the Covid-19 pandemic and it was requested that the further consultation used in person and virtual methods to engage as much as possible. It was highlighted that it would be important to communicate the existence of the financial package of support for those affected by the renaming. The Assistant Director for Commissioning stated that there would now be more opportunities to conduct more in person work and that a variety of methods for engagement could be used. It was added that the financial support package would need to be fair and equitable for all residents affected.

In response to a question about the ordinary procedure for street naming, the Deputy Monitoring Officer confirmed that there was no statutory requirement to provide compensation for residents.

With the consent of the Chair, Cllr Tucker spoke as ward councillor. He stated that a deputation from Stand Up To Racism had been rejected for technical reasons for a second time but that he had seen the statement and noted that it raised a number of important points. He felt that the street renaming had been subject to delays which were political and were being used to prevent necessary change and he asked the Committee not to allow any further delays. He queried whether specific consultation for the residents of Black Boy Lane was required and asked why this consultation, that was agreed by the Committee in March 2021, had not been carried out. Cllr Tucker stated that, if a decision was not made at this meeting, the necessary street naming would be prevented and that this would be a shame.

The Chair noted that the Committee had discussed the issue of further consultation in detail and that the current proposal was to undertake the further consultation imminently so that a report could be presented to the Committee in February 2022.

Cllr Mark Blake suggested that the Committee could extend an invite to Stand Up To Racism to attend the Committee meeting in February 2022. The Democratic Services and Scrutiny Manager stated that they could provide a deputation as long as this was submitted three clear working days before the meeting. It was noted that the previous deputation request had not been made in time.

Some members enquired whether the street renaming decision could be considered now, without the need for further consultation as the majority of respondents had been in support of the renaming. The Assistant Director for Commissioning explained that the decision made by the Committee in March 2021 had given residents a legitimate expectation that further consultation would be carried out. The Deputy Monitoring Officer added that a number of messages had been given to residents following the Committee’s decision in March which included letters to residents, a press statement, and information on the council’s website. It was highlighted that, if the Committee made a final decision on the street renaming now, there would be significant risk of challenge. In response to a comment about implementation, the Deputy Monitoring Officer explained that a report would be presented to the Committee in February and that this should have more information relating to the implementation in the event that the Committee decided to agree the street renaming. It was added that recommendation 2.1.2. committed to providing a report to the Committee at the February meeting, including the agreement of an implementation timetable.

Cllr Ibrahim noted that some residents had a legitimate expectation that further consultation would be carried out but that other residents and organisations would have a legitimate expectation that this consultation would have taken place earlier and further decisions would have been made. She asked for it to be noted that it was disappointing that the decision of the Committee on 17 March 2021 had not been implemented expediently.

Cllr Amin stated that she wanted to discuss how some people had behaved at the Committee’s meeting on 16 November 2021. Cllr Ibrahim added that technology could create some issues but that each person should be allowed to speak without interruption. The Chair noted that member conduct was an issue for the Standards Committee or could be raised through the Whips but highlighted that everyone should be treated with respect and should remember that meetings were conducted in public.

RESOLVED

To agree:

1.    That officers would take forward the decision of the Committee made on 17 March 2021 to undertake a further period of consultation with Black Boy Lane residents, to commence on 1 December 2021 and to close on 19 January 2022.

2.    That a report on the outcome of the consultation be brought back to the Committee on 1 February 2022 for a final decision on the making of an Order to rename Black Boy Lane. Further, for a decision on the implementation timetable such that it does not affect the preparation for and conduct of the May 2022 local elections, in particular, with regard to voter registrations.

3.    In view of recommendations 1 and 2 above, it is proposed that the Committee amends its resolution to agree in principle the proposal made by Cllr Ejiofor so as to permit further consultation with residents and a report back to the Committee before a final decision is made to rename Black Boy Lane and as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

4.    To note that, after the close of further consultation, an Executive Decision will be sought to fund the proposed package of support to be offered to residents in the event of an Order of the Committee.

5.    To note that the Council is developing a Strategic Framework for Reimagining Haringey’s Public Realm, and that a report will be made to Cabinet on this in due course including funding to be made available for any future street renaming.