Agenda and minutes
Venue: MP701, 7th Floor, Mulberry Place, 5, Clove Crescent, London E14 2BG
Contact: Elizabeth Dowuona, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4207, E-mail: elizabeth.dowuona@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIR Minutes: Councillor Khales Ahmed nominated Councillor David Edgar for the appointment of Vice Chair of the General Purposes Committee for the duration of the 2015/2016 municipal year. The nomination was seconded by Councillor Abjol Miah. There being no other nominations, it was
RESOLVED –
That Councillor David Edgar be appointed Vice-Chair of the General Purposes Committee for the duration of the 2015/2016 municipal year.
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DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS PDF 64 KB To note any declarations of interest made by Members, including those restricting Members from voting on the questions detailed in Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992.
See attached note from the Monitoring Officer.
Minutes: Councillors Danny Hassell and Aminur Khan declared a non-pecuniary interest in Para 4.6 on the grounds that they were acquainted with one of the applicants under item 8. They both indicated however that they had not discussed the application and were able to determine the application with an open mind.
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To approve the unrestricted minutes of the General Purposes Committee held on 16 April 2015.
Minutes: The unrestricted minutes of the General Purposes Committee held on 16 April 2015 were presented for approval.
RESOLVED –
That the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 16 April 2015 be agreed and signed by the Chair, as a correct record of the proceedings.
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REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION |
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GENERAL PURPOSES COMMITTEE TERMS OF REFERENCE, QUORUM, MEMBERSHIP AND DATES OF MEETING PDF 88 KB To note the terms of reference, quorum, membership and dates of future meetings General Purposes Committee in the 2015/2016 Municipal Year. Additional documents:
Minutes: The report was introduced by Elizabeth Dowuona, the Committee Officer who explained that the report set out the Committee’s terms of reference, quorum, membership, and dates for the municipal year 2015/16 for information of members of the General Purposes Committee. Members referred to the functions of the General Purposes Committee, in particular, Paragraph (vii) of the terms of reference of theCommittee the functions which under the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000, may not be the responsibility of the Executive and which had not delegated elsewhere under this Constitution.
The General Purposes Committee agreed that a list be devised showing the functions that the General Purposes Committee may have responsibility for which may not be the responsibility of the Executive and which had not been delegated elsewhere under the Constitution.
RESOLVED –
(1) That the General Purposes Committee noted its terms of reference, quorum, membership and dates of future meetings as set out in appendices 1, 2 and 3 of the report of the Service Head, Democratic Services. (2) That a list be devised showing other functions which under the Local Authorities (Functions and Responsibilities) (England) Regulations 2000, may not be the responsibility of the Executive and which had not been delegated elsewhere under the Council’s Constitution.
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EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC In view of the contents of the remaining items on the agenda the Committee is recommended to adopt the following motion:
“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting for the consideration of the Section Two business on the grounds that it contains information defined as Exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972.”
EXEMPT SECTION (Pink Papers)
The exempt committee papers in the agenda will contain information, which is commercially, legally or personally sensitive and should not be divulged to third parties. If you do not wish to retain these papers after the meeting, please hand them to the Committee Officer present.
Minutes: RESOLVED –
(1) That in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that the remaining agenda item contained information defined as exempt or confidential in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.
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RESTRICTED MINUTES To approve the restricted minutes of the General Purposes Committee held on 16 April 2015.
Minutes: The restricted minutes of the General Purposes Committee held on 16 April 2015 were presented for approval.
RESOLVED –
(1) That the restricted minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 16 April 2015 be agreed and signed by the Chair, as a correct record of the proceedings.
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LOCAL AUTHORITY GOVERNOR APPOINTMENTS To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Education, Social Care & Wellbeing
Minutes: Councillors Danny Hassell and Aminur Khan declared non-pecuniary interests in Para 4.6 on the grounds that they were acquainted with one of the applicants. They both indicated however that they were able to determine the application with an open mind.
The report was introduced by Hania Franek, Head of School Governance & Information, who advised that none of the applications before the Committee was contentious.
It was noted that Members had no objections to the applications for reappointment submitted.
RESOLVED -
(1) That the applicants for re-appointment to Local Authority School Governor positions as set out in the report be noted.
(2) That the applications for Local Authority
Governors as detailed in the report be approved as
follows: · That Oliver Hopwood be re-appointed as a governor at Elizabeth Selby School under the 2007 School Governance Regulations.
· That Mohanlal Chandegra be re-appointed as a governor at St Edmund’s School under the 2007 School Governance Regulations.
· That Neil Todd be re-appointed as a governor at Lansbury Lawrence School under the 2007 School Governance Regulations.
· That Diana Roome be re-appointed as a governor at Mowlem School in 2011 under the 2007 School Governance Regulations.
· That Helen Simmons be re-appointed as a governor at Bonner School under the 2007 School Governance Regulations.
· That Tonje Pettersen be re-appointed as a governor at Columbia Market Nursery School under the 2007 School Governance Regulations.
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ANY OTHER EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS WHICH THE CHAIR CONSIDERS URGENT |
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RADICALISATION AND EXTREMISM IN SCHOOLS To consider a report of the Corporate Director, Education, Social Care & Wellbeing
Minutes: Robert McCulloch-Graham, Corporate Director, Social Care and Wellbeing presented an oral report, apprising the Committee of the progress on the actions recommended in the motion passed at the last meeting in response to the Committee’s concerns on radicalization and extremism of pupils in schools. He apologised to the Committee for the absence of a written report and undertook to provide one at the next meeting. Robert McCulloch-Graham reported that the Secretary of State had asked the Department of Education to review those schools where there was evidence of links with pupils who had travelled to join the Islamic State in Syria. Six schools in the Borough suspected of potential links to extremist groups had been investigated by the Department of Education and were currently being monitored closely by Officers from the Department for Education’s ‘due diligence and counter-extremism division’. These schools had failed Ofsted Review inspections on various grounds including safeguarding and links with extremist groups. The schools had been put on “heightened risk” and placed under special measures by the Secretary of State with the possibility of closure. Robert McCulloch-Graham referred to two schools in the Borough previously rated by Ofsted as “outstanding” - John Cass School and Bethnal Green Academy. In the case of John Cass School the Ofsted had received concerns that pupils had posted links to Islamist extremist material via a Facebook page claiming to be associated with the school, and that the school’s leadership had failed to act appropriately after being informed. Fears of a wider problem of fanaticism had emerged at Bethnal Green Academy when two pupils attempted to fly out of the country to join the Islamic State in Syria. The school had been investigated for potential links to extremism. Officers from the Department for Education ‘due diligence and counter-extremism division’ investigated the school and the Metropolitan Police and Social Services placed a heightened risk on the situation. As a result a court order was obtained and their passports withheld by the police. It was noted that the Academy was currently being monitored closely. A multi-agency group had been set up which provided referrals to pupils perceived as requiring assistance and weekly talks for parents giving support and advice on extremism.
Robert McCulloch-Graham responded to questions and comments and the following points were noted:
· There were twenty independent Islamic schools registered in the Borough six of the schools had been investigated by the Metropolitan Police as part of a counter-terrorism investigation. A number of these schools had been placed under special measures on the grounds of unsatisfactory curriculum, poor quality of education, promoting religious intolerance, links to extremist groups, child protection and safeguarding. · The six independent Muslim schools in the borough were also given action plans by Ofsted detailing improvements required in safeguarding, child protection and other areas. The schools inspected included Ebrahim College in Whitechapel and two schools supported by the East London mosque, as well as Jamiatul Ummah boys school in Shadwell. · Siddeeq Academy, an Islamic tuition center in ... view the full minutes text for item 10. |