Agenda item
TO RECEIVE WRITTEN QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
(Maximum of 30 minutes allowed)
The questions which have been received are set out in agenda item 6.
Decision:
6.1 Question from Mr. Philip Whittington to the Lead Member for Resources and Performance, Councillor Joshua Peck re: payment of Council tax
The above question and an oral supplementary question were put by Mr. Whittington and responded to by the Lead Member, Resources and Performance.
(Action by: Chris Naylor, Corporate Director of Resources)
6.2 Question from Ms. Johanna Kaschke to the Lead Member for Resources and Performance, Councillor Joshua Peck re: non-payment reminders
This question was not put at the meeting as Ms Kaschke was not present. Written response to be sent.
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
6.3 Question from Mr. Len Aldis to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Lutfur Rahman re: Mayors for Peace
The above question and an oral supplementary question were put by Mr. Aldis and responded to by the Leader of the Council.
(Action by: Lutfur Ali, Assistant Chief Executive)
6.4 Question from Mr. Terry McGrenera to the Lead Member for Resources and Performance, Councillor Joshua Peck re: the London Living Wage
The above question and an oral supplementary question were put by Mr. McGrenera and responded to by the Lead Member for Resources and Performance.
(Action by: Chris Naylor, Corporate Director of Resources)
Minutes:
6.1 Question from Mr. Philip Whittington to the Lead Member for Resources and Performance, Councillor Joshua Peck
“I moved to the borough earlier this year and my housemate and I duly tried to establish a direct debit mandate with the Council for the payment of Council Tax. We later received a ‘reminder’ so I made arrangements to set up payments again. After a period where we heard nothing, we then received a summons to a magistrates’ court for non-payment dated 9th July (which we received on 12th). When I came to the Town Hall on 14th July to explain the situation, the Council had my bank account details already (complete with a scanned copy of my signed debit mandate) in the first place but had neglected to set up the payment process. I would like to know:-
a) How many people across the borough experienced this problem?
b) How many of those people fitted any of the Council’s definitions of ‘vulnerable’ or ‘living in vulnerable circumstances’ (whom we would expect to experience severe distress in this situation)?
c) How many older people received summons to magistrates’ courts due to this administrative error?
d) What measures have been put in place to avoid innocent residents in future being intimidated by government (albeit unintentionally) in this way?”
Response of the Lead Member:
a) I apologise for the level of service that you received but it is not typical. Tower Hamlets’ performance in this area is acknowledged nationally as good and instances where direct debit instructions are received but electronically filed without having first been processed are extremely rare to the point where the Service Head responsible personally recalls this case. As far as I am aware , this was the only instance of a complaint of this nature during this financial year. The completed form was received on 25th June just before the summons was issued on 9th July 2008. The summons was immediately cancelled and an apology sent to you.
b) none
c) none
d) The investigation revealed that the administrative error occurred as your form was received in the internal mail, and then incorrectly dealt with as if the work had been processed. A minor change to procedures has ensured no repetition.
Summary of supplementary question from Mr. Whittington:
I have seen correspondence from 2008, arising from a Member’s Enquiry, to the effect that up to 60 people were in the same situation. I would assume that a proportion of these would be older or vulnerable people so in my view your responses to b) and c), and your assertion that my case was isolated is complacent. What measures do you have in place to avoid this happening again?
Summary of Lead Member’s response:
I have not seen the Member’s Enquiry you mention as these are confidential to the Member concerned. However I will be happy to look into this matter with the Service Head and take any action as necessary.
6.2 Question from Ms. Johanna Kaschke to the Lead Member for Resources and Performance, Councillor Joshua Peck
This question was not put at the meeting as Ms Kaschke was not present. A written response would be provided.
6.3 Question from Mr. Len Aldis to the Leader of the Council, Councillor Lutfur Rahman
“Will the Council agree to affiliate to the international organisation “Mayors for Peace”, and have as its representative the Mayor of Tower Hamlets?
Information has been circulated to Councillors giving the aims and principles of this organisation that Tower Hamlets CND considers worthy of support from all peace loving people.
In December Mayors for Peace gained 99 new member cities bringing the total for 2008 to 515 and a grand total of 2,635 member cities in 134 countries.
We are also pleased that following his election as Mayor of London, Boris Johnson agreed to continue his support for Mayors for Peace.”
Response of the Leader of the Council:
Thank you for bringing this important matter in front of Full Council.
The issue of nuclear proliferation is one that should be of great concern to us all.
We all know that stocks of nuclear weapons left over from the Cold War are enough to destroy the earth many times over.
And as more and more nations develop nuclear technology it is clear that the threat posed by these weapons is increasing.
I sympathise with your aims and the very noble aspirations of Mayors for Peace to combat not just for a world free of these awful weapons, but also from starvation, poverty, the plight of refugees, human rights abuses and environmental degradation.
I do not have the mandate to say yes to your proposal right here.
I am however for this matter to be brought to the majority group, and if they agree to proceed, to a future meeting of Full Council.
In the meantime I wish you and your organisation every success in your work.
Summary of supplementary question from Mr. Aldis:
I thank the Leader for his response. I take a positive message from his remarks and I hope that in due course Tower Hamlets will become the 52nd supporter of Mayors of Peace in the UK.
Summary of Leader’s response:
Members have heard the case made by Mr Aldis and I will be pleased to bring a motion to a future meeting where Councillors will have the opportunity to express their views and vote on the matter.
6.4 Question from Mr. Terry McGrenera to the Lead Member for Resources and Performance, Councillor Joshua Peck
“Will any provision be made in the budget to encourage the introduction of the living wage in Tower Hamlets as announced in the Council’s Employment Policy?”
Response of the Lead Member:
There is a provision of £260,000 within the budget for the
introduction of London Living Wage to directly employed agency
staff.
Summary of supplementary question from Mr. McGrenera:
Recent research suggests that many workers nationally are paid less than the minimum wage; and that low pay contributes to child poverty. How can more be done to enforce the minimum wage? In addition, are there any officers of this Council earning more than £100,000 a year, and in relation to one member of staff reported as receiving £240,000, will they receive a bonus?
Summary of Lead Member’s response:
I agree with nearly all that you have said and our concerns about the damaging effects of low pay are exactly why we have taken the decisions we have on the London Living Wage. Workers should receive adequate pay whether employed by the Council or through an Agency. In relation to our senior staff pay rates these are in the public domain. The particular member of staff you refer to is no longer with the authority.
At this point (9.08 pm) the Mayor adjourned the meeting to allow some members of the public to leave the gallery.
The meeting resumed at 9.24 pm and the Service Head, Democratic Services informed Members that the revised projected end time for the meeting was now 10.50pm.
Supporting documents: