Agenda item
TO RECEIVE ANY PETITIONS
The Council Procedure Rules provide for petitions to be presented at each ordinary meeting of the Council. The deadline for receipt of petitions for this Council meeting is noon on Thursday 13th September 2012. However, at the time of agenda despatch the maximum number of petitions for the meeting had already been received.
The petitions for presentation to this meeting, including one petition that was submitted for the 11th July Council meeting but was not presented at that meeting due to time factors, are set out in the attached report.
Decision:
5.1 Petition regarding ‘Attack on Bengali as a mother tongue teaching-learning at Langdon Park Secondary School’ (Petition from Ms Nahida Rahid, Ms Hayley Ali and others) – petition deferred from the Council Meeting on 11th July 2012.
This petition was not heard as the petitioners were unable to be present.
The Service Head, Democratic Services advised the meeting that officers would contact the petitioners and offer them the opportunity to present the petition at the next meeting if they wished.
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
5.2 Petition from Mr John Baker and signed by approximately 1,000 persons against a waste transfer station in Ailsa Street, Poplar
Mr John Baker addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members. The relevant Cabinet Member then responded to the matters raised in the petition.
DECISION
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal, for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Aman Dalvi, Corporate Director Development and Renewal)
5.3 Petition from Mr Golam Mohammed Chowdhury, Betar Bangla and others regarding the Boishaki Mela
Mr Golam Mohammed Chowdhury addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners responded to questions from Members. The relevant Cabinet Member then responded to the matters raised in the petition.
DECISION
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Stephen Halsey, Corporate Director Communities, Localities and Culture)
Procedural Motion
Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman moved, and Councillor Joshua Peck seconded, a procedural motion – “That under Procedure Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be altered to consider Motion 12.18 Review of the Contract for the BaishakhiMela immediately”.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman moved, and Councillor Khales Uddin Ahmed seconded, the motion as printed in the agenda.
The motion as printed in the agenda was put to the vote and was agreed.
Decision
This Council notes:
-
The significant concern within the community at the
way the 2012 BaishakhiMela
was conducted,
specifically over the process used to allocate stalls.
-
The media reports that
19 people were arrested for attempted visa fraud relating to the
Mela.
- The 2012 BaishakhiMela was the first under a 9 year contract awarded to the BoishakhiMela Trust.
This Council Believes:
-
The BaishakhiMela is a
great cultural addition to Tower Hamlets offering a wide range of
cultural experiences and economic benefits to the
borough.
-
The BaishakhiMela should
be an event open to be enjoyed by all and organised in the best
interests of all in the community.
-
The reputation of both the borough and the
Mela is damaged by reports of fraud and
that the Council should do all it can to protect its reputation and
support organisers to prevent such attempts.
- Awarding the contract to run the Mela to an outside organisation bought with it significant risks and challenges and as such the running of the BaishakhiMela should be an issue of on-going independent monitoring.
This Council resolves:
-
To call upon the Mayor to undertake a full
independent review of the 2012 BaishakhiMela to ensure that it met all of its
contractual obligations and provided a service which best served
the community.
- To call upon the Mayor to make public the findings and report of the independent review in to the 2012 BaishakhiMela and to report back to Full Council on 23rdJanuary 2013 on the findings.
(Action by: Stephen Halsey, Corporate Director Communities, Localities and Culture)
5.4 Petition from Ms Kathy McTasney and others regarding Millwall Park
Ms Kathy McTasney addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and and responded to questions from Members. The relevant Cabinet Member then responded to the matters raised in the petition.
DECISION
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture, for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Stephen Halsey, Corporate Director Communities, Localities and Culture)
Minutes:
5.1 Petition regarding ‘Attack on Bengali as a mother tongue teaching-learning at Langdon Park Secondary School’ (Petition from Ms Nahida Rahid, Ms Hayley Ali and others) – petition deferred from the Council Meeting on 11th July 2012.
This petition was not heard as the petitioners were unable to be present.
The Service Head, Democratic Services advised the meeting that officers would contact the petitioners and offer them the opportunity to present the petition at the next meeting if they wished.
5.2 Petition from Mr John Baker and signed by approximately 1,000 persons against a waste transfer station in Ailsa Street, Poplar
Mr John Baker addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members.
Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, then responded to the issues raised. She reassured residents that the Local Development Framework had only designated the site as having ‘potential’ for a waste disposal site and this did not mean it would be used for the purpose. The Council were examining alternatives but it had to satisfy the Greater London Authority (GLA) that it had considered waste provision requirements. Indeed officers had now met with GLA colleagues and she was pleased to announce that, subject to ratification, the Council would be able to remove this designation from the site as the GLA had accepted that other facilities provided sufficient provision.
RESOLVED
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal, for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
5.3 Petition from Mr Golam Mohammed Chowdhury, Betar Bangla and others regarding the Boishaki Mela
Mr Golam Mohammed Chowdhury addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners responded to questions from Members.
Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture then responded to the issues raised. She stated that the Boishaki Mela Trust was a limited company whose accounts could be accessed at Companies House. She also explained the robust, transparent processes put in place by the Council including audits of the processes now and previously by Deloittes. She acknowledged the importance of being aware of potential issues around human trafficking.
Finally she stated that more could be done to ensure the participation of local performers and that she would make recommendations for a review of how that could be achieved.
RESOLVED
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
Procedural Motion
Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman moved, and Councillor Joshua Peck seconded, a procedural motion – “That under Procedure Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be altered to consider Motion 12.18 ‘Review of the Contract for the BaishakhiMela’ immediately”.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
12.18 Motion regarding Review of the Contract for the BaishakhiMela
Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman MOVED, and Councillor Khales Uddin Ahmed SECONDED, the motion as printed in the agenda.
Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and was agreed. Accordingly it was:-
RESOLVED
This Council notes:
-
The significant concern within the community at the
way the 2012 BaishakhiMela was conducted, specifically
over the process used to allocate stalls.
-
The media reports that
19 people were arrested for attempted visa fraud relating to the
Mela.
- The 2012 BaishakhiMela was the first under a 9 year contract awarded to the BoishakhiMela Trust.
This Council Believes:
-
The BaishakhiMela is a great cultural addition to
Tower Hamlets offering a wide range of cultural experiences and
economic benefits to the borough.
-
The BaishakhiMela should be an event open to be
enjoyed by all and organised in the best interests of all in the
community.
-
The reputation of both the borough and the Mela is
damaged by reports of fraud and that the Council should do all it
can to protect its reputation and support organisers to prevent
such attempts.
- Awarding the contract to run the Mela to an outside organisation bought with it significant risks and challenges and as such the running of the BaishakhiMela should be an issue of on-going independent monitoring.
This Council resolves:
-
To call upon the Mayor to undertake a full
independent review of the 2012 BaishakhiMela to ensure that it met
all of its contractual obligations and provided a service which
best served the community.
- To call upon the Mayor to make public the findings and report of the independent review in to the 2012 BaishakhiMela and to report back to Full Council on 23rdJanuary 2013 on the findings.
5.4 Petition from Ms Kathy McTasney and others regarding Millwall Park
Ms Kathy McTasney addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members.
Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor, responded to the issues raised. He welcomed the strong local engagement in the area and the work that had been undertaken with local Councillors. He stated that he was working with officers to examine this issue and that he was happy to work with local residents and ward Councillors to try and address the problems raised.
RESOLVED
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture, for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
Supporting documents: