Agenda item
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
To receive any apologies for absence.
Decision:
Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Mizanur Choudhury, Carli Harper-Penman, David Snowdon and Abdal Ullah.
Apologies for lateness were received on behalf of Councillors Zara Davis, David Edgar and Fozol Miah.
Procedural Motion
Councillor Oliur Rahman proposed, and Councillor Shahed Ali seconded, a procedural motion – “That Procedure Rule 13.1 be suspended to allow for an urgent motion on The Council’s Anti-Blacklisting Pledge’ to be considered and further that under Procedure Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be altered such that the urgent motion be considered immediately”.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
Urgent Motion regarding the Council’s Anti-Blacklisting Pledge
Councillor Oliur Rahman moved and Councillor Shahed Ali seconded the
motion as tabled.
Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
DECISION
This Council notes:
- That the GMB union, together with Unite and UCATT, has led an ongoing campaign to raise public awareness of the blacklisting of trade-union members in the construction industry.
- That some unscrupulous employers use blacklists in order to avoid employing trade union members, because they want to avoid the rightful challenge of exploitative pay and conditions that organised labour entails.
- That on instruction from the Mayor, the council has cross-referenced its procurement contracts with GMB’s comprehensive list of companies known to use this practice, and has found that the council has no contractual relationship with any of the named companies.
- That the Welsh Government announced earlier this month that it will take action to prevent blacklisting of workers.
- That the Mayor has pledged that the borough will take similar action, and has instructed officers to amend the council’s procurement policy to reflect this stance.
- That the borough is the first local authority in Britain to take such action.
- That the Mayor’s pledge has been welcomed by the GMB union, with its General Secretary, Paul Kenny, saying “GMB is delighted that Tower Hamlets is the first council in Britain to run the blacklisters right out of town. Where Mayor Rahman has led, others will now surely follow and those companies guilty of blacklisting workers will get no more of the public contracts they crave until they own up, clean up and pay up for what they did to their 3,213 victims."
- That the Mayor’s pledge has also been welcomed by Unite, with its General Secretary, Len McCluskey, saying “Tower Hamlets is blazing a trail by becoming the first London council to stamp out blacklisting. This is a fantastic development and we commend the council for their positive action. We are urging other councils to take note of the Tower Hamlets decision to ban the blacklisters and to follow suit."
- That the GMB union has offered the borough its assistance in delivering on this pledge, and that its National Officer Justin Bowden, who has been leading the campaign, has kindly offered to address a future meeting of the Full Council as part of this process.
This Council believes:
- That trade unions have a vital role in the workplace standing up for the rights of workers, and any attempt to curtail this role is to be condemned in the strongest terms.
- That blacklisting is a disgraceful and unlawful practice and that the council should do all in its power to prevent it.
- That it would be unacceptable for any company in a contractual relationship with the council to employ this practice.
- That it would be useful for the council to work closely with the GMB union in order to deliver on its pledge.
This Council resolves:
- To reaffirm its support the GMB campaign against the blacklisting of construction workers.
- To support the Mayor’s pledge to take action against blacklisting in Tower Hamlets.
- To invite the GMB’s National Officer, Justin Bowden, to address the next meeting of Full Council to assist the council in implementing this pledge, and to instruct the relevant authorities within the council to include a special item on the agenda of the meeting for this purpose.
[Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services re: item at next Council meeting.]
Procedural Motion
Councillor Carlo Gibbs moved, and Councillor Rachel Saunders seconded, a procedural motion – “That under Procedure Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be altered such that when Item 12 is reached the following motions be the first to be considered, Motions 12.4, 12.3, 12.7, 12.9, 12.5 and 12.11 in that order”.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
Procedural Motion
Councillor Carlo Gibbs moved, and Councillor Amy Whitelock seconded, a procedural motion – “That under Procedure Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be altered such that the motion 12.13 regarding Filming at Council meetings be considered immediately”.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
12.13 Motion regarding Filming of Council meetings
Councillor Sirajul Islam moved, and Councillor Rachel Saunders seconded, the motion as the motion as printed on the agenda.
Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
DECISION
This Council notes:
- Longstanding resident and campaigner John Wright’s protest at the last council meeting about not being allowed to film meetings.
-
The Labour Group 2012 budget amendment which
proposed introducing a live-webcasting system for Council meetings
but which was blocked by the Mayor
-
John Biggs’ commitment to openness and
transparency.
-
Recent Labour Group press statements calling on the
Mayor to open up the Council chamber and allow filming of Council
meetings.
-
Government guidance that Council’s should
allow residents to record meetings.
-
Cllr Islam’s letters to Head of Paid Service,
Stephen Halsey – 4th July and the Mayor –
18th July calling for a live streaming system .
-
The statement by the Speaker of the Council at the
beginning of the last meeting highlighting that she had asked
officers to ensure the arrangements were in place to allow filming
of meetings from September.
- That the Constitution states: “No photography or video or audio recording of any kind may take place at any Council Meeting without the express permission of the Chair.”
This Council believes:
-
As elected representatives we should be as open and
transparent as possible, including in Council meetings.
-
The Mayor’s rhetoric does not match his
actions – issuing press statements in favour of transparency
whilst at the same time blocking attempts to introduce a modern
live-streaming system.
-
Whilst any change in the rules on recording of
Council meetings must be in keeping with the law and respectful of
those in the public gallery, the Council and the Speaker has made
it clear they want meetings to be filmed and this should be made to
happen.
- From September Council meetings should either be live streamed or recorded to allow residents who are unable to attend the Council Chamber to observe the meeting should they wish.
This Council resolves:
-
To request the Speaker of the Council instruct that
relevant officers implement the live streaming of Council meetings
using equipment currently available to the Council, effective as of
and including this meeting.
- To call on the independent Mayor to approve the introduction of a modern live-streaming system as soon as possible.
[Note: The Speaker then advised the Council that she was giving her permission for the meeting to be filmed by a contractor on behalf of the Council. The meeting was accordingly filmed from this point forward.]
Minutes:
Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Mizanur Chaudhury, Carli Harper-Penman, David Snowdon and Abdal Ullah.
Apologies for lateness were received on behalf of Councillors Zara Davis, David Edgar and Fozol Miah.
RESOLVED
That the apologies for absence and lateness be noted.
Procedural Motion
Councillor Oliur Rahman proposed, and Councillor Shahed Ali seconded, a procedural motion – “That Procedure Rule 13.1 be suspended to allow for an urgent motion on The Council’s Anti-Blacklisting Pledge to be considered and further that under Procedure Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be altered such that the urgent motion be considered immediately”.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
Urgent Motion regarding the Council’s Anti-Blacklisting Pledge
Councillor Oliur Rahman moved and Councillor Shahed Ali seconded the
motion as tabled.
Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
RESOLVED
This Council notes:
- That the GMB union, together with Unite and UCATT, has led an ongoing campaign to raise public awareness of the blacklisting of trade-union members in the construction industry.
- That some unscrupulous employers use blacklists in order to avoid employing trade union members, because they want to avoid the rightful challenge of exploitative pay and conditions that organised labour entails.
- That on instruction from the Mayor, the council has cross-referenced its procurement contracts with GMB’s comprehensive list of companies known to use this practice, and has found that the council has no contractual relationship with any of the named companies.
- That the Welsh Government announced earlier this month that it will take action to prevent blacklisting of workers.
- That the Mayor has pledged that the borough will take similar action, and has instructed officers to amend the council’s procurement policy to reflect this stance.
- That the borough is the first local authority in Britain to take such action.
- That the Mayor’s pledge has been welcomed by the GMB union, with its General Secretary, Paul Kenny, saying “GMB is delighted that Tower Hamlets is the first council in Britain to run the blacklisters right out of town. Where Mayor Rahman has led, others will now surely follow and those companies guilty of blacklisting workers will get no more of the public contracts they crave until they own up, clean up and pay up for what they did to their 3,213 victims."
- That the Mayor’s pledge has also been welcomed by Unite, with its General Secretary, Len McCluskey, saying “Tower Hamlets is blazing a trail by becoming the first London council to stamp out blacklisting. This is a fantastic development and we commend the council for their positive action. We are urging other councils to take note of the Tower Hamlets decision to ban the blacklisters and to follow suit."
- That the GMB union has offered the borough its assistance in delivering on this pledge, and that its National Officer Justin Bowden, who has been leading the campaign, has kindly offered to address a future meeting of the Full Council as part of this process.
This Council believes:
- That trade unions have a vital role in the workplace standing up for the rights of workers, and any attempt to curtail this role is to be condemned in the strongest terms.
- That blacklisting is a disgraceful and unlawful practice and that the council should do all in its power to prevent it.
- That it would be unacceptable for any company in a contractual relationship with the council to employ this practice.
- That it would be useful for the council to work closely with the GMB union in order to deliver on its pledge.
This Council resolves:
- To reaffirm its support the GMB campaign against the blacklisting of construction workers.
- To support the Mayor’s pledge to take action against blacklisting in Tower Hamlets.
- To invite the GMB’s National Officer, Justin Bowden, to address the next meeting of Full Council to assist the council in implementing this pledge, and to instruct the relevant authorities within the council to include a special item on the agenda of the meeting for this purpose.
Procedural Motion
Councillor Carlo Gibbs moved, and Councillor Rachel Saunders seconded, a procedural motion – “That under Procedure Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be altered such that when Item 12 is reached the following motions be the first to be considered, Motions 12.4, 12.3, 12.7, 12.9, 12.5 and 12.11 in that order”.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
Procedural Motion
Councillor Carlo Gibbs moved, and Councillor Amy Whitelock seconded, a further procedural motion – “That under Procedure Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be altered such that the motion 12.13 regarding Filming at Council meetings be considered immediately”.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
12.13 Motion regarding Filming of Council meetings
Councillor Sirajul Islam moved, and Councillor Rachel Saunders seconded, the motion as the motion as printed on the agenda.
Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
RESOLVED
This Council notes:
- Longstanding resident and campaigner John Wright’s protest at the last council meeting about not being allowed to film meetings.
-
The Labour Group 2012 budget amendment which
proposed introducing a live-webcasting system for Council meetings
but which was blocked by the Mayor
-
John Biggs’ commitment to openness and
transparency.
-
Recent Labour Group press statements calling on the
Mayor to open up the Council chamber and allow filming of Council
meetings.
-
Government guidance that Council’s should
allow residents to record meetings.
-
Cllr Islam’s letters to Head of Paid Service,
Stephen Halsey – 4th July and the Mayor –
18th July calling for a live streaming system .
-
The statement by the Speaker of the Council at the
beginning of the last meeting highlighting that she had asked
officers to ensure the arrangements were in place to allow filming
of meetings from September.
- That the Constitution states: “No photography or video or audio recording of any kind may take place at any Council Meeting without the express permission of the Chair.”
This Council believes:
-
As elected representatives we should be as open and
transparent as possible, including in Council meetings.
-
The Mayor’s rhetoric does not match his
actions – issuing press statements in favour of transparency
whilst at the same time blocking attempts to introduce a modern
live-streaming system.
-
Whilst any change in the rules on recording of
Council meetings must be in keeping with the law and respectful of
those in the public gallery, the Council and the Speaker has made
it clear they want meetings to be filmed and this should be made to
happen.
- From September Council meetings should either be live streamed or recorded to allow residents who are unable to attend the Council Chamber to observe the meeting should they wish.
This Council resolves:
-
To request the Speaker of the Council instruct that
relevant officers implement the live streaming of Council meetings
using equipment currently available to the Council, effective as of
and including this meeting.
- To call on the independent Mayor to approve the introduction of a modern live-streaming system as soon as possible.
{NOTE: The Speaker then advised the Council that she was giving her permission for the meeting to be filmed by a contractor on behalf of the Council as a pilot exercise. The meeting was accordingly filmed from this point forward. The Speaker indicated that if the pilot filming was successful, she would be working with the officers and the group leaders to agree a protocol for filming to take place at future meetings. The Speaker reminded all present that apart from the Council’s own filming, no other photography, filming or recording of the meeting by members of the public was permitted.]