Decision details
TO CONSIDER MOTIONS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
Decision Maker: Council
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Decision:
12.1 Electoral concerns in Tower Hamlets
Councillor Peter Golds moved, and Councillor Timothy Archer 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 that:
Following concerns raised by residents, the media, local Members of Parliament and the political parties, the police announced that they would be investigating voting concerns in the borough following the Spitalfields and Banglatown by election on April 19th.
That the election in Spitalfields and Banglatown was decided by 43 votes and that local residents complained of postal votes being collected from their homes by supporters of a particular candidate.
That in one case a householder repeatedly stated that there were just three residents in their property, whilst eight names were registered and all had postal votes.
That in the by election some 14% of postal votes returned to the town hall were rejected because of issues relating to dates of birth and signatures, yet in the May GLA election this figure of rejections fell to 7.66% of postal votes rejected on return.
That the following data concerning the April by election and the May GLA elections from five small areas gives rise to concern:
Brune House, E1
Flats: 92
Electors: 231
Registered postal voters: 69
Postal votes cast April 19th 2012: 55
Postal Votes Cast May 3rd 2012: 25
Votes cast in person at polling station on April 19th: 60
Votes cast in person at polling station on May 3rd 2012: 54
Herbert House House, E1
Flats: 43
Electors: 108
Registered postal voters: 38
Postal votes cast April 19th 2012: 29
Postal Votes Cast May 3rd 2012: 19
Votes cast in person at polling station on April 19th: 27
Votes cast in person at polling station on May 3rd 2012: 21
Chicksand House, E1
Flats:70
Electors: 194
Registered postal voters: 46
Postal votes cast April 19th 2012: 39
Postal Votes Cast May 3rd 2012: 24
Votes cast in person at polling station on April 19th: 31
Votes cast in person at polling station on May 3rd 2012: 32
8-24 Chicksand Street, E1
Residential properties:25
Electors: 67
Registered postal voters: 38
Postal votes cast April 19th 2012:16
Postal Votes Cast May 3rd 2012: 7
Votes cast in person at polling station on April 19th: 16
Votes cast in person at polling station on May 3rd 2012: 11
14 Brick Lane, E1
Flats: 18
Electors: 44
Registered postal voters: 16
Postal votes cast April 19th 2012: 12
Postal Votes Cast May 3rd 2012: 4
Votes cast in person at polling station on April 19th: 0
Votes cast in person at polling station on May 3rd 2012: 4
Total votes cast by post from these addresses on April 19th : 151
Total votes cast by post from these addresses on May 3rd: 79
That overall the turnout in Spitalfields and Banglatown in the May 3rd GLA elections increased from that two weeks earlier, yet there is this wide discrepancy in voting as exampled above and in other areas of the ward.
This Council believes:
That this research coupled with other information, indicates the need for a thorough investigation by the police.
This Council resolves:
To call upon the police to investigate all evidence regarding electoral malpractice in the borough and interview residents, councillors, political activists and journalists to ascertain evidence.
To call upon the Police and the CPS to pursue malpractice through the courts to ensure that everybody has confidence in the electoral process in Tower Hamlets and that it is not bought into further disrepute in this borough.
(Action by: Isabella Freeman, Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services)
12.2 New Family Migration Rules
Motion withdrawn.
12.3 Increases in serious violent and acquisitive crime
Councillor Abdal Ullah moved, and Councillor Joshua Peck 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 increase in incidents of serious violent crime
and serious acquisitive crime over the past year.
- That there were 19 more incidents of serious violent crimes this year than there were last year; that this is 47 more than the Mayor’s target; and that this is a 4.4% increase year on year.
- That there were 353 more incidents of serious acquisitive crime this year than there were last year; that this is 423 more incidents than the Mayor’s target; and that this is a 6.6% increase year on year.
- There has been a 4% increase in public concern over vandalism, graffiti and criminal damage in the past year.
- There continues to be serious public concern about the rising levels of crime in Tower Hamlets.
This
Council Further Notes:
- Labour’s decision to introduce Safer Neighbourhood Teams in every ward led to year on year falls which followed this initiative.
- Labour’s introduction of Safer Neighbourhood Teams not only reduced crime in Tower Hamlets but also increased public confidence in the police.
- The decrease in the levels of police community engagement and the loss of many local ward panels.
- The lack of a designated member with responsibility for crime and community safety.
This
Council believes:
-
The rise in serious violent and serious acquisitive
crime over the last year is of significant public importance and
should be regarded a priority issue by the executive.
- With serious acquisitive and violent crime increasing the Mayor must do everything he can to protect local communities and reduce rates of criminality.
- That the Conservative-led Government’s 20% cuts to policing budgets nationally are putting local communities at risk by cutting the numbers of front line police officers.
- That the Conservative Mayor of London has failed to protect London from these destabilising cuts to the police even in the face of last year’s riots and the upcoming Olympic Games.
- The Mayor’s administration has been ineffective at protecting community policing from government and GLA police cuts
- The plans for police counter closures and sharing of Safer Neighbourhood Team sergeants should be reversed to ensure a reassuring police presence in our communities.
- There is a clear need for better community based policing including local engagement through ward panels.
-
That not having an executive member dedicated solely to crime and
community safety sends the wrong message.
This Council therefore resolves to:
-
Call on the Mayor to adopt a strong policy of
community based policing; advocating the retention of local ward
panels.
- Request the Council produce an assessment of the impact of sharing SNT sergeants between wards.
- To request the Mayor makes a biannual statement to Council on steps taken to combat crime and reduce anti-social behaviour.
(Action by: Stephen Halsey, Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture)
12.4 History Teaching And The English Baccalaureate
Councillor Joshua Peck moved and Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman seconded a procedural motion that this item be deferred to the next meeting.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
DECISION
That consideration of the motion as printed in the agenda be deferred until the next Ordinary Meeting of the Council.
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
12.5 Defending the Welfare State
Councillor Joshua Peck moved and Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman seconded a procedural motion that this item be deferred to the next meeting.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
DECISION
That consideration of the motion as printed in the agenda be deferred until the next Ordinary Meeting of the Council.
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
12.6 Urgent summit to avert a severe housing crisis
Councillor Ohid Ahmed moved and Councillor Alibor Choudhury seconded a procedural motion that this item be deferred to the next meeting.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was defeated.
Councillor John Pierce moved and Councillor Sirajul Islam 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:
· London is suffering from a housing crisis. High housing costs are blighting lives in London.
· Social housing is under attack from David Cameron, Nick Clegg and the Tory-led Coalition government.
· The average house price in London is now double that for the country as a whole and prices in London continue to rise, despite falls elsewhere. Moreover, since 2008 private sector rents have risen 30%.
· Far too many workers cannot afford to buy or rent a decent home on the open market, and the social rented sector is struggling to cope with the severe demands placed on it.
· Overcrowding, homelessness and social housing waiting lists are all increasing – sure signs of the strain on people’s finances and lives.
· The average house price in London in 2010 was £408,384, 15.1 times the median London income of £27,128, and easily the highest ratio of prices to incomes in the country.
· In 2010, there were 22,707 household on the council’s housing waiting list.
· The gross income needed for a mortgage, based on 75% at 3.5 times, was £74,111.
This Council further notes:
· The Mayor of Tower Hamlets recently blogged that “We are committed to building over a thousand new homes each year – which is far more than any other local authority”.
· Based on HCA figures, from 1 April 2011 to 31 March 2012, a derisory200 affordable homes were started, with only 31 social rented, 124 affordable rent, 14 intermediate and 31 affordable home ownership.
This Council resolves:
· The Mayor has broken his pledge to build 1,000 homes a year. In the first full year of the mayoralty, he has only achieved 1/5 of what he had promised during April 2011 to March 2012.
· This failure to build affordable housing will exacerbate the severe housing crisis in the borough.
· That the Mayor should urgently call a summit of social landlords and housing developers working in our borough to devise a strategy to avert this severe housing crisis caused by his administration’s lack of leadership on house building.
· To call upon the Mayor to be honest with the electorate about house building and his ability to deliver new homes for the borough.
(Action by: Aman Dalvi, Corporate Director, Development and Renewal)
12.7 Social Landlords
Councillor Joshua Peck moved and Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman seconded a procedural motion that this item be deferred to the next meeting.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
DECISION
That consideration of the motion as printed in the agenda be deferred until the next Ordinary Meeting of the Council.
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
12.8 Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations
Councillor Alibor Choudhury moved, and Councillor Rabina Khan 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:
· That Tower Hamlets Federation of Tenants and Residents Associations (TRAs) has produced a Residents Charter
· That the Residents Charter sets out some basic standards which residents believe that social landlords in the borough should adopt
This Council welcomes:
· The fact that TRAs are working together to give residents a voice in the important task of securing improvements in service standards of social landlords.
This Council believes:
· That all social landlords should sign up to the Residents Charter
This Council resolves:
· To endorse the Residents Charter which the Federation has produced
· To request the Mayor to ask social landlords in the borough to commit to meeting the standards set out in the Charter.
(Action by: Aman Dalvi, Corporate Director, Development and Renewal)
12.9 High Earners and Council Housing
Councillor Joshua Peck moved and Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman seconded a procedural motion that this item be deferred to the next meeting.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
DECISION
That consideration of the motion as printed in the agenda be deferred until the next Ordinary Meeting of the Council.
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
12.10 Threats of violence
Motion withdrawn.
12.11 Housing Benefit Reform
Councillor Joshua Peck moved and Councillor Oliur Rahman seconded a procedural motion that this item be deferred to the next meeting.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
DECISION
That consideration of the motion as printed in the agenda be deferred until the next Ordinary Meeting of the Council.
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Procedural Motion
At this point, Councillor Joshua Peck moved, and Councillor Alibor Choudhury seconded, a procedural motion that consideration of all further motions on the agenda be deferred to the next meeting.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
DECISION
That consideration of all further motions as printed in the agenda be deferred until the next ordinary meeting of the Council, namely:
- 12.12 Recorded Votes
- 12.13 Dignity Code for nurses and care workers for the elderly
- 12.14 Recession
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Publication date: 19/07/2012
Date of decision: 11/07/2012
Decided at meeting: 11/07/2012 - Council
Accompanying Documents: