To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Rofique Ahmed, Shirley Houghton, Abjol Miah, Tim O’Flaherty, Mamun Rashid and Motin Uz-Zaman.

DECISION

That the apologies for absence be noted.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Rofique Ahmed, Shirley Houghton, Abjol Miah, Tim O’Flaherty, Mamun Rashid and Motin Uz-Zaman.

RESOLVED

That the apologies for absence be noted.

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 Chief Executive.

No declarations of interest were made by Members in respect of any items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made by Members in respect of any items on the agenda for the meeting.

There were no announcements.

There were no announcements.

The report of the Chief Executive is attached.

Councillor Lutfur Rahman MOVED and Councillor Joshua Peck SECONDED ‘that the recommendations in the report of the Chief Executive be adopted; that at recommendation 2.2 the referendum shall take place on 6 May 2010; and that in accordance with recommendation 2.5, the Council adopt new Executive Arrangements based on a Leader and Cabinet (England) model with effect from that date.’

Following debate, the proposal was agreed in a recorded vote.

DECISION

1.         That the Council notes the receipt of a valid petition under the provisions of section 34 of the Local Government Act 2000 and that a referendum on the introduction of a Directly Elected Mayor for Tower Hamlets must be held;

2.         That the referendum on the introduction of a Directly Elected Mayor for Tower Hamlets shall take place on 6 May 2010;

3.         That the results of the public consultation on the form of new executive arrangements undertaken before receipt of the petition be noted;

4.         That for the reasons set out in section 10 of the Chief Executive’s report, the proposed new executive arrangements will be likely to assist in securing continuous improvement in the way in which the local authority’s functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness;

5.         That the Council adopt new executive arrangements based on a new-style ‘Leader and Cabinet (England)’ model as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Chief Executive, to operate in Tower Hamlets with effect from 6 May 2010;

6.         That officers be authorised to draft detailed constitutional amendments as necessary to give effect to the above, for adoption at the Council meeting in March 2010.

7.         That further consultation take place on the detailed proposals for a Mayoral executive to be the subject of the referendum and a further Extraordinary Council Meeting be held in due course to agree those proposals.

Councillor Lutfur Rahman MOVED and Councillor Joshua Peck SECONDED ‘that the recommendations in the report of the Chief Executive be adopted; that at recommendation 2.2 the referendum shall take place on 6 May 2010; and that in accordance with recommendation 2.5, the Council adopt new Executive Arrangements based on a Leader and Cabinet (England) model with effect from that date.’

Councillor Lutfur Rahman, Leader of the Council, stated that the meeting had two important matters to resolve.  The authority was obliged by the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 to change its executive arrangements and replace the current system, under which the Council elected the Leader and Cabinet Members annually, with one of two new models, both of which provided for a longer term leadership appointment.  Separately, following receipt of a valid petition under the Local Government Act 2000, a referendum would be held on whether or not to introduce a Directly Elected Mayor for the borough, and the Council must decide the timing of that referendum. 

Councillor Rahman stated that the Majority Group strongly believed that the will of local people must be respected on this matter and that the referendum should be held on 6 May 2010 alongside the Council elections scheduled for that date.   In the event of a majority ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum, there would be an election in October 2010 to appoint an elected Executive Mayor for the borough.  If on the other hand there was a majority ‘No’ vote in the referendum, the Council would continue with the four-year Leader and Cabinet model.

Councillor Peter Golds, Leader of the Opposition, supported the proposal for a referendum on 6 May 2010 as he believed this would allow time for a considered debate on the issues before the referendum and then, in the event of a ‘Yes’ vote, for a proper and informed campaign by the political parties and any independent candidates.  Holding the referendum on the day of the Council elections would also avoid the additional expense and disruption to schools and policing that would result from a ‘stand alone’ referendum in February.  

Councillor Stephanie Eaton, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, thanked Councillor Abjol Miah and the petition organisers for providing the people of the borough with the opportunity to take part in the decision on this important matter.  She felt it was important that as many people as possible were able to participate in the referendum and that holding the poll on the same day as the Council elections would be convenient for voters and encourage a higher turnout, as well as being financially prudent.  Councillor Eaton also referred to the extreme adverse weather conditions experienced in February 2009 and felt that May would be a more suitable time of year to hold the poll.  For these reasons Councillor Eaton supported Councillor Rahman’s proposal. 

Councillor Dulal Uddin, Deputy Leader of the Respect Group, thanked the electors who had signed the petition.  He opposed the proposal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.