Agenda, decisions and minutes
Venue: The Council Chamber, 1st Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG
Contact: John S Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4204, E-mail: johns.williams@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Decision: There were no apologies for absence.
Minutes: There were no apologies for absence.
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PDF 49 KB 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.
Decision: There were no declarations of interest.
Minutes: There were no declarations of interest.
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ELECTION OF SPEAKER To elect a Speaker of the Council to serve for the municipal year 2012/13. Decision: The outgoing Speaker of the Council, Councillor Mizan Chaudhury, addressed the Council about his year of office. He then sought nominations to serve as Speaker during the coming municipal year.
DECISION
That Councillor Rajib Ahmed be elected to serve as Speaker of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council until the Annual Council Meeting in May 2013.
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Minutes: The Speaker of the Council, Councilllor Mizan Chaudhury, addressed the meeting about his year in office. He thanked all Members for pledging their faith in him as a young Councillor and commented that he had done his best to attend all possible engagements. He had had many rewarding experiences, including lunch with Her Majesty the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh; had met Sir David Attenborough; planted a tree in Poplar Park; welcomed new citizens from all over the world in citizenship ceremonies; and participated in the Lord Mayor’s Parade.
Councillor Chaudhury added that he had been particularly excited by the achievements of young people in the Borough and had attended graduation and awards ceremonies. The recent civic awards had provided examples of outstanding people in the Borough, including young achievers under 25. He had worked with the City Gateway and had participated in several events in Brick Lane and the Canary Wharf East Wintergarden. Through his charity he had raised some £22,000 which would benefit charities for women and young people – he thanked all who had made contributions.
Councillor Chaudhury continued that he had attended many non-political events and had made two visits to Bangledesh, representing Tower Hamlets at the first World Conference in Dhaka, where he had met Members of Parliament, Mayors, Civil Servants, the Chamber of Commerce and the Press. He concluded by thanking the staff of the Civic Office for their support throughout the year.
Councillor Joshua Peck thanked Councillor Mizan Chaudhury for the work he had undertaken in raising money and in an ambassadorial role. He congratulated him on his work in upholding the special nature of the office of First Citizen, which was older than the existing Borough and had been held by many auspicious persons. Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Peter Golds and Fozol Miah also addressed the meeting on the excellent manner in which Councillor Chaudhury had represented the Borough.
The Speaker then called for nominations to serve as Speaker of Tower Hamlets Council for the coming year.
It was MOVED by Councillor Joshua Peck, SECONDED by Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman and
RESOLVED
That Councillor Rajib Ahmed be elected to serve as Speaker of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council until the Annual Council Meeting in May 2013.
Councillor Joshua Peck and Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman then came forward to witness the Speaker of the Council signing the statutory declaration of acceptance of office.
The Speaker of the Council, Councillor Rajib Ahmed, in the Chair
The incoming Speaker thanked Councillor Mizan Chaudhury for his hard work over the last year. He then thanked Members of the Council for their confidence in electing him and he was humbled by their support and excited at the opportunity to be the Borough’s First Citizen, which marked a most auspicious moment in his life.
He commented that Tower Hamlets was home to many communities that worked together in harmony and was one of the most culturally diverse areas in the country. The challenges facing the ... view the full minutes text for item 3. |
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ELECTION OF DEPUTY SPEAKER To elect a Deputy Speaker of the Council to serve for the municipal year 2012/13. Decision: DECISION
That Councillor Lesley Pavitt be elected to serve as Deputy Speaker of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council until the Annual Council Meeting in May 2013.
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Minutes: The Speaker sought nominations to serve as Deputy Speaker of the Council for the forthcoming municipal year.
It was MOVED by Councillor Joshua Peck, SECONDED by Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman and
RESOLVED
That Councillor Lesley Pavitt be elected to serve as Deputy Speaker of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council until the Annual Council Meeting in May 2013.
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TO RECEIVE ANNOUNCEMENTS (IF ANY) FROM THE SPEAKER OR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE Decision: The Speaker welcomed Councillors John Pierce and Gulam Robbani, newly elected Members for the Weavers and Spitalfields & Banglatown Wards respectively.
Minutes: The Speaker welcomed to their first Council meeting, Councillor Gulam Robbani and Councillor John Pierce who had been elected in recent by-elections to serve as Members for Spitalfields & Banglatown and Weavers Wards respectively. The Speaker congratulated the Councillors on their election and expressed the hope that they would find their period of service on the authority rewarding.
RESOLVED
That the Speaker’s announcement be noted.
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MAYOR'S EXECUTIVE SCHEME OF DELEGATION To note the Mayor’s Executive Scheme of Delegation as at 16th May 2012 (to follow). Decision: The Mayor’s report, setting out the Executive Scheme of Delegation and the arrangements for executive decision making by the Mayor and Cabinet Members, was tabled as attached at Appendix A to this decision sheet.
DECISION
That the Mayor’s report be noted
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Minutes: The Mayor’s report, setting out the Executive Scheme of Delegation and the arrangements for executive decision making by the Mayor and Cabinet Members, was tabled as attached at Appendix A to these minutes.
RESOLVED
That the Mayor’s report be noted.
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PROPORTIONALITY AND ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEES PDF 72 KB To establish committees and panels of the Council for the Municipal Year 2012/13 and allocate places on those committees and panels in accordance with the review of proportionality as required by the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. The report of the Service Head, Democratic Services is attached. Decision: DECISION
1. That the review of proportionality as set out in the report of the Service Head, Democratic Services, be noted.
2. That committees and panels be established for the municipal year 2012/13, and places be allocated on those committees and panels, as set out in the table below:-
3. That the existing Standards Committee (not subject to proportionality) be re-established for the period until the effective date of the new Standards regime (i.e. until 30th June 2012).
4. That the membership of the new Standards Advisory Committee to be established from 1st July 2012 include Councillors as listed in the table shown in resolution (2) above (who may not include the Mayor or more than one other Cabinet Member); and up to seven co-opted (i.e. non-Councillor) members, one of whom shall chair the Advisory Committee; and that Article 9 of the Council’s Constitution be amended accordingly.
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Minutes: The Council considered the review of proportionality, the establishment of committees and the allocation of places on those committees for the coming year.
RESOLVED
1. That the review of proportionality as set out in the report of the Service Head, Democratic Services, be noted.
2. That committees and panels be established for the municipal year 2012/13, and places be allocated on those committees and panels, as set out in the table below:-
3. That the existing Standards Committee (not subject to proportionality) be re-established for the period until the effective date of the new Standards regime (i.e. until 30th June 2012).
4. That the membership of the new Standards Advisory Committee to be established from 1st July 2012 include Councillors as listed in the table shown in resolution (2) above (who may not include the Mayor or more than one other Cabinet Member); and up to seven co-opted (i.e. non-Councillor) members, one of whom shall chair the Advisory Committee; and that Article 9 of the Council’s Constitution be amended accordingly.
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APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES AND PANELS OF THE COUNCIL To appoint members to the committees and panels of the Council in accordance with the allocation of places agreed at agenda item 7 (schedule of nominations to be tabled). Decision: A schedule was tabled setting out the nominations received from the political groups of Councillors to serve as (a) chairs and (b) members of the committees and panels established by the Council.
Mr John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services, advised the Council of one correction to the tabled schedule (in relation to the Standards Committee) and an additional nomination that had been received for membership of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Councillor Peck advised that the Labour Group’s nominated deputies for the Standards Advisory Committee were intended also to serve as deputies on the existing Standards Committee that would continue until the new Standards regime came into effect.
DECISION
1. That the chairs of committee and other positions of responsibility be appointed as listed at Appendix B to this decision list.
2. That the members and deputy members be appointed to the committees and panels of the Council and other bodies for the Municipal Year 2012/13 as set out at Appendix C to this decision list.
3. That in relation to any unfilled places within the seats allocated to a particular political group, it be noted that the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) has delegated authority subsequently to agree the appointments to those place in accordance with nominations from the relevant political group.
4. That in relation to any ‘ungrouped’ positions remaining unfilled, the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) be authorised to invite expressions of interest from the ungrouped Councillors and to make appointments to those positions following consultation with the Members concerned and the Speaker of the Council.
(Action by: Isabella Freeman, Assistant Chief Executive [Legal Services] and John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Minutes: A schedule was tabled setting out the nominations received from the political groups of Councillors to serve as (a) chairs and (b) members of the committees and panels established by the Council.
The Service Head, Democratic Services, advised the Council of one correction to the tabled schedule (in relation to the Standards Committee) and an additional nomination that had been received for membership of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Councillor Joshua Peck advised that the Labour Group’s nominated deputies for the Standards Advisory Committee were intended also to serve as deputies on the existing Standards Committee that would continue until the new Standards regime came into effect.
RESOLVED
1. That the chairs of committee and other positions of responsibility be appointed as listed at Appendix B to these minutes.
2. That the members and deputy members be appointed to the committee and panels of the Council and any other bodies for the Municipal Year 2012/13 as set out at Appendix C to these minutes.
3. That in relation to any unfilled places within the seats allocated to a particular political group, it be noted that the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) has delegated authority subsequently to agree the appointments to those places in accordance with nominations from the relevant political group.
4. That in relation to any ‘ungrouped’ positions remaining unfilled, the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) be authorised to invite expressions of interest from the ungrouped Councillors and to make appointments to those positions following consultation with the Members concerned and the Speaker of the Council.
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CALENDAR OF MEETINGS 2012/13 PDF 73 KB To agree the calendar of Council, committee and other meetings for the municipal year 2012/13. The report of the Service Head, Democratic Services is attached. Decision: Mr Aman Dalvi, Interim Chief Executive, advised the Council of one change to the draft calendar of meetings that had been circulated with the agenda. The Standards Committee would not now meet on 29th May and 27th June 2012, but instead would meet on 12th June 2012, to discuss the proposed new Standards arrangements.
DECISION
That subject to the above amendment, the proposed calendar of meetings for the municipal year 2012/13 be approved. (Agreed calendar attached as Appendix D to this decision list).
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Minutes: The Council considered the draft calendar of meetings for the forthcoming municipal year.
The Interim Chief Executive advised the Council of one change to the draft calendar of meetings that had been circulated with the agenda. The Standards Committee would not now meet on 29th May and 27th June 2012 but would instead meet on 12th June 2012, to discuss the proposed new Standards arrangements.
RESOLVED
That subject to the above amendments, the proposed calendar of meetings for the municipal year 2012/13 be approved as set out at Appendix D to this decision sheet.
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