Agenda 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
Media
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ELECTION OF SPEAKER To elect a Councillor to serve as Speaker of the Council for the municipal year 2014/15.
(Note: Section 4 and Schedule 2 of the Local Government Act 1972 provide that the election of Speaker shall be the first item of business transacted at the Annual Meeting of the Council and that in the case of an equality of votes, the person presiding at the meeting shall give a casting vote in addition to any vote s/he may have.)
Additional documents: Minutes: The Speaker of the Council, Lesley Pavitt, addressed the meeting about her year in office.
Before commencing her address, the Speaker invited Commander John Ludgate, Deputy Lord Lieutenant, to speak on the subject of the 70th commemoration ceremony of the D-Day landings, which took place on 6th June 1944.
The Speaker then reported to the Council on the many wonderful events she had attended during the year and the many examples of good work in the borough she had witnessed. In relation to the Borough’s senior citizens, she reported she had particularly enjoyed visiting their events, social clubs and tea dances.
Former Councillor Pavitt explained that she had been to a wide range of events with too many highlights to mention them all. Examples included, seeing the work of the carers centre providing support to carers in the community, visiting Ability Bow and seeing the inspirational gym performances of their disabled visitors, and many wonderful sports events, concerts and the civic awards ceremony. She thanked all the Councillors who had supported the various events throughout the year.
The Speaker also reported on her attendance at Citizenship Ceremonies where it had been a pleasure to meet the new citizens. She recommended these events as something all Councillors should attend at least once a year.
Reporting on her work for her two charities, Magic Me and Cardboard Citizens, she stated that she had enjoyed offering support to their work over the year, in particular at the Speaker’s Ball. In total she had raised over £25,000 for her charities. She thanked everyone who had helped including Canary Wharf Group for their support for the Speaker’s Ball.
Former Councillor Pavitt further reported on her visits outside of the Borough and links with other civic leaders throughout London. In particular, she had enjoyed inviting all the civic leaders for a tour of the Borough and she thanked Councillor Peter Golds for acting as tour guide.
Finally, she thanked all those who had supported her through her year, in particular Patricia Attawia and everyone in Member Support and her drivers.
The respective political group leaders and Mayor Rahman in turn each responded to the Speaker’s address and recorded their thanks to her for the dignified and fair way in which she had discharged her duties over the past year.
The Speaker then called for nominations to serve as Speaker of the Tower Hamlets Council for the coming year.
It was moved by Councillor Rachael Saunders, seconded by Councillor John Pierce, and:
RESOLVED
That Councillor M. A. Mukit MBE be elected to serve as Speaker of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council until the Annual Council Meeting in May 2015.
Councillors Rachael Saunders and John Pierce then came forward to witness the Speaker of the Council signing the statutory declaration of acceptance of office.
The Speaker of the Council, Councillor M. A. Mukit MBE, in the Chair
The incoming speaker thanked Former Councillor Lesley Pavitt for her hard work over the last year ... view the full minutes text for item 1. |
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ELECTION OF DEPUTY SPEAKER To elect a Councillor to serve as Deputy Speaker of the Council for the municipal year 2014/15.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Speaker sought nominations to serve as Deputy Speaker of the Council for the forthcoming municipal year. It was moved by Councillor Shiria Khatun, seconded by Councillor Danny Hassell, and:
RESOLVED
That Councillor Khales Uddin Ahmed be elected to serve as Deputy Speaker of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council until the Annual Council meeting in May 2015.
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Additional documents: Minutes: No apologies for absence were received.
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DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS PDF 56 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 Monitoring Officer.
Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.
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To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Council held on 26 March 2014.
Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED
That the unrestricted minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 26 March 2014 be confirmed as a correct record and the Speaker be authorised to sign them accordingly.
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TO RECEIVE ANNOUNCEMENTS (IF ANY) FROM THE SPEAKER OF THE COUNCIL Additional documents: Minutes: There were no announcements.
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COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP, REVIEW OF PROPORTIONALITY AND ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEES AND PANELS PDF 80 KB To note the membership of the Authority following the Council elections on 22 May 2014; undertake a review of proportionality and agree the allocation of places on the committees and panels of the Council for the municipal year 2014/15.
The report of the Service Head, Democratic Services is to follow.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Council considered the tabled report of the Service Head, Democratic Services, setting out the review of proportionality and proposing the establishment of the Council’s committees for 2014/15.
RESOLVED
1. That the Membership of the Authority and review of proportionality as set out in the tabled report of the Service Head, Democratic Services be noted.
2. That committees and panels be established for the Municipal Year 2014/15, and places be allocated on those committees and panels, as set out in Paragraph 4.2 of the report.
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APPOINTMENTS TO COMMITTEES AND PANELS OF THE COUNCIL PDF 117 KB To appoint a Chair and members to each of the committees and panels of the Council established at item 7 above, in accordance with the nominations submitted by the political groups (to follow).
Additional documents: Minutes: The Council considered the tabled report of the Service Head, Democratic Services, setting out the nominations to committees and panels of the Council as notified by the political groups.
RESOLVED
1. That the Committee Chairs for 2014/15 be appointed as listed in Appendix A to the tabled report of the Service Head, Democratic Services.
2. That the members and deputy members be appointed to the committees and panels of the Council and other bodies for the municipal year 2014/15 as set out in Appendix B to the tabled report of the Service Head, Democratic Services.
3. That in relation to any unfilled places within the seats allocated to a particular political group, the Council note that the Director of Law, Probity and Governance has delegated authority subsequently to agree the appointments to those places in accordance with nominations from the relevant political group.
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CALENDAR OF MEETINGS PDF 71 KB To confirm the calendar of Council, committee and other meetings for the municipal year 2014/15.
The report of the Service Head, Democratic Services is attached.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Council considered the report of the Service Head, Democratic Services along with tabled amendments to the meeting dates.
RESOLVED
That, subject to the tabled amendments, the proposed calendar of meetings for the municipal year 2014/15 be approved.
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APPOINTMENT OF POLITICAL ADVISORS PDF 56 KB To determine whether the Council will appoint Political Advisors under the provisions of Section 9 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 for the duration of the current administration; and if so, to agree the arrangements for such appointments.
The report of the Service Head, Democratic Services is attached.
Additional documents: Minutes: The Council considered the report of the Service Head, Democratic Services concerning the appointment of political advisors to support the political groups represented on the Council.
Councillor Rachael Saunders moved, and Councillor Shiria Khatun seconded, a set of amended recommendations to the report. After discussion the amended recommendations were put to the vote and were agreed. Accordingly it was:-
RESOLVED
1. That the Council agree to re-establish for the duration of the current administration, posts of political assistant (known as Political Advisors) to those political groups that quality for such a post in accordance with Section 9 of the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.
2. That this should be on the basis of 1 FTE post for each of the Labour Group and the Tower Hamlets First Group.
3. That, should the Conservative Group increase in size to at least 5 Councillors, a 0.5 FTE post be then allocated to that group.
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MAYOR'S APPOINTMENT OF EXECUTIVE MEMBERSHIP AND EXECUTIVE SCHEME OF DELEGATION PDF 77 KB To note the appointment by the Mayor of the Deputy Mayor and other Cabinet Appointments and to note the Executive Scheme of Delegation (to follow).
Additional documents: Minutes: A report was tabled setting out the Mayor’s Executive Scheme of Delegation including the Executive appointments made by the Mayor.
RESOLVED
That the Mayor’s Executive Scheme of Delegation be noted.
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