The Speaker of the Council, Councillor M. A. Mukit, MBE in the Chair

The Speaker stated that everyone’s thoughts were with the families of the three local girls who were currently missing and believed to have travelled to Syria. On behalf of the Council, he extended their sympathy to the families and their prayers for the girls’ safe return; and the Council’s commitment to work together to stop such events happening again the future.  

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Amina Ali, Andrew Cregan and Abjol Miah.

No declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests were made.

There were no announcements.

The Council Procedure Rules provide for a maximum of three petitions to be presented at a Council Meeting. 

At the Budget Council Meeting, only petitions that relate to the Council’s budget or the setting of the Council Tax may be presented.

The deadline for receipt of petitions for this Council meeting is noon on Thursday 19^th February 2015.  As at the time of agenda despatch, no petitions had been received.  Any valid petitions received before the deadline will be notified separately.

4.1       Petition “to denounce £100m cuts in Police & Fire Services by tory Mayor Boris Johnson – Call on Mayor Lutfur Rahman and Tower Hamlets First to stand up for the safety of Tower Hamlets residents and protect local policing”.

Mr Athaur Rahman addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Community Safety, then responded to the matters raised in the petition. He agreed that these should be brought to the Mayor of London’s attention. He added that the Administration were strongly committed to protecting the safety of residents and had invested heavily in services to ensure this, including funding for the provision of additional Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers.

RESOLVED

That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture, for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.

To consider the proposals of the Mayor and Executive for the Council’s Budget and Council tax 2015/16.  The report of the Mayor in Cabinet on 4^th February 2015 and Annexes setting out the budget proposals are attached.

Mayor Lutfur Rahman introduced, and Councillor Alibor Choudhury moved, the budget proposals of the Mayor and Executive as set out in the agenda pack. Councillor Oliur Rahman seconded the proposals.

Two amendments were tabled and moved as follows:

(i)    Amendment proposed by Councillor Rachael Saunders and seconded by Councillor Ayas Miah.

(ii)  Amendment proposed by Councillor Andrew Wood and seconded by Councillor Craig Aston.

Following debate the amendment proposed by Rachael Saunders was put to the vote and was agreed.

Councillors recorded their votes on the amendment as follows:-

Following debate the amendment proposed by Andrew Wood was put to the vote and was defeated.

Councillors recorded their votes on the amendment as follows:-

The substantive budget proposals as amended were then put to the vote and were defeated.

Councillors recorded their votes on the amended budget as follows:-

To agree the Charging Schedule for the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Community Infrastructure Levy.  The report and recommendations of the Mayor in Cabinet (4^th February 2015) are attached.

The Council considered the report of the Mayor in Cabinet regarding the adoption of the Charging Schedule for a Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) in Tower Hamlets. The Service Head, Democratic Services advised that it was required by law that in order for the Charging Schedule to be adopted, the majority of the total Members present must vote in favour, not just the majority of those voting.

Councillor Rabina Khan moved, and Councillor Ohid Ahmed seconded, the recommendations as set out in the report. Councillor Khan thanked Council staff for all their hard work in preparing the proposed charging scheme.

Councillor Rachael Saunders moved, and Councillor Dave Chesterton seconded, a tabled amendment to the recommendations, to require officers to report annually to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the governance arrangements for the CIL; and to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Audit Committee on CIL spending.

The Speaker adjourned the meeting at 21:45 to allow Members to consider the tabled amendment.  The meeting reconvened at 21:50.

Councillor Rabina Khan informed the Council that she accepted the amendment proposed by Councillor Rachael Saunders; and with the consent of the seconder she altered her recommendations accordingly. 

Following debate the recommendations as amended were put to the vote and were agreed unanimously.  

RESOLVED

1.            That the Tower Hamlets CIL Charging Schedule, as modified by the Independent Examiner’s report, be approved as attached at Appendix A to the report, for adoption on the 1^st April 2015. 

2.            That the CIL Examination Report, attached at Appendix B to the report, be noted.

3.            That the documents which support the proposed Charging Schedule, for adoption alongside it, be noted as follows:-

o   A Regulation 123 List, attached at Appendix C to the report.

o   An Instalments Policy, attached at Appendix D.

o   A Payment in Kind and Infrastructure Payments Policy, attached at Appendix E.

4.            That the CIL Charging Schedule Explanatory Notes document, attached at Appendix A1 to the report, be noted.

5.            That an annual review of the Charging Schedule be approved, to establish whether an update is necessary and appropriate.

6.            That CIL income information within the Capital Programme be referred to the Budget Setting Full Council every year.

7.            That officers be required to report annually to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on:-

·         Governance arrangements for CIL; and

·         CIL spending

8.            That officers be required to report annually to the Audit Committee on:-

·         CIL spending

To adopt the Members’ Allowances Scheme for the forthcoming year as required by legislation.  The report of the Service Head, Democratic Services is attached.

The Council considered the report of the Service Head Democratic Services regarding the Scheme of Members’ Allowances 2015/16.

The recommendation set out in the report was put to the vote and was agreed.

RESOLVED

That the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Members’ Allowances Scheme 2015 be adopted as set out at Appendix ‘A’ to the report of the Service Head, Democratic Services.

In view of the content of the remaining items on the agenda, the Council is recommended to adopt the following motion:

“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended, the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that the business to be transacted contains information defined as Exempt in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.”

EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL SECTION (PINK)

The Exempt/Confidential (pink) papers for consideration at the meeting will contain information which is commercially, legally or personally sensitive and should not be divulged to third parties. If you do not wish to retain these papers after the meeting please hand them to the Committee Officer present.

No motion to exclude the press and public was passed.

To appoint co-opted members to vacant position(s) on the Standards Advisory Committee.  The report and recommendations of the Standards Advisory Committee (27^th January 2015) are attached FOR Members of the Council.

The Council considered the report of the Service Head Democratic Services regarding the appointment of Co-opted Members to the Standards Advisory Committee

The recommendations set out in the report were put to the vote and were agreed.

RESOLVED

1.            That the Council note that a vacancy exists for a co-opted member on the Standards Advisory Committee following the resignation of Mr Denzil Johnson.

2.            That in view of the information at paragraphs 3.5 to 3.7 of the report of the Service Head, Democratic Services regarding non-attendance by Mr Barry Lowe, co-opted member of the Standards Advisory Committee, Mr Lowe’s membership of the Committee be terminated, thereby creating a second vacancy on the Committee. 

3.            That Ms Nafisa Adam and Mr Michael James Houston be appointed as co-opted members of the Standards Advisory Committee, to serve for a term of office of four years from the date of appointment. 

4.            That in the event of any further vacancy arising for a co-opted member on the Standards Advisory Committee during the current municipal year to May 2015, Mr Daniel McLaughlin be appointed to that position, also for a term of office of four years from the date of appointment.