The Speaker of the Council, Councillor Sabina Akhtar in the Chair

During the meeting, the Council agreed to vary the order of business. To aid clarity, the Minutes are presented in the order that the items originally appeared on the agenda. The order the business was taken in at the meeting was as follows:

• Item 1 - Apologies for absence.
• Item 2 – Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.
• Item 3 – Minutes.
• Item 4 – Announcements.
• Item 5.1 – 5.2 – Petitions
• Item 12.15 -  Motion regarding Westferry Printworks Secondary School
• Item 5.3 – Petitions.
• Item 6 – Public Questions.
• Item 7 – Mayor’s Report.
• Item 13.1 Urgent Motion regarding the Autumn Budget 2017 and Fire Safety measures.   
• Item 8 – Members Questions.
• Item 12.4 - Motion regarding Operation Lynemouth.
• Item 12.8 - Motion regarding the future of Old Ford Housing Association.
• Item 9 – Reports from the Executive and the Council’s Committees.
• Item 9.1 - Report following an Individual Mayoral Decision - Acquisition of Affordable Homes
• Item 9.2 - Report of the General Purposes Committee - Constitution Review – Council Procedure Rules.
• Item 9.3 Report of the General Purposes Committee - Constitution Review – Member/Officer Relations’ Protocol.
• Item 9.4 Report of the Audit Committee - Treasury Management Mid-Year Report 2017/18.
• Item 10 – Reports and Questions on Joint Arrangements/External Organisations.
• Item 11 – Other Business.
• Item 11.1 - Review of proportionality and allocation of places on committees and panels of the Council 2017/18

The Speaker of the Council brought the Council up to date with some of her activities since the previous Council meeting. She reported that in September Tower Hamlets hosted ‘London in Bloom’ for the first time, for its 50^th Anniversary receiving excellent feedback and also winning awards.

The Speaker had also attended a number of events including: the Costermongers’ Harvest Festival and parade bringing together all London Borough Civic Heads, the British Bangladesh Fashion Week event, theLondon Mayors’ Association Annual Civic Service and also the launch of ‘Hate Crime Awareness Week’ in London.

She was also pleased to announce that she had welcomed a Chinese Task Group and the crew of a French Ship that visited the Borough’s docks and had also participated in Citizenship Ceremonies, many community events and celebrations.

The Speaker had enjoyed meeting local schoolchildren in the Town Hall as part of Local Democracy Week, visited local schools, her charities and had attended award ceremonies, celebrating the achievements of young people. In addition, the Speaker had attended the launch of the Poppy Appeal, undertaken fundraising for the appeal and had represented the Council at remembrance events

Turning to future events, the Speaker reminded the Council that her Charity Ball would take place on Monday 4th December 2017. She invited all to attend and if they were not able to, to make a donation. The Speaker reported that she would also be hosting a Squadron Air Cadets Awards Ceremony and be attending the Civic Awards, Charity Dinners, the International Women’s Day Afternoon Tea and the Civic Service.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of:

·         Councillor Mohammed Mufti Miah

·         Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury

Apologies for lateness were received on behalf of Councillors Rachael Saunders, Amina Ali, Rabina Khan, Shafi Ahmed, Ayas Miah, Joshua Peck, and Rachel Blake.

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.

Councillor Shafi Ahmed declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 5.3 Petition regarding Zebra Crossing at Henriques Street, E1as a Governor at Harry Gosling Primary School.

Councillor Denise Jones declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in Agenda item 8.2, a Member Question relating to the Council Tax reduction scheme as she was self employed.

Councillor Mahbub Alam declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in Agenda item 8.2, a Member Question relating to the Council Tax reduction scheme as he worked for a car hire company. He also declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in Agenda Items 12.17, Motion regarding housing in Tower Hamlets and 12.18 Motion regarding Fire Safety in Tower Hamlets for Residents (which were not considered) as a housing tenant.

Councillor Sirajul Islam declared a personal interest in Agenda item 12.8 Motion regarding the future of Old Ford Housing Associationas he was a Council tenant.

Councillor Rajib Ahmed declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in Agenda Item 12.17 Motion regarding housing in Tower Hamlets as a leaseholder of property.

Councillor Dave Chesterton declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in Agenda Item 12.17 Motion regarding housing in Tower Hamlets as a landlord of property in the borough.

Councillor Khales Uddin Ahmed declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in Agenda Item 12.17 Motion regarding housing in Tower Hamlets as a leaseholder of property in the borough.

Councillor Helal Uddin declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in Agenda Item 12.17 Motion regarding housing in Tower Hamlets  as he and his wife were leaseholders of property in the borough. He also declared a personal interest in this item as his employer had a working relationship with Poplar HARCA.

Councillor David Edgar declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in Agenda Item 12.17, Motion regarding housing in Tower Hamlets as his wife is a landlord of property.

The following Councillors declared Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in Agenda Items 12.17 Motion regarding housing in Tower Hamlets and 12.18 Motion regarding Fire Safety in Tower Hamlets as landlords of property:

·         Councillor Shah Alam

·         Councillor Muhammad Ansar Mustaquim

·         Councillor Harun Miah

·         Councillor Suluk Ahmed

Councillors Craig Aston, Clare Harrisson and Danny Hassell declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in Agenda Item 12.17 Motion regarding housing in Tower Hamlets as private renters in the Borough.

Members declaring Disclosable Pecuniary Interests would be required to leave the room for the duration of the relevant agenda items.

To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 20^th September 2017.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the unrestricted minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on Wednesday 20 September 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and the Speaker be authorised to sign them accordingly.

There were no announcements.

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

The deadline for receipt of petitions for this Council meeting is noon on Thursday 16 November 2017.

However at the time of agenda despatch, the maximum number of petitions has already been received as set out in the attached report.

5.1       Petition regarding Watts Grove

Terry McGrenera addressed the meeting and responded to questions from Members. Mayor John Biggs then responded to the matters raised in the petition. He thanked the petitioner for all the hard work that he had undertaken in relation to housing issues in the borough over the years. He and Councillor Sirajul Islam, Cabinet Member for Housing were willing to meet with the petitioner to discuss his particular concerns. He considered that the rents secured at the Watts Grove development were genuinely affordable. The new homes would accommodate residents from the Borough’s housing waiting list based on need. He also confirmed that Tower Hamlets Homes would manage the development and the arrangements were to be reviewed in 2018.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the petition be referred to the Acting Corporate Director, Place for a written response within 28 days.

5.2       Petition regarding new secondary school, Westferry Printworks site

Father Tom Pyke and othersaddressed the meeting and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Amy Whitelock Gibbs Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services then responded to the matters raised in the petition. She thanked the petitioners and also Councillors on the Isle of Dogs for highlighting the issues raised in the petition at an early stage. 

She also explained that whilst the Mayor and Cabinet welcomed the new school, they shared the concerns about the government’s approach to selecting the provider.  They would continue to contact the government to ensure that the views of local community were taken into account regarding the selection of the provider. Councillor Whitelock Gibbs invited fellow Councillors from other parties to join with them in this.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Children’s, for a written response within 28 days.

Procedural Motion

Councillor Dave Chesterton moved and Councillor Danny Hassell, seconded, a procedural motion “that under Procedure Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied such that agenda item 12.15 Motion regarding Westferry Printworks Secondary School be taken as the next item of business”. The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.

5.3       Petition regarding Zebra Crossing at Henriques Street, E1

Lukey Begumaddressed the meeting and responded to questions from Members. Mayor John Biggs then responded to the matters raised in the petition. The Mayor stated that he had met with the school governors and had visited the area outside the school to assess the situation. The Council took seriously the issue of road safety and would be developing plans to address the issues highlighted in the petition. There would be public consultation on the proposals and it was anticipated that the new scheme should be put in place in the next few months.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the petition be referred to the Acting Corporate Director, Place for a written response within 28 days.

The questions which have been received from members of the public for this Council meeting are set out in the attached report.  A maximum period of 20 minutes is allocated to this agenda item.

The following questions followed by a supplementary question (except were indicated) were put and responded to by the Mayor or the relevant Executive Member:-

6.2  Question from Norma Vondee:

How many residents has WorkPath actually supported into work compared to Skillsmatch?

Response of Councillor Joshua Peck, Cabinet Member for Work and Economic Development:

I am delighted to be able to say that WorkPath has resulted in 416 residents getting into work in its first six months of operation. That’s a 41% increase on what Skillsmatch achieved in the same period last year.

(No supplemental question was asked)

6.4 Question from MohammodRafique Ullah 

How do rent levels at Watts Grove compare with rent levels at Poplar Baths and Dame Collet House?

Response of Councillor Rachel Blake, Cabinet Member for Strategic Development and Waste:

When Mayor Biggs was first elected, he asked us to do an Affordability Commission to get to the bottom of what genuinely affordable homes meant now. We found that under the previous Mayor, rents were set too high for local people to afford, often due to expensive PFI deals that the previous Mayor signed up to.  Rents on new Council homes agreed under the previous Mayor for example at Poplar Baths, Bradwell Street and Dame Collet House were set at expensive framework rents. Our new rent levels which will be social rent and the Tower Hamlets living rent at a proportion of local incomes will make new affordable homes far more affordable to those on low incomes saving residents significant amounts of money. We also took the decision to apply these new rents levels at Watts Grove.

Supplementary question fromMohammodRafique Ullah:

Do you have a limit on affordable rents and what do mean by affordable rents?

Councillor Blake’s response to supplementary question:

Sadly this Government’s affordable rents could be anything up to 80% of market rents. We think that is completely unaffordable for our residents. So for us, we are setting rent levels at social rent and at the Tower Hamlets living rent which is about a third of average incomes in Tower Hamlets. There is still much more to do to make housing genuinely affordable, including encouraging other social landlords to take up these lower rents, and to really start tackling private landlords on their rent levels. Our new rent levels are definitely a big step in the right direction.

6.5 Question from Polly Avison:

How many police officers and PCSOs have been cut from Tower Hamlets?

Response of Councillor Asma Begum, Cabinet Member for Community Safety:

Due to huge cuts to the policing budget from the Conservative Government, Tower Hamlets lost almost a quarter of their police from the seven years following May 2010. Since the Tories took power, there has been a reduction from 818 officers to just 630. Tower Hamlets also lost more than ¾ of their PSCOs. 78% since 2010. More importantly, in the absence of intervention from central Government, we’ve taken steps ourselves  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Mayor made his report to the Council, referring to his written report circulated at the meeting, summarising key events, engagements and meetings since the last Council meeting.

When the Mayor had completed his report and at the invitation of the Speaker, the Leaders of the Independent Group, the People’s Alliance of Tower Hamlets and the Conservative Group, responded briefly to the Mayor’s report.

Procedural Motion

Councillor Danny Hassell moved and Councillor Rachel Blake seconded, a procedural motion “that under Procedure Rule 14.1.5, Rule 13.1 be suspended to enable an urgent motion regarding the Autumn Budget 2017 and Fire Safety measures to be considered”. The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.

The questions which have been received from Councillors to be put at this Council meeting are set out in the attached report.  A maximum period of 30 minutes is allocated to this agenda item.

The following questions and in each case supplementary questions were put (except where indicated) and were responded to by the Mayor or relevant Executive Member-

8.1 Question from Councillor Helal Uddin:

Can the Mayor or Cabinet Member update Council on ongoing work to tackle the housing crisis?

Response of Councillor Sirajul Islam, Statutory Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Housing

I am sure that you will be aware that the Council adopted a new Housing Strategy in December 2016 which set out our plan to tackle the Housing crisis through to 2021. A lack of affordable housing is a major concern for residents and we have made significant strides forward over the past two and a half years. I pledged to provide 1,000 council homes and we’re on track to meet this target. On affordable housing, Council figures show we delivered 1,070 affordable homes last year, 2016/17, and another 1,073 the year before. And under my new Living Rent policy, rents for new affordable homes are more affordable to those on low incomes, saving residents up to £6,000 a year. We are also investing £3m in local neighbourhoods to make them safer, cleaner and greener. Further, we’re driving up standards in the private rented sector with landlord licensing scheme and our new Tower Hamlets Private Renters’ Charter. The Council is doing a great deal to tackle the housing crisis, but we need the Government to back us up and take the challenge seriously, something we discussed already in the motion earlier.

Supplementary question fromCouncillor Uddin:

What sort of strategies are in place to increase social housing as well as affordable housing in the borough and will the Lead Member ensure me that the work programmes created by the Housing Scrutiny Sub-Committee will be supported and resourced by the administration to ensure that fire safety issues are being dealt with effectively?

Councillor Sirajul Islam’s response to supplementary question:

We have recently announced £119m funding to purchase surplus housing stock from registered providers including £19m to buy homes from Poplar HARCA. We have purchased additional homes for use as temporary accommodation. We have also purchased new housing from developers as part of their planning obligations. We’ll discuss this in more detail later this evening, but this is a massive investment in affordable homes for our residents highlighting just how seriously we take the housing crisis.

In terms of fire safety, we take this very seriously. We cannot forget the 71 lives lost at Grenfell Tower. The Mayor has allocated around £30m for fire safety work. As you know, we are already carrying out work at Brewster House and on the Cranbrook Estate. Under Mayor Biggs’ leadership in 2015 we carried out fire risk assessments of every Council block and registered provider block which is something the previous administration failed to and left our residents in grave danger.

8.2 Question from Councillor Oliur Rahman

Following the changes to the Council Tax reduction scheme by the Mayor in April 2017, how  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Council to consider a decision following on from an Individual Mayoral Decision published on Friday 10 November 2017.

The Council considered a decision following on from an Individual Mayoral Decision published on Friday 10 November 2017. The recommendation was put to the vote under the guillotine procedure at Council Procedure Rule 9. Accordingly it was

RESOLVED:

1.            That the allocation of £119.0 million in the capital programme to fund the purchase of, and any works required to dwellings be agreed.

To consider a report of the General Purposes Committee following a review of the Council Procedure Rules section of the Council’s Constitution.

The Council considered a report of the General Purposes Committee following a review of the Council Procedure Rules section of the Council’s Constitution. The recommendation was put to the vote under the guillotine procedure at Council Procedure Rule 9. Accordingly it was:

RESOLVED:

1.            That the revised Council Procedure Rules at Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

To receive a report of the General Purposes Committee following a review of the Member/Officer Relations’ Protocol section of the Council’s Constitution.

The Council considered a report of the General Purposes Committee following a review of the Member/Officer Relations’ Protocol section of the Council’s Constitution. The recommendation was put to the vote under the guillotine procedure at Council Procedure Rule 9. Accordingly it was:

RESOLVED:

1.            That the revised Member/Officer Relations’ Protocol at Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

To receive a report from the Audit Committee setting out the Treasury Management Mid-Year Report 2017/18.

The Council considered a report from the Audit Committee setting out the Treasury Management Mid-Year Report 2017/18. The recommendations were put to the vote under the guillotine procedure at Council Procedure Rule 9. Accordingly it was

RESOLVED:

That the Council note:

1.            The contents of the treasury management activities and performance against targets for half year ending 30^th September 2017;

2.            The Council’s outstanding investments  which amount to £447.1m at 30^th September 2017  as set out at appendix 2 to the report;

3.            The potential impact on the Council of becoming a retail client with effect from 3^rd January 2018 as set out at section 3.7 of the report; and

4.            The protections available to retail clients that the Council will forgo as a result of opting up to professional client as set out at appendix 4 to the report.

Nil items.

There was no business to transact under this agenda item.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director, Governance, in respect of changed to the proportionality calculations for allocating places on the Council’s Committees.

The Council considered the report of the Corporate Director, Governance, in respect of changes to the proportionality calculations for allocating places on the Council’s Committees. The recommendations were put to the vote under the guillotine procedure at Council Procedure Rule 9. Accordingly it was:

RESOLVED:

1. That the review of proportionality as at section 3 of the report be noted and the allocation of seats on committees and panels be agreed for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2017/18 as set out at paragraph 4.2 of the report.

2. To note the committees and panels established for the municipal year 2017/18 as listed in paragraph 4.2 as agreed at the Annual Council meeting held on Wednesday 17 May 2017.

3. That Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury be appointed as a Member of the Development Committee and Councillors Md Maium Miah and Mohammed Mufti Miah be appointed deputies of the Development Committee.

4. That the Corporate Director, Governance be authorised to approve the appointment of ungrouped Councillors to any committee places not allocated by the Council to a political group, after consultation with those Councillors and the Speaker of the Council.

12.4 Motion regarding Operation Lynemouth

Mayor John Biggs moved and Councillor Sirajul Islam seconded the motion as printed in the agenda.

Councillor Peter Golds moved and Councillor Andrew Wood seconded the following friendly amendment to the motion:

Insert as Item 2 after this Council notes;

The report contains a number of significant observations including;

From Page 12

“It would appear that the original MPS investigation failed to secure pivotal evidence which could have led to further enquiries. Operation Lynemouth has done so and is seeking early advice from the CPS as to whether the evidence provides realistic opportunities for investigation and prosecution.”

From Page 14

“The MPS’s fraud squad considered ten matters during the original investigation, including allegations of fraud, bribery, perjury and tax evasion, but did not make any arrests. Operation Lynemouth has already identified potential evidential opportunities, although there is still much work to be done.”

Insert as Item 4 after this Council resolves;

Item 4

That the residents of the borough will look to the police, electoral officials, political parties, their candidates and supporters to ensure that the elections to be held in 2018 are free, fair and untainted by the malpractice which so damaged the reputation of this borough in 2014.

Renumber Item 4 as Item 5

Mayor John Biggs and Councillor Sirajul Islam accepted the amendment and altered their motion accordingly.

Councillor Oliur Rahman attempted to move a further amendment to this motion. However the Council’s Monitoring Officer advised the Speaker that the content of the amendment was out of order so it should not be accepted.

Following debate, the motion as amended was put to the vote and was agreed.

RESOLVED:

This Council notes:

1.            That Operation Lynemouth has published its second interim report, which is investigating ‘any alleged criminal or electoral wrongdoing… committed, counselled or procured by a senior figure (or senior figures) within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets’ between 25 October 2010 and 23 April 2015.

2.            The report contains a number of significant observations including;

From Page 12

“It would appear that the original MPS investigation failed to secure pivotal evidence which could have led to further enquiries. Operation Lynemouth has done so and is seeking early advice from the CPS as to whether the evidence provides realistic opportunities for investigation and prosecution.”

From Page 14

“The MPS’s fraud squad considered ten matters during the original investigation, including allegations of fraud, bribery, perjury and tax evasion, but did not make any arrests. Operation Lynemouth has already identified potential evidential opportunities, although there is still much work to be done.”

This Council believes that:

1.            Although, as was stated in the election Court judgement ‘the election of all THF (Tower Hamlets First) Councillors must be taken to have been achieved with the benefit of the corrupt and illegal practices’, all councillors in Tower Hamlets have a legal and moral duty to support the police investigation into the wrongdoing of the past;

2.            While many councillors who were elected  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

The Council agreed to suspend Procedure Rule 13.1 to enable the following urgent motion to be debated without notice:

13.1 Motion regarding the Autumn Budget 2017 and Fire Safety measures

Councillor David Edgar moved and Mayor John Biggs, seconded, the motion as tabled.

Following debate the motion was put to the vote and was agreed.

RESOLVED:

This Council notes:

1.    The Government’s Autumn Budget 2017 was presented to Parliament on 22^nd November 2017.

2.    The Budget failed to address the crisis facing our public services, directly caused by the Government’s austerity programme.

3.    That the Council is committed to keeping our residents safe with a focused programme of works based on up-to-date and professionally considered Fire Risk Assessments, but the Government’s Budget did not include any new funding for fire safety measures, such as sprinklers, which many residents across the UK have understandably called for.

This Council believes:

1.    That the Government’s continued austerity programme is having a real impact on residents here in Tower Hamlets and across the UK:

a.    Cuts of £18.7m to schools in Tower Hamlets, the equivalent of £508 per pupil;

b.    295 fewer police officers and PCSOs on streets in Tower Hamlets since the Tories came to power in 2010;

c.    Government cuts to council funding have meant that Tower Hamlets Council has to save £58m over the coming years;

d.    By 2019, local authorities will be forced to spend 19% less per household under the Tories;

e.    An open letter, signed by five major children’s charities and organisations, warned that children’s social care will have a £2bn funding gap nationally by 2020;

f.     Child poverty has risen to 4 million under the Conservative Government and is set to rise by a further million by the end of this Parliament;

g.    Cuts to adult social care budgets are expected to reach £6.3 billion by March 2018;

h.    There are over 4 million people on NHS waiting lists in England, and there are 6,000 fewer mental health nurses than in 2010.

2.    That the Budget should have included extra funding for fire safety measures, including cladding removal, fire doors, other protection systems and sprinklers.

This Council resolves:

1.    To call on the Mayor to write to the Prime Minister:

a.    Demanding that proper funding is provided for public services;

b.    Demanding that the Government properly fund fire safety works across the UK, for example sprinklers, and accept that its disastrous programme of deregulation and cost cutting is putting lives at risk.