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

The Speaker of the Council brought the Council up to date with some of her activities since the previous Council meeting. She reported that she had carried out a variety of engagements and supported a number of events. These ranged from: celebrations for the Victory Day of Bangladesh, Tower Hamlets in Bloom, anniversary celebrations, cultural and sporting events, citizenship ceremonies and carol services to fundraise for her chosen charities.

In addition, the Speaker reported that she had visited a local school, hosted a local Air Squadron Awards night, supported the fundraising efforts of Dementia Friends and held her Charity Ball to raise money for her charities.

The Speaker also reported that she had the honour of visiting Bangladesh when the Council was closed for Christmas where she met local dignitaries. This provided her with the opportunity to promote the Tower Hamlets and explain how well the community worked together.  She was pleased that the visit as a whole went very well.

The Speaker concluded that she was now looking ahead to the other events she was planning to hold this year which include fundraisers and the Civic Awards.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of:

·         Councillor Shiria Khatun

·         Councillor Abjol Miah

·         Councillor Gulam Robbani

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.

The Monitoring Officer advised that she had granted two dispensations in respect of Agenda Items 7, Administration Motion regarding Housing in Tower Hamlets and 12.16 Motion regarding Fire Safety in Tower Hamlets for Residents. As a result of this, Councillors with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in these items did not need to declare this and would be able to stay in the meeting room, participate in the discussion and vote on these items.

The Monitoring Officer had also received notification from Councillor Rabina Khan that she had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the following agenda items:

·         9.7, Member Question relating to new and small businesses.

·         9.31, Member Question relating to the Council Tax Reduction scheme and the self - employed.

·         12.2, Motion regarding stop the cut to the Council Tax Reduction scheme.

·         12.7, Motion regarding the Council Tax Reduction scheme.

Councillors Mahbub Alam, Shah Alam, Ohid Ahmed, Shafi Ahmed, Aminur Khan, Peter Golds and Denise Jones declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the following agenda Items:

·         9.7, Member Question relating to new and small businesses.

·         9. 31, Member Question relating to the Council Tax Reduction scheme and the self - employed.

·         12.2, Motion regarding Stop the cut to the Council Tax reduction scheme.

·         12.7, Motion regarding the Council Tax Reduction scheme.

Councillor Ayas Miah declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the following agenda Items:

·         7, Administration Motion regarding Housing in Tower Hamlets.

·         9.7, Member Question relating to new and small businesses.

·         9. 31, Member Question relating to the Council Tax Reduction scheme and the self - employed.

·         12.2, Motion regarding stop the cut to the Council Tax Reduction scheme.

·         12.7, Motion regarding the Council Tax Reduction scheme.

·         12.16, Motion regarding Fire Safety in Tower Hamlets for Residents.

Councillor Rajib Ahmed declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the following agenda items:

·         9.16, Member Question relating to the Council Tax Reduction scheme and mini cab drivers.

·         12.2, Motion regarding stop the cut to the Council Tax Reduction scheme.

Councillors Dave Chesterton and Helal Uddin declared Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in the following agenda Items:

·         7, Administration Motion regarding Housing in Tower Hamlets

·         12.16 Motion regarding Fire Safety in Tower Hamlets for Residents

Councillor Helal Uddin also declared a non - disclosable interest in agenda item 12.16.

Councillor John Pierce declared a non - disclosable interest in agenda item 5.2, Petition regarding Galleon House fire safety.

Councillor Oliur Rahman declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in agenda item 12.18, Motion regarding the Public Sector Pay Cap – including Tower Hamlets staff and emergency workers

Councillor Harun Miah declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in the following agenda items:

·         9.20, Member Question relating to traffic and road safety measures

·         7, Administration Motion regarding Housing in Tower Hamlets

·         12.16, Motion regarding Fire Safety in Tower Hamlets for Residents

Members declaring Disclosable Pecuniary Interests would be required to leave the room for the duration of the relevant agenda items with the exception of those Members who had been granted a dispensation by the Monitoring Officer in respect of items  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 22 November 2017.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the unrestricted minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on Wednesday 22 November 2017 be confirmed as a correct record and the Speaker be authorised to sign them accordingly.

With regret the Speaker reported that George Desmond, who was a Mayor of Tower Hamlets in 1973-74 and former Councillor John Rowe, of St Katherine’s Ward had sadly passed away. It was also reported that Eric Moonman, who was the last leader of Stepney Council and the first Leader of Tower Hamlets Council had sadly passed away recently.

The Speaker paid tribute to their contribution to the Borough and on behalf of the Council, passed on her deepest condolences to their families and friends at this difficult time.

The Chief Executive updated the Council on a number Senior Staff positions. He advised that:

·         Vicky Clark had joined as Divisional Director, Growth & Economic Development;

·         Roy Ormsby, Divisional Director of Public Realm had retired and

·         Robin Payne had been appointed as the interim Divisional director of Public Realm.

He also advised that:

·         Heather Daley, Divisional Director for Human Resources and Transformation would be leaving at Easter;

·         Robert Curtis had joined as Head of Electoral Services and

·         Louise Stamp had retired from the post of Head of Electoral Services.

In relation to other matters, he advised that there had been a further visit from Ofsted and their letter was to be published shortly. He also reported that the Council was in the process of being reassessed for the Investors in People accreditation and had been sort listed for five LGC awards. .

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

5.1       Petition regarding Latham House fire safety

Councillor Oliur Rahmanaddressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members. Mayor John Biggs then responded to the matters raised in the petition. The Mayor reported that the Council had commissioned fire risk assessments of its housing stock prior to the Grenfell Tower fire. He also reported that Tower Hamlets Homes had agreed a programme of works to address fire safety issues including measures to help address the issues identified at Latham House that had been assessed as at medium risk. He also advised whilst the initial testing of the cladding indicated that it was not at risk, samples would be sent off for further testing.

In addition, the Mayor reported that the Council had developed an Anti - Social Behaviour strategy to address the issues regarding community safety and that he would be consulting on measures to improve the street layout around the Troxy on Commercial Road to minimise disturbance from events.

RESOLVED:

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

5.2       Petition regarding Galleon House fire safety

Nasim Ahmed addressed the meeting and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Sirajul Islam, Cabinet Member for Housing then responded to the matters raised in the petition. He reported that the Council worked closely with housing associations including East End Homes in respect of fire safety matters. He also advised that after receiving the petition, he had sought and received a statement from East End Homes regarding the matters raised in the petition. This provided reassurances about a number of matters including:  their risk assessments of buildings; their investigation of the recent fire at the block; and the further steps they intended to take to address the issues raised in the petition.

He stated that both himself and East End Homes were happy to meet with the residents to discuss their concerns further

RESOLVED:

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

5.3       Petition regarding for water sprinklers at Anglia House, Salmon Lane E14

Dipu Jagirdar and others addressed the meeting and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Sirajul Islam, Cabinet Member for Housing then responded to the matters raised in the petition. He reported that the Council would continue to monitor fire safety and that all of the fire risk assessments of its housing blocks were up to date. Furthermore, the Council had committed funding for fire safety works,

He also advised that Anglia House had been identified as at moderate risk and the Council and THH had approved works to improve the fire safety rating. They would consult with residents throughout this process.

On the issue of sprinklers, he advised that the requirements only applied to buildings built after 2007 over a certain height. All of the Council’s high rise housing blocks were built before this date. Nevertheless, they should be protected by their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Council’s Constitution provides for the Elected Mayor to give a report at each Ordinary Council Meeting.

A maximum of six minutes is allowed for the Elected Mayor’s report, following which the Speaker of the Council will invite the respective political group leaders to respond for up to two minutes each if they wish.

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.

To debate a Motion submitted by the Administration in accordance with Rules 11 and 13 of the Council’s Constitution. The debate will last for a maximum of 30 minutes.

Administration Motion regarding Housing in Tower Hamlets

Councillor Sirajul Islam moved and Councillor Rachel Blake seconded the motion as printed in the agenda.

Councillor Oliur Rahman moved and Councillor Muhammad Ansar Mustaquimseconded the following amendment to the motion as tabled:

Additions in bold and deletions struck through:

This Council notes that:

1.            The population of Tower Hamlets has broken through the 300,000 mark. It is predicted there will be a further 87,400 people living in the Borough over the next 25 years.

2.            A lack of genuinely affordable housing isnow the main concern for residents, as highlighted by the Annual Residents Survey 2017.

3.            Since the 2010 General Election, rough sleeping has more than doubled and the number of homeless households has increased by half to almost 60,000. This is a direct result of the Government’s failed housing policies: no proper investment for affordable homes; benefit changes; reduced funding for homelessness services, and a lack of action to help private renters.

4.            The Government announced in its Autumn Budget that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) cap would be lifted for some councils, up to £1bn, starting in 2019/20, but that councils will need to bid for this in the future rather than automatically being given the power now.

5.            The new Local Plan will must set out how the Council intends to manage the scale and pace of development and ensure that all residents benefit from the opportunities growth brings to the borough and will deliver more schools, transport, GP surgeries and jobs alongside new housing. The Plan must ensure that it does not have a funding gap and ensures a fair, transparent and accountable distribution of local infrastructure levy and any development related funding is fairly distributed to all parts of the Borough – particularly the areas and neighbourhoods which are more deprived, poorer or those with the highest levels of child poverty and other needs.

6.            Mayor Biggs pledged to deliver 1,000 council homes and the Council is on track to meet this target. However, Council considers that the current target is without any meaningful timescale, transparency and accountability and is not only unimaginative, lacks ambition and essential details but is also a poor attempt to steal the credit for the hard work already carried out by the previous administration led by former Mayor Lutfur Rahman, former Deputy Mayor Councillor Ohid Ahmed and the Cabinet Member for Resources, Councillor Alibor Choudhury and their team.

7.            Council figures show Tower Hamlets delivered 1,070 affordable homes last year (2016/17) and another 1,073 the year before (2015/16) all of which were approved by the previous administration.

8.            Under Mayor Biggs’ new Living Rent policy, rents for new affordable homes are far more affordable to those on low incomes, saving residents up to £6,000 a year. This was a recommendation of the Tower Hamlets Affordability Commission, which was set up by Mayor Biggs in 2015 following his election. However, Council considers that Mayor John Biggs did not  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To debate a Motion submitted by one of the Opposition Groups in accordance with Rules 11 and 13 of the Council’s Constitution. The debate will last for a maximum of 30 minutes.

Opposition Motion by the Independent Group calling for the abandonment of the planned State Visit by Donald Trump

Councillor Ohid Ahmed moved and Councillor Oliur Rahman seconded the motion as printed in the agenda.

Councillor Ohid Ahmed moved and Mayor John Biggs seconded the following friendly amendment to the motion as tabled:

Deleted text is scored out.

New text is underlined.

Tower Hamlets is home to one of the country’s most diverse communities. The borough has always been a home to migrant communities beginning with the French Huguenots in the 16^th Century, followed later by Jewish and Irish migrants. Bangladeshi residents began arriving in the borough during the 1970s. Somalian residents arrived as seamen and then later as a result of a war in Somalia. Tower Hamlets has the highest percentage of Muslim residents in England – 35 per cent compared with the national average of 5 per cent.

Tower Hamlets Council undertakes important and positive community cohesion work through its policies and priorities.

The Tower Hamlets Community Plan 2015 outlined the vision for the borough where people, regardless of their backgrounds, have the opportunity to achieve their full potential. The then Strategic Plan 17/18, sets out the council’s aim to create more engaged, resilient and cohesive communities. One of the four key themes of the Tower Hamlets Community Plan, as part of its priority outcome to create and maintain a vibrant successful place, was to create a Safe and Cohesive Community and, as part of this, the plan highlighted a commitment to promote community cohesion. A cohesive community enables all to have an equal stake and status in the community; where people have the same opportunities as their neighbours; and where people have a commitment and responsibility to contribute to the well-being of their communities.

Like the neighbouring Royal Borough of Greenwich which formally adopted a similar motion, this Council notes with shock and alarm the decision by Donald Trump, President of the United States, to 'retweet' Islamophobic propaganda from the Britain First Twitter account.

The Council further notes with sadness the President’s bigoted attitude (Washington Post, Caroline Lucas MP and co-chair of Green Party, Republicans in the United States, Boston Globe, Royal Borough of Greenwich among others) towards women, ethnic minorities and Muslims which has resulted in examples of division and hatred within the USA and beyond.

Mr Trump has been invited to visit the United Kingdom by the Government.

This Council also notes Trump’s unilateral decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel which is against the United Nations resolutions, the official policy position of our country and all United Nations permanent member states and an overwhelming majority of nations refused to support this illogical decision. Trump’s decision has created a huge impediment to achieving peace, to secure a possible two-state solution between Israel and Palestine and has unnecessarily provided a potential opportunity to be exploited by violent extremists which could have a possible knock-on impact on the efforts to deal with extremism and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

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-

To consider a report on the Community Safety Partnership Plan 2017-2021. This plan was forwarded to Council for consideration by the Mayor in Cabinet on 31 October 2017.

The Council considered a report on the Community Safety Partnership Plan 2017-2021. This plan was forwarded to Council for consideration by the Mayor in Cabinet on 31 October 2017. Accordingly it was:

RESOLVED:

1.            That the Community Safety Partnership Plan 2017-21 at Appendix 1 of the report be adopted.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director, Governance and Monitoring Officer proposing the appointment of a second Independent Person.

The Council considered a report of the Corporate Director, Governance and Monitoring Officer proposing the appointment of a second Independent Person. The recommendations were put to the vote under the guillotine procedure at Council Procedure Rule 9

RESOLVED:

The Council agree:

1.            The appointment of Rachael Tiffin as a second Independent Person for a period of 4 years effective from the date of the Council meeting and concluding on 16 January 2022.

2.            An annual allowance of £1,000 for any person appointed by the Council to the role of Independent Person to replace the existing separate allowances payable for attendance at meetings and training events and consultation on complaints as detailed in paragraph 3.2 and 3.3 of the report.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director, Governance and Monitoring Officer reviewing the Council’s proportionality rules and allocation of places on Committees and Panels of the Council.

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

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 Members and deputies be appointed to serve on those committees and panels in accordance with nominations from the political groups to be notified to the Corporate Director, Governance.

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.

No motions were debated due to a lack of time.