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

The Speaker reported that since the last Council meeting, she had attended a range of engagements, marking important events and achievements. These included:

·         A meeting with the Bangladesh Human Rights Commission - UK Women’s Branch, to celebrate their inauguration.

·         A Mulberry School for Girls leadership event

·         A Holocaust Memorial Day event at the City Hall and a two minutes silence at the Town Hall.

·         A meeting with the Civic Awards Panel to choose this year’s winner ahead of the ceremony on 16^th March 2018.

·         A celebration at QVRS, (that provided accommodation to seafarers and other adults) to mark its 175^th anniversary.

·         A Somali Task Force event to celebrate their achievements and a Somali Culture and History Project exhibition.

·         Award ceremonies including: the London Cricket League Community Cricket Awards and the TPAS awards.

·         An Art exhibition at the Whitechapel Gallery that showcased the work of pupils from the Lansbury Lawrence School.

·         An Award ceremony held by the High Commissioner of Bangladesh where some Tower Hamlets Students received the honour.

·         The Tower Hamlets Winter Volunteering Fair.

·         An International Mothers Day Language Event to pay tribute to the marters of the Bengali Language Movement.

The Speaker also advised that during the rest of the week, she would be visiting two more schools in the Borough and attending a children’s celebration of International Mother Language Day.

The Speaker of the Council adjourned the meeting for 10 minutes at 7:15pm. The meeting reconvened at 7:25pm.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Suluk Ahmed and Gulam Robbani

Apologies for lateness were received on behalf of Councillor Shiria Khatun

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.

No declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests were made.

With regret, the Speaker reported that former Tower Hamlets Councillor and human rights activist Shahab Uddin Ahmed Belal sadly passed away recently.  On behalf of the Council, she paid tribute to his contribution to the Borough and passed on her deepest condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.

The Council Procedure Rules provide for a maximum of four petitions to be presented at the Budget Council meeting. 

The deadline for receipt of petitions for this Council meeting was noon on Wednesday 7 February 2018. No petitions were received by the deadline.

No petitions were received by the deadline for receipt of petitions for this Council meeting.

To consider the proposals of the Mayor and Executive for the Council’s Budget and Council Tax 2018/19. Please note that this report includes the General Fund Revenue and Capital Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan Plan 2018/19 - 2020/21, the Housing Revenue Account and the Treasury Management Strategy Statement.

Mayor John Biggs moved, the budget proposals of the Mayor and Executive as set out in the agenda pack. Councillor David Edgar seconded the proposals.

Four amendments were moved as follows:

(i)    Amendment proposed by Councillor Ohid Ahmed and seconded by Councillor Oliur Rahman

(ii)  Amendment proposed by Councillor Rabina Khan and seconded by Councillor Abdul Asad

(iii)Amendment proposed by Councillor Andrew Wood and seconded by Councillor Chris Chapman

(iv)Amendment proposed by Councillor Shafiqul Haque and seconded by Councillor Abdul Mukit MBE. This amendment was accepted by the Mayor as a ‘friendly amendment’ and the substantive motion was adjusted as required 

Following debate, the amendment proposed by CouncillorOhid Ahmed was put to a recorded vote and was defeated.

The Mayor and Councillors recorded their votes on the amendment as follows:-

The amendment proposed by Councillor Rabina Khan was put to a recorded vote and was defeated.

The Mayor and Councillors recorded their votes on the amendment as follows:-

The amendment proposed by Councillor Andrew Wood was put to a recorded vote and was defeated.

The Mayor and Councillors recorded their votes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider the report of the Acting Corporate Director, Place, proposing the submission of the regulation 19 version of the Tower Hamlets Local Plan,  associated minor amendments table and supporting documentation to the Secretary of State for independent examination in accordance with regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

The Council considered the report of the Acting Corporate Director, Place, proposing the submission of the regulation 19 version of the Tower Hamlets Local Plan and associated minor amendments to the Secretary of State for independent examination in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations.

Following debate, the recommendations were put to the vote and were agreed. Accordingly it was:

RESOLVED:

That the Council approve:

1.            The submission of the regulation 19 version of the Tower Hamlets Local Plan and associated minor amendments table to the secretary of state for independent examination in accordance with regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 and the Statement of Community Involvement;

2.            The submission of the documents which support the Tower Hamlets Local Plan and have been developed in accordance with regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning Act (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012.

These are:

(a)  the Integrated Impact Assessment;

(b)  the Policies Map;

(c)  the Statement of Consultation;

(d)  the Duty to Cooperate Statement;

(e)  the supporting evidence base; and

(f)   copies of representations made during the regulation 19 consultation and the council’s response to them; and

3.            That the Corporate Director of Place (Interim) in consultation with the Mayor and Lead Member for Strategic Development and Waste be authorised to make any further minor amendments in the minor amendments table.