The Speaker of the Council, Councillor Ayas Miah in the Chair

The Speaker stated that everyone was shocked and saddened by the appalling events in Sri Lanka in April. On behalf of the Council, he stated that they stood together in solidarity with those affected by the events and expressed condemnation to those who carried out such acts. The Council’s thoughts and prayers were with all those affected by the tragic events. 

The Council then rose to observe a minutes silence to remember those affected

To elect a Councillor to serve as Speaker of the Council for the municipal year 2019/20 or until a successor is appointed, whichever is the sooner.

(Note: Section 4 and Schedule 2 of the Local Government Act 1972 provide that the election of the chairman (which post the Council has resolved to title ‘Speaker’ in Tower Hamlets) 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).

The Speaker of the Council, Councillor Ayas Miah addressed the meeting about his year of office.  He thanked Mayor John Biggs and Councillors for giving him this opportunity.

He had the honour of attending and supporting a range of events and activities providing opportunities to promote the Borough and bring the community together. Some of the highlights included:

•           Cultural events including the local Mela and an Arts and Music Education concert at Queen Mary College.

•           A commemorative event marking the Victory Day of Bangladesh.

•           A visit to Bangladesh to meet many dignitaries including the Prime Minister.

•           Visits by high profile guests including: the new Bangladesh High Commissioner, the King of the Ashanti, and several members of the Royal Family.

•           A British – Irish Assembly meeting held in Canary Wharf for discussions on a number of important issues.

•           Becoming a Dementia Friend.

•           The LBTH Civic Awards to pay tribute to the hard work of residents.

He was pleased to say that he held a very successful Charity Ball in December in Canary Wharf and a charity curry night. He thanked all of the people and organisations who supported these events especially the sponsors for each.

The Speaker was pleased to announce that he had raised in the region of £50,000 for his Charities:

•           St. Hilda’s East Community Centre

•           Sporting Foundation

•           Dorset Community Association

•           Limehouse Project

He stated that he had been very proud to Chair the Full Council meetings and it was an honour to represent this Borough. He also thanked Officers especially Patricia Attawia (Personal Assistant to The Speaker) and Danny Bodle (Speaker’s Attendant) for all their help and support.

Following the Speaker’s address, Mayor John Biggs addressed the meeting. He thanked Councillor Miah for his service, as Speaker of the Council, over the year. He reported that Councillor Miah had performed his duties with great dignity, loyalty and perseverance and had provided leadership to the community.  He had worked hard to serve everyone in the borough and support community cohesion.

Councillors Mohammed Ahbab Hossain, Abdal Ullah and Denise Jones echoed the above points. They thanked Councillor Miah for acting as such a positive ambassador for the Borough and for all that he had achieved over the year, particularly his work with young people and schools and successful fund raising activities. They stated that his fundraising work would make a huge difference to his charities.

The Speaker then called for nominations to serve as Speaker of the Council for the coming year.

It was moved by Mayor John Biggs, seconded by Councillor Asma Islam, and unanimously:

RESOLVED

1.         That Councillor Victoria Obaze be elected to serve as Speaker of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council until the Annual Council Meeting in May 2020.

Mayor John Biggs and Councillor Asma Islam then came forward to witness the Speaker of the Council signing the statutory declaration of acceptance of office.

The meeting was adjourned at 7.00pm and reconvened at 7.10pm.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.

To elect a Councillor to serve as Deputy Speaker of the Council for the municipal year 2019/20 or until a successor is appointed, whichever is the sooner.

The Speaker sought nominations to serve as Deputy Speaker of the Council for the forthcoming municipal year. It was moved by Mayor John Biggs, seconded by Councillor Asma Islam, and:

RESOLVED

1.            That Councillor Mohammed Ahbab Hossain be elected to serve as Deputy Speaker of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Council until the Annual Council meeting in May 2020.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of:

·         Councillor Faroque Ahmed

·         Councillor Rabina Khan

·         Councillor Gabriela Salva-Macallan

·         Councillor Puru Miah

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.

There were no declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests.

To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 20^th March 2019

RESOLVED:

1.    That the unrestricted minutes of the ordinary Council Meeting held on 20  March 2019 be confirmed as a correct record and the Speaker be authorised to sign them accordingly.

The Chief Executive addressed the meeting.

He thanked the outgoing Speaker, Councillor Ayas Miah and congratulated the new Speaker Councillor Victoria Obaze.

He also congratulated Tower Hamlets Homes on winning landlord of the year and gaining other accolades at the UK Housing Awards.  Poplar HARCA and Swan Housing were also recognised. He also reported that Ofsted were due to commence their Inspection of Children’s social care services in June.

He also advised of the progress that had been made with recruitment to the posts of:

•           Divisional Director, Housing.

•           Divisional Director, Planning and Building Control.

•           Divisional Director, Finance, Audit and Procurement.

Turning to the European Elections, he provided a brief update in respect of the preparation work underway.

To note the Mayor’s Cabinet and related appointments in the Executive Scheme of Delegation as at 15 May 2019. Report to follow.

The Council considered the report of the Corporate Director, Governance (circulated in a supplementary agenda) setting out the Mayor’s Cabinet appointments and other arrangements in respect of Executive Decision Making.

The recommendation was put to the vote and was agreed.

RESOLVED

1.            That the Mayor’s Executive Decision Making scheme be noted.

To establish Committees and Sub-Committees of the Council for the Municipal Year 2019/20 and allocate places on those Committees and Sub-Committees with the review of proportionality as required by the Local Government Housing Act 1989.

The Council considered the report of the Corporate Director, Governance proposing the establishment of the Council’s committees for 2019/20 and setting out the review of proportionality and the allocation of places on those Committees. 

The list of nominations were circulated in a supplementary agenda.

Councillor Kevin Brady moved and Mayor John Biggs seconded the following amendment to the report as tabled:

‘The Labour Group proposes to amend the report to decrease the total number of places on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee by two places, thereby reducing the total membership to nine members.

This is in line with recommendations made by the O&S Committee on 23^rd April 2019 as part of their structure review, and will see the number of Labour members on the committee reduce by two.

An updated table detailing overall proportionality and committee places is below:

The recommendations as amended were put to the vote and were agreed.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the review of proportionality as at section 3 of the report and the allocation of seats on Committees and Panels for the Municipal Year 2019/20 as set out at paragraph 3.6 be agreed subject to the following amendment:

·         To decrease the total number of places on the Overview and Scrutiny Committee by two places, thereby reducing the total membership to nine members.

2.         That the Committees set out for the municipal year 2019/20 be established and places to be allocated on those Committees, as set out at paragraph 3.6 of the report.

To appoint a Chair and Members to each of the Committees and Sub-Committees of the Council established at Item 8 above, in accordance with the nominations submitted by the Political Groups.

The Council considered the report of the Corporate Director, Governance regarding the appointment of members to the Council’s Committees, and Chairs where appropriate, (including those established under item 8 above). The list of nominations were circulated in a supplementary agenda.

Councillor Kevin Brady reported the following amendments to the Labour Group’s list of nominations:

Audit Committee: Councillor Kyrsten Perry to replace Councillor Asma Islam

Overview and Scrutiny Committee: Councillor Eve McQuillan to replace Councillor Kyrsten Perry

Following the receipt of two nominations for the position of Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Chair of the Audit Committee, the nominations were put to the vote and Councillor James King was elected to the position of Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Councillor  Kyrsten Perry was elected to the position of Chair of the Pensions Committee.

The recommendations were put to the vote and were agreed.

RESOLVED

1.         That the members and substitute members to the committees of the Council and other bodies for the municipal year 2019/20  be appointed as set out in the list of tabled nominations as amended at the meeting.

2.         That the Chairs of Committees for 2019/20 be appointed from amongst the list of tabled nominations subject to the appointment of Councillor James King to the position of Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Councillor Kyrsten Perry to the position of Chair of the Pensions Committee.

3.         That in relation to any unfilled places within the seats allocated to a particular political group, the Council note that the Corporate Director, Governance has delegated authority subsequently to agree the appointments to those places in accordance with nominations from the relevant political group.  

To note the report on the use of Special Urgency provisions in the past year.

The Council considered the report setting out when Special Urgency provisions have been applied to Executive Key Decisions.

The recommendation was put to the vote and were agreed.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the report on the use of special urgency provisions in relation to Executive Key Decisions  be noted

To agree a revised Schedule of Meetings for the Council, committees and other meetings for the municipal year 2019/20.

The Council considered the report of the Corporate Director, Governance and Monitoring Officer setting out a revised calendar of meetings for the Council, Committees and other meetings for the municipal year 2019/20.

The recommendations were put to the vote and were agreed.

RESOLVED

1.         That the proposed amended calendar of meetings for the municipal year 2019/20 be approved as set out in Appendix A of the report including amended standard start times where appropriate.

2.         That the Corporate Director  Governance be delegated the authority to agree meeting dates for any new Committees or Panels that are set up subsequent to this report being presented to Council, subject to appropriate consultation with Members.

3.         To note that the Constitution provides for the Monitoring Officer to agree to cancel, amend a meeting or arrange new meetings where required.

To consider a report proposing the re - appointment of a number of Co-Optees to the Standards (Advisory) Committee and note details of the forthcoming review of the ethics regime.

The Council considered a report proposing the re - appointment of a number of Co-Optees to the Standards (Advisory) Committee.

RESOLVED

1.         That the re-appointment of Mr John Pulford MBE, Ms Nafisa Adam, Mr Michael James Houston and Ms Fiona Browne as Independent Co-opted Members of the Standards (Advisory) Committee until 30 September 2021 be approved.

2.         To note that the Standards (Advisory) Committee will be undertaking a review to ensure the Council takes into account the best practice guidance from the Committee on Standards in Public Life.

To consider a report on the cross-authority enforcement of illegal street trading on Tower Bridge.

The Council considered a report on the cross-authority enforcement of illegal street trading on Tower Bridge.

RESOLVED

1.         That the City Of London Corporation be delegates the function of enforcement of offences relating to unlicensed street trading in the area shown at Appendix 2.

2.         Authorise the execution of the agreement between the City of London Corporation and the Council relating to the enforcement referred to above.

An opportunity for the Mayor and the Councillors to set out their views on the ‘State of the Borough’.

The Mayor gave his state of the Borough address, providing a summary of the Administration’s achievements over the last 12 months and their continuing priorities around the following:

·         The environment.

·         Crime reduction and ASB.

·         Delivery of temporary and permanent affordable housing and raising housing standards.

·         Infrastructure improvements.

·         Education, training and employment.

·         Standard of living and protecting services.

·         Children’s and young people’s services.

·         Waste services.

Councillor Andrew Wood, Leader of the Conservative Opposition Group responded to the Mayor’s report. Whilst he considered that progress had been made in a number of areas, he felt that the pace of change was too slow. He listed a number of areas where he considered, there was a need for improvements particularly with regard to: transparency in decision making, meeting recycling targets, performance at planning appeals, progress with delivering infrastructure, the recruitment of Senior staff at the Council, and management of aspects of the Council finances.

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The following Councillors also responded to the Mayor report.

·         Councillor Sirajul Islam

·         Councillor Peter Golds

·         Councillor Abdal Ullah

·         Councillor Danny Hassell

·         Councillor Ehtasham Hoque

·         Councillor Candida Ronald

·         Councillor Rachel Blake

·         Councillor David Edgar

·         Councillor Amina Ali

·         Councillor Mufeedah Bustin

·         Councillor John Pierce

·         Councillor Motin – Uz –Zaman

·         Councillor Marc Francis

In closing the debate, the Mayor welcomed the challenges set by Councillors especially around the need for effective scrutiny and consultation in respect of important issues.  Regarding the future of Raine’s Foundation School he outlined the consultation process and that no decision on the future of the school had been made

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