Agenda, decisions and minutes
Venue: The Council Chamber, 1st Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG
Contact: John S Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4204, E-mail: johns.williams@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Decision: Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Stephanie Eaton, David Edgar, David Snowdon and Kosru Uddin.
DECISION
That the apologies for absence be noted.
Minutes: Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Stephanie Eaton, David Edgar, David Snowdon and Kosru Uddin.
RESOLVED
That the apologies for absence be noted.
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PDF 49 KB 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 Chief Executive.
Decision: Please see minutes.
Minutes: Councillors declared interests in items included on the agenda for the meeting as follows:-
Point of Personal Explanation
Councillor Ohid Ahmed stated that he had been asked by Councillors Peter Golds and Joshua Peck to give an apology for comments he made at a previous Council meeting. Councillor Ahmed stated that he had previously explained that if the previous Speaker of the Council had allowed him to finish his speech at the meeting concerned then the situation would not have arisen. Nevertheless, Councillor Ahmed stated that he had written to the Councillors and made it clear that he did not accuse any of them personally of racism. If his remarks had inadvertently given that impression then Councillor Ahmed was sorry for that.
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LOCALISM ACT 2011 - THE AMENDED STANDARDS REGIME PDF 199 KB To adopt a new Code of Conduct for elected and co-opted members; and to agree other matters relating to the revised Standards regime introduced by the Localism Act 2011.
The revised report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) is attached. The proposals contained in the report have been subject to further consultation with elected members and with independent members of the Standards Committee at a Members' seminar on 30th May, and have been amended accordingly. Any additional recommendations of the Standards Committee meeting on 12th June 2012 will be reported to the Council. Additional documents:
Decision: Councillor Ohid Ahmed moved, and Councillor Alibor Choudhury seconded, an amendment to paragraphs 4.8 and 4.11 of the draft terms of reference of the Standards Advisory Committee. On being put to the vote, the amendment was agreed as incorporated in decision 1(a) below.
DECISION
1. That agreement be given, with effect from 1st July 2012, to:-
(a) The establishment of a Standards Advisory Committee with revised terms of reference as set out in Appendix 1 to the addendum report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services), subject to the addition of the words “and other faiths” after the word “church” in paragraphs 4.8 and 4.11 of the revised terms of reference.
(b) The re-appointment of the current Independent Members of the Standards Committee, with the exception of the Independent Chair, as co-optees to the new Standards Advisory Committee.
(c) The adoption of the new Code of Member Conduct for the Council as set out in Appendix 3 to the addendum report.
(d) The revised arrangements for dealing with allegations of a breach of the Code of Conduct as set out in Appendix 2 to the addendum report.
2. That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make arrangements to advertise for, and together with an Appointments Panel drawn from the Standards Advisory Committee in accordance with proportionality to take the necessary action to appoint, an Independent Person and a reserve Independent Person, whose appointments shall be confirmed by the Council.
3. That the existing Independent Chair of the Standards Committee, Mr Barry O’Connor, be appointed as the ‘Independent Person’ under the new arrangements, to serve until the completion of the recruitment process to that position.
4. That consequent on resolution 3 above, the existing Chair of the Standards Committee be not appointed at this stage as a co-opted member of the new Standards Advisory Committee but that he be invited to attend meetings of that Advisory Committee as an observer.
5. That the Monitoring Officer have authority to convene a Dispensations Sub-Committee of the Standards Advisory Committee, to consider and advise on applications from the Mayor, any Member or co-opted member for dispensations from the restrictions on participation in any matter in which there is a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest.
(Action by: Isabella Freeman, Assistant Chief Executive [Legal Services]; John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Minutes: The Council considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) proposing arrangements for the adoption of an amended Standards regime as introduced by the Localism Act 2011.
The Council noted that an addendum report, which was circulated with the supplementary agenda, proposed additional amendments that had arisen due to:
(i) Two Statutory Instruments made on 6th June 2012 in connection with the 2011 Act which gave further direction on the detail of the new regime, particularly in relation to the definition of a ‘Disclosable Pecuniary Interest’ and made provision for transitional arrangements; and
(ii) The meeting of the Standards Committee on 12th June 2012, when further consideration had been given to the new arrangements and comments thereon submitted by the political groups and others.
The addendum report accordingly set out revised recommendations for the Council’s consideration.
Councillor Ohid Ahmed moved, and Councillor Alibor Choudhury seconded, an amendment to the recommendations as follows:-
“That the words ‘and other faiths’ be inserted after the word ‘church’ in paragraphs 4.8 and 4.11 to the draft terms of reference of the Standards Advisory Committee.”
The amendment moved by Councillor Ohid Ahmed was put to the vote and was agreed.
The substantive recommendations as amended were then put to the vote and were agreed. Accordingly it was:-
RESOLVED
1. That agreement be given, with effect from 1st July 2012, to:-
(a) The establishment of a Standards Advisory Committee with revised terms of reference as set out in Appendix 1 to the addendum report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services), subject to the addition of the words “and other faiths” after the word “church” in paragraphs 4.8 and 4.11 of the revised terms of reference.
(b) The re-appointment of the current Independent Members of the Standards Committee, with the exception of the Independent Chair, as co-optees to the new Standards Advisory Committee.
(c) The adoption of the new Code of Member Conduct for the Council as set out in Appendix 3 to the addendum report.
(d) The revised arrangements for dealing with allegations of a breach of the Code of Conduct as set out in Appendix 2 to the addendum report.
2. That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make arrangements to advertise for, and together with an Appointments Panel drawn from the Standards Advisory Committee in accordance with proportionality to take the necessary action to appoint, an Independent Person and a reserve Independent Person, whose appointments shall be confirmed by the Council.
3. That the existing Independent Chair of the Standards Committee, Mr Barry O’Connor, be appointed as the ‘Independent Person’ under the new arrangements, to serve until the completion of the recruitment process to that position.
4. That consequent on resolution 3 above, the existing Chair of the Standards Committee be not appointed at this stage as a co-opted member of the new Standards Advisory Committee but that he be invited to attend meetings of that Advisory Committee as an observer.
5. That the Monitoring Officer ... view the full minutes text for item 3. |
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COMMUNITY SAFETY PLAN 2012-13 PDF 59 KB To adopt the Council’s Community Safety Plan 2012-13 as recommended by the Executive at the Cabinet Meeting on 4th April 2012.
The report of the Mayor in Cabinet, plus appendices including the proposed Community Safety Plan document are attached.
Consideration of this matter was deferred at the Council meeting on 16th May 2012. Additional documents:
Decision: Councillor Abdal Ullah moved, and Councillor Judith Gardiner seconded, an amendment attached as Appendix 1 to this Decision Sheet. The amendment, and then the substantive motion as amended, were put to the vote in turn and were agreed.
DECISION
That the draft Community Safety Plan 2012-13 be referred back to the Executive for further consideration in the light of the amendment agreed by the Council in accordance with the provisions of the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules.
(Action by: Stephen Halsey, Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture; Emily Fieran-Reed, Head of Community Safety Partnership; John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Minutes: The Council considered the report of the Cabinet meeting of 4th April 2012, incorporating the report of the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture, proposing the adoption of a Borough-wide Community Safety Plan for 2012-13. The Community Safety Plan was one of the plans and strategies that make up the Council’s Policy Framework and was therefore required to be adopted by the full Council.
Councillor Abdal Ullah moved, and Councillor Judith Gardiner seconded, a tabled amendment as follows:-
“This Council notes:
- There continues to be serious public concern about the levels of crime in Tower Hamlets. - Incidents of serious violent crime and serious acquisitive crime have increased over the past year. - The proposed Community Safety Plan contains very few targets or measurable criteria for success, therefore allowing little oversight.
- The proposed Community Safety Plan does not clearly focus on the issues of most importance to local residents, those of serious violent crime and serious acquisitive crime. This Council believes: - Every step should be taken to combat criminality in Tower Hamlets. - Priorities for community safety in Tower Hamlets should be clear and measurable in order to maintain public support and oversight. - It is the role of every elected representative to work towards a safer community.
This Council therefore resolves to amend the report as follows:
- Delete the second bullet point on page 31, (“Exploit the Mayor’s role as a unifying figure via the Citizen Engagement Strategy”).
- Delete “through scrutiny and its role in the budget process” from the third bullet point on page 31.
- To add a new page after page 3, in the same font, size and layout as page 3, stating:
Note from Tower Hamlets Councillors
Tower Hamlets councillors represent residents living in all corners of our borough and so every day we hear about the crime and anti-social behaviour experienced by local people.
We know that for too many of our residents, Tower Hamlets doesn’t feel safe enough, and that too many people are still the victims of crime and anti-social behaviour.
That’s why we were concerned that this Community Safety Plan did not seem to recognise this reality. Undoubtedly a lot of good work has been done by the Council, the police, housing providers and others in tackling crime and ASB, and every year there are lots of successes.
But despite that good work, some types of crime are rising. In the last year, both serious violent crime and serious acquisitive crime have gone up. At the same time, residents’ concern about drug-use and dealing, drunk or rowdy behaviour, and vandalism, graffiti and criminal damage has also risen.
In a year when visitors from all over the world are coming to East London to enjoy the Olympics, the Community Safety Partnership needs to be better than ever at identifying the risks and causes of crime and ASB, and putting in place challenging targets and strategies for reducing them. Whilst there is clearly good work being done ... view the full minutes text for item 4. |
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EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC In view of the content of the remaining item 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. Decision: DECISION
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.
Minutes: RESOLVED
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.
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APPOINTMENT TO POST OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE (HEAD OF PAID SERVICE) To consider proposals in relation to the appointment of a Chief Executive (Head of Paid Service), further to the decision of the Council on 16th May 2012 to make no appointment at that meeting but to call for a further report setting out options for consideration.
The report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) pursuant to the Council's decision is to follow. Decision: DECISION
That consideration of this matter be deferred to an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council to be held immediately prior to the next Ordinary Council meeting on 11th July 2012.
(Action by: Isabella Freeman, Assistant Chief Executive [Legal Services]; John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Minutes: It was agreed that consideration of this matter be deferred to an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council to be held immediately prior to the next Ordinary Council meeting on 11th July 2012.
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MOTION REGARDING THE DISCIPLINARY POLICY AND PROCEDURE FOR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE, CHIEF FINANCE OFFICER AND MONITORING OFFICER A motion has been submitted by Councillors Anwar Khan and Motin Uz-Zaman for the Council's consideration, proposing amendments to the Disciplinary Policy and Procedure for the Chief Executive, Chief Finance Officer and Monitoring Officer.
The exempt report of the Monitoring Officer, setting out advice to be taken into account by the Council when considering the motion, is attached for Members of the Council. The motion from Councillors Khan and Uz-Zaman is at Appendix 1 to the report and the revised Policy and Procedure, incorporating both the changes proposed by that motion and the further amendments of the Monitoring Officer, is at Appendix 3 to the report. Decision: Councillor Anwar Khan moved, and Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman seconded, the circulated motion.
Following debate the motion, including the revised Policy and Procedure as amended in accordance with the comments of the Monitoring Officer, was put to the vote and was agreed.
DECISION
See exempt minutes.
(Action by: Isabella Freeman, Assistant Chief Executive [Legal Services]; Simon Kilbey, Service Head, Human Resources and Workforce Development; John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Minutes: Councillor Anwar Khan moved, and Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman seconded, the circulated motion.
Following debate the motion, including the revised Policy and Procedure as amended in accordance with the comments of the Monitoring Officer, was put to the vote and was agreed.
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