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

The Speaker of the Council brought the Council up to date with some of his activities since the previous Council meeting.

He advised that he had the great pleasure of attending a variety of engagements and community events. This included:

•           A number of award events and anniversary celebrations

•           Citizenship ceremonies.

•           A meeting with the Bangladeshi Human Rights Commission, where he met the Secretary General of the Women’s Branch to Tower Hamlets

•           The Army Cadet Force visitor and competition day, that provided opportunities to young people.

•           A meeting with the King of the Ashanti, (which is a region in Ghana), and his distinguished guests, when he was presented with an honorary doctorate of education.

•           A Merchant Navy Day service.

•           The 20th Pearly Kings and Queens Festival parade.

•           The launch of Tower Hamlets Homes’ Financial Health Centre.

The Speaker also thanked the Deputy Speaker, Councillor Victoria Obaze for deputising for the Speaker at certain events during recent weeks.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of:

•              Councillor Kyrsten Perry.

•              Councillor John Pierce

•              Councillor Abdal Ullah

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 Speaker of the Council reported that he had received a tabled list (as set out at the end of this item) of Non Disclosable Pecuniary Interests (Other Interests) in relation to Agenda Item 12.1 regarding school cuts (this is set out below)

The following declarations for interests that must be registered (other interests) were made:

Councillor Dan Tomlinson on Agenda Item 12.1 regarding school cuts as he was a Member of the GMB union.

Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman on Agenda Item 12.1 regarding school cuts as he was a member of the University and College Union.

Councillor Amina Ali on Agenda Item 9.13, a Member Question regarding Three Colt Street, on the basis that she lived in the area.

Councillor Muhammad Harun on Agenda Item 5.3, Petition requesting that Tower Hamlets Council welcome child refugees on the basis that he was a human rights lawyer and he regularly represented asylum seekers.

Tabled List of ‘other interest that must be registered’ –

Agenda item 12.1 Motion regarding school cuts.

To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the Ordinary Meeting of the Council held on 18^th July 2018

RESOLVED:

1.         That the unrestricted minutes of the ordinary Council Meeting held on 18^th July 2018 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 four petitions to be discussed at an Ordinary Meeting of the Council.

The attached report presents the received petitions to be discussed. Had any additional petitions be received they would have been listed to be noted but not discussed.

5.1   Petition regarding Glyphosate/Roundup

Geoffrey Juden and others addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members. Councillor David Edgar, Cabinet Member for Environment then responded to the matters raised in the petition.

He provided reassurance about the product’s safety for use, in light of the scientific evidence. Nevertheless, he recognised the need to continue to review the evidence and he was happy to meet the petitioners to discuss the issues further.

RESOLVED:

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

5.2   Petition regarding a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal

John Shore and others addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Amina Ali, Cabinet Member for Culture, Arts and Brexit responded to the matters raised in the petition. She advised that the Council had set up a Brexit Commission comprising a number of experts and stakeholders to look at the possible impact on the Borough of leaving the European Union. She had also submitted a Motion to this Council meeting requesting that the Council support a people’s vote on a final Brexit deal and would be taking part in the people’s march in support of this.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Governance and Monitoring Officer for a written response within 28 days.

5.3    Petition asking Tower Hamlets Council to please welcome child refugees

Melanie Tuff and others addressed 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. He was proud of the work that the Council had carried out, as part as of the vulnerable persons resettlement scheme and the national transfer system for welcoming child refugees. The Council remained committed to supporting the target for the allocations and would continue to put pressure of the Government to help with this process.

RESOLVED:

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

5.4  Petition regarding the provision of proper basketball facility in Millwall Park

Local residents addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Amina Ali, Cabinet Member for Culture, Arts and Brexit responded to the matters raised in the petition.

She noted the need for major works to be carried out to the basketball court to address the challenges arising from the changing nature of the local area to protect residential amenity. In view of the issues, the Council were looking to explore measures to mitigate the problems, subject to the available of funding and the requirements in terms of lighting and access.

RESOLVED:

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

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 leader of the opposition group to respond for up to two minutes should he so wish.

The Mayor made his report to the Council, referring to his written report circulated, 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, Councillor Andrew Wood, Leader of the Conservative Group, briefly responded 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.

7 – Administration Motion regarding Brexit

Councillor Amina Ali moved and Mayor John Biggs seconded the motion as printed in the agenda.

Following debate, the motion was then put to a vote and was agreed.

RESOLVED:

This Council notes that it is now over two years since the Brexit vote and the Government still has no satisfactory Brexit plan. Since the vote we have gone from the top of the G7 for economic growth to the bottom. For communities up and down the country, jobs and businesses are under threat and it is absolutely right for local authorities to be making a stand on their behalf.

This Council also notes that the Tower Hamlets Labour manifesto 2018 included a pledge to “campaign for a referendum on the final terms of any Brexit deal, so that local people are able to express their view on the future of this country.”

This Council further notes:

-           Communities in Tower Hamlets have benefited from significant EU funding in recent years through the European Regional Development Fund and the European Social Fund. The borough currently receives £2.6 million towards initiatives to improve the local economy, development, infrastructure, employment and training.

-           More than one in seven residents in our borough, some 41,000 people, are from the remaining 27 EU states. They play a valued role in one of the country’s most diverse and inclusive communities.

-           The uncertainty and potential impact of Brexit on our businesses. In Canary Wharf, each day 120,000 people work in 37 office buildings alongside 300 shops, cafes and restaurants. Further, Brexit will hit many small businesses, with almost 99% of the 16,800 firms based here employing fewer than 250 people.

This Council believes that the white paper confirms the government intends to leave the customs union and lose access to the single market for services, which account for 80% of the UK economy. As a result, the Withdrawal Agreement will fail to meet Labour’s six tests, specifically the test that any deal must deliver the “exact same benefits” we have as full members of the EU.

This Council also notes that the Mayor has established a Brexit Commission, chaired by Cllr Amina Ali, to lead local preparations for the UK’s departure from the European Union.

This Council calls on the Government to abandon any plans for a hard Brexit and to give the British people a People’s Vote on the final Brexit deal, along with the opportunity to vote on keeping the many benefits Britons enjoy by staying in the European Union.

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

8 – Opposition Motion by the Conservative Group regarding anti-social behaviour & crime in Tower Hamlets

Councillor Andrew Wood moved and Councillor Peter Golds seconded the motion as printed in the agenda.

Councillor Asma Begum moved and Mayor John Biggs seconded the following amendment to the motion to be debated as tabled:

Added text underlined.

Deleted text scored out.

The Council notes:

The results of the 2018 Tower Hamlets Annual Residents' Survey show that the top concern for residents was crime with 41% concerned. Only 48% rated Policing as excellent, very good or good, the lowest rating of the subjects surveyed. 60% felt drug use or drug dealing issue was a big problem.

It is clear that residents are deeply concerned about the impact of ASB and drug dealing on their neighbourhoods.

The key issue facing residents in many instances is a lack of police resources to investigate and arrest those who are carrying out these offences and until the Government start to properly fund our police service the impact on the ground will be limited despite any progress to make it harder for the perpetrators.

The council is however committed to doing all we can to tackleWe have four core problems as regards ASB and the issues that affect people’s quality of life. This includes addressing:

1.    Reporting difficulties leading to frustration from residents and probably under reporting

2.    The use of NOX canisters and the limited means the Police have to control their use

3.    The distribution of CCTV cameras with heavy concentrations in some areas and few elsewhere

4.    There being different processes and contact methods for different issues which affect residents, a noticeable example being the 7 different steps in the Councils ‘Who do I call Crime & ASB reporting in TH’ flowchart or the flowchart used by Limehouse SNT mapping all of the different contact methods.

5.    That the council requires a 1-page flowchart (with links to other information) to document the information indicates that there is a communication problem.

Given the major reductions in Police numbers and funding we need to find ways of using the resources we have more effectively, and holding the Conservative Government to account for their reckless approach to community safety.

According to a National Audit Office (NAO) report published this month, the Home Office does not know whether the police system in England and Wales is "financially sustainable", and highlights that across England and Wales:

• There has been a 19% reduction in real-terms funding to Police and Crime Commissioners from 2010/11 to 2018/19;
• There has been an 18% reduction in the size of the total police workforce between March 2010 and March 2018.

In Tower Hamlets, we have lost    about 200 police officers since 2010 and three police stations in recent years (Limehouse, Brick Lane and Isle of Dogs) have been closed as a direct result of Government cuts to police budgets.

Further, three-quarters of PCSOs in the borough were axed between 2010 and 2017.

The main method  ...  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-

9.1 Question from Councillor Val Whitehead:

Can the cabinet member please update the council on what further steps will be taken to improve services and support for our children who are looked after, following the latest Ofsted monitoring visit?

Response of Councillor Danny Hassell, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Young People:

As you might be aware, the latest monitoring visit from Ofsted took place in August and on this occasion, the Inspectors were looking at the way we meet our obligations as corporate parents to our looked after children.  This was an area that was found to require improvement at the main Ofsted inspection last year. However since further inspection, we uncovered additional issues, which needed to be resolved. Ofsted had reported that there had been an improvement in key areas since the inspection last year, but there are still areas of weaknesses. The assessment by the Inspectors reflected our own self assessment of this area of work and where our focus needs to be going forward. Such that Ofsted noted that senior leaders agreed with Ofsted Inspectors findings.  They are determined to accelerate the pace of change and are taking appropriate action.  There were a number of areas that received positive praise and commentary and these related to the fact that our decisions about taking children into care are underpinned by effective and assessable legal advice. They said that as a result of our work around the sufficiency strategy, we are increasing the range of placements for our looked after children. 

Supplementary question from Councillor Whitehead:

Can you outline some of the specific areas for improvement that were identified and are there plans in place to address these?

Councillor Hassell’s response to the supplementary question:

We have identified issues with assessments, in particularly health assessments and we are working with our partners in health to identify the causes of the delays for initial health assessments. The services are working to improve and streamline processes for permanency planning. There is now a process for improved scrutiny and oversight of decisions and more systematic planning. We know that the assessments need to be updated and we have a plan in place to make sure that is being delivered. I have made it clear to Officers that we will be monitoring this closely. Myself, the Mayor and the Cabinet remain committed to ensuring that the improvements we have seen elsewhere in our children’s social care are delivered in this area and we will be making sure that the pace of change is accelerated. We are very confident we can ensure that is delivered. That is why we have been ambitious for our young people and we have asked Ofsted that when they come back for our inspection in November, they look again at this area of work to make sure this has been progressed.    

9.2  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To consider the report from Cabinet on the Statement of Licensing Policy.

The Council considered a report regarding the Statement of Licensing

Policy.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the Statement of Licensing Policy 2018 – 23 be agreed.

To consider the report of the Corporate Director, Governance and Monitoring Officer on the Appointment of the Independent Person under the Localism Act 2011.

The Council considered the report on the Appointment of the Independent Person under the Localism Act 2011.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the re-appointment of Ms Elizabeth Hall as an Independent Person be agreed for a period of 3 years effective from the date of the Council meeting and concluding on 18 September 2021

12.1 Motion regarding the school cuts.

Councillor Danny Hassell moved and Mayor John Biggs seconded the motion as printed in the agenda.

Following debate, the motion was then put to a vote and was agreed.

RESOLVED:

This Council notes:

1.         £2.8bn of funding has been cut from school budgets nationally since 2015, representing a real-terms cut to school funding.

2.         These school cuts have directly led to a major reduction in the number of secondary teachers, teaching assistants and support staff, across the country including in Tower Hamlets.

3.         There are 15,000 fewer members of staff in secondary schools in England between 14/15 and 16/17, whilst roll numbers have increased by 31,000.

4.         In Tower Hamlets, between 14/15 and 16/17:

a.  49% of schools have seen a reduction in staffing levels;

b.  56% of schools have seen an increase in the pupil to teacher ratio;

c.  There are nearly 500 more pupils.

5.         That schools in Tower Hamlets will receive £448 less in funding per pupil in 2019/20 than they did in 2015/16.

6.         That this represents an overall loss of £15.9m between 2015 and 2020.

This Council further notes that:

1.         Tower Hamlets has some of the best schools in the country: a result of proper funding from a Labour government and the hard work of teachers, pupils, the Council and parents.

2.         There has been a dramatic improvement in the quality of education offered in our schools over the past 20 years. This has not happened by accident but has been a result of partnership and leadership but also crucially of adequate funding.

This Council believes that:

1.         The Government is cutting schools funding. As well as damaging everyone it is doing severe damage to social mobility and the quality of education offered in our schools.

2.         Schools in Tower Hamlets showcase what can be achieved when schools are properly funded.

3.         As staff costs make up the main expenditure for schools, cuts to school budgets inevitably mean fewer members of staff in schools.

4.         Our schools should receive the funding they need.

This Council resolves:

1.         To support the campaign led by the School Cuts alliance of education unions (including the National Education Union, NAHT, GMB, UNISON, Unite and ASCL), local schools, Mayor John Biggs and local MPs Rushanara Ali and Jim Fitzpatrick against the cuts to education funding.

2.         To call on the Government to fully fund the pay increase for teachers that is recommended by the School Teachers’ Review Body.

12.2 Motion regarding the Adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance Guidelines on Anti Semitism

Councillor Peter Golds moved and Councillor Andrew Wood seconded the motion as printed in the agenda.

Following debate, the motion was then put to a vote and was agreed.

RESOLVED:

This Council expresses alarm at the rise in anti-Semitism in recent years across the UK including this borough. This includes incidents when criticism of Israel has been expressed using anti-Semitic tropes.

We therefore welcome the UK Government’s announcement  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.