Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Room C1, 1st Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG
Contact: Angus Taylor, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4333 E-mail: angus.taylor@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received on behalf of:
Noted
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DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTEREST PDF 56 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 Monitoring Officer.
Minutes: No declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interest were made.
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UNRESTRICTED MINUTES PDF 156 KB To confirm as a correct record of the proceedings the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 2nd July 2013.
Minutes: Matters Arising
The Chair stated that Mayor Lutfur Rahman had not been able to attend the Scrutiny Spotlight and he would be invited to attend the next OSC meeting [10 September] for that purpose.
Councillor David Snowdon stated that he had not received information on the Communications Budget that was to have been circulated after the last OSC meeting. Chris Holme, Acting Corporate Director Resources, confirmed that copies had been sent to Members and undertook to forward the paper to Councillor Snowdon.
The Chair Moved and it was:-
RESOLVED
That the unrestricted minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 2 July 2013 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of the proceedings.
Action by: Chris Holme (Acting Corporate Director Resources) Alan Ingram (Senior Committee Officer, Democratic Services, CE’s)
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REQUESTS TO SUBMIT PETITIONS To receive any petitions (to be notified at the meeting).
Minutes: There were no petitions.
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SCRUTINY SPOTLIGHT To receive an oral presentation from Mayor Lutfur Rahman.
Minutes: The Scrutiny Spotlight did not proceed as Mayor Lutfur Rahman had been unable to attend.
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UNRESTRICTED REPORTS 'CALLED IN' Whether any decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet (3rd July 2013) in respect of unrestricted reports on the agenda were ‘Called In’ will be notified at the meeting.
To consider and adjudicate on the ‘Call In’ relating to the decision of the Mayor outside Cabinet – (Mayoral Executive Decision published on 20th June 2013 and Called In on 27th June 2013) detailed at agenda item 6.1 below.
Minutes: The Clerk informed OSC Members that no decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet on 3 July 2013 had been “called in”.
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Additional documents:
Minutes: The Committee considered the report entitled “Community Chest and Community Events Fund 2012-14” as considered by the Mayor on Wednesday 19 June 2013 (Mayoral Executive Decision published on Thursday 20 June 2013) and which had been “Called In” by Councillors Peter Golds, Gloria Thienel, Dr Emma Jones, Tim Archer and Craig Aston.This was in accordance with the provisions of Part Four Sections 16 and 17 of the Council’s Constitution.
The Chair commented that the protocol for receipt of a “Call-In” specified a time-limited slot of up to one hour. Councillor Alibor Choudhury, as Cabinet Member with portfolio for this area of Council business, had to respond to the “Call-In” but would have to leave by 6 p.m. to attend another meeting.
The Chair explained the procedure for hearing a “Call-In” and invited Councillor Peter Golds, representing the Councillors “Calling-In” the Mayor’s decision to present the reasons for the “Call-In”.
Councillor Golds summarised the reasons for “calling in” the Mayoral Decision, outlining the key concerns of the “Call-in” Members, and setting out the action sought from the OSC to address these as follows: · The latest round of Community Chest grants had been decided in secret and had not been made properly public. · With reference to grant CE-52, Channel S Television Ltd., much was made about its founder and who was alleged to be still attached to the Channel. Councillor Golds reported that OfCom had made a judgment against Channel S and had stated that its operating licence would have been withdrawn had it not briefly been off the air while ownership had been handed over to another party. · He reported that Channel S were alleged to have taken ownership of Poplar Town Hall at a value much below that which could be achieved if put on the open market with planning permission. · The Mayor had authorised a grant of £5,000 to Channel S for an awards ceremony and dinner. He and the “Call-In” Members queried the grounds on which this money had been awarded to this organisation. They felt that the Mayor should take back the report for further consideration and that the grant to Channel S should be deleted.
Councillor Golds subsequently responded to questions from the OSC as follows: · Funding of the grants process as a whole deserved scrutiny and many organisations looked as though they were connected to the present Administration. However, the Channel S grant should be examined specifically. · The case for agreeing a grant for Channel S had not been well argued and other cases for similar amounts or less had been turned down.
Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources indicated that he would do his best to deal with any matters raised by the Committee. He responded to the concerns raised by the “Call-in” Members and subsequently responded to questions from the OSC summarised as follows: · Responded to the points in the Call In requisition: o Inadequate level of consultation and assessment with regard to certain applications. Councillor ... view the full minutes text for item 6.1 |
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UNRESTRICTED REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION |
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Cumulative Impact Policy Brick Lane Area PDF 118 KB To consider and comment on the proposed Cumulative Impact Policy for the Brick Lane Area contained in the report.
Additional documents:
Minutes: Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor, introduced the report and highlighted key points of the proposal, in partnership with the Metropolitan Police, to adopt a Saturation Zone for the Brick Lane area on the basis of the high levels of crime, anti-social behaviour and alcohol related harm. He stressed that this was not a ban and people could still apply for licensed premises. Public consultation had been carried out, the results of which were much in favour of the proposal.
During discussion of the report, Andy Bamber, Service Head Community Service and David Tolley, Head of Consumer and Business Regulations, replied to questions from OSC Members and the following points were raised:
The Chair commented that there was a broad welcome for the Cumulative Impact Policy but she had some concerns of the potential impact of the policy on employment in the Brick Lane area, and Members had noted that licensed premises provided significant job opportunities in that area. She added that Brick Lane was a key tourism destination in the Borough and licensed premises were a part of the attraction of the area to visitors. While the Committee welcomed a proactive approach to crime and anti-social behaviour in the area, it was also noted that, if there was a reduction in licensed premises, alternative approaches to ensuring the area remained an attractive destination would be required.
The Chair Moved and it was:-
Resolved
Action by: David Tolley (Head of Consumer and Business Regulations) |
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Overview and Scrutiny Committee Outline Work Programme 2013/14 PDF 22 KB To consider and agree the 2013/14 OSC Work Programme.
Additional documents: Minutes: Frances Jones (One Tower Hamlets Service Manager, Corporate Strategy & Equality Service) introduced the report setting out the work programme for the municipal year 2013-14.
Following a short discussion, the Chair Moved and it was:
Resolved
Action by: Frances Jones (One Tower Hamlets Service Manager, Corporate Strategy & Equality Service, CE’s) Angus Taylor (Principal Committee Officer, Democratic Services, CE’s)
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PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF UNRESTRICTED CABINET PAPERS To determine a process for agreement of pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet on 31st July, as on this occasion the agenda for the Cabinet meeting will not be published and available for pre-scrutiny until shortly before the OSC meeting. Minutes: The Chair commented that, due to the postponement of the Cabinet by a week, the agenda for the Cabinet meeting had not been published and available for pre-scrutiny until shortly be fore the OSC meeting. An arrangement was consequently needed for agreement of pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet on 31 July.
The Chair Moved and it was:
Resolved
That any pre-decision questions/comments be submitted by email to Frances Jones by 12 noon on Monday, 29 July and that Councillor Saunders shall agree which are to go forward in consultation with Councillors Eaton, Snowdon and Miah.
Action by: Frances Jones (One Tower Hamlets Service Manager, Corporate Strategy & Equality Service, CE’s)
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ANY OTHER UNRESTRICTED BUSINESS WHICH THE CHAIR CONSIDERS TO BE URGENT To consider any other unrestricted business that the Chair considers to be urgent.
Minutes: Nil items.
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EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC In view of the contents of the remaining items on the agenda the Committee is recommended to adopt the following motion:
“That, under the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting for the consideration of the Section Two business on the grounds that it contains information defined as Exempt in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972.”
EXEMPT/CONFIDENTIAL SECTION (Pink Papers)
The exempt committee papers in the agenda 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. Minutes: The agenda circulated contained no exempt/confidential business and there was therefore no requirement to exclude the press and public to allow for its consideration.
SUMMARY OF EXEMPT PROCEEDINGS
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EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL MINUTES Nil items.
Minutes: Nil items.
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EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL REPORTS 'CALLED IN' Whether any decisions of the Mayor in Cabinet (3rd July 2013) in respect of exempt/ confidential reports on the agenda were ‘Called In’ will be notified at the meeting.
Minutes: Nil items.
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PRE-DECISION SCRUTINY OF EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL) CABINET PAPERS To determine a process for agreement of pre-decision scrutiny questions/comments to be presented to Cabinet on 31st July, as on this occasion the agenda for the Cabinet meeting will not be published and available for pre-scrutiny until shortly before the OSC meeting.
Minutes: Nil items.
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ANY OTHER EXEMPT/ CONFIDENTIAL BUSINESS THAT THE CHAIR CONSIDERS URGENT To consider any other exempt/ confidential business that the Chair considers to be urgent.
Minutes: Nil items.
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