Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Committee Room C1, 1st Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG
Contact: Nadir Ahmed, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 6961, E-mail: nadir.ahmed@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 Councillors Lutfa Begum and M. Mamun Rashid.
NOTED
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 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.
Minutes: No declarations of interest were made.
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To agree as a correct record of the proceedings the minutes of the ordinary meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 17 June 2009.
Minutes: The Chair MOVED
and it was
RESOLVED
That the unrestricted minutes of the ordinary meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 17th June 2009 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of the proceedings. |
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REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION |
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Review of Polling Stations Additional documents:
Minutes: 4.1A - Review of Polling Stations Addendum
The Chair informed members of the Committee that an addendum to the report “Review of Polling Stations”, containing revised recommendations, had been TABLED (a copy of which would be interleaved with the minutes).
Isabella Freeman, Assistant Chief Executive [Legal Services], at the request of the Chair, in introducing the report summarised the salient points contained therein highlighting in particular that it had been noted, at the General Purposes Committee meeting on 22nd October 2008, that the Boundary Commission would not be carrying out a boundary review in Tower Hamlets until after the 2010 Local Elections.
The report before the Committee presented the outcome of a review of polling stations undertaken by the Electoral Services Department with a particular focus on mitigating any issues of overcrowding due to population growth and other issues, particularly in relation to Disability Discrimination Act requirements.
Louise Stamp, Electoral Services Manager, informed Members that an additional polling place had been identified and proposed in Bow East Ward, BE2 electoral division, the Wrights Community Centre, Wrights Road, E3 5LG, which would ease the overcrowding faced at the current polling place, Eastside Youth Centre, Parnell Road, E3 2EX.
Members sought and were given clarification that the new polling place would be in addition to the existing one at Eastside Youth Centre and as it was east of Parnell Road and in the middle of a large, residential estate it was convenient for local residents and reduced their travelling distance.
Ms Stamp also informed Members that due to objections received from Members, the proposals to use the Burdett Neighbourhood Centre, Masjid Lane, E14 7BW in relation to Mile End East Ward had been withdrawn and Stebon Primary School would continue to be the polling place for that area. Members welcomed this.
Ms Stamp also commented that the request for an additional polling place in Bow East, BE1, had been considered but the small size of the electorate there did not currently warrant it. Assurances were sought and given that the situation would be closely monitored for signs of population growth and that an additional site had already been identified if it was needed.
Ms Stamp then drew Members attention to the addendum report which had been TABLED. The original report contained in the agenda had recommended, due to the increased number of properties numbering 4000+ in the last nine months, the creation of a new polling district, MI4, in the Millwall ward. The River House Montessori School which had been proposed as a polling place was no longer available for use. Further examination of the locality had identified the Victory Outreach Church as an alternative site. This venue was well known to local residents and could accommodate current elector numbers with additional capacity for future increases.
Members welcomed the proposal to split the electoral district MI1 and create a new district, MI4 to mitigate issues caused by growth in the electorate. However, concern was expressed that the originally proposed site ... view the full minutes text for item 4.1 |
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Appointments to Panels/ External Bodies Minutes: 4.2A – Appointments to Panels/ External Bodies Addendum
The Chair informed members of the Committee that an addendum to the report “Appointments to Panels/ External Bodies”, containing an updated schedule of nominations, had been TABLED (a copy of which would be interleaved with the minutes).
John Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services, at the request of the Chair, in introducing the report summarised the salient points contained therein and drew Members’ attention to the updated schedule of nominations that had been TABLED.
Fostering Panel
Responding to requests for clarification from Members, Mr Williams reported that as this position on the Fostering Panel had been allocated to the Labour Group at the Annual Council Meeting in May 2009, if the Committee determined to appoint a non-Labour member, the decision would have to be ratified at the next meeting of the Council. It was also clarified that the vacancy did not impede the work of the panel. There being no valid nominations, the Chair MOVED and it was
RESOLVED
That consideration of the appointment to the Fostering Panel be deferred to the next meeting.
Futures Charitable Trust
The Chair MOVED the following motion for the consideration of the Members of the Committee
“That the Committee agree the nomination of the Labour Group that Councillor Ann Jackson be appointed as the representative of the Authority on the governing body of Futures Charitable Trust until 31 December 2011.” and it was
RESOLVED
That Councillor Ann Jackson be appointed as the representative of the Authority on the governing body of Futures Charitable Trust until 31 December 2011.
Lee Valley Regional Park Authority
Councillor Philip Briscoe nominated Councillor Peter Golds.
The Chair MOVED the following motion for the consideration of the Members of the Committee
“That the Committee agree the nomination of the Labour Group that Councillor Carli Harper-Penman be appointed as a deputy on the governing body of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority for the remainder of the 2009/10 Municipal Year.” and it was
RESOLVED (on a vote of 4 for and 1 against)
That Councillor Carli Harper-Penman be appointed as a deputy on the governing body of Lee Valley Regional Park Authority for the remainder of the 2009/10 Municipal Year.
Norton Folgate Almshouses Charity
Councillor Philip Briscoe nominated Ms Claire Palmer.
The Chair MOVED the following motion for the consideration of the Members of the Committee
“That the Committee agree the nomination of the Labour Group that Mr Chris Dyson be appointed as a representative of the Authority on the governing body of Norton Folgate Almshouses Charity until June 2013.” and it was
RESOLVED (on a vote of 4 for and 1 against)
That Mr Chris Dyson be appointed as a representative of the Authority on the governing body of Norton Folgate Almshouses Charity until June 2013.
Parmiter’s Almshouses and Pensions Charity
There being no valid nominations, the Chair MOVED and it was
RESOLVED
That consideration of the appointments to the Parmiter’s Almshouses and Pensions Charity be deferred to the next meeting.
Stepney Relief ... view the full minutes text for item 4.2 |