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. Should any additional petitions be received they will be listed to be noted but not discussed.

5.1  Petition regarding Waste collection in the Limehouse ward.

Paul Howick 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 outlined the Council’s intention to bring the waste collection service back in house from 1^st April 2020 and to carry out a review of the waste collection rounds within the first 6 months of this taking place to ensure they were made as efficient as possible. He also expressed a commitment to continue to work with staff with a view to bringing forward improvement to the services in the short term.

He offered to meet with the Petitioners to give further consideration to their concerns.

RESOLVED:

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

5.2 Petition regarding Bartlett Park Football Changing Rooms.

Terry Mcgrenera addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners, and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Sabina Akhtar, Cabinet Member for Culture, Arts and Brexit, then responded to the matters raised in the petition. She advised that that there had been consultation on the proposals in line with the requirements. The proposals had full planning permission, to provide fit for purposes sports facilities. The facilities may be used for a range of sports activities and met Sports England requirements. The plans formed part of a wider programme of improvements to the Bartlett Park.

She expressed a willingness to meet with the petitioners to further discuss this matters raised in the Petition.

RESOLVED:

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

5.3 Petition requesting that Tower Hamlets Council take urgent action on air pollution.

Local college students addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners, and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Rachel Blake, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Planning, Air Quality and Tackling Poverty 

then responded to the matters raised in the petition.

She thanked the students for attending the meeting.

She confirmed that the Council appreciated the importance of addressing air pollution issues. In view of this, it actively engaged in ongoing activities to implement the following initiatives:

·         the new Liveable Street Programme to facilitate walking and cycling in the Borough.

·         the provision of new electric vehicle charging points.

·         working to ensure that the Government invested in new infrastructure to improve air quality in hot spots.

She also encouraged the students to stay engaged with the Council and to continue to hold them to account.

RESOLVED:

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

5.4 Petition regarding Keep Clear Boxes at Cornwall Street.

Mohammad Rakib 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 advised of the potential solutions available to the Council to address the issues. For example, working with relevant partners, the Council may paint white keep clear signs on the road, and similar ideas may provide a straightforward and effective solution. Alternatively, the Council could look to install a keep clear yellow box on the street.  However this option may take longer to implement in view of the statutory requirements. He expressed a desire to keep in touch with progress with the issue.

RESOLVED:

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

Procedural Motion

Councillor Peter Golds moved and Mayor John Biggs seconded, a procedural motion “that under Council Procedure Rule 11.2, an urgent motion regarding the Covid – 19 Virus to be considered as the next item of business”. The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.