Agenda item
TO RECEIVE PETITIONS
The Council’s constitution provides for the Budget Council Meeting to receive a maximum of three petitions, which must relate to the Council’s budget or the setting of the Council Tax.
The deadline for submission of petitions for this meeting is Noon on Thursday 17th February 2011.
Details of the petitions that were received before agenda despatch are set out in the attached report. Any further valid petitions that may be received by the the deadline will be notified to Members before the meeting.
Decision:
4.1 Petition from Mr. Terry McGrenera and others re: the Council’s budget strategy
Mr. Terry McGrenera addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners. The Mayor then responded to the issues raised.
DECISION
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Resources for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Chris Naylor, Corporate Director, Resources)
4.2 Petition from Mrs. Dinah Glover and others regarding East End Life
Mrs. Dinah Glover and Mr. Daryl Stafford addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration then responded to the issues raised.
DECISION
That the petition be referred to the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Isabella Freeman, Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services))
4.3 Petition from Ms. Lil Collins and others regarding the budget proposals
Ms. Lil Collins and Mr. Brian Nicholson addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources, then responded to the issues raised.
DECISION
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Resources for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Chris Naylor, Corporate Director, Resources)
Minutes:
4.1 Petition from Mr. Terry McGrenera and others re: the Council’s budget strategy
At the invitation of the Chair of Council, Mr. Terry McGrenera addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners.
Mayor Lutfur Rahman then responded to the petition. He said that he had never claimed to be anything like George Lansbury and Tower Hamlets was a high performing borough and the Council was in this position not from its own making but that of Central Government which had compelled it to make £72 M worth of savings. Services that were delivered to the people would be protected and these principals had been the basis that had been used when putting the budget papers together. Efficiencies had been found that would protect the Council’s services and workforce and he hoped that all sides could agree the budget this evening.
RESOLVED
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Resources for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
4.2 Petition from Mrs. Dinah Glover and others regarding East End Life
At the invitation of the Chair of Council, Mrs. Dinah Glover and Mr. Daryl Stafford addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and replied to questions from Members of the Council.
Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration then responded to the petition. She said that the Government’s proposals mentioned by the petitioners took the form of guidance not legislation. The actual cost of producing the paper was £370K. If East End Life was abolished then the Council would have to pay to advertise statutory notices and housing choice in other publications and it also raised concerns about information reaching the vulnerable and disabled residents of the borough.
RESOLVED
That the petition be referred to the Assistant Chief Executive (Legal Services) for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
4.3 Petition from Ms. Lil Collins and others regarding the budget proposals
At the invitation of the Chair of Council, Ms. Lil Collins and Mr. Brian Nicholson addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and replied to questions from Members of the Council.
Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources, then responded to the petition. Most of what the petitioners had said had been taken on board. The Mayor had only had four months to put the budget proposals together. The residents needed to be put first along with frontline services and protecting jobs. Councillor Choudhury said that he regretted that Councillor Golds had written to Mr. Eric Pickles asking for a transitional grant of over £3M to be withheld.
Councillor Peter Golds rose to make a point of personal explanation as he had been referred to.
At this point, a Councillor informed the Chair of Council that she had heard a homophobic comment from the public gallery. The Chair warned all present that the Council would not accept or tolerate any such comments and asked the person responsible to leave the meeting.
Point of personal explanation
Councillor Peter Golds informed the meeting that he had not asked Mr Eric Pickles to withdraw the transitional grant. Rather Councillor Golds wanted the money to be spent on maintaining services as intended but the Mayor was proposing instead to put £3M into reserves.
RESOLVED
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Resources for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
Supporting documents: