Agenda item
TO CONSIDER MOTIONS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
The motions submitted by Councillors for debate at this meeting are set out in agenda item 12 attached.
Decision:
12.1 Motion proposed by Councillor Fozol Miah regarding the Condem Government cuts
Councillor Fozol Miah moved, and Councillor Harun Miah seconded, the motion as printed in the agenda.
Councillor David Edgar moved, and Councillor Helal Abbas seconded, a tabled amendment to the motion. This amendment was put to the vote and was agreed.
Councillor Peter Golds moved, and Councillor Tim Archer seconded, a further tabled amendment to the motion. This amendment was put to the vote and was defeated.
The substantive motion as amended was put to the vote and was agreed as follows:
DECISION
This Council notes that:
1) The Con Dem Coalition government is imposing very severe cuts on local government, including £70 million cuts on Tower Hamlets
2) These cuts are affecting poorer areas like Tower Hamlets much more severely than better off areas represented by the Conservatives and Lib Dems
3) These cuts will have a disastrous effect on the essential services provided by this Council
4) These cuts will have a disastrous effect on employment in the borough as jobs in the Council disappear
5) The effects of these cuts are going to be compounded by rising unemployment particularly but not exclusively amongst our young people
6) The cuts in local government spending are also being made worse by other cuts such as the abolition of the Educational Maintenance Allowance and by the massive increase in university tuition fees
7) The Government has announced that it will provide a Council Tax Freeze Grant to councils that set a Council Tax increase of 0%. This will be equivalent to the difference between a 0% Council Tax and raising 2011/12 Council Tax by 2.5%.
This Council believes that:
1) These cuts are unnecessary and unjustified
2) The government deficit which is being used to justify these cuts is the product of the chaos and decline in the real economy brought about by the reckless activity of the financial sector
3) The deficit does need to be reduced over time but in the first instance this must be through economic growth which is being jeopardised by the Government’s spending cuts
4) The deficit can be further reduced by taxing those most able as opposed to least able to pay through exceptional taxes on bank profits and bankers’ bonuses.
5) The focus in reducing the deficit should be on protecting services that are essential to working people and the less well off.
This Council recognises the difficulties imposed on the Council, given the central Government cuts, by the legal requirement to produce a so-called “balanced budget”.
This Council wants
1) The budget being prepared for vote on 23rd February to reflect the perspective outlined above
2) Every effort to be made both to eliminate waste and drive up efficiency in the delivery of council services
3) Maximum consultation with the trade union representatives of the council staff and with the recipients of the council’s services to try to identify efficiency savings and to minimise the adverse effects of the government imposed cuts.
4) A campaign, such as the one being pursued by Lambeth Council, informing Tower Hamlets residents of the unprecedented cuts being imposed by the Con Dem Coalition government and inviting them into a dialogue on the best way forward.
5) A campaign to inform every Tower Hamlets resident of the great march and demonstration against the cuts called by the Trades Union Congress for Saturday 26th March
(Action by: Chris Naylor, Corporate Director, Resources)
12.2 Motion proposed by Councillor Rabina Khan regarding King Edward VII Memorial Park
With the consent of the meeting under Procedure Rule 15.8.1, Councillor Rabina Khan altered the text of her motion.
Councillor Rabina Khan moved, and Councillor Alibor Choudhury seconded, the revised motion as tabled.
Councillor Dr. Emma Jones moved, and Councillor Zara Davis seconded, a tabled amendment to the motion which was accepted by Councillor Rabina Khan.
The substantive motion as amended was then put to the vote and was agreed as follows:
DECISION
The Council notes:
1. That Thames Water is planning to deface one of Tower Hamlets key community assets, King Edward VII Memorial Park, a landmark of the East End both for its historical significance and its social value;
2. That at present the park is well used by the community all year round and it provides an oasis in an area where green spaces are scarce;
3. That King Edward VII Memorial Park is vital to the community life of Shadwell, Wapping, Limehouse and Stepney and that damaging it in any way or reducing its accessibility and possibility of enjoyment for any period of time would bear an immediate and irreparable impact on said communities;
4. That Thames Water is planning an upgrade of London’s sewer system and has recently consulted on a number of proposed routes for the proposed Thames Tunnel sewer from Tower Hill to the sewage treatment works at Beckton;
5. That King Edward VII Memorial Park was opened in 1922 by King George V and has been one of the green lungs of the borough for nearly 90 years.
The Council recognises:
1. The extensive proposed works will damage the mature vegetation and wildlife habitats beyond repair and will make the park, its amenities and the Thames river path unusable for the duration of the Tunnel build;
2. Once the works are completed, the community will be left with a concrete promontory on the foreshore and huge buildings that will deface the beautiful riverfront, spoil the park view completely and erode the use the community makes of the park and its inherent heritage value;
3. That the proposed Thames Water plans for the park and its foreshore are unacceptable as the impact they will cause far outweighs the benefits it would bring to Tower Hamlets’ community;
4. That there are alternative Brownfield sites that Thames Water has failed to examine;
5. That Thames Water’s current plans for construction in King Edward VII Memorial Park and on its foreshore appear to be in blatant contravention of the approved Council’s strategy for open spaces based on the principles of impact on health, quality of life and preservation of biodiversity;
6. That Thames Water’s preferred ‘Abbey Mill’ route includes overflow points on the foreshore of the King Edward VII Memorial Park in Shadwell, and part of the back of Narrow Street;
7. That Narrow Street is a historical thoroughfare through Shadwell and Limehouse, containing rare examples of Georgian terracing;
8. That the alternative ‘River Thames’ route includes shaft sites at Sir John McDougal Gardens and Bellgate Place on Westferry Road;
9. That the borough has a shortage of open space and that the area around Sir John McDougal Gardens is one of the most densely populated in the borough;
10. That Thames Water has also shortlisted sites at Shadwell Basin, Limehouse Basin and School House Lane.
The Council resolves:
1. To protect King Edward VII Memorial Park and its foreshore from Thames Water’s proposed plans and any future plan that may damage the park and the use the community makes of it;
2. To oppose and challenge to the full extent of its capacity said plans at every level of consultation and to obtain independent technical advice to support the continuing scrutiny of emerging proposals;
3. To continue to oppose and challenge Thames Water to use Brownfield sites where sustainable and technically feasible;
4. To object to the River Thames route which would involve shaft sites at Sir John McDougal Gardens and Bellgate Place on Westferry Road;
5. To object to the shortlisting of the Shadwell Basin, Limehouse Basin and School House Lane sites;
6. To call upon Thames Water to give consideration to the many public objections to the proposed route via Shadwell and Limehouse, and the alternative River Thames route via Millwall;
7. To ensure that the Executive Mayor meets with Thames Water to discuss the route of the Thames Tunnel and to urge them to rule out the proposed route and the River Thames route in favour of the alternative via Rotherhithe.
(Action by: Stephen Halsey, Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture)
12.3 Motion proposed by Councillor Tim Archer regarding recording Council meetings
DECISION
This Council notes that:
- It is able to audibly and visually record council meetings using current technical equipment available in the council chamber.
- It is able to record business conducted at Full Council with little or no cost to the taxpayer.
This council believes that:
- democracy and accountability are important concepts in order to gain public trust in the decision making in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
- residents should be able to refer to and view council meetings through the use of audio visual equipment.
- conduct of Members of the Council will be positively affected by the knowledge that footage is in the public domain.
This Council resolves: -
- To audio and video record each meeting of the Full Council to enable reference for members of the public, Council Members and officers and to increase transparency and accountability.
- To amend the Tower Hamlets Council Constitution, Part 4, Rule 27.1 to read ‘No photography or video or audio recording of any kind by guests and members of the public may take place at any Council Meeting without the express permission of the Chair.’
- To introduce to the Tower Hamlets Council Constitution, Part 4, Rule 27.2 to read ‘The Council Chamber, whilst the public gallery is open and the Council is conducting its business at the Meeting of the Tower Hamlets Council, will be video and audio recorded by the Council and made available online within 48 hours.’
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
12.4 Motion proposed by Councillor Harun Miah regarding “Bin Veolia”
Councillor Harun Miah moved, and Councillor Fozol Miah seconded, the motion as printed in the agenda.
Councillor Stephanie Eaton moved, and Councillor Ohid Ahmed seconded, an amendment which was accepted by Councillor Harun Miah.
The motion as amended was put to the vote and was agreed as follows:-
DECISION
This Council notes that:
1) This Council has long-term contracts with the multinational company Veolia
2) Veolia is deeply involved in contract work for the Israeli government which assist their continued oppression of the Palestinian people
3) In particular Veolia is directly implicated in maintaining illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territory
4) Under the Public Contract Regulations (2006) a contracting local authority may exclude an economic contractor from bidding for a contract if the contractor has “committed an act of grave misconduct in the course of its business”
This Council believes that:
1) Veolia has clearly committed acts of grave misconduct in relation to the Palestinian people and the maintenance of illegal settlements and in other respects as well
2) There should be an urgent investigation by Council officers to confirm the charges of grave misconduct that have been levelled in the international campaign to “Bin Veolia”
3) This Council should do everything in its power to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against the pariah state of Israel.
4) Urgent steps should be taken to review all contracts with Veolia and not to place any further contracts with this company
5) The Mayor should write to Veolia as soon as possible to communicate to them the contents of this motion and the council’s determination to terminate any relationship to Veolia.
(Action by: Stephen Halsey, Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture)
Motion 12.5 was not put, and motion 12.6 was not considered, due to the time limit for the meeting being reached.
Minutes:
12.1 Motion proposed by Councillor Fozol Miah regarding the Condem Government cuts
Councillor Fozol Miah MOVED, and Councillor Harun Miah SECONDED, the motion as printed in the agenda.
Councillor David Edgar MOVED, and Councillor Helal Abbas SECONDED an amendment as follows:-
“Under ‘This Council notes’ add:
7) The government has announced that it will provide a Council Tax Freeze Grant to Councils that set a Council Tax increase of 0%. This will be equivalent to the difference between a 0% Council Tax and raising 2011/12 Council Tax by 2.5%.
Under ‘This Council believes’:
Delete from Point 4 “i.e. through a rise in the top rate of taxation and”
Replace current point 5 with “The focus in reducing the deficit should be on protecting services that are essential to working people and the less well off.”
Under ‘This Council wants’:
Delete Point 3”
Following debate, the amendment moved by Councillor Edgar was put to the vote and was agreed.
Councillor Peter Golds MOVED, and Councillor Tim Archer SECONDED, a further amendment to the substantive motion as follows:-
“Delete the title of the motion ‘The Condem Government Cuts’ and replace with:
Savings implemented by the Coalition Government
Delete all bullet points after ‘This Council notes that’ and replace with:
1. Labour doubled the national debt and left the current government with the biggest budget deficit in our peacetime history.
2. Labour brought the nation to the brink of bankruptcy, and it is costing the government £120 million every single day just to pay off the interest on Labour’s debt. This is Labour’s legacy.
3. In response to Labour’s failed fiscal policies, the Coalition Government have had to reduce the government settlement in real terms awareded to nearly all local authorities in the UK.
4. Despite the huge pressures on public finances, the Coalition Government has taken unprecedented steps to protect councils most reliant on central government funding, such as the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, and freeze council tax.
5. The Coalition Government understands the importance in protection of frontline services in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets and is assisting the Council in its efficiency drive by providing a transitional grant. The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is only one of three London Boroughs to receive this grant.
6. To further help Tower Hamlets residents, the Conservative Mayor of London has also frozen the Greater London Authority precept of Tower Hamlets residents’ council tax.
Delete all bullet points after ‘This Council believes that’ and replace with:
1. These savings are necessary and justified and are a result of Labour’s failed fiscal policies.
2. Labour have burdened our children and grandchildren with debt, and undermined our economy. They’ve opposed tough decisions by the Coalition Government on VAT, tuition fees and deficit reduction but offer no credible deficit reduction plan of their own.
3. The deficit does need to be reduced.
4. Running up Government debt is like someone running up massive credit card bills – the longer you leave it, the worse it gets. The Coalition Government have taken steps now to live within our means; if they had not have taken those steps we would end up paying higher taxes and face deeper cuts just to pay off our national debt.
5. As mentioned in a response to a question posed at Prime Ministers Question Time on Wednesday 26th January 2011, the Prime Minister stated that for their role in the banking crisis, he will ensure that taxes on banks go up and bankers’ bonuses come down.
Delete bullet point 3) after ‘This Council wants’ and replace with:
3. Opportunities to be explored to boost locally raised revenue without the need for a Council Tax rise.
On bullet point 4) after ‘This Council wants’, amend;
‘and to minimise the adverse effects of the government imposed cuts’ with ‘.’”
Delete bullet point 4) and 5) after ‘This Council wants’.”
Following debate the amendment moved by Councillor Golds was put to the vote and was defeated.
The substantive motion as amended was then put to the vote and was agreed. Accordingly it was:-
RESOLVED
This Council notes that:
1) The Con Dem Coalition government is imposing very severe cuts on local government, including £70 million cuts on Tower Hamlets
2) These cuts are affecting poorer areas like Tower Hamlets much more severely than better off areas represented by the Conservatives and Lib Dems
3) These cuts will have a disastrous effect on the essential services provided by this Council
4) These cuts will have a disastrous effect on employment in the borough as jobs in the Council disappear
5) The effects of these cuts are going to be compounded by rising unemployment particularly but not exclusively amongst our young people
6) The cuts in local government spending are also being made worse by other cuts such as the abolition of the Educational Maintenance Allowance and by the massive increase in university tuition fees
7) The Government has announced that it will provide a Council Tax Freeze Grant to councils that set a Council Tax increase of 0%. This will be equivalent to the difference between a 0% Council Tax and raising 2011/12 Council Tax by 2.5%.
This Council believes that:
1) These cuts are unnecessary and unjustified
2) The government deficit which is being used to justify these cuts is the product of the chaos and decline in the real economy brought about by the reckless activity of the financial sector
3) The deficit does need to be reduced over time but in the first instance this must be through economic growth which is being jeopardised by the Government’s spending cuts
4) The deficit can be further reduced by taxing those most able as opposed to least able to pay through exceptional taxes on bank profits and bankers’ bonuses.
5) The focus in reducing the deficit should be on protecting services that are essential to working people and the less well off.
This Council recognises the difficulties imposed on the Council, given the central Government cuts, by the legal requirement to produce a so-called “balanced budget”.
This Council wants
1) The budget being prepared for vote on 23rd February to reflect the perspective outlined above
2) Every effort to be made both to eliminate waste and drive up efficiency in the delivery of council services
3) Maximum consultation with the trade union representatives of the council staff and with the recipients of the council’s services to try to identify efficiency savings and to minimise the adverse effects of the government imposed cuts.
4) A campaign, such as the one being pursued by Lambeth Council, informing Tower Hamlets residents of the unprecedented cuts being imposed by the Con Dem Coalition government and inviting them into a dialogue on the best way forward.
5) A campaign to inform every Tower Hamlets resident of the great march and demonstration against the cuts called by the Trades Union Congress for Saturday 26th March
12.3 Motion proposed by Councillor Tim Archer regarding recording Council meetings
Councillor Timothy Archer MOVED and Councillor Peter Golds SECONDED the motion as printed in the agenda.
The motion was put to the vote and was agreed. Accordingly it was:-
RESOLVED
This Council notes that:
- It is able to audibly and visually record council meetings using current technical equipment available in the council chamber.
- It is able to record business conducted at Full Council with little or no cost to the taxpayer.
This council believes that:
- democracy and accountability are important concepts in order to gain public trust in the decision making in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets.
- residents should be able to refer to and view council meetings through the use of audio visual equipment.
- conduct of Members of the Council will be positively affected by the knowledge that footage is in the public domain.
This Council resolves: -
- To audio and video record each meeting of the Full Council to enable reference for members of the public, Council Members and officers and to increase transparency and accountability.
- To amend the Tower Hamlets Council Constitution, Part 4, Rule 27.1 to read ‘No photography or video or audio recording of any kind by guests and members of the public may take place at any Council Meeting without the express permission of the Chair.’
- To introduce to the Tower Hamlets Council Constitution, Part 4, Rule 27.2 to read ‘The Council Chamber, whilst the public gallery is open and the Council is conducting its business at the Meeting of the Tower Hamlets Council, will be video and audio recorded by the Council and made available online within 48 hours.’
12.4 Motion proposed by Councillor Harun Miah regarding “Bin Veolia”
Councillor Harun Miah MOVED, and Councillor Fozol Miah SECONDED, the motion as printed in the agenda.
Councillor Stephanie Eaton then MOVED, and Councillor Ohid Ahmed SECONDED, an amendment – “That under point 4, replace the word “terminate” with the word “review”.”
Councillor Harun Miah accepted this amendment to his motion.
The motion as amended was put to the vote and was agreed. Accordingly it was:-
RESOLVED
This Council notes that:
1) This Council has long-term contracts with the multinational company Veolia
2) Veolia is deeply involved in contract work for the Israeli government which assist their continued oppression of the Palestinian people
3) In particular Veolia is directly implicated in maintaining illegal settlements in occupied Palestinian territory
4) Under the Public Contract Regulations (2006) a contracting local authority may exclude an economic contractor from bidding for a contract if the contractor has “committed an act of grave misconduct in the course of its business”
This Council believes that:
1) Veolia has clearly committed acts of grave misconduct in relation to the Palestinian people and the maintenance of illegal settlements and in other respects as well
2) There should be an urgent investigation by Council officers to confirm the charges of grave misconduct that have been levelled in the international campaign to “Bin Veolia”
3) This Council should do everything in its power to support the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against the pariah state of Israel.
4) Urgent steps should be taken to review all contracts with Veolia and not to place any further contracts with this company
5) The Mayor should write to Veolia as soon as possible to communicate to them the contents of this motion and the council’s determination to terminate any relationship to Veolia.
Debate then commenced on Motion 12.5 but this motion was not put, and Motion 12.6 was not considered, due to the time limit for the meeting being reached.
Supporting documents: