Agenda item
TO RECEIVE WRITTEN QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
The questions which have been received from Councillors to be put at this meeting are set out in the attached report.
A maximum period of 30 minutes is allocated to this agenda item.
Decision:
8.1 Question from Councillor Khales Uddin Ahmed re: jobs for Tower Hamlets residents as a result of the Mayor’s agreement with LOCOG
8.2 Question from Councillor Craig Aston re: publication on the Tower Hamlets Website of details of premises with regulated entertainment and late night refreshment licences.
8.3 Question from Councillor Carlo Gibbs re: reductions in Third Sector organisations’ funding since April 2011.
8.4 Question from Councillor Fozol Miah re: the English Defence League (no supplementary question was asked)
8.5 Question from Councillor Joshua Peck re: the waiving of fees and charges for the Mela and other festivals
8.6 Question from Councillor Zara Davis re: disturbances in the Borough on 8th August 2011.
8.7 Question from Councillor Helal Uddin re: any sales of Council owned, family sized homes
8.8 Question from Councillor Harun Miah re: academy status for Bethnal Green Technology College and Sir William Burrough Primary School (no supplementary question was asked)
8.9 Question from Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman re: information to tenants under the Decent Homes scheme
8.10 Question from Councillor Tim Archer re: the future of Cubitt Town library
8.11 Question from Councillor Md. Abdul Mukit re: use of S106 funding from development in Weavers Ward
The above questions and in each case (except where shown) a supplementary question were put and were responded to by the Mayor or relevant Cabinet Member.
Questions 8.12 to 8.29 were not put as the time allowed for this agenda item had expired. Written responses will be provided to each question.
(Action by: John S. Williams, Service Head, Democratic Services)
Minutes:
8.1 Question from Councillor Khales Uddin Ahmed
Can the Mayor tell me how many jobs so far have been taken up by Tower Hamlets residents as a result of the deal made between him and LOCOG?
Response by Councillor Shafiqul Haque, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Skills
Following the agreement the Mayor made with LOCOG we are expecting to fill a minimum of 1,000 jobs through direct hire opportunities with LOCOG, and its contractors.
We have recently committed to filling a minimum of 1,371 interview slots with local residents with LOCOG contractors providing security, catering, cleaning, waste and retail services. Officers are working with residents to ensure they are interview ready so we can ensure that they are offered these jobs.
I am also pleased to report that a number of assessment days are being held, starting in October. This will allow for greater numbers of LBTH residents to gain an opportunity with LOCOG.
The number of residents who have already achieved jobs under the LOCOG agreement is:
- 24 residents have been given conditional, security guard, offers for the Olympic plaza and another 5 on the Olympic Village guarding the athletes bringing the total to 29.
I am confident the number will increase asrecruitment for LOCOG contractors starts to build up later on in the year reaching a peak next April 2012.
In addition we have 138 Tower Hamlets residents currently directly employed by LOCOG, this is the highest of any of the host boroughs.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Khales Uddin Ahmed: Do you then agree that there is no guarantee of securing 1,000 jobs this year?
Summary of response by Councillor Shafiqul Haque: It is the Mayor’s priority to have over 1,000 jobs filled by Tower Hamlets residents. We will not just pay lip service to this priority but will take steps to ensure that our residents have access to the opportunities.
8.2 Question from Councillor Craig Aston
What progress has been made in implementing the Motion which called for the full details of all premises, regulated entertainment and late night refreshment licenses to be published on the Tower Hamlets Website, which assumes ever greater importance to our residents with to the proposed changed in the licensing regime and the current consultation on sex establishments?
Response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor
The register for all Licences issued under the Licensing Act 2003 is now all available on line on the Council's website.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Craig Aston: My motion passed by Council on 27th October 2010 set a deadline of 1st January 2011 to have the information included on the Website and in response to my further request for progress on the matter at the last Council meeting I was told the end of July. It is now mid-September, why were these deadlines not met?
Summary of response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed: I will look into this matter and let you know.
8.3 Question from Councillor Carlo Gibbs
Can the Mayor list all of the Third Sector organisations that have had their funding from the Council a) reduced and b) cut altogether since April 2011 and explain the criteria used to make those decisions?
Response by Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources
The Mayor is committed to the third sector and has shown this commitment through a new third sector strategy, the CVS and we are working on developing new ways of working and including the third sector.
The Third Sector Mainstream Grants programme remains in place and has not been reduced.
The Corporate Match Funding for third sector organisations also remains in place.
Third sector organisations may have had time limited funding streams come to an end (most notably the Working Neighbourhood Fund) however it was always understood that certain programmes and funding was time limited.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Carlo Gibbs: The Coalition Government’s are damaging to local government and the Third Sector. However the Cabinet Member will be aware of new funding that is available from the cabinet office for community groups. What will the Council do to make sure that new funding for the Third Sector is publicised to local organisations and what will be done to help organisations apply for it?”
Summary of response by Councillor Alibor Choudhury: I can confirm that some grant funding is available from Europe and the cabinet office. The publicity process is in place through advertisements in ‘East End Life’ and other means and most local organisations are familiar with the procedure of applying for grants.
8.4 Question from Councillor Fozol Miah
Is the Mayor aware of the comments made by Adrian Tudway, the National (Police) Co-ordinator for Domestic Extremism, reported in the Guardian, that the EDL "are not extreme right wing as a group“ and that Muslims “need to open a direct line of dialogue with them [and] that might be the best way to engage them and re-direct their activity”, and does he agree that the several hundred drunken, violent, racist and fascist EDL thugs who gathered on the borders of Tower Hamlets on Saturday 3rd September, and the shocking pictures of EDL members with firearms that appeared in the Daily Mail, prove that this claim by Mr Tudway is complete nonsense and entirely vindicates the demand for the EDL to be banned from marching in Tower Hamlets, and would the Mayor agree to ask the Acting Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police if Mr Tudway is still in post and if the words attributed to him represent the official position of the Metropolitan Police and, if so, would the Mayor agree to urge the police both in London and nationally to recognise instead that the EDL is a violent, extremist and racist organisation which has no place in a democratic, tolerant and respectful society?
Response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor
I am aware of the comments by Adrian Tudway and I am concerned about them.
That’s why the Mayor has written to the officer asking him to clarify if the views attributed to him in the Guardian on Sept 2 are still his views.
It is my view that government urgently needs to broaden its approach to the threat of violent extremism.
Until now the Prevent Strategy has overwhelmingly focussed on the threat from those inspired by Al Qaeda-type extremism, and has downplayed the threat of far-right extremism.
In the wake of the terrible events in Norway, and of our own experience of the hate-filled English Defence League protests, I believe this is no longer sufficient.
The EDL, and similar organisations, should be recognised for the extremists that they are. And the government must ensure that its Prevent strategy takes full account of the risks posed by far-right extremism.
As part of this authority’s strategy to protect the borough from the threat of the EDL and far-right extremism I am lobbying the police and government to this end.
No supplementary question was put.
8.5 Question from Councillor Joshua Peck
Can the Mayor confirm which fees and charges will be waived for the Mela and whether the same fees and charges will be waived for other community festivals?
Response by Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture
I am sure that all my councillor colleagues are as supportive of a successful Mela as I am.
The Mela is not only the largest celebration of the Bengali New Year, with up to 120,000 people attending in 2011 but it is also the second largest street festival in the entire UK.
The Baishakhi Mela has always been a community project and will remain a community project. Management by the Council was temporary and it must be stressed that the only difference will be the management, we are clear in ensuring the council will continue to support the Mela.
One of the ways the Council can continue to support the Mela and ensure that it continues to be such a successful event is through waiving fees and charges.
We are committed to ensuring that all community events are given the support they require to go ahead.
The Mayor has instructed officers to look into this area in further detail. A report will be prepared and presented to him.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Joshua Peck: I am concerned that some community festivals may not be getting these benefits. Will the Cabinet Member confirm that the same fees and charges will be waived for all such events, whichever part of the community they represent?
Summary of response by Councillor Rania Khan: As mentioned we have asked the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture to report back on this matter and confirm that all groups within the community should be treated in the same way.
8.6 Question from Councillor Zara Davis
What role did the Council play in reassuring residents and helping businesses affected by the disturbances in Tower Hamlets on Monday 8th August?
Response by Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources
The Mayor and his team played a huge part in ensuring local life wasn’t adversely affected by the events of August 8th.
I said last year that the Conservative government, with its brutal cuts and blatant disregard for poor inner city areas – was taking us into a period of misery and civil unrest. Your group laughed. I’m not sure if you found the riots funny in any way, because we didn’t. We understand the needs of this borough and have invested to improve and protect our community.
The Mayor’s administration worked with the police, various council departments and community groups to protect local people, property and businesses from being ravaged by the looters.
Although we weren’t hit as badly as some of out neighbouring (Labour run) boroughs; a small number of businesses were affected. They were subsequently advised by our planning department on compensation available to them.
Council resources were also used to help communicate with residents and keep them informed on our activities. Both the Council website and EEL provided essential information to reassure people and that the Mayor, in their time of need, was there for them.
I must stress and praise the youth service for their proactive stance and most importantly the wider community who themselves worked with us to keep the chaos and looting to a minimum. A testament to this is the fact that of the 513 under-18s arrested, only seven were from Tower Hamlets. And only two of these received custodial sentences.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Zara Davis: The Mayor described Tower Hamlets Enforcement Officers (THEOs) as a valuable resource but on the day of the riots they were on a rest day and I was informed they would not have been used anyway as the situation was too dangerous. Will the Mayor scrap the THEOs and use the money saved to secure additional Police Officers to protect the Borough?
Summary of response by Councillor Alibor Choudhury: The Mayor has stated that he will resist the cutting of all front line jobs. The THEOs worked well with the community during the disturbances. I have no evidence that what Councillor Davis claims is true and I would ask that she provide me with this information.
8.7 Question from Councillor Helal Uddin
Can the Mayor tell me if he has sold any more Council owned, family sized homes since the last Council meeting and if he has, what income has been received?
Response by Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing
No disposals have been made since the last full Council.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Helal Uddin:
Can I have an assurance that such houses in my Ward will not be sold?
Summary of response by Councillor Rabina Khan: I am aware of the houses you are referring to and there was never any intention on the part of the Mayor to sell them. We will make best use of available housing to benefit our residents and in relation to these properties a business case aimed at allowing their use by families in the Borough is underway.
8.8 Question from Councillor Harun Miah
Can the Lead Member report on what measures have been taken since the decision by governors at Bethnal Green Technology College and Sir William Burrough Primary to opt for academy status and what further measures it is intended will be taken both to encourage governors at these schools to reverse these decisions, which will be detrimental both to the pupils at these schools and more generally for education in Tower Hamlets, and also to discourage other school governors from making similar decisions?
Response by Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture
You will already be aware of the views of the Mayor and his administration on this matter.
I wholeheartedly share your concerns, and spoke out publicly throughout this process, as did my Cabinet colleagues, especially Councillor Oliur Rahman, Cabinet Member for Children, Schools and Families.
Shame on the governors who voted to remove this school from the partnership with this authority that has made it such a success.
During the consultation period with governors, parents and the local community, the Local Authority tried as much as possible to offer clear information about the consequences of this decision and the effect it would have on the services we provide to all of the young people in Tower Hamlets.
We did this by attending meetings with governors, the school community and senior leaders and Chair of Governors.
The Local Authority will continue to work in partnership with both schools as we exercise our statutory duty to secure the best possible outcomes for all the children and young people in the authority.
No supplementary question was put.
8.9 Question from Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman
Can the Lead Member tell me whether officers visiting tenants under the Decent Homes scheme have been given any scripts or key messages to use when talking them through the works?
Response by Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing
Tenants have been provided with Resident Information Packs.These packs are there to inform residents about the works being carried out in their homes.
They address concerns residents may have about the works themselves, safety, access to their homes, respite facilities, timeframes, as well as providing useful contact numbers and the complaints procedure.
I have worked to ensure that an awareness of any specific resident needs are also included. This means increased sensitivity and services for residents with disabilities, young children and for overcrowded households.
These packs are available in a variety of languages and contractors will also have access to a translation service.
All information is designed to ensure that works can proceed smoothly and residents have complete confidence in the contractor and the works being carried out.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman: You have not answered my question. Has there been a script of key messages given to officers from the Mayor and Councillors?
Summary of response by Councillor Rabina Khan: The important message to give is that residents will all have a decent home. Tower Hamlets social tenants will get new kitchens and bathrooms. That is the key script.
8.10 Question from Councillor Tim Archer
What is the future of Cubitt Town library?
Response by Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture
The future of Cubitt Town Library like all libraries and Idea Stores is guided by the Idea Store Strategy 2009.
The Strategy does not propose the closure of any existing library.
As provided in the Strategy future developments of libraries and Idea Stores would be subject to extensive consultation.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Tim Archer: That is not a reassuring answer. Why is the consultant for the ASDA site redevelopment saying that the Council is insisting that an IDEA store is provided there, less than 200 yards from Cubitt Town library?
Summary of response by Councillor Rania Khan: It is too early to comment on the ASDA proposals. Although there have been pre-application discussions with developers, no planning application has yet been made and it would be entirely wrong to pre-empt the outcome of the planning process.
8.11 Question from Councillor Md. Abdul Mukit
Can the Mayor tell me what proportion of S106 from development in Weavers has been committed or spent in a) Weavers and b) outside of the ward?
Response by Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing
From 2000 to date, the Council secured a total of £2,642,601.00 s106 contributions, from developments in Weavers Ward.
£382,623.00 has been spent outside the ward – this has been secured for ‘pooled’ Education and Health use, as is Council policy, and has supported wonderful projects such as St Paul’s Way School and the St Andrews Health and Wellbeing Centre.
Around £2m is committed for cultural, social and community use. This will be allocated where the money is most required, as advised by officers from CLC and informed by council policy, with priority given to ensuring they are projects which benefit those affected by the development.
The remainder will be spent within borough on other specific projects.
Summary of supplementary question from Councillor Md. Abdul Mukit: Will S106 money intended for Weavers be injected into the Ward as there has been much under-provision there and the ward has suffered neglect?
Summary of response by Councillor Rabina Khan: Yes I can assure you that funding will go to Weavers. I will visit the ward to see what is needed and involve the ward councillors in discussions.
Time limit for item
At this point the Chair informed the meeting that the time allocated for Members’ Questions had expired.
Questions 8.12 to 8.29 were therefore not put at the meeting due to lack of time. Written responses would be provided to these questions as set out below:-
8.12 Question from Councillor Peter Golds
Will the Mayor provide an assurance that he will not take up the extra 100 Olympic tickets offered to the Council by LOCOG, and that he will instead insist that these tickets are returned to the public ballot?
Response by Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture
My position is quite clear. The Mayor and I are determined to ensure that the Olympic Games is as accessible as possible to our residents and does not become the preserve of corporate giants and the well off.
For this reason I will not give the Councillor the reassurance he wants.
On the contrary The Mayor will be making full use of the extra 100 tickets offered to the Council by LOCOG and will take great pleasure in inviting local people to nominate unpaid volunteers and local residents who have selflessly committed themselves to improving sport, healthy living, or the local community generally, so that they might benefit from them.
We have our own Olympic champions in the form of ordinary residents who day in and day out contribute to the wellbeing of our community without being paid to do so. I want to honour the contribution these people make to our society and ensure that the ordinary working people of Tower Hamlets are given the best opportunity to engage with an experience of a lifetime.
We cannot do this by insisting these tickets are returned to the public ballot which, in many cases, is neither affordable nor accessible to the people of this borough.
8.13 Question from Councillor Anwar Khan
Can the Mayor confirm the gross cost to date to the Council of East End Life this financial year, including advertising costs borne by the Council?
Response by Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources
Total income charged from 4th April 2011 to 29th August 2011 = £465,393.39 (£448,090 received). The sources of advertising income are Internal: £211,130.91, External: £254,262.48.
The gross cost of running EEL 5 April to 31 August 2011 = £420,521. These costs include salaries, printing and distribution.
East End Life is on target to make the full year savings of £200k as set out in the review.
The paper is on
target to raise over £1.1m in ad
sales by March 2012
and to reach break even in 2012-13. The
break even target is £1.2m which we will hit in 2012-13
because of the full year effect of the new ad sales
strategy.
8.14 Question from Councillor David Snowdon
Will Mayor Rahman inform Council as to why he declined to answer my question regarding the Islamic Forum of Europe at last Council? Members have been informed by officials that it is Mayor Rahman who decides who should answer questions (including those directed to him). Therefore why did Mayor Rahman duck this particular question?
Response by Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources
You have already been provided with an answer to your question, which is as follows:-
“Thank you Cllr Snowdon, but really what is this question about? We all know that a Dispatches programme made a series of allegations against IFE and East London Mosque. The truth is - well before this programme, the Council under the leadership of Michael Keith, Denise Jones and Helal Abbas funded various IFE and East London Mosque projects. Surely you should be speaking to them. They have much better knowledge about the IFE.
They say a picture speaks a thousand words. I have a picture of Denise Jones speaking at an IFE event. I tell you who else you can talk to – Rushanara Ali MP is speaking at an IFE event next Monday on 18 July. Even better, you can speak to your own colleagues in the Conservative Party. Tim Archer, Richard Barnes and Andrew Boff have visited and spoken at East London Mosque (there are pictures of them with senior IFE persons).”
8.15 Question from Councillor Lesley Pavitt
Can the Mayor give me an update on the progress of re-tendering for Home Care contracts?
Response by Councillor Abdul Asad, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing
We are currently re-tendering existing contracts that are coming to an end.
The Mayor ordered a pause in the process to ensure that bidders would commit to creating local jobs and paying all employees the London Living Wage. I’m glad to see we have accomplished this.
An advert was placed on 29 August, and pre-qualification questionnaires are due back on 5 October. The contracts will be awarded next March. This tender is for between 6 and 8 block contracts covering the borough as a whole. This equates to half of overall home care.
8.16 Question from Councillor Gloria Thienel
What plans does the Mayor have to protect the parks on the Isle of Dogs from illegal Camp Site which could be set up during the Olympics in view of there currently being no public toilet facilities on the Isle of Dogs, the absence of which could cause public health problems for the locality?
It should be noted that during the Royal Wedding in April, Clapham Common became an unofficial site with resultant problems for residents in Lambeth and Wandsworth.
Response by Councillor Shahed Ali, Cabinet Member for Environment
At the moment we do not envisage there being any major problems regarding illegal camping on the Isle of Dogs during the Olympics. I will monitor this closely and if this position changes I will of course take all necessary action to ensure that all parks in the Borough will be protected.
I can further ensure you that this administration will manage any situation of illegal camping concisely rather than the manner in which the Tory administration in Basildon council has mis-managed Dale Farm, currently estimated at a huge cost of some 18 million pounds of taxpayer’s money.
8.17 Question from Councillor Judith Gardiner
Can the Mayor give me an update on the progress of the Housing Options Appraisal?
Response by Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing
The research phase of the project is now complete and analysis on the options is nearing completion.
We are currently surveying residents to find out their opinions about the current housing service. Questionnaires are due to be returned by 26 September.
This will give me and the Mayor important information about what residents think about the services they receive which will be used to make further improvements.
8.18 Question from Councillor Dr Emma Jones
Whilst a Councillor Mayor Rahman submitted regular timesheets.
Will Mayor Rahman therefore inform Council as to why he is not completing timesheets as all Councillors are expected to do, as the lack of a published timesheet reflects a reduction in transparency and accountability, which is not covered by his numerous photo opportunities in East End Life?
Response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor
Councillors’ timesheets are a mechanism for accountability and have served the borough well since their introduction and continue to do so.
The position in relation to the Mayor is different. The Mayor is not a Councillor and does not receive the Basic Allowance paid to Councillors, nor a special responsibility allowance (SRA).
Rather he receives a single Mayoral Allowance, set by the Council, to cover all aspects of a position that is recognised by the Independent Panel as '.. a full-time job with a high level of responsibilities..'. Currently at Tower Hamlets the level of the Mayoral Allowance is £65,000p.a. compared to the Independent Panel's recommendation of £81,029 p.a..
8.19 Question from Councillor David Edgar
Can the Mayor give me an update on when the Council's Enterprise Strategy will be presented at a Cabinet Meeting?
Response by Councillor Shafiqul Haque, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Skills
The Enterprise Strategy was approved for consultation in April of this year and comments received have been incorporated in the most recent draft.
Improving enterprise in the borough is extremely important to me and the Mayor which is why I am working to ensure the Enterprise Strategy is a robust policy which will have a positive impact on enterprise in the borough.
8.20 Question from Councillor Kabir Ahmed
Could the Mayor give Council his assessment of the events of Saturday 3rd September? What measures is the Mayor taking to prevent a potential return trip by the racist English Defence League and does he think the Government needs to reassess the threat of far-right extremism? What are the Mayor’s plans to mark the 75th Anniversary of the battle of Cable Street on 4th October?
Response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor
My assessment is that the borough came through the events of September 3 even more united than before.
The EDL wanted to parade their message of racial and religious hate through the streets of Tower Hamlets. They even assembled on the exact spot where their political ancestors, Mosley’s Blackshirts, gathered on October 4th 1936. They wanted scenes of violence and disorder broadcast across our TV screens. They wanted Sunday’s newspapers to be carrying stories about multiculturalism in crisis.
They failed. Instead it is the EDL who are getting the bad publicity for their intimidating and violent behaviour. Our borough has emerged stronger, more united, and more committed to a multicultural Tower Hamlets than ever before.
The Mayor has written to the police asking that if the EDL formally apply again for permission to march in our borough that the police seek permission for a ban to prevent them from doing so. We are lobbying for a change in the legislation regarding static demonstrations so that the Home Secretary has the power to ban any static demonstration that incites racial or religious hatred or hate crime of any sort. We are also lobbying for a shift in government and police policy to be more pro-active over the threat of far right extremism.
I would like once again to thank all those who helped ensure Saturday’s anti-EDL protests were dignified, peaceful and such a powerful display of community unity in the face of those who sought to divide us.
The Home Secretary deserves our thanks for listening to community concerns and taking the decision to ban the EDL. The police deserve our thanks for applying for the ban and their professional operation on the day. It is never easy getting the balance right between firm and sensitive policing, but I thought they did a great job.
We asked our young people to put their faith in the police to protect our community from racist thugs. The police repaid our trust in them. Their actions have helped further strengthen relations between the community and the police. The residents, of Tower Hamlets, deserve our thanks. Thousands of residents expressed their opposition to an EDL march via the democratic process. They lobbied, petitioned, attended public meetings, and applied political pressure. That pressure helped strengthen our hand in calling for a ban.
And thanks to all the community leaders, trade unionists, faith groups, anti-racist campaigners, politicians and business leaders who all came together to support our endeavor to stop the EDL.
On the evening of 4 October we have organised an evening of film, debate and discussion with Cable Street veteran Max Levitas, Rabbi Lee Wax, Edi Freidman (Jewish Council of Racial Equality), Liz Fekete (Institute of Race Relations), broadcaster Bonnie Greer, Cllr Rabin Khan and myself to discuss the contemporary significance of the Cable St events. I think it will be a very interesting and informative evening and I would encourage everyone to attend.
Londoners treasure the fact that our city is the most multicultural city in Europe, and the residents in Tower Hamlets treasure the fact that ours is the most multicultural borough in London. Multiculturalism is embedded into our very identify; it is who we are, there is no turning back the clock. And that’s the reason the EDL and the racists will never win.
8.21 Question from Councillor Denise Jones
Does the Mayor share my concerns about the Olympic Route Network and the effect it will have on Tower Hamlets residents?
Response by Councillor Shahed Ali, Cabinet Member for Environment
Whilst the Borough will undoubtedly gain as a result of having the Olympic Games on its door step, the biggest show on earth will cause some temporary disruption to residents and businesses alike.
The Olympic Route network is a Transport for London (TfL) scheme that will be imposed on London and the South East during games time.
The Mayor and I have been working hard to lobby TfL to reduce the impact of this scheme on our community. The Mayor and I are currently in dialogue with Peter Hendy, the Transport Commissioner for London, over a range of impacts and am particularly concerned about the potential problems it will cause to local business and road safety. The Mayor met with Peter Hendy and representatives of LOCOG and the ODA at the end of August and have written to all members outlining these discussions and the progress we are making.
In short the Mayor raised deep concerns regarding the adequacy of the business consultation regarding the impact of the ORN and the level of support small businesses will get to understand and plan for the impacts.
- The Transport Commissioner for London agreed to substantially enhance business engagement in Tower Hamlets and send TfL representatives to four bespoke business forums that we will help them organise.
The Mayor has expressed concerns regarding the lack of consistent messaging between TfL and LOCOG with regards to business advice.
- TfL and LOCOG accepted that they have not been as joined up as they might be on some local transport advice and will seek to improve their lines of communication.
The Mayor expressed concerns regarding the potential disruptive impact on communities of suspended crossings.
- The Commissioner has given me a firm commitment to look again at the number of crossing suspensions.
The Mayor has expressed deep safety concerns regarding TfL proposals for the management of crossings kept open on the ORN which were to have the green man deactivated.
- The Commissioner has agreed with me that this approach would be unsafe and will be abandoned.
The Mayor nevertheless remains concerned about road safety generally during games time and have lobbied for more money to run additional road safety campaigns. I remain engaged in dialogue with Peter on this issue.
The Mayor has flatly opposed the use of the alternative ORN for games family traffic on a programmed basis.
- The Commissioner has agreed that they will not now do this and will only use the alternative network if the Core ORN becomes blocked.
The Mayor has lobbied the Commissioner to reduce the impact of the Road Event ORN in the West of the Borough and to commit to consultation with business on its introduction.
- The Commissioner has agreed that its use will be limited only to seven days of the Olympic Road events and at no other time and that a consultation exercise will be held regarding its introduction.
Both the Mayor and other London Boroughs have lobbied intensively against a rolling introduction of the ORN over a four week period that would greatly extend the period of disruption.
- The Commissioner has now agreed to introduce a much shorter period of introduction spanning a few days.
Finally the Mayor expressed grave concern regarding the accessibility of information for residents and businesses regarding the ORN before and during the Games. The Mayor challenged their position of providing no hot line number and only providing written responses to queries.
- The Commissioner has given me a verbal undertaking to extend their call centre activities to include ORN queries and the Mayor will be holding him to this.
8.22 Question from Councillor Stephanie Eaton
Would the Mayor join me in requesting Transport for London to prioritise Step 3 Access to Whitechapel Underground Station in time for the opening of the new Royal London Hospital?
Response by Councillor Shahed Ali, Cabinet Member for Environment
Yes.
8.23 Question from Councillor Sirajul Islam
Can the Mayor give me an update on the progress made by the Council to promote Fairtrade products amongst Council catering services, residents and community groups and on asking Council contractors to provide Fairtrade goods?
Response by Councillor Alibor Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Resources
The Council currently buys a range of Fair Trade products and standardises on Fair Trade for foodstuffs and vending refreshments wherever possible.
The contract planning for relevant contracts is closely scrutinised for the opportunities to buy Fair Trade and other ethically sourced products.
Whilst the Council always works to achieve the most competitive prices, all contracts are awarded on an assessment of value for money, which includes quality and social criteria. Variant bids are permitted when deemed appropriate.
Contract review meetings are carried out regularly, and suppliers are asked to demonstrate their performance against various quality criteria, including the social objectives. When new Fair Trade or other ethically sourced products come on stream, they will be asked to include them in their offering to the Council.
The Council takes advantage of collaborative procurement when appropriate, but only when the contracts in question meet both price and social objectives. Many Fair Trade foodstuffs are currently purchased through London-wide contracts.
The possibility of sourcing Fair Trade clothing and sports balls will be investigated.
8.24 Question from Councillor Aminur Khan
What is the Council doing to improve the standard of council housing and does the Mayor intend to implement the Tory Government’s new policy of removing tenancy for life?
Response by Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing
The Mayor and I are committed to delivering high standards of social housing as the heart of sustainable and cohesive communities.
The Government’s proposals to end tenancies for life threaten this.
For this reason we do not currently intend to change our tenancy arrangements and will continue to offer tenancy for life.
8.25 Question from Councillor Rachael Saunders
Will the Mayor support our campaign to achieve a change in the law allow static demonstrations to be banned when they are a threat to people and property, through the same procedure as bans on marches?
Response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor
The Mayor and I support all measures that will protect our borough from the threat of the EDL.
However the Mayor and I think we need to be careful with the exact demands we make to this end. Any calls for a ban on static demos should specify that the ban to be applicable to static demos that incite racial or religious hatred. These are the kind of demonstrations that pose a threat to our borough. There are no other types that currently pose a threat.
The Mayor and I are concerned that any new power that does not differentiate between static demonstrations could have the unintended consequence of ensuring the curtailing civil liberties and freedom of expression.
With the full impact of the cuts yet to be felt, I expect there will be many more protests on our streets against them from trade unionists, pensioners, students and anti-cuts campaigners. It would be a bad day for democracy in this country if legislation intended to be used against violent, racist thugs is also used against anti-cuts groups under the vague and dubious auspices of them being a ‘threat of people and property’.
I would therefore ask the Labour group to more carefully define their demand so that it calls for a ban on static demos that incite hate crimes. This would dovetail with my own call and make more powerful our campaign to minimise the threat of the EDL to residents.
8.26 Question from Councillor Lutfa Begum
Could the Mayor update the Council on this year’s GCSE results, and how do these compare with last year’s results?
Response by Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture
This year’s provisional GCSE results are the best the borough has ever seen with 61.6% of pupils achieving 5 A*-C grade GCSEs. This represents a 9.8% point improvement on last year’s results, our biggest single improvement in one year since the measure was introduced.
Again, according to provisional results there was an improvement in pupils achieving 5 A*-C grades at GCSE in any subject. This is up to 81.5%, representing a 6.6% point increase on last year and a 25% point increase since 2005-06.
These results remain provisional until January 2012.
8.27 Question from Councillor Anna Lynch
Does the Mayor agree with me that there should be no sex establishments in Tower Hamlets?
Response by Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture
There has been a long held view by many people in Tower Hamlets that sex establishments which include striptease and lap dancing venues have an adverse impact on neighbourhoods and that the Council should do all it can to restrict this type of activity.
The new legislation that has been introduced gives the Council the opportunity to further restrict and control these premises.
The legislation will be adopted when the associated policy is agreed, following consultation. The draft policy suggests that all localities in Tower Hamlets are unsuitable for sex establishments and that there should be a "nil" policy both retrospective and going forward.
I personally agree with this stance and I have been campaigning as such for many years. I am delighted that in Cabinet I have been able to ensure officers deliver this new policy. It is also the Mayor’s aspiration to deliver such a ‘nil’ policy but he is aware and agrees that the final policy must be determined by the responses to the consultation that is currently taking place. I would urge you to encourage residents to respond to the consultation.
8.28 Question from Councillor Md. Maium Miah
Why does the Mayor think the recent incidents of rioting and looting were of a lesser magnitude in Tower Hamlets than in neighbouring boroughs?
Response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor
The disturbances in Tower Hamlets were treated with the utmost priority by the Council and the Mayor at the time. Tower Hamlets was fortunate not to experience the type of damage to property that other Boroughs did – with Borough’s such as Croydon and Enfield experiencing multi-million pounds worth of damage. Of course, the impact of the incidents that did occur has just as much impact on those affected.
This was, in my opinion, due to the immeasurable amount of work that goes on a daily basis by Community Leaders, volunteers, the Council and its partners in promoting and enhancing ‘One Tower Hamlets’.
Our youth services played a heroic role in helping minimise the dangers of our young people being caught up in the kind of activities that blighted other boroughs.
I saw with my own eyes the work of our Youth Teams. They were on the streets until the small hours of the morning every night, and contracted providers ensured that youth clubs were opened across the borough beyond normal hours. They worked closely with the police, creating a joint response, and calming rather than escalating the situation. The youth workers were partnered with the volunteer “community champions” who are trained in response work and help our paid staff in times of crisis.
Our Youth Offending Team staff not only worked long hours in our borough, they also supported colleagues from other boroughs in the magistrates’ courts, to ensure that young people were properly supported.
It is a fact that of the 513 under-18s arrested, only seven were from Tower Hamlets. And only two of these received custodial sentences.
I think it is folly that other authorities have made huge cuts to youth provision. It is not a route we are going to travel in Tower Hamlets. I am proud we have maintained our investment in youth services and I am committed to maintaining our investment in youth services.
8.29 Question from Councillor Kosru Uddin
Does the Mayor share my concerns over cuts to police services in Tower Hamlets?
Response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor
Any cuts to Tower Hamlets Police would be a serious concern. However, we must understand what the proposed reductions are.
There has been a Metropolitan Police Authority Consultation on the future of SNTs, which will result in this borough losing several SNT Sergeants.
The Borough Commander will be discussing with the Council how this will affect us. As a Council we have invested in Policing this financial year, funding the retention of THEOs and helping to provide 21 partnership police officers through an agreement with the Borough Commander. Overall, despite the reduction in management, there will therefore still be an increase in front line policing in Tower Hamlets.
I am deeply concerned to about the proposed cuts to policing. Boris Johnson should abandon his plans to force 600 London police sergeants to reapply for their own jobs. They should be focusing on making the streets safe for Londoners, not worrying about their own jobs. He should drop his plan to cut 300 sergeants from London's 630 safer neighbourhood teams. And he should reverse his decision to cut 1800 police officers in London over the next three years. Metropolitan Police Authority figures revealed that the number of police officers in London is being cut by 1,800 between 2011 and 2013/4.
Suspension of Procedural Rules
After debate on question 8.2, Councillor Carli Harper-Penman MOVED and Councillor Peter Golds SECONDED, a procedural motion – “That under Procedural Rule 26.1.1, Rule 13.1 be waived on grounds of urgency to enable consideration of the following additional motion, notice of which has not been given in accordance with that rule:-
‘This meeting of Tower Hamlets Council confirms the separation of regulatory and executive functions as defined in the constitution.
The council expresses its concern that members of the Licensing Committee, who are responsible for the regulation of licensing within the borough, were not involved in the decision making or corporate publicity regarding the introduction of the touting policy and consultation on sex establishments.
As Licensing Committee members they have the most involvement and ultimately, the duty to enforce the policies when approved by full council.
This meeting calls for a full explanation as to why councillors with no interest or experience in licensing, were used for publicity purposes and assurance that in future, the correct constitutional role of committees is reflected in communications’.”
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
Change to Order of Business
Councillor Carli Harper-Penman then MOVED, and Councillor Peter Golds SECONDED, a procedural motion – “That under Procedure Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to allow motion the emergency motion to be considered as next business.”
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
Urgent Motion re: Licensing Matters
Councillor Carli Harper-Penman MOVED, and Councillor Peter Golds SECONDED a tabled motion as set out under ‘Suspension of Procedure Rules’ above.
Following debate, the motion was put to the vote and was agreed with no Member voting against.
RESOLVED
This meeting of Tower Hamlets Council confirms the separation of regulatory and executive functions as defined in the constitution.
The council expresses its concern that members of the Licensing Committee, who are responsible for the regulation of licensing within the borough, were not involved in the decision making or corporate publicity regarding the introduction of the touting policy and consultation on sex establishments.
As Licensing Committee members they have the most involvement and ultimately, the duty to enforce the policies when approved by full council.
This meeting calls for a full explanation as to why councillors with no interest or experience in licensing, were used for publicity purposes and assurance that in future, the correct constitutional role of committees is reflected in communications.
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