Agenda item
TO RECEIVE PETITIONS
The deadline for receipt of petitions to be presented to this meeting is noon on Thursday 19th January 2012.
However, at the time of agenda despatch the maximum number of three petitions had already been received as set out in the attached report.
Decision:
5.1 Petition from Wapping Allotments Association:
Ms Amanda Day and a colleague 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. Legal restrictions and controls had been put in place when the land had been given to the Council. Nevertheless, Councillor Choudhury was keen to assist the Association and would be happy to meet to discuss the matter further.
DECISION
That the petition be referred to the Interim Corporate Director, Development and Renewal for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Jackie Odunoye, Interim Corporate Director, Development and Renewal)
5.2 Petition regarding environmental proposals for the canal side, Ocean Estate:
Ms Brenda Daley and Mr Derek England addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members.
Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, then responded to the issues raised. She indicated that she had spoken to Officers and all flats that had a shed would be allocated a replacement. She undertook to work with the petitioners and stated that full consultation would take place with residents on the matter of proposals for garages and sheds for the affected blocks.
DECISION
That the petition be referred to the Interim Corporate Director, Development and Renewal, for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Jackie Odunoye, Interim Corporate Director, Development and Renewal)
5.3 Petition regarding antisocial behaviour in the area of Vallance Road:
Mr Donald Martin and Ms Hannah McHalick addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members.
Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor, then responded to the issues raised. He stated that he was fully aware of problems in the area and had been working with the Police and other agencies to effect a solution. The Police had already taken action and the Weavers Fields gates were being locked at night and patrols increased by the Police and THEOs. He indicated that he would be seeking further meetings between Officers and residents to determine further action.
DECISION
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Stephen Halsey, Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture)
Minutes:
5.1 Petition from Wapping Allotments Association:
Ms Amanda Day and a colleague 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. Legal restrictions and controls had been put in place when the land had been given to the Council. Nevertheless, Councillor Choudhury was keen to assist the Association and would be happy to meet to discuss the matter further.
RESOLVED
That the petition be referred to the Interim Corporate Director, Development and Renewal, for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
5.2 Petition regarding environmental proposals for the canal side, Ocean Estate:
Ms Brenda Daley and Mr Derek England addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members.
Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing, then responded to the issues raised. She indicated that she had spoken to Officers and all flats that had a shed would be allocated a replacement. She undertook to work with the petitioners and stated that full consultation would take place with residents on the matter of proposals for garages and sheds for the affected blocks.
RESOLVED
That the petition be referred to the Interim Corporate Director, Development and Renewal, for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
5.3 Petition regarding antisocial behaviour in the area of Vallance Road:
Mr Donald Martin and Ms Hannah McHalick addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members.
Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor, then responded to the issues raised. He stated that he was fully aware of problems in the area and had been working with the Police and other agencies to effect a solution. The Police had already taken action and the Weavers Fields gates were being locked at night and patrols increased by the Police and THEOs. He indicated that he would be seeking further meetings between Officers and residents to determine further action.
RESOLVED
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
Change to Order of Business
At this point, Councillor Alibor Choudhury MOVED, and Councillor Rania Khan SECONDED, a procedural motion – “That under Procedure Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to allow motion 12.14 to be considered as next business.”
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
12.14 Sexual Exploitation
CouncillorRania Khan MOVED, and Councillor Ohid Ahmed SECONDED, the motion as printed in the report.
After debate, Councillor Rachael Saunders MOVED, and Councillor Alibor Choudhury SECONDED, a procedural motion – “That under Procedure Rule 14.1.10 the question be now put.” The Procedural Motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
The motion as printed in the agenda was then put to the vote and was agreed with no Member voting against. Accordingly it was:-
RESOLVED
This Council notes:
1. That despite the abolition of slavery over 200 years ago, modern forms of trading in human beings continue, particularly for the purposes of sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic slavery or organised crime.
2. That 80,000 people are trafficked each year, 80% of which are women and children.
3. That in the UK many thousands of individuals are bought and sold as commodities and forced into modern-day slavery.
4. That Tower Hamlets Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) does excellent work focussing on the protection and welfare of children and young people.
5. That the Metropolitan Police have set up a Trafficking Helpline, working with some local authorities to launch raids and closing down brothels, gathering intelligence on known trafficking gangs/groups and working with their home countries.
This Council believes:
1. That schools should be encouraged to incorporate the topic into their curricula to raise awareness among students.
2. That the efforts made by individuals, business, organisations, the police, government and educational institutions to raise awareness of human trafficking and to oppose such trafficking actively; are to be commended
This Council resolves:
1. To express its support for the work that ECPAT UK (End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography and the Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes) is doing around the UK to promote the rights of children and for the measures the organisation is taking to protect them from commercial and sexual exploitation and abuse.
2. To acknowledge the potential impact of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games on trafficking, in the context of a possible increase of people entering the UK due to human trafficking, and to work with LOCOG, other Olympic agencies and the police to counteract this.
Supporting documents: