Agenda item
TO RECEIVE PETITIONS
The Council Procedure Rules provide for a maximum of three petitions to be presented at an Ordinary Meeting of the Council. The deadline for submission of petitions to this meeting is noon on Thursday 10th May 2012. However, as at 8th May the maximum number of three petitions had already been received.
The petitions received for presentation at this meeting are set out in the attached report.
Decision:
5.1 Petition from Tower Hamlets Federation of TRAs regarding a Residents Charter
Mr Phil Sedler 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. Councillor Khan stated that she met regularly with TRA representatives in view of regular criticisms regarding social landlords, so as to find out how the Mayor and his administration might best give support. She was proud that the Borough was at the forefront of social housing provision and delighted to see tenants and residents living in social housing coming together and spelling out, in the Residents Charter, the basis standards that social landlords should uphold.
Although the Council had no direct control over Registered Providers, it could exercise influence through partnership arrangements, and Councillor Khan was committed to keeping tenants and residents at the heart of Council housing policy, and to resisting the Government’s reforms to rents and tenancies that would alter the hard-won rights of social housing tenants.
DECISION
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Aman Davi, Corporate Director, Development and Renewal)
Procedural Motion
At this point, Councillor Rania Khan moved, and Councillor Alibor Choudhury seconded, a procedural motion – “That under Procedural Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to allow motion 12.9 to be considered as next business.”
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was defeated.
5.2 Petition from Messrs Glyn Robbins, Guy Shennan and others regarding Veolia
Mr Guy Shennan addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members.
Councillor Shahed Ali, Cabinet Member for Environment, welcomed the petition and responded to the issues raised. Councillor Ali commented that he shared the petitioners’ concerns about the Israeli military occupation Palestinian territories. It was in that spirit that he and his colleagues fully supported the Council motion passed in February 2011, criticising Veolia’s involvement in illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian West Bank.
Councillor Shahed Ali indicated that the Mayor had acted on that motion and had met senior Veolia officers who had given assurances that Veolia was in the process of divesting itself of all business interests in the area. Councillor Ali added that he would be happy to meet representatives of the campaign to discuss the current situation and their concerns.
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)
5.3 Petition from residents of Hainton Close regarding activities of a disruptive nature at Mulberry School for Girls
Mr Ralph Candlish, representing the residents of Hainton Close, addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members.
Councillor Oliur Rahman, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, responded to the petition. He stated that officers had already written to the petitioners addressing their concerns and that local residents had been in discussions with investigating officers from the antisocial behaviour team. The facilities of the school were managed by the PFI contractor, which included the arrangements for out of hours use of such facilities and officers had made strong representations to the contractors on the matters raised. Councillor Rahman stated that he was aware of how upsetting noise and other disruptions could be and he was committed to ensuring that controls were put in place.
DECISION
That the petition be referred to the Acting Corporate Director, Children, Schools and Families for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
(Action by: Isobel Cattermole, Acting Corporate Director, Children, Schools and Families)
Minutes:
5.1 Petition from Tower Hamlets Federation of TRAs regarding a Residents Charter
Mr Phil Sedler 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. Councillor Khan stated that she met regularly with TRA representatives in view of regular criticisms regarding social landlords, so as to find out how the Mayor and his administration might best give support. She was proud that the Borough was at the forefront of social housing provision and delighted to see tenants and residents living in social housing coming together and spelling out, in the Residents Charter, the basis standards that social landlords should uphold.
Although the Council had no direct control over Registered Providers, it could exercise influence through partnership arrangements, and Councillor Khan was committed to keeping tenants and residents at the heart of Council housing policy, and to resisting the Government’s reforms to rents and tenancies that would alter the hard-won rights of social housing tenants.
RESOLVED
That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Development and Renewal for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
Procedural Motion
At this point, Councillor Rania Khan moved, and Councillor Alibor Choudhury seconded, a procedural motion – “That under Procedural Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to allow motion 12.9 to be considered as next business.”
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was defeated.
5.2 Petition from Messrs Glyn Robbins, Guy Shennan and others regarding Veolia
Mr Guy Shennan addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members.
Councillor Shahed Ali, Cabinet Member for Environment, welcomed the petition and responded to the issues raised. Councillor Ali commented that he shared the petitioners’ concerns about the Israeli military occupation Palestinian territories. It was in that spirit that he and his colleagues fully supported the Council motion passed in February 2011, criticising Veolia’s involvement in illegal Israeli settlements in the Palestinian West Bank.
Councillor Shahed Ali indicated that the Mayor had acted on that motion and had met senior Veolia officers who had given assurances that Veolia was in the process of divesting itself of all business interests in the area. Councillor Ali added that he would be happy to meet representatives of the campaign to discuss the current situation and their concerns.
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.
5.3 Petition from residents of Hainton Close regarding activities of a disruptive nature at Mulberry School for Girls
Mr Ralph Candlish, representing the residents of Hainton Close, addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members. Mr Candlish stated that since the petition was raised, there had been some response from Parkwood Leisure, the PFI contractor. However, there were still three important issues that had not so far been addressed:- rogue balls, levels of noise and intrusive lights.
Councillor Oliur Rahman, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, responded to the petition. He stated that officers had already written to the petitioners addressing their concerns and that local residents had been in discussions with investigating officers from the antisocial behaviour team. The facilities of the school were managed by the PFI contractor, which included the arrangements for out of hours use of such facilities and officers had made strong representations to the contractors on the matters raised. Councillor Rahman stated that he was aware of how upsetting noise and other disruptions could be and he was committed to ensuring that controls were put in place.
RESOLVED
That the petition be referred to the Acting Corporate Director, Children, Schools and Families for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.
Supporting documents: