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 the attached report.
Decision:
Procedural Motion
At the commencement of this agenda item Councillor Alibor Choudhury moved, and Councillor Ohid Ahmed seconded, a procedural motion – “That under procedural Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to allow agenda item 14 to be considered as next business.”
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was defeated.
12.1 Motion on Licensing and anti-social behaviour on and around Brick Lane
Councillor Helal Abbas moved, and Councillor Bill Turner seconded, the motion as printed in the agenda.
After debate the motion as printed in the agenda was put to the vote and was agreed.
DECISION
This Council notes:
· The complaints by many residents who live around Spitalfields that the number of late night alcohol licences on and around Brick Lane is resulting in an unacceptable level of alcohol-related crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour locally, including late night noise, urination and vomiting on doorsteps, and violence.
· The request by police that the Council, as the licensing authority, adopt a saturation policy for the Brick Lane area
· That a draft saturation policy for the Brick Lane area was taken to the Licensing Committee in September 2011, but has progressed no further, awaiting the publication of guidance on Cumulate Impact Policies by the government
· That other measures, as well as the proposed saturation policy, could benefit local residents.
This Council resolves:
· To support a Five Point Plan to tackle the problem that includes:
o A Saturation Policy for the Brick Lane area being brought forward for the consideration of the Licensing Committee as soon as possible after publication of the awaited government guidance
o The adoption of Challenge 25 as a mandatory condition on all TH licences to the statement of licensing policy
o Setting up a "Brick Lane Alcohol Partnership" including the trade, police, council and voluntary or community groups to better co-ordinate action, share information and build working relationships between relevant stakeholders (to be contained within existing budgets)
o Giving police powers to implement section 30 dispersal orders from 10pm to 5am Thursday – Saturday in the immediate vicinity of Brick Lane, allowing them limited powers to move groups on where they have reasonable grounds
o Consideration of introducing pop-up/temporary urinals, as used in Westminster, on Friday and Saturday nights, and consulting on a bye-law to increase the fine for public urination to level 2 on the Standard Scale (£500).
(Action by: Stephen Halsey, Corporate Director, Communities, Localities
and Culture)
[NB: Proposed revisions to the Licensing Policy Statement must be the subject of consultation under Section 5 (3) of the Licensing Act 2003. In addition, as one of the strategies included in the Council’s Policy Framework, revisions to the Licensing Policy Statement must be developed with the involvement of the Executive and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, prior to adoption by the Council. Therefore to the extent that the resolution above involves changes to the Licensing Policy, the effect of the resolution is not to change the Policy at this stage, but to call on officers to commence a consultation process on the proposed amendments, for subsequent report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Executive and Council.]
Change to Order of Business
At this point, Councillor Carlo Gibbs moved, and Councillor Bill Turner seconded, a procedural motion – That under Procedural Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to allow motion 12.4 to be considered as next business.”
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
12.4 Open Spaces Strategy
Councillor Carlo Gibbs moved, and Councillor Amy Whitelock seconded, the motion as printed in the agenda.
After debate, the motion as printed in the agenda was put to the vote and was agreed.
DECISION
This Council notes:
· The decision of Council on 8 December 2010 that put limits on the use of Victoria Park for commercial events, whilst still recognising that some events should still be allowed
· The decision of Council on 21 December 2011 that Sir John McDougal Gardens, Millwall Park and Island Gardens should not be made available for commercial events.
This Council further notes:
· The decision of the Mayor to ignore the decision of Council
· The Mayor's decision to cancel the free community event Paradise Gardens and the popular annual fireworks event in Victoria Park
· That the Open Spaces Strategy is reserved to Full Council and does not currently contain a section on Commercial Events in the borough's Parks
This Council resolves:
· To amend the Open Spaces Strategy to include a section on Commercial Events in parks, to reflect the prior decisions of Council, that:
· In regards to Victoria Park
o Limits the number of large commercial music events in the park to six days each year;
o Prevents the park being used for commercial events on consecutive weekends throughout the summer, with at least two weekends free after a weekend of events;
o Sets a closing time for events to 10pm;
o Sets a reduced noise levels for commercial events.
· In regards to Sir John McDougal Gardens, Millwall Park and Island Gardens
o prevents the holding of commercial events.
· In regards to the gardens at Trinity Square:
o allow the use for weddings but prevent the holding of other commercial events.
· To exclude the Live Site events in Victoria Park in 2012 from the above.
(Action by: Stephen Halsey, Corporate Director, Communities, Localities
and Culture)
[NB: The Open Space Strategy is one of the plans and strategies included in the Council’s Policy Framework. Any proposed amendment to the Open Space Strategy must follow the procedure set out in the Council’s Constitution for developing the Policy Framework including publication of the proposals by the Executive; inclusion in the Forward Plan of the timescale and arrangements for consultation including with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Therefore to the extent that the above resolution involves changes to the Open Space Strategy, the effect of the resolution is not to amend the Strategy at this stage, but to call on the Mayor to include the amendments proposed in the draft Open Space Strategy for consultation and subsequent report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Executive and Council.]
Change to Order of Business
At this point, Councillor Rachael Saunders moved, and Councillor Bill Turner seconded, a procedural motion – That under Procedural Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to allow motion 12.7 to be considered as next business.”
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
12.7 Youth Services
Councillor Rachael Saunders moved, and Councillor Helal Uddin seconded, the motion as printed in the agenda.
After debate, Councillor Alibor Choudhury moved, and Councillor Kabir Ahmed seconded, a procedural motion – “That under Procedural 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.
DECISION
This Council notes:
· That the executive Mayor has decided to take the Council's youth service contracts in house.
· That the reasons given for this decision included assertions that money would be saved if the council staff rather than the third sector organisations and schools managed the provider contracts.
· That no evidence has been given for this, and no firm numbers given.
· That the decision is not in line with the principles set out in the current Tower Hamlets Children and Young People’s Plan.
· That the current providers add significant value to the contracts they hold through supporting services within their own HR and IT and through running additional youth services with their own resources.
·
That youth services across Tower Hamlets
have improved significantly since they were first contracted out,
through effective partnership working.
This Council believes:
· That in tough times it is right to work with partners to seek savings and efficiencies, and wrong to undermine relationships and act unilaterally.
· That the best youth services support educational attainment and equip our young people to lead their communities. Youth services are there to support excellence not just tackle ASB.
· That resources should reflect need, with the greatest resources for areas with the greatest youth population.
· That effective hyper local partnerships have been developed between youth services, schools, health services, employers and others through locally based management of services.
· That currently our young people are able to shape and lead their own services. This must be strengthened, not weakened, in any future model.
· That the targets that the contractors currently report against should continue to be publicly reported against if the service is taken in house.
This Council resolves:
· To oppose bringing the youth service in house at this point.
· To call on the Mayor to:-
o Work with providers to identify efficiencies in partnership; and
o Run a full consultation with providers and young people before decisions about the future of the youth service are made.
(Action by: Isobel Cattermole, Acting Corporate Director, Children, Schools
and Families;
Stephen Halsey, Corporate Director, Communities, Localities
and Culture.)
Change to Order of Business
At this point Councillor Carli Harper-Penman moved, and Councillor Helal Abbas seconded, a procedural motion – “That under Procedural Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to allow agenda item 13 to be considered as next business, followed by an exempt Emergency Motion to be moved in Part 2, followed by agenda item 14.” The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
Extension of time limit for the meeting
Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman moved and Councillor Bill Turner seconded, a procedural motion – “That under Procedure Rule 15.11.7 the meeting be extended for up to an additional 30 minutes to enable consideration of agenda item 14.” The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
Motions 12.2; 12.3; 12.5; 12.6; 12.8; 12.9; 12.10; 12.11; 12.12; 12.13; 12.14 and 12.15 were not considered due to the time limit for the meeting being reached.
Minutes:
Procedural Motion
At the commencement of this agenda item Councillor Alibor Choudhury MOVED and Councillor Ohid Ahmed SECONDED a procedural motion – “That under procedural Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to allow agenda item 14 to be considered as next business.”
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was defeated.
12.1 Motion on Licensing and anti-social behaviour on and around Brick Lane
Councillor Helal Abbas MOVED and Councillor Bill Turner SECONDED the motion as printed in the agenda.
After debate the motion as printed in the agenda was put to the vote and was agreed. Accordingly it was:-
RESOLVED
This Council notes:
· The complaints by many residents who live around Spitalfields that the number of late night alcohol licences on and around Brick Lane is resulting in an unacceptable level of alcohol-related crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour locally, including late night noise, urination and vomiting on doorsteps, and violence.
· The request by police that the Council, as the licensing authority, adopt a saturation policy for the Brick Lane area
· That a draft saturation policy for the Brick Lane area was taken to the Licensing Committee in September 2011, but has progressed no further, awaiting the publication of guidance on Cumulate Impact Policies by the government
· That other measures, as well as the proposed saturation policy, could benefit local residents.
This Council resolves:
· To support a Five Point Plan to tackle the problem that includes:
o A Saturation Policy for the Brick Lane area being brought forward for the consideration of the Licensing Committee as soon as possible after publication of the awaited government guidance
o The adoption of Challenge 25 as a mandatory condition on all TH licences to the statement of licensing policy
o Setting up a "Brick Lane Alcohol Partnership" including the trade, police, council and voluntary or community groups to better co-ordinate action, share information and build working relationships between relevant stakeholders (to be contained within existing budgets)
o Giving police powers to implement section 30 dispersal orders from 10pm to 5am Thursday – Saturday in the immediate vicinity of Brick Lane, allowing them limited powers to move groups on where they have reasonable grounds
o Consideration of introducing pop-up/temporary urinals, as used in Westminster, on Friday and Saturday nights, and consulting on a bye-law to increase the fine for public urination to level 2 on the Standard Scale (£500).
[Note from clerk: Proposed revisions to the Licensing Policy Statement must be the subject of consultation under Section 5 (3) of the Licensing Act 2003. In addition, as one of the strategies included in the Council’s Policy Framework, revisions to the Licensing Policy Statement must be developed with the involvement of the Executive and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, prior to adoption by the Council. Therefore to the extent that the resolution above involves changes to the Licensing Policy, the effect of the resolution is not to change the Policy at this stage, but to call on officers to commence a consultation process on the proposed amendments, for subsequent report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Executive and Council.]
Change to Order of Business
At this point, Councillor Carlo Gibbs MOVED and Councillor Bill Turner SECONDED a procedural motion – That under Procedural Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to allow motion 12.4 to be considered as next business.”
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
12.4 Open Spaces Strategy
Councillor Carlo Gibbs MOVED and Councillor Amy Whitelock SECONDED the motion as printed in the agenda.
After debate, the motion as printed in the agenda was put to the vote and was agreed. Accordingly it was:-
RESOLVED
This Council notes:
· The decision of Council on 8 December 2010 that put limits on the use of Victoria Park for commercial events, whilst still recognising that some events should still be allowed
· The decision of Council on 21 December 2011 that Sir John McDougal Gardens, Millwall Park and Island Gardens should not be made available for commercial events.
This Council further notes:
· The decision of the Mayor to ignore the decision of Council
· The Mayor's decision to cancel the free community event Paradise Gardens and the popular annual fireworks event in Victoria Park
· That the Open Spaces Strategy is reserved to Full Council and does not currently contain a section on Commercial Events in the borough's Parks
This Council resolves:
· To amend the Open Spaces Strategy to include a section on Commercial Events in parks, to reflect the prior decisions of Council, that:
· In regards to Victoria Park
o Limits the number of large commercial music events in the park to six days each year;
o Prevents the park being used for commercial events on consecutive weekends throughout the summer, with at least two weekends free after a weekend of events;
o Sets a closing time for events to 10pm;
o Sets a reduced noise levels for commercial events.
· In regards to Sir John McDougal Gardens, Millwall Park and Island Gardens
o prevents the holding of commercial events.
· In regards to the gardens at Trinity Square:
o allow the use for weddings but prevent the holding of other commercial events.
· To exclude the Live Site events in Victoria Park in 2012 from the above.
[Note from clerk: The Open Space Strategy is one of the plans and strategies included in the Council’s Policy Framework. Any proposed amendment to the Open Space Strategy must follow the procedure set out in the Council’s Constitution for developing the Policy Framework including publication of the proposals by the Executive; inclusion in the Forward Plan of the timescale and arrangements for consultation including with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Therefore to the extent that the above resolution involves changes to the Open Space Strategy, the effect of the resolution is not to amend the Strategy at this stage, but to call on the Mayor to include the amendments proposed in the draft Open Space Strategy for consultation and subsequent report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Executive and Council.]
Change to Order of Business
At this point, Councillor Rachael Saunders MOVED and Councillor Bill Turner SECONDED a procedural motion – That under Procedural Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to allow motion 12.7 to be considered as next business.”
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
12.7 Youth Services
Councillor Rachael Saunders MOVED and Councillor Helal Uddin SECONDED the motion as printed in the agenda.
After debate, Councillor Alibor Choudhury MOVED and Councillor Kabir Ahmed SECONDED a procedural motion – “That under Procedural 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. Accordingly it was:-
RESOLVED
This Council notes:
· That the executive Mayor has decided to take the Council's youth service contracts in house.
· That the reasons given for this decision included assertions that money would be saved if the council staff rather than the third sector organisations and schools managed the provider contracts.
· That no evidence has been given for this, and no firm numbers given.
· That the decision is not in line with the principles set out in the current Tower Hamlets Children and Young People’s Plan.
· That the current providers add significant value to the contracts they hold through supporting services within their own HR and IT and through running additional youth services with their own resources.
·
That youth services across Tower Hamlets
have improved significantly since they were first contracted out,
through effective partnership working.
This Council believes:
· That in tough times it is right to work with partners to seek savings and efficiencies, and wrong to undermine relationships and act unilaterally.
· That the best youth services support educational attainment and equip our young people to lead their communities. Youth services are there to support excellence not just tackle ASB.
· That resources should reflect need, with the greatest resources for areas with the greatest youth population.
· That effective hyper local partnerships have been developed between youth services, schools, health services, employers and others through locally based management of services.
· That currently our young people are able to shape and lead their own services. This must be strengthened, not weakened, in any future model.
· That the targets that the contractors currently report against should continue to be publicly reported against if the service is taken in house.
This Council resolves:
· To oppose bringing the youth service in house at this point.
· To call on the Mayor to:-
o Work with providers to identify efficiencies in partnership; and
o Run a full consultation with providers and young people before decisions about the future of the youth service are made.
Change to Order of Business
At this point Councillor Carli Harper-Penman MOVED and Councillor Helal Abbas SECONDED a procedural motion – “That under Procedural Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to allow agenda item 13 to be considered as next business, followed by an exempt Emergency Motion to be moved in Part 2, followed by agenda item 14.” The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
Extension of time limit for the meeting
Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman MOVED and Councillor Bill Turner SECONDED a procedural motion – “That under Procedure Rule 15.11.7 the meeting be extended for up to an additional 30 minutes to enable consideration of agenda item 14.” The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.
Motions 12.2; 12.3; 12.5; 12.6; 12.8; 12.9; 12.10; 12.11; 12.12; 12.13; 12.14 and 12.15 were not considered due to the time limit for the meeting being reached.
Supporting documents: