Agenda item
TO RECEIVE WRITTEN QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
The questions which have been received from Councillors to be put at this Council meeting are set out in the attached report. A maximum period of 30 minutes is allocated to this agenda item.
Minutes:
The following questions and in each case (except where indicated) a supplementary question were put and were responded to by the relevant Executive Member or Chair:
8.1 Question from Councillor Abdal Ullah
Will the Lead Member for Jobs and Skills apologise for the fact that under Lutfur Rahman’s administration the number of 18-24 year olds claiming JSA for over a year has increased by over 110%?
Response by Councillor Shafiqul Haque, Cabinet Member for Jobs and Skills
In the last year, the number of youth Job Seeker’s claimants has fallen by 25%
Perhaps councillor Ullah has not noticed, but we have been recovering from a recession since 2008; unemployment has risen everywhere, especially for youths, and yet Tower Hamlets has performed better than the London average and outperformed its neighbours at combatting unemployment.
We are making sure kids are more likely to get jobs, by drastically improving educational attainment. We are helping young people to stay in school, by reinstating the Educational Maintenance Allowance which your party opposed. We are encouraging them to go to University through the Mayor’s Higher Educational Allowance which you have also slated. It is programmes like these that ensure young people have the best possible chance in the labour market.
If councillor Ullah cares so much about jobs, he could spend his time better looking at his own budget – which suggested scrapping a programme helping 100 women in the borough get back into jobs. Shame!
Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor Abdal Ullah
Does the Mayor regret giving jobs to the current Cabinet Members when they have failed to deliver?
Summary of Councillor Haque’s response to the Supplementary Question
Councillor Abdal Ullah should join our team which is doing a great job.
8.2 Question from Councillor Zara Davis
What is the Council doing to accelerate the reopening of the Thames Path, next to Sir John McDougal Gardens?
Response by Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture
The path adjacent to the River Thames is the responsibility of the land owner and has been closed for maintenance.
The Head of Planning and Building Control is investigating whether the closure would constitute a breach under Section 106 of the agreement for the development and has written to the owners requesting an update for when the path will be open again for the public.
Depending on the response, matter may be referred to Legal Services to review and consider what legal action could be pursued in relation to potential breaches of the Section 106 agreement.
Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor Zara Davis
The Council is responsible for maintaining that path. Residents are frustrated that it has been closed for 9 months what is the Council doing about it?
Summary of Councillor Khan’s response to the Supplementary Question
We are pressing the Environment Agency to confirm the work to be done. The Head of Planning and Building Control will be happy to look at any additional information you may have.
8.3 Question from Councillor Judith Gardiner to the Speaker of the Council
Can the Speaker inform the Council exactly how many public and councillor questions have been asked at Council meetings since October 2010 as well as how many of these questions have been answered by the Mayor personally?
Response by Councillor Lesley Pavitt, Speaker of the Council
Since 27 October 2010 there have been 80 public and 157 member questions put to the Mayor and Executive. The Mayor has answered 4 public and 27 member questions.
Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor Judith Gardiner
Do you agree with me that this is an insult to those he represents and to the chamber?
Summary of Councillor Lesley Pavitt’s response to the Supplementary Question
As Speaker I could not possibly comment on that suggestion.
Procedural Motion
At this point Councillor David Snowdon moved, and Councillor Emma Jones seconded, a procedural motion “that under Procedure Rule 14.1.5, Rule 13.1 be suspended to enable an urgent motion calling for a judicial review into Mayoral Attendance at Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was defeated.
[Note – the proposed procedural motion is listed under Item 13 below]
8.4 Question from Councillor Kabir Ahmed
Congratulations on Tower Hamlets being awarded an “excellent” rating for equalities. Can you tell us how this was achieved and how it reflects on the opposition claims that the Mayor is only for one community and Robin Wales’ scurrilous and divisive accusation that there is a form of apartheid in Tower Hamlets?
Response by Councillor Ohid Ahmed, Deputy Mayor
Thank you for your question councillor. Iam very proud the Local Government Association has rated Tower Hamlets ‘excellent’ for its “high-quality” equality services which are meeting the needs of people from all backgrounds in the borough. I am also very proud our Annual Residents' Survey found that 81% of residents think people from different backgrounds were getting on well together in Tower Hamlets, up from 75% in 2010.
One of the reasons we have achieved these results is because of the priority we given to our One Tower Hamlets strategy and the promotion of community cohesion. This work is carried out in a number of ways by working closely with our partners. These include:
supporting for the New Residents and Refugees Forum;
supporting initiatives such as Black History Month, Chinese New Year, Holocaust Memorial Day, St Patricks Day and Bangladeshi New Year;
supporting a range of third sector organisations which help us better meet the needs of our diverse community.
And this work is making a real difference.
As regards the comments of Robin Wales, all I can say is that it’s a pity he did not join with the Mayor in Trafalgar Square on Saturday to support United Nations Anti-Racism Day, because the theme of this year’s event was to highlight the responsibility leaders have in combatting prejudice and racism. Unfortunately, Robin Wales fails that test. His comments about apartheid in Tower Hamlets were not only an insult to the victims of apartheid. They also undermine community cohesion.
We know the John Biggs is desperate for votes, but running around the borough claiming to stand for ‘One East End’ acting divide the East End is the kind of politics more suited to UKIP than Labour.
Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor Kabir Ahmed
Congratulating the Mayor and administration on the Innovation of the Year award to Tower Hamlets from the Government would you agree that this is a beacon administration?
Summary of Councillor Ahmed’s response to the Supplementary Question
I would agree. I would particularly highlight that 81% of residents feel that our communities work well together.
Procedural Motion
At this point Councillor Rania Khan moved, and Councillor Kabir Ahmed seconded, a procedural motion “that under Procedure Rule 14.1.3 the order of business be varied to take Motion 12.5 (“Standing Up for Tower Hamlets”) as the next item of business.
The procedural motion was put to the vote and was defeated.
8.5 Question from Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman to the Chair of the
Development Committee
How many social homes have been secured each year of this Council term through the planning permission process by the Labour controlled Development and SDC committees?
Response by Councillor Helal Abbas, Chair of the Development Committee
Firstly I would like to thank all Members of Development Committee and Strategic Development Committee for the hours they have devoted to attending meetings.
Until recently we had absenteeism from the Independent Councillors but I’m pleased to say that more recently there has been attendance from Councillors Miah and Ahmed, and from the Conservative group.
Labour has a proud history of supporting social housing and I’m very pleased to say that during the last three years we have delivered planning approval to more than 10,000 homes including in 2011, 786 homes for affordable/intermediate or social rent, 703 in 2012 and in 2013 also. It is important to note that some of these are under construction.
Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor Motin Uz-Zaman
Can you confirm how much money has been secured through s106 agreements through the work of the committee, is it correct that the Mayor has built 4000 homes and should the Mayor be taking credit for the work of the Greater London Authority including John Biggs which has provided the £7m for the Mayor’s development?
Summary of Councillor Helal Abbas’ response to the Supplementary Question
The Development Committee and Strategic Development Committees have between them approved 10,000 units. But it is not sufficient to spend on homes, the related infrastructure - such as school places, jobs and environmental improvements that our community needs so badly - is just as important. During the last three years over £93 million has been secured through s106 agreements. I don’t believe that the Mayor has played any role in any of this.
8.6 Question from Councillor Peter Golds
On 12th March, the Evening Standard reported that 55 towers of 20 storeys or above are in the pipeline for Tower Hamlets, almost a quarter of the London total. Will the portfolio holder for regeneration outline what steps he is taking to prevent overdevelopment on the Isle of Dogs?
Response by Councillor Rabina Khan, Cabinet Member for Housing
Thank you for your question Cllr Golds. As my remit covers planning policy, which is what your questions is about – I will answer it.
However you may be better placed addressing your question to the self-defined “Labour controlled Development and SDC committees” – although to do so is prejudicial as the Development Committee and Strategic Development Committee are quasi-judicial committees set up by Full Council.
Whilst we are on the subject of the SDC may I just clarify that the SDC members must have regard to officer recommendations.
Officers work within the planning policy requirements and negotiate Section 106 and other infrastructure.
The SDC in coming to a determination, consider the provisions of the Council’s adopted Local Plan which gives due regard to affordable rent, more open space, schools, community space, jobs and economic benefits - Plans which have been formulated under the Mayor’s Leadership including the additional proviso of the SPDs.
Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor Peter Golds
Why has the Mayor done nothing on the overdevelopment of the Isle of Dogs with little provision for education, health and transport facilities for residents?
Summary of Councillor Khan’s response to the Supplementary Question
You need to have that argument with the Mayor of London as within The London Plan he identifies the north of the Isle of Dogs as an ‘Opportunity Area’ – with the potential for a significant increase in new homes and jobs (minimum of 110,000 new jobs and 10,000 new homes).
Any planning application over 30m (which equates to 10 residential storeys) has to be referred to the Mayor of London.
So there seems to be a clear split in the Tory party between those nationally who want to invest money in social housing and those like you who don’t.
8.7 Question from Councillor Denise Jones
What impact does the Lead Member for Regeneration believe the 2012 Olympic Games have had on the borough?
Response by Councillor Rania Khan, Cabinet Member for Culture
Thank you for your question Councillor Jones. The impact of the Olympic Games in Tower Hamlets can be felt across a wide range of areas – including employment, skills and business; transport and the public realm; and regeneration and development.
The Borough has secured significant levels of external investment and infrastructure improvements that provide real long term benefits to the local economy. For example, during the Olympics, over 4000 local residents’ secured jobs because of the Mayors agreement with LOCOG, facilitated by Skillsmatch. Also, over £10m of external investment were secured to improve Whitechapel High Street.
I think therefore, from what I have just mentioned, that the 2012 Olympic Games has had a positive and lasting impact on our borough.
Summary of Supplementary Question from Councillor Denise Jones
Is the Mayor concerned that although he promised increased employment in the Borough employment figures actually went down?
Summary of Councillor Rania Khan’s response to the Supplementary Question
4,000 jobs were secured for residents to work on the Olympics, facilitated by Skills Match.
Question 8.8 was not answered at the meeting and Questions 8.9 to 8.23 were not put at the meeting due to lack of time. The Service Head, Democratic Services indicated that written responses would be provided. [Note: The written responses are attached at Appendix A to these minutes.]
Supporting documents: