The Council Procedure Rules provide for a maximum of three petitions to be presented at an Ordinary Meeting of the Council. 

The deadline for receipt of petitions for this Council meeting is noon on Thursday 20^th November 2014. However, at the time of agenda despatch, the maximum number of petitions has already been received as set out in the attached report.

5.1 Petition to reduce the speed limit on Longnor Estate

Ms Joan Burton addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Shahed Ali, Cabinet Member for Clean and Green then responded to the matters raised in the petition.

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)

5.2 Petition regarding services for children

Ms Christine Trumper addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Gulam Robbani, Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services then responded to the matters raised in the petition.

DECISION

That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Education, Social Care and Wellbeing, for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.

(Action by: Robert McCulloch-Graham, Corporate Director, Education, Social Care and Wellbeing)

5.3 Petition against ‘the witch-hunt on Tower Hamlets’

Mr Nick Parkin and Mr Raihan Islam 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 matters raised in the petition.

DECISION

That the petition be referred to Directorate of Law, Probity and Governance, for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.

(Action by: Meic Sullivan-Gould, Interim Monitoring Officer)

The Council agreed to suspend Procedure Rule 19.2 to enable the following petition to be heard:

5.4 Petition on ‘Save our Nurseries in Tower Hamlets’

The petitioners addressed the meeting and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Gulam Robbani, Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services, then responded to the matters raised in the petition.

DECISION

That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Education, Social Care and Wellbeing, for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.

(Action by: Robert McCulloch-Graham, Corporate Director, Education, Social Care and Wellbeing)

5.1 Petition to reduce the speed limit on Longnor Estate

Ms Joan Burton addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Shahed Ali, Cabinet Member for Clean and Green then responded to the matters raised in the petition. He was pleased to report that a consultation had already taken place on a potential borough-wide 20mph zone and that he hoped a decision could be taken on that in 2015. He promised to keep the petitioners updated.

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.

5.2 Petition regarding services for children

Ms Christine Trumper addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Gulam Robbani, Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services then responded to the matters raised in the petition. He reiterated that no decision had yet been taken and that all consultation feedback would be fully considered. However, the highlighted that the Council had to find significant savings following central government cuts.

RESOLVED

That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Education, Social Care and Wellbeing, for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.

5.3 Petition against ‘the witch-hunt on Tower Hamlets’

Mr Nick Parkin and Mr Raihan Islam 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 matters raised in the petition. He highlighted what he referred to as the ‘attack on democracy and self-determination’ by the Secretary of State and reported that the Best Value investigation had uncovered no illegality or failures in front line services.

RESOLVED

That the petition be referred to Directorate of Law, Probity and Governance, for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.

Procedural Motion

Councillor Khales Uddin Ahmed moved, and Councillor Danny Hassell seconded, a procedural motion “that Procedure Rule 19.2 be suspended to allow a further petition, on ‘Save our Nurseries in Tower Hamlets’, to be heard. The motion was put to the vote and was agreed.

5.4 Petition on ‘Save our Nurseries in Tower Hamlets’

The petitioners addressed the meeting and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Gulam Robbani, Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services, then responded to the matters raised in the petition. He highlighted that a consultation exercise was underway and that feedback from users was important to the final decision. He also stated that visits would be made to the nurseries to help gather information for use when taking the decision.

RESOLVED

That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Education, Social Care and Wellbeing, for a written response on any outstanding matters within 28 days.

Procedural Motions

At this point Councillor Danny Hassell moved, and Councillor Asma Begum seconded, a procedural motion “that under Procedure Rule 14.1.5, Rule 13.1 be suspended to enable an urgent motion regarding nursery closures to be considered”.  The Speaker adjourned the meeting for 3 minutes to enable Councillors to consider the procedural motion.  When the meeting reconvened, the procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.

Following the conclusion of the debate on the urgent motion, Councillor Rachael Saunders moved, and Councillor Shiria Khatun seconded, a procedural motion “that under Procedure Rule 14.1.5, Rule 13.1 be suspended to enable an urgent motion regarding motion regarding OFSTED Inspections to be considered”. The procedural motion was put to the vote and was agreed.