To consider an updated Scheme of Members’ Allowances for 2016/17.

The Council considered the report of the Corporate Director, Law, Probity and Governance, setting out an updated Scheme of Members Allowances for 2016/17.

During the discussion, the Monitoring Officer agreed to respond to questions put in relation to the powers of the Mayor or Council to appoint Members to paid positions.

Councillor Oliur Rahman moved and Councillor Rabina Khan seconded the following amendment to the recommendations.

·                     Increased the Council Tax by 4% for ordinary residents of Tower Hamlets while it was frozen for many years by the previous administration – a Council Tax rebate for residents in real term, despite huge austerity cuts;

·                     Increased the essential charges for residents and small businesses by an additional 1.7% in the Fee and Charges Schedule;

·                     Failed to note and appreciate that the staff at Tower Hamlets Council have not had a fair and adequate increase in their salaries for a number of years – and capped at 1%;

·                     Slashed or reduced the front line services and other essential provisions for the most vulnerable residents, including children, women and the disabled;

·                     Disingenuously and hypocritically did not incorporate the new posts of three Mayoral Advisers, paid for by the local tax payers, to pay an extra £21,000 to three Labour Cllrs for advice - a role they are already obligated to fulfil. This is after the Mayor’s Office has been budgeted to £605,000 – including the Head of Mayor’s Office costing in the range of £85,000 - £100,000, a new Head of Marketing at £100,000; and

·                     Reduced front line Tower Hamlets Partnership Police Officers to 6 from 41, despite huge issues and concerns around the rise in anti-social behaviour, drug and gang related crimes.

·                     The Scheme of Members’ Allowances 2016/17 has not transparently outlined whether Mayor John Biggs will be receiving the full increase for his entire term until 2018. In particular, this would make the spin to forego £3,953 for this year, an insulting gesture given the fact the Labour Group proposed, voted and passed an amendment on October, 27, 2010 to cut the Mayor’s salary by £10,000 to £65,000 which is demonstrative of their political bias and vindictiveness.

·                     The Independent Review to increase the Member’s allowances was available to the previous mayor, who decided against an increase due to austerity cuts and to sharing the pain with staff and residents who were suffering under the Tory-led Government.

·                     Freeze all Member’s allowances, including the Mayoral and Special Responsibility Allowances, until such a time when the Tower Hamlets Staff are given an adequate, fair and proportionate rise, Council Tax is frozen and/or austerity cuts have been dealt with, anything less will mean that Mayor John Biggs and his administration is more interested in lining up their pocket rather than providing value for money and standing up for people of Tower Hamlets.

The amendment was then put to the vote and was defeated.

Following debate, the recommendations were put to the vote and were agreed.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the updated London Borough of Tower Hamlets Scheme of Members’ Allowances 2016/17 be adopted as set out at Appendix ‘A’ to this report with any changes coming into effect from Thursday 19 May 2016 or the appointment of a Councillor to the relevant position, whichever is the later.

2.            To confirm that no automatic uplift in the Basic Allowance in relation to the Local Government Pay Settlement be taken for the 2016 Pay Award.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 17.6, the following Councillors each asked that it be recorded that they had voted in favour of the proposed amendment (above) and voted against the recommendations.

Councillor Suluk Ahmed

Councillor Ohid Ahmed

Councillor Shah Alam

Councillor Shahed Ali

Councillor Abdul Asad

Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury

Councillor Shafiqul Haque

Councillor Aminur Khan

Councillor Rabina Khan

Councillor Harun Miah

Councillor Md. Maium Miah

Councillor Muhammad Ansar Mustaquim

Councillor Oliur Rahman

Councillor Gulam Robbani