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 12th September 2017.

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 regarding PCNs and vehicle removal

Sumsul Talukder Tareq addressed the meeting and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Anima Ali, Cabinet Member for Environment then responded to the matters raised in the petition. She briefly outlined the Council’s approach to vehicle removal and the use of waiting restrictions, including the key features of the most recent changes to the regulations to prioritise the removal of vehicles in reserved bays. She also explained that the Council were working to improve parking service’s webpages and stated that she was happy to meet with the petitioner to discuss specific concerns.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the petition be referred to the Acting Corporate Director, Place for a written response within 28 days.

5.2       Petition regarding Play on Sports

Callum Wear addressed the meeting and responded to questions from Members. CouncillorAbdul Mukit MBE Cabinet Member for Culture and Youth then responded to the matters raised in the petition. He advised that Play on Sports was a private company and at present no suitable facilities in the Borough were available for the organisation.  Should a suitable site become available, it would need to be advertised in accordance with the Council’s procurement procedures. However, he was happy to meet the petitioners to discuss their work.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the petition be referred to the Corporate Director, Children’s , for a written response within 28 days.

5.3       Petition regarding ASB and RSLs

Councillor Muhammad Ansar Mustaquim addressed the meeting and responded to questions from Members. Councillor Asma Begum Cabinet Member for Community Safety then responded to the matters raised in the petition. Councillor Begum explained that addressing  Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) was a key commitment of the administration given the impact that such issues had on the community. To address such problems, the Council had developed an ASB strategy with specific focus on addressing ASB in the areas identified in the petition in partnership with key stakeholders. The Council had also provided additional funding for the Council’s ASB team, supported patrols of crime hots spots and had provided funding for additional Police Officers amongst other measures.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the petition be referred to the Acting Corporate Director, Place for a written response within 28 days.

5.4       Petition Debate – No to new parking restrictions for residents and local businesses by Tower Hamlets Council

The Council approved a change to the Council’s Petition Scheme in respect of the standard format for Petition Debates at Council to allow Councillors to put questions to the petitioners for a maximum of four minutes.

FazlehElaahi and other petitioners addressed the meeting on behalf of the petitioners and responded to questions from Members. The Council then debated the matters raised by the petition and Mayor John Biggs responded to the issues raised. The Mayor outlined the scope of the recent consultation on parking matters and the nature of some of the issues raised. He reported that he had no intention of extending parking hours in the Borough unless there was overwhelming support for the particular changes to be made. He also stated that he was willing to meet with Councillors from all parties to take forward the issues raised.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the petition be referred to the Acting Corporate Director, Place for a written response within 28 days.