Agenda and minutes

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To approve and sign as an accurate record the Minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 22 October and the Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 5 November 2014.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 22 October and the Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 5 November 2014were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Donald Johnson. 

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors Joe Carlebach and Jane Law.

The Mayor announced that in France, Belgium, Nigeria and throughout the world in the past few weeks, there had been terrible reminders as to how cheaply life was valued, how difficult it was to hear hatred and how difficult it was to strive for compassion and tolerance of others.

The Council held a minute silence to remember those who had lost their lives and their loved ones.

In respect of agenda item 6.5 Bi-Borough LGPS Pension Administration Services from 1 April 2015 , the following significant interests were declared:

·         Councillors Adronie Alford, Michael Cartwright, Stephen Cowan, Larry Culhane, Lisa Homan, Alex Karmel, PJ Murphy and Caroline Needham as they were members of the LBHF local government pension scheme

·         Councillors Elaine Chumnery and Alan De’Ath as they were members of the RBKC local government pension scheme

The above Councillors considered that this did not give rise to a perception of a conflict of interests and, in the circumstances it would be reasonable to participate in the discussion and vote thereon.

In respect of Special Motion 3 - Sulivan Primary School and the Borough's Primary School Results, the following significant interests were declared:

·         Councillor Caroline Ffiske as she was a governor of the West London Free School

·         Councillor Steve Hamilton as he was a governor of Sulivan Primary School

The above Councillors considered that this did not give rise to a perception of a conflict of interests and, in the circumstances it would be reasonable to participate in the discussion and vote thereon.

In respect of the amendment to Special Motion 3 - Sulivan Primary School and the Borough's Primary School Results, the following significant interests were declared:

·         Councillors Colin Aherne and Sue Macmillan as they were governors of Wormholt Park Primary School

·         Councillor Joe Carlebach as he was vice chair of governors of Avonmore Primary School

·         Councillor Elaine Chumnery as she was a governor of Old Oak Primary School

·         Councillor Wesley Harcourt as he was chair of governors at The Good Shepherd RC Primary School

·         Councillor Alex Karmel as he was chair of governors of Sir John Lillie Primary School

·         Councillor Natalia Perez Shepherd as she was a governor of Larmenier and Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School

The above Councillors considered that this did not give rise to a perception of a conflict of interests and, in the circumstances it would be reasonable to participate in the discussion and vote thereon.

There are no public questions.

There were no public questions submitted.

The Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended) allows the Council to increase the council tax on dwellings that have been empty for more than two years to 150% of the normal charge. This is known as Empty Homes Premium.  This change will have to be approved by Full Council on 28 January 2015 and can take effect for 2015/16 and subsequent financial years (until such time as changed by the Council).

7.08pm - The report and recommendation were formally moved for adoption by the Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Max Schmid.

A speech on the report was made by Councillor Lisa Homan (for the Administration).

The report and recommendation were put to the vote:

FOR                         unanimous

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendation were declared CARRIED.

7.11pm RESOLVED:

That the following recommendation be agreed for the financial year 2015/16 and subsequent years until revoked:

Determine that the council tax on dwellings that have been empty (unoccupied and unfurnished) for more than two years be 150% of the normal council tax charge.

For the previous two years, the Council has agreed a scheme that worked as though the old council tax benefit regulations were still in place (previously known as “the default scheme”) meaning no one in the borough was worse off.  Funding for this local scheme was fixed at a rate of  10% less than what was previously awarded in council tax benefit. The amount taken account of within the 2014/15 Local Government Finance settlement  (LGFS) was £10.609m.

This report recommends that the Council continues to absorb the initial  10% reduction and in effect develop a local scheme that mirrors the previous council tax benefit scheme. This means that still, no one in the authority will be worse off.

7.12pm - The report and recommendation were formally moved for adoption by the Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Max Schmid.

The report and recommendation were put to the vote:

FOR                         unanimous

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendation were declared CARRIED.

7.12pm RESOLVED:

That the Council continues to award a council tax discount as though the Council Tax Benefit regulations were still in place, meaning that no one currently in receipt of council tax support will be worse off. 

This report contains an estimate of the Council Tax Collection rate and calculates the Council Tax Base for 2015/16.

7.13pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Max Schmid.

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

FOR                         unanimous

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.13pm RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the following recommendations for the financial year 2015/16:

(i)      That the estimated numbers of properties for each Valuation Band as set out in the report be approved.

(ii)    That an estimated Collection rate of 97.5% be approved.

(iii)   That the Council Tax Base of 71,983 Band “D” equivalent properties be approved.

(iv)   That authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Governance, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to determine the business rates tax base for 2015/16 as set out in section 11 of the report.

This report recommends some further amendments to the Constitution to include the establishment of two Lead Member posts outside the Cabinet, to make some in year changes to reflect updates to the Officer Schemes of Delegation as a result of changes in legislation and revisions to officer titles and posts, and to make provision for Members to receive Council Summons electronically.

7.14pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

A speech on the report was made by Councillor Stephen Cowan (for the Administration).

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

FOR                         unanimous

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.16pm RESOLVED:

(1)  That the creation of a Lead Member Representative for the Armed Forces post be approved and Councillor Alan De'Ath be appointed into this post.

(2)  That the creation of a Local Business Champion post be approved and Councillor Ben Coleman be appointed into this post.

(3)  That the Constitution be amended to allow Members to receive Summons electronically.

(4)  That the minor amendments made to the Officer Schemes of Delegation by the Monitoring Officer, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be agreed.

This report sets out the business case for terminating the call-off contract with Capita by mutual agreement on 31 March 2015 and entering into a new service provision arrangement with Surrey County Council from 1 April 2015 for an initial period of five years. 

7.17pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Max Schmid.

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

FOR                         unanimous

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.17pm RESOLVED:

For H&F Council to approve and make arrangements for the discharge of its functions under section 101 of the Local Government Act 1972 and to delegate the H&F pension administration service and pensioner payroll service to SCC from 1 April 2015, for an initial period of five (5) years.  (An agreement will be drafted with SCC to formalise the arrangements between the parties. It is anticipated that the agreement will contain a minimum four (4) month termination clause).

This report presents the Council’s Half Year Treasury Report for 2014/15 in accordance with the Council’s Treasury Management Practices. It is a regulatory requirement for this report to be presented to Council.

7.17pm - The report and recommendation were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The report and recommendation were put to the vote:

FOR                         unanimous

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendation were declared CARRIED.

7.17pm RESOLVED:

 That the Council’s debt, borrowing and investment activity up to the 30 September 2014 be noted.

7.18pm – Under Standing Order 15 (e)iii, Councillor Mark Loveday moved a motion that Special Motion 7 Employment in Hammersmith and Fulham, takes precedence on the agenda after Special Motion 1.  This was put to the vote:

            FOR                            17

            AGAINST                   24

            NOT VOTING            0

The motion was declared LOST.

7.20pm – Councillor Michael Cartwright moved, seconded by Councillor Sue Fennimore, the special motion standing in their names:

“The Council supports the new Labour administration’s decision to put the largest number of council-funded police officers onto the streets and estates of Hammersmith and Fulham in the borough’s history.

The Council also welcomes the fact that ALL the funds for the extra police officers have come about after the new Labour administration won millions of pounds in extra funding by renegotiating property deals that H&F's previous Conservative administration had agreed and closed the book on.

This Council notes that the Labour administration will have agreed to fund  more police officers in its first eight months in office than the previous Conservative administration funded in its eight years in power.”

Speeches on the Special Motion were made by Councillors Michael Cartwright, Sue Fennimore, Hannah Barlow, PJ Murphy and Caroline Needham (for the Administration).

Under Standing Order 15(e) (vi), Councillor Harry Phibbs moved, seconded by Councillor Greg Smith, an amendment to the motion as follows:

“Delete all and insert:

"This Council:

·         welcomes the continuing Council policy of funding additional police officers in the borough.

·         notes that much of the proposed funding is coming from Section 106 funds agreed under the previous administration but which had not yet been allocated.

·         resolves that details of the Section 106 negotiations relating to police funding be published in the transparency section of the Council's website and that these should include minutes of meetings between Council officers and developers as well as those between councillors and developers.

·         is concerned about the proposed cut to police funding of £578,000 a year from the Council's General Fund, which means policing is entirely dependent on deals with property developers. In the longer term this would mean securing further planning agreements with developers to which the new Labour administration is hostile."

Speeches on the amendment to the Special Motion were made by Councillors Greg Smith and Harry Phibbs (for the Opposition) and by Councillor Stephen Cowan (for the Administration), before it was put to the vote:

FOR                            18

AGAINST                   25

NOT VOTING            0

The amendment was declared LOST.

The substantive motion was put to the vote:

FOR                            25

AGAINST                   18

NOT VOTING            0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

7.57pm – RESOLVED:

The Council supports the new Labour administration’s decision to put the largest number of council-funded police officers onto the streets and estates of Hammersmith and Fulham in the borough’s history.

The Council also welcomes the fact that ALL the funds for the extra police officers have come about after the new Labour administration won millions of pounds in extra funding by renegotiating property deals that H&F's previous Conservative administration had agreed and closed the book on.

This Council notes that the Labour administration will have agreed to fund  more police officers in its first eight months in office than the previous Conservative administration funded in its eight years in power.

7.58pm – Councillor Vivienne Lukey moved, seconded by Councillor Sharon Holder, the special motion standing in their names:

“This Council notes with alarm the government’s A&E crisis and its impact on our borough, with official NHS figures revealing that the trusts which run St. Mary's, Charing Cross, West Middlesex, Ealing and Northwick Park hospitals have all failed to meet A&E waiting time targets in the last three months of 2014.

The Council also notes the findings of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) inspection of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and is concerned about the failures identified at St. Mary’s Hospital A&E as opposed to the strengths identified at Charing Cross Hospital’s A&E.

This Council resolves to defend our local hospitals and A&E and to support the Independent Healthcare Commission’s urgent review of healthcare in West London.”

Speeches on the Special Motion were made by Councillors Vivienne Lukey, Sharon Holder, Guy Vincent, Rory Vaughan and PJ Murphy (for the Administration).

Under Standing Order 15(e) (vi), Councillor Andrew Brown moved, seconded by Councillor Joe Carlebach, an amendment to the motion as follows:

“After “This Council” delete all and insert:

1.    Notes with alarm the national pressures on Accident and Emergency services and the impact on our borough’s residents, with official NHS figures revealing that the trusts which run St. Mary's, Charing Cross, West Middlesex, Ealing and Northwick Park hospitals (despite the hard work of the incredible doctors, nurses and other staff and due to the increased pressures and demand at this time of year) have all failed to meet A&E waiting time targets in the last three months of 2014.

2.    Recognises the exceptional performance of Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust’s A&E, which serves a significant proportion of the borough’s residents, one of the best performing trusts for the NHS 4 hour waiting time target this measure over the last year.

3.    Notes the findings of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) inspection of Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and its inspection of Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

4.    Is concerned about any services that are judged to be inadequate or requires improvement, but congratulates the trusts on services that are judged good or outstanding.

5.    Resolves to defend our local hospitals.

6.    Welcomes the confirmation that Charing Cross Hospital will continue to have a consultant led A&E.

7.    Looks forward to the publication of the Healthcare Commission’s urgent review of healthcare in West London and urges it and any other new proposals to be fully evidenced and supported by expert clinical consensus.

8.    Accepts that pressure on A&E services is due to interconnected factors throughout the health and social care system.

9.    Welcomes seven day GP access in the borough.

10. Further accepts that through its role with the Health & Wellbeing Board, and with its public health responsibility and budget, the Council has the opportunity to reduce demand on A&Es.

11. Will use the resources at its disposal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.2

9.10pm – Councillor Sue Macmillan moved, seconded by Councillor Caroline Needham, the special motion standing in their names:

“This Council welcomes the fact that most primary schools in the borough achieved at least 100% value-added in the national key stage 2 school league tables. The Council notes that Sulivan Primary School came top of the list of Hammersmith and Fulham schools.

The Council regrets the actions of the borough’s former Conservative administration in trying to close Sulivan Primary School and the distress this caused to Sulivan’s children, parents, teachers and governors.

The Council pledges to support all the borough’s schools and also congratulates Sulivan Primary School and the Good Shepherd RC Primary School on jointly having the highest number of pupils achieving level 4 or above in the borough.”

Speeches on the Special Motion were made by Councillors Sue Macmillan, Caroline Needham and Alan De’Ath (for the Administration) and by Councillor Steve Hamilton (for the Opposition).

Under Standing Order 15(e) (vi), Councillor Caroline Ffiske moved, seconded by Councillor Charlie Dewhirst, an amendment to the motion as follows:

“Delete all after “This Council” and insert:

“notes that 84% per cent of pupils leaving primary schools in our borough last summer achieved level 4 or above in reading, writing and maths. This is above the national average and is an increase on the 79% who achieved this standard in the previous year. The Council congratulates all those children and their schools.

This Council particularly congratulates Good Shepherd RC Primary School and Sulivan Primary School on jointly having the highest number of pupils achieving level  4 or above in the borough at 97%.  St Stephens Church of England Primary is congratulated on achieving 96%.   The Council also congratulates New Kings School on its score of 93%.

The Council notes that New Kings School plans to become an academy sponsored by Thomas's London Day Schools and wishes this new arrangement every success. It further notes that proposals to merge Sulivan School and New Kings are not proceeding and wishes Sulivan School continued success in the future.

The Council  also congratulates primary schools that saw a dramatic improvement in results for the proportion of pupils reaching Level 4 - with Avonmore Primary School seeing an increase from 63% to 85%, Greenside Primary School from 75% to 89%, Fulham Primary School from 67% to 91%, Lena Gardens Primary School from 78% to 88%, Melcombe Primary School from 82% to 94%, Old Oak Primary School from 74% to 83%, Queens Manor School from 60% to 83%, St Marys Catholic Primary School from 83% to 96%, Sir John Lillie Primary School from 62% to 85% and Wormholt Park Primary School from 73% to 88%.

The Council also notes that Ark Conway Primary Academy is the best performing school in England at Key Stage 1 with 88% of pupils achieving the highest test results by the age of seven, and congratulates the teachers, staff, pupils, and parents just three years after opening.”

Speeches on the amendment to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.3

9.55pm – Councillor Adam Connell moved, seconded by Councillor Wesley Harcourt, the special motion standing in their names:

“This Council supports the new Labour administration’s decision to give speaking rights to residents at the borough’s Planning and Development Control Committee meetings.

The Council regrets that the previous Conservative administration did not do this during its time in office, despite being urged to do so by residents’ associations, amenity groups and many individual residents.”

Speeches on the Special Motion were made by Councillors Adam Connell and Wesley Harcourt (for the Administration).

Under Standing Order 15(e) (vi), Councillor Lucy Ivimy moved, seconded by Councillor Nicholas Botterill, an amendment to the motion as follows:

“Delete “regrets that the previous” and insert “notes that the previous Labour administrations and”.

Delete “its” and insert “their”.”

Speeches on the amendment to the Special Motion were made by Councillors Lucy Ivimy, Alex Karmel and Nicholas Botterill (for the Opposition) and by Councillor Stephen Cowan (for the Administration), before it was put to the vote:

FOR                            19

AGAINST                   25

NOT VOTING            0

The amendment was declared LOST.

The substantive motion was put to the vote:

FOR                            25

AGAINST                   19

NOT VOTING            0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

10.16pm – RESOLVED:

This Council supports the new Labour administration’s decision to give speaking rights to residents at the borough’s Planning and Development Control Committee meetings.

The Council regrets that the previous Conservative administration did not do this during its time in office, despite being urged to do so by residents’ associations, amenity groups and many individual residents.

10.17pm – Councillor Ben Coleman moved, seconded by Councillor Andrew Jones, the special motion standing in their names:

“This Council welcomes the success of the North End Road Festive Market in attracting over 10,000 shoppers to the shops, stalls and other businesses in that important part of Fulham. It commits to working with residents, business people, stallholders and councillors on further measures to improve North End Road and the borough’s other main and secondary retail centres.”

Under Standing Order 15(e) (vi), Councillor Steve Hamilton moved, seconded by Councillor Lucy Ivimy, an amendment to the motion as follows:

“  Add:

“In particular, the Council welcomes:

•           The huge benefits the new Earls Court Redevelopment will bring for North End Road and which will help promote a vibrant, diverse and prosperous retail centre for existing and future market stallholders, shops, bars, and restaurants.

•           The vital role the redevelopment will play in combating traffic congestion in the most congested borough in London, in particular the new proposed north-south route known as The Broadway and the new east-west route known as The High Street.

•           The numerous other benefits of the redevelopment including a new primary school and nursery, a new health hub, new homes including homes for social rent, discount market sale and private sale as well as other transport improvements to enhance connectivity and permeability throughout the borough.

The Council resolves to work with the other parties involved in the Earls Court redevelopment to ensure it is delivered as soon as possible so the Council can fulfil their duty to improve North End Road and the borough’s other main and secondary retail centres."

The amendment was put to the vote:

FOR                            19

AGAINST                   25

NOT VOTING            0

The amendment was declared LOST.

The substantive motion was put to the vote:

FOR                            unanimous

AGAINST                   0

NOT VOTING            0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

10.18pm – RESOLVED:

This Council welcomes the success of the North End Road Festive Market in attracting over 10,000 shoppers to the shops, stalls and other businesses in that important part of Fulham. It commits to working with residents, business people, stallholders and councillors on further measures to improve North End Road and the borough’s other main and secondary retail centres.

This motion was withdrawn.

This motion was withdrawn.