Agenda and minutes

To receive nominations for the election of a Mayor for the 2010/11 Municipal Year.

To appoint a Deputy Mayor for the 2010/11 Municipal Year.

7.00 pm – Councillor Alex Karmel, as the outgoing Mayor, took the Chair at the start of the meeting.

Councillor Mark Loveday, proposed, seconded by Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, that Councillor Adronie Alford be elected Mayor of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for the 2010/11 Municipal Year.

There being no further nominations, the proposal was formally put to the vote:

            FOR                              Unanimous

            AGAINST                     0

            ABSTENTIONS           0

Councillor Adronie Alford was duly declared Mayor of the Borough for the 2010/11 Municipal Year, following which she made the statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office and signed the statutory undertaking to observe the Code of Conduct for Councillors.

Under Standing Order 21 (d), the Mayor suspended the meeting while she put on the Mayor’s robes.

The motion was declared CARRIED.

(The meeting was adjourned until 7.10pm)

The Mayor announced that she had decided to appoint Miss Lavender Hastie, Mr George Sulimirski and Mrs Diana Sulimirski as her consorts for the 2010/11 Municipal Year.  The Mayor then announced that she had appointed Councillor Mrs Frances Stainton as Deputy Mayor for the 2010/11 Municipal Year.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh, proposed, seconded by Councillor Mark Loveday, that the past Mayor's badge be presented to Councillor Alex Karmel in recognition of his service to the Council in undertaking the office of Mayor, and in carrying out other associated civic duties as a Councillor.

The Leader then made a speech about the excellent work the outgoing Mayor had undertaken during his term of office.  Councillor Stephen Cowan, Leader of the Opposition, also thanked the outgoing Mayor for his work.  Councillor Alex Karmel then accepted his badge and made a brief speech.

The Leader of the Council then moved, on behalf of the Council, seconded by Councillor Mark Loveday, a vote of thanks to the past Mayoress, Councillor Jane Law for her work in supporting the past Mayor in carrying out his civic functions.  Councillor Jane Law then came forward to receive her past Mayoress’ badge.

To approve and sign as an accurate record the Minutes of the Budget Council Meeting held on 24 February 2010.

The minutes of the Council Meeting held on 24 February 2010 were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

There were no apologies for absence. Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Georgie Cooney.

If a Councillor has any prejudicial or personal interest in a particular report he/she should declare the existence and nature of the interest at the commencement of the consideration of the item or as soon as it becomes apparent.

At meetings where members of the public are allowed to be in attendance and speak, any Councillor with a prejudicial interest may also make representations, give evidence or answer questions about the matter. The Councillor must then withdraw immediately from the meeting before the matter is discussed and any vote taken, unless a dispensation has been obtained from the Standards Committee.

Where members of the public are not allowed to be in attendance, then the Councillor with a prejudicial interest should withdraw from the meeting whilst the matter is under consideration, unless the disability has been removed by the Standards Committee.

7.20 pm - The Mayor advised Councillors that, in relation to agenda item 6.5 – Councillors’ Allowances Scheme: Revision, the Standards Board had advised that it was necessary for all Councillors to declare their allowances as personal interests under the Code of Conduct.  In order to manage this with the minimum of disruption, all Councillors present in the Chamber would be deemed as having declared a personal interest in this item (unless the Councillor objects), and this fact would be duly noted and recorded in the Minutes. 

This was agreed unanimously.

The outgoing Mayor’s Announcements were circulated and tabled at the meeting.  (Copy attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes).

7.21 pm - The Mayor announced the deaths of three former Councillors:- Eleanor Belsham a past Deputy Mayor, Deputy Mayoress and Mayoress, Joan Caruana, a past Mayor and Alan Watkins a former councillor of the Metropolitan Borough of Fulham Council.

The meeting stood for one minute in their memory.

Councillors Stephen Greenhalgh, Alex Karmel and Belinda Donovan paid tributes to the former Councillors.

To note the Chief Executive’s report on the various appointments made by the Party Groups on the Council for the 2010/11 Municipal Year. 

7.26 pm - The report of the Chief Executive on the various appointments made by the Party Groups on the Council for 2010/11 was noted.

To note the Chief Executive’s report outlining the results of the Local Government Elections held on 6 May 2010.

7.27 pm - The Returning Officer’s report as to the persons elected as Councillors at the Local Government Elections held on 6 May 2010 was duly noted.

To receive the Monitoring Officer’s report detailing the annual review of the Council’s Constitution, and to agree to re-adopt it, with amendments, for a further municipal year.

7.29 pm - The report of the Monitoring Officer on the Council’s Constitution was moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh.

The Monitoring Officer’s report and recommendations were put to the vote:

            FOR                            Unanimous

            AGAINST                   0

            ABSTENTIONS         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.29 pm RESOLVED:

1.         That the minor updates, amendments and corrections proposed to the Council’s Constitution, as set out in Annex 1 to the report, be agreed.

2.         That subject to agreement of the above, that the Council’s Constitution be re-approved and re-adopted for the 2010/11 Municipal Year.

To agree the proposed amendments to the Council’s Committee and Scrutiny structure, as outlined in the report.

7.30 pm - The report and recommendation was formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh.

Speeches on the report was made by Councillors Lisa Homan and Colin Aherne (for the Opposition) and Councillor Mark Loveday and Stephen Greenhalgh  (for the Administration), before being put to the vote:

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

            FOR                            30

            AGAINST                   15

            ABSTENTIONS         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.42 pm RESOLVED:

1.         That the Committee and Scrutiny structure outlined in Appendix 1 to the report be agreed.

2.         That terms of reference of the Scrutiny Committees in Appendix 2 and other necessary changes to the Constitution to support the new structure be approved.

3.         That the new structure be implemented from 26 May 2010.

4.                  That the Head of Councillors’ Services be designated as the Council’s Section 31 Scrutiny Officer and the post be added to the Constitution.

This report requests the re-adoption of the Councillors’ Allowances Scheme.

7.43 pm - Noted the additional paper circulated to all Councillors and tabled at the meeting.  [Copies attached at Appendix 2 to these minutes].

Under standing order 15 (e) (i), the Leader moved an amendment to recommendation 2 of the report that the revised Councillors’ Allowances Scheme for 2010 – 11, circulated with the additional paper, be approved.

Speeches on the report was made by Councillor Colin Aherne (for the Opposition) and Councillor Mark Loveday (for the Administration), before being put to the vote:

The report and recommendation was put to the vote:

            FOR                            30

            AGAINST                   0

            ABSTENTIONS         15

The report and recommendation was declared CARRIED.

7.48 pm RESOLVED:

1.         That the London Councils established Independent Remuneration Panel report (May 2010) and officers’ comments thereon be noted.

2.         That the revised Councillors’ Allowances Scheme 2010 – 11 as set out in report circulated, be adopted.

To consider and determine any Special Motions:

7.27 pm – Under Standing Order 15(e) iii, Councillor Mark Loveday moved and Councillor Brocklebank-Fowler seconded a motion “that Special Motion 7.1 related to the Appointment of a Leader take precedence on the agenda and be considered”.  This was agreed.

Councillor Nicholas Botterill moved, seconded by Councillor Mark Loveday, the special motion standing in their names.

"This Council agrees the appointment of Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh as the Leader of the Council”.

The motion was put to the vote:

            FOR                            Unanimous

            AGAINST                   0

            ABSTENTIONS         0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

On behalf of the Council, the Mayor congratulated Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh on his election as the Leader of the Council for the next four years.

7.27 pm RESOLVED:

This Council agrees the appointment of Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh as the Leader of the Council.

7.49 pm – Noted the errata sheet previously marked (“to be circulated separately”) was circulated to all Councillors and tabled at the meeting.  [Copies attached at Appendix 3 to these minutes].

Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh moved, seconded by Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, the special motion standing in their names.

"This Council notes the following appointments by the Leader to the Cabinet and their respective portfolios (Annex 1)”*. 

The motion was put to the vote:

            FOR                            Unanimous

            AGAINST                   0

            ABSTENTIONS         0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

7.49 pm RESOLVED:

This Council notes the following appointments by the Leader to the Cabinet and their respective portfolios (Annex 1) circulated with the additional papers.

7.49 pm – Noted the errata sheet previously marked (“to be circulated separately”) was circulated to all Councillors and tabled at the meeting.  [Copies attached at Appendix 4 to these minutes].

Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh moved, seconded by Councillor Nicholas Botterill, the special motion standing in their names.

"This Council agrees the following appointments of Chairman and Memberships of Regulatory, Scrutiny and other Committees under its Constitution for the Municipal Year 2010/11 as set out in Annex 1”. 

The motion was put to the vote:

            FOR                            Unanimous

            AGAINST                   0

            ABSTENTIONS         0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

7.49 pm RESOLVED:

"This Council agrees the following appointments of Chairman and Memberships of Regulatory, Scrutiny and other Committees under its Constitution for the Municipal Year 20010/11, as set out in Annex 1* circulated with the additional papers and also notes their respective Portfolios / Terms of Reference, as set out in the Council’s Constitution.”

7.49 pm – Noted the errata sheet previously marked (“to be circulated separately”) was circulated to all Councillors and tabled at the meeting.  [Copies attached at Appendix 5 to these minutes].

Councillor Mark Loveday moved, seconded by Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, the special motion standing in their names.

"This Council agrees the Council’s appointments to London Local Government Organisations for 2010/11, as set out in the Schedule”.

The motion was put to the vote:

            FOR                            Unanimous

            AGAINST                   0

            ABSTENTIONS         0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

7.49 pm RESOLVED:

That the Council agrees the appointments to London Local Government Organisations for 2010/11, as set out in the Schedule circulated with the additional papers.

7.49 pm – Noted the errata sheet previously marked (“to be circulated separately”) was circulated to all Councillors and tabled at the meeting.  [Copies attached at Appendix 6 to these minutes].

7.49 pm - Councillor Lucy Ivimy, moved, seconded by Councillor Greg Smith, the special motion standing in their names:

"This Council agrees that, for the Municipal Year 2010/11, meetings of the Council, its Committees and Panels, be held on the dates specified, as set out in the Council Calendar.”

The motion was put to the vote:

FOR                            Unanimous

            AGAINST                   0

            ABSTENTIONS         0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

7.50 pm RESOLVED:

That for the Municipal Year 2010/11, meetings of the Council, its Committees and Panels, be held on the dates specified, as set out in the Council Calendar circulated with the additional papers.

7.50 pm – The Council received an oral report from the Leader, Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh.  Councillor Stephen Cowan made a speech on behalf of the Opposition.

It is the custom and practice of the Council to present the manifesto of the majority party to the Annual Meeting following the borough elections.

The manifesto is presented for information only and the Council is not required to take any decision on it and, for the avoidance of doubt, nor does it thereby form part of the Council's budget and policy framework.

8.03 pm – The Council received and noted the Conservative Administration’s Manifesto for the Council for 2010 – 2014.  The Leader, Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh, provided a brief oral presentation on the report.  This was followed by a speech by Councillor Stephen Cowan who spoke on behalf of the Opposition.

8.14 pm - The Council received the Annual Scrutiny Chairmen’s report of the work undertaken by Scrutiny Committees during the 2009/10 Municipal Year.  The report was put to the vote and duly noted.

8.15 pm - The Council received the Standard Committee’s annual report of the work undertaken during the 2009/10 Municipal Year.  Mr Steven Moussavi, the Independent Chairman, provided a brief presentation on this report.

8.16 pm - The summary report of Councillors’ activity during the 2009/10 Municipal Year and was duly noted.

* * * * *   CONCLUSION OF BUSINESS    * * * * *

Meeting ended: 8.17 pm – Wednesday 26 May 2010.