Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign as an accurate record the Minutes of the Budget Council Meeting held on 29 February 2012.

Councillor Mark Loveday moved, seconded by Councillor Colin Aherne, an amendment to the minutes of the Budget Council meeting held on 29 February 2012 to include the following at the end of Minute Number 38.1:

“Councillor Aherne sought a ruling from the Mayor that Councillor Brown’s vote should be recorded as “Not Voting”.  The Mayor ruled in accordance with Standing Orders that her vote should be recorded as voting “Against”.”

The amendment was put to the meeting which was unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED:

The minutes of the Budget Council Meeting held on 29 February 2012 were confirmed and signed as an accurate record, subject to the amendment to Minute Number 38.1, to include the following paragraph at the end of the item:

Councillor Aherne sought a ruling from the Mayor that Councillor Brown’s vote should be recorded as “Not Voting”.  The Mayor ruled in accordance with Standing Orders that her vote should be recorded as voting “Against”.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jean Campbell, Marcus Ginn, Wesley Harcourt, Robert Iggulden and Peter Tobias.

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

The Mayor was pleased to announce that she, the Deputy Leader and Chair of NHS North West London had signed the Army Community Covenant at the reception after the Freedom of the Borough Parade on 11 March 2012.  This was a significant moment as Hammersmith and Fulham was one of the first boroughs to sign this covenant.

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.

In respect of agenda item 5.1 Earls Court and West Kensington Opportunity Area – Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), the following declarations of interest were made:

·              Councillor Steve Hamilton declared a prejudicial interest as he had an interest in a property in the area relating to the SPD. 

·              Councillor Alex Karmel declared a prejudicial interest as his mother had an interest in a property in the area relating to the SPD. 

·              Councillor Jane Law declared a prejudicial interest as her mother in law  had an interest in a property in the area relating to the SPD.

The Councillors left the room during this item and took no part in the discussion or the voting.

7.06pm - The report and recommendation were moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh.

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

Under Council Procedure Rule 13.2 (b), Councillor Michael Cartwright moved, seconded by Councillor Daryl Brown, an amendment to the report as follows:

“insert after “resolve” in the first line:

“to carry out a ballot of tenants and leaseholders on the West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates, organised by the Electoral Reform Society, to ascertain if they are supportive of the adoption of the SPD and if a majority who vote are in favour resolve…”

Speeches on the amendment were made by Councillors Michael Cartwright, Daryl Brown, Iain Coleman, Andrew Jones, Dame Sally Powell, PJ Murphy and Stephen Cowan (for the Opposition) and Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh (for the Administration).  The amendment was put to the vote and a roll-call was requested:

FOR                            13

AGAINST                   25

NON VOTING            0

The amendment was declared LOST.

Speeches on the substantive report and recommendation were then made by Councillors Nicholas Botterill, Tom Crofts, Andrew Johnson and Lucy Ivimy (for the Administration) and Councillor Stephen Cowan (for the Opposition).

Councillor Stephen Greenhalgh (for the Administration) made a speech winding up the debate before the substantive report and recommendation was put to the vote:

FOR                            25

AGAINST                   13

NON VOTING            0

The report and recommendation were declared CARRIED.

8.40pm -  RESOLVED:

That the Earls Court and West Kensington Opportunity Area Joint Supplementary Planning Document (Appendix 1 of the report) be adopted.

(Councillors Steve Hamilton, Alex Karmel and Jane Law had declared a prejudicial interest in this item and left the room, taking no part in the discussion or the voting).

To consider and determine any Special Motions:

8.41pm - Under Standing Order 15(e)(ix), Councillor Mark Loveday moved, seconded by Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, that Special Motions 1 and 2 be adjourned until the next Ordinary Council Meeting. 

Speeches on the motion were made by Councillor Mark Loveday (for the Administration) and Councillor Stephen Cowan (for the Opposition) before it was put to the vote:

FOR                            25

AGAINST                   13

ABSTENTIONS         0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

8.47 pm - RESOLVED: 

That Special Motion 1 – Boris/Barclays Bank Bikes and Special Motion 2 – Town Hall Developments be adjourned until the next Ordinary Council Meeting.

There are no information reports to consider.

There were no information reports to this meeting of the Council.

The Council noted that this was the last Council meeting at Hammersmith and Fulham that Michael Cogher, Assistant Director (Legal and Democratic Services), would attend as he was leaving for a position at the City of London.  Councillor Dame Sally Powell thanked Michael Cogher for being a loyal officer to the Borough and for always treating the Councillors with equal respect.  His sense of humour and performance during the induction sessions in particular went down very well with the Councillors.  The Mayor thanked Michael Cogher for his enormous help and noted he was always available with advice whenever needed.  Councillor Mark Loveday echoed the comments made and the Council thanked Michael Cogher for all his hard work and help over the years and wished him all the best in his new position.

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