Agenda and minutes

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To receive nominations for the election of a Mayor for the 2014/15 Municipal Year.

To appoint a Deputy Mayor for the 2014/15 Municipal Year.

7pm – Councillor Frances Stainton, as the outgoing Mayor, took the Chair at the start of the meeting.

Councillor Colin Aherne, proposed, seconded by Councillor PJ Murphy, that Councillor Mercy Umeh  be elected Mayor of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for the 2014/15 Municipal Year.

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

            FOR                              Unanimous

            AGAINST                     0

            NOT VOTING              0

The recommendation was declared CARRIED.

7.05pm RESOLVED:

Councillor Mercy Umeh was duly declared Mayor of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for the 2014/15 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 7.16pm)

The Mayor made a brief speech thanking the constituents of Shepherds Bush Ward for electing her and her fellow Councillors and her family for their support.  She announced the nomination of Lupus UK, which supported people with systemic lupus and discoid lupus and assisting those approaching diagnosis, as her charity for the year.

The Mayor announced that she had decided to appoint Mr Maxwell Linus Umeh as her Consort and Ms Frances Umeh as her Mayoress for the 2014/15 Municipal Year. 

The Mayor then announced that she had appointed Councillor Ali Hashem as Deputy Mayor for the 2014/15 Municipal Year.  She informed the Council that Ms Zahraa Marhoon had been appointed as Deputy Mayoress for the 2014/15 Municipal Year.

The Leader (elect), Councillor Stephen Cowan, moved that the past Mayor's badge be presented to Councillor Frances Stainton in recognition of her service to the Council in undertaking the office of Mayor, and in carrying out other associated civic duties as a Councillor, which was unanimously agreed.

The Leader (elect) made a speech about the excellent and energetic work the outgoing Mayor had undertaken during her term of office.  Councillor Greg Smith, Leader of the Opposition, also thanked the outgoing Mayor for her work.  Councillor Frances Stainton accepted her badge and made a brief speech. 

A vote of thanks was given to the past Mayoress Mrs Pauline Lyle-Smith and Consorts Comte Edouard de Guitaut and Prince Mohsin Ali-Khan for their work in supporting the past Mayor in carrying out her civic functions.  Mrs Pauline Lyle-Smith, Comte Edouard de Guitaut and Prince Mohsin Ali-Khan then came forward to receive their respective badges.

To approve and sign as an accurate record the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 26 February 2014.

7.35pm RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Budget Council Meeting held on 26 February 2014were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Jane Law.

The Mayor drew Members’ attention to a list of amendments relating to agenda items 6.4 Review of the Constitution, 7.4 Special Motion 4 Council Appointments to Local Government Organisations and Outside Bodies and 7.5 Special Motion 5 Council Calendar, that was circulated at the meeting.

To note the Chief Executive’s report on the various appointments made by the Party Groups on the Council for the 2014/2015 Municipal Year.

7.35pm - The report of the Chief Executive on the various appointments made by the Party Groups on the Council for 2014/15 was noted.

To note the Returning Officer’s report outlining the results of the Local Government Elections held on 22 May 2014.

7.35pm - The report of the Returning Officer on the results of the Local Government Elections held on 22 May 2014 was noted.

7.36 pm – Under Standing Order 15(e) iii, Councillor Colin Aherne moved and Councillor PJ Murphy seconded a motion that Special Motion 7.1 relating to the Appointment of a Leader take precedence on the agenda and be considered.  This was agreed.

Councillor Michael Cartwright moved, seconded by Councillor Colin Aherne, the special motion standing in their names.

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

The motion was put to the vote:

            FOR                            Unanimous

            AGAINST                   0

            ABSTENTIONS        0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

7.36 pm RESOLVED:

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

To note the Monitoring Officer’s report on the proportional division of seats on the Standing Committees and to note the Members appointed to them except in relation to the Licensing Committee where the membership is determined by the Council rather than the political groups. 

7.37pm - The report of the Monitoring Officer on the allocation of seats and proportionality on Committees was noted.

To approve and re-adopt the Council’s Constitution for the 2014/2015 Municipal Year.

7.38pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan, as amended.

The report and recommendations, as amended, were put to the vote:

FOR                         Unanimous

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations, as amended, were declared CARRIED.

7.38pm RESOLVED:

(1)  That the amendments to the Council’s Constitution as set out in paragraph 5.1 to 5.3 of the report and Appendices1 (as amended) and 2 of the report be agreed.

(2)  That amendments to Articles 4 and 6 of the Constitution; amendments to the Officer Schemes of Delegation to reflect updates in legislation and changes to the titles of posts; and changes to the Council Procedure Rules in the interest of consistency, as set out in Appendix 3, be agreed.

(3)  That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to make changes to the Constitution consequent upon the agreement of Recommendations 2.1 and 2.2, in consultation with the Chief Whips.

(4)  That subject to the agreement of Recommendations 2.1 to 2.3, the Council’s Constitution be  approved and adopted for the 2014/15 Municipal Year.

This report provides an update to the Councillors’ Allowance Scheme.

7.39pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

Speeches on the report were made by Councillors Max Schmid and Andrew Jones (for the Administration) and Councillors Mark Loveday and Harry Phibbs (for the Opposition).

The report and recommendations were put to the vote and a roll-call was requested:

FOR                                        AGAINST

FOR                         26

AGAINST                20

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.01pm RESOLVED:

(1)    That all Members who are entitled to an Special Responsibility Allowance (SRA) shall take a 10% reduction in this allowance.

(2)    That under this scheme only one SRA will be paid to a Councillor in respect of duties undertaken.

(3)    That the revisions to the Members’ Allowances Scheme 2014/15 as set out in the report and attached as Appendix 1 of the report, be approved.

This report outlines the operation of the Council’s Petitions Scheme over the past 12 months.

8.02pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

FOR                         Unanimous

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.02pm RESOLVED:

(1)      That Council agrees to continue to operate the Petitions Scheme as outlined in paragraph 4.2 of the report; and

(2)      That the operation of the Council’s Petitions Scheme be noted.

8.03pm – Councillor Stephen Cowan moved, seconded by Councillor Colin Aherne, the special motion standing in their names.

"This Council notes the appointments by the Leader to the Cabinet.”  (as set out in the special motion)

The motion was put to the vote:

            FOR                            Unanimous

            AGAINST                   0

            NOT VOTING            0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

8.03pm RESOLVED:

This Council notes the appointments by the Leader to the Cabinet as set out below:

*   Includes Planning, Licensing and Public Protection and Safety.

Lead Member - Contracts                                       Councillor Guy Vincent

Lead Member - Hospitals and Health Care         Councillor Sharon Holder

8.04pm – Councillor Stephen Cowan moved, seconded by Councillor Michael Cartwright, the special motion standing in their names:

"This Council agrees the appointments of Chairs and Memberships of Regulatory, Policy and Accountability and other Committees under its Constitution for the Municipal Year 2014/15, [as set out in the special motion]. 

This Council also notes their respective Portfolios / Terms of Reference, as set out in the Council’s Constitution.”

The motion was put to the vote:

            FOR                            Unanimous

            AGAINST                   0

            ABSTENTIONS        0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

8.04pm RESOLVED:

This Council agrees the appointments of Chairs and Memberships of Regulatory, Policy and Accountability and other Committees under its Constitution for the Municipal Year 2014/15, as set out in the special motion, and also notes their respective Portfolios/Terms of Reference, as set out in the Council’s Constitution.

8.05pm - Councillor PJ Murphy moved, seconded by Councillor Larry Culhane, the special motion standing in their names.

"This Council agrees the Council’s appointments to Local Government Organisations for 2014/15, as set out in Appendix 1, and to Outside Bodies, as set out in Appendix 2”, as amended.

The motion, as amended, was put to the vote:

            FOR                            Unanimous

            AGAINST                   0

            NOT VOTING            0

The motion, as amended, was declared CARRIED.

7.59pm RESOLVED:

That the Council agrees the Council’s appointments to Local Government Organisations for 2014/15, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, and to Outside Bodies, as set out in Appendix 2 of the report, as amended.

8.05pm - Councillor Larry Culhane, moved, seconded by Councillor PJ Murphy, the special motion standing in their names:

"This Council agrees that, for the Municipal Year 2014/15, meetings of the Council, its Committees and Panels, be held on the dates specified, as set out in the Council Calendar”, as amended.

The motion, as amended, was put to the vote:

FOR                            Unanimous

            AGAINST                   0

            ABSTENTIONS        0

The motion, as amended, was declared CARRIED.

8.05pm RESOLVED:

That for the Municipal Year 2014/15, meetings of the Council, its Committees and Panels, be held on the dates specified, as set out in the Council Calendar, as amended.

8.06pm – The Council received an oral report from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan. The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Greg Smith 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.

8.18pm – The Council received and noted the Labour Administration’s Manifesto for the Council for 2014–2018.  The Cabinet Member for Children and Education, Councillor Sue Macmillan, provided an oral presentation on the report.  This was followed by a speech by Councillor Lucy Ivimy who spoke on behalf of the Opposition.  Speeches were also made by Councillors Stephen Cowan and Andrew Jones (for the Administration) and Councillor Harry Phibbs (for the Opposition).

8.45pm - The Council received the Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report for the 2013/14 Municipal Year.  The report was put to the vote and duly noted.

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