Agenda and minutes

To receive nominations for the election of a Mayor for the 2015/16 Municipal Year.

To appoint a Deputy Mayor for the 2015/16 Municipal Year.

7pm – Councillor Mercy Umeh, as the current Mayor, took the Chair at the start of the meeting.

Councillor Colin Aherne, proposed, seconded by Councillor Larry Culhane, that Councillor Mercy Umeh be re-elected Mayor of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for the 2015/16 Municipal Year.

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

The recommendation was declared CARRIED.

7.02pm - RESOLVED

Councillor Mercy Umeh was duly declared Mayor of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for the 2015/16 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.

The Mayor then made a brief speech welcoming Councillors and honoured guests to the meeting. She thanked her fellow Councillors and her family for their support and said that serving as Mayor for the previous municipal year had been an exciting and humbling experience. Some of her many highlights were; opening a poppy garden in Furnival Gardens to commemorate those who fought for our freedom in World War One, attending a fundraising event organised by young people at St. Paul’s School in aid of the Rainbow Child Foundation, and fundraising for her chosen charities, Lupus UK and Maggie’s Cancer Care.

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 2015/16 Municipal Year. 

The Mayor then announced that she had appointed Councillor Daryl Brown as Deputy Mayor and Mr Benito Brown as Deputy Mayor’s Consort for the 2015/16 Municipal Year.

The Mayor then thanked the outgoing Deputy Mayor, Councillor Ali Hashem, and his Deputy Mayoress Zahraa Marhoon for their service to the Council.

The Mayor also thanked Ita Hartzenberg and Keith Simpson for their dedicated support and effective running of the Mayor’s Office.

To approve and sign as an accurate record the Minutes of the Budget Council Meeting held on 25 February 2015.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Budget Council Meeting held on 25 February 2015 were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

Apologies for lateness were received on behalf of CouncillorJane Law.

The Mayor announced the passing of former Mayor Bill Smith on 30 March 2015, aged 96. He had a distinguished career in local politics as a former Alderman, Leader of the Council, and Mayor. He was also a magistrate, a school governor, and the President of Hammersmith Rotary Club. He was awarded an MBE for his life-long commitment to public service.

The Mayor invited Councillor Nicholas Botterill to make a speech, then led a minute of silence in remembrance of former Mayor Bill Smith.

The Council is asked to approve the appointment of Mr Nigel Pallace as the Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

7.20pm - The report of the Leader of the Council on the appointment of the Chief Executive was moved by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

A short speech on the report was made by Councillor Stephen Cowan, before being put to the vote:

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.23pm – RESOLVED

(1)        That Mr Nigel Pallace be appointed as the Chief Executive for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham with effect from 21 May 2015.

(2)        That Mr Nigel Pallace be appointed the Head of Paid Service for the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham with effect from the same date.

To note the Chief Executive’s report on the various appointments made by the Party Groups on the Council for the 2015/16 Municipal Year.

7.23pm - The report of the Chief Executive on the party appointments for the 2015/16 Municipal Year was noted.

This report asks the Council to appoint Council representatives to Local Government Organisations and Outside Bodies. 

7.24pm - The report of the Leader of the Council on appointments to Local Government Organisations and Outside Bodies for the 2015/16 Municipal Year was moved by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.24pm – RESOLVED

That the Council’s appointments to Local Government Organisations for 2015/16, as set out in Appendix 1, and to Outside Bodies, as set out in Appendix 2, be agreed.

To approve and re-adopt the Council’s Constitution for the 2015/2016 Municipal Year.

7.24pm - The report of the Leader of the Council on the review of the Constitution was moved by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

Speeches on the report were made by Councillors Mark Loveday, Andrew Jones, and Max Schmid, before being put to the vote:

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.39pm – RESOLVED

(1)        That a new Cabinet Member post be created (portfolio details in Appendix 1) and amendments be made to all the relevant Cabinet Portfolios to reflect the new shared responsibilities.

(2)        That the amendments to the Council’s Constitution as set out in the report including changes to Officer Scheme of Delegation, Appendix 2 (Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health - Scheme of Delegation) and Appendix 3 (Contracts Standing Orders) of the report, be agreed.

(3)        That the Pensions Board Members’ term of office be increased from 2 years to 3 years (extendable for a further three years).

(4)        To note that the Council’s Membership of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) will be one voting member only with a named substitute member to whom the Borough’s vote can be transferred when the nominated voting member is unavailable.

(5)        To note the changes made to the Constitution by the Monitoring Officer under delegated powers.

(6)        That subject to the approval of recommendations above, the Council’s Constitution be adopted for the 2015/16 Municipal Year.

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

7.39pm - The report of the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan, on a revision to the Member’s Allowances Scheme was moved by Councillor Stephen Cowan.

Speeches on the report were made by Councillors Stephen Cowan, Greg Smith, Max Schmid, and PJ Murphy, before being put to the vote:

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.56pm – RESOLVED

That the revisions to the Members’ Allowances Scheme 2015/16 as set out in the report and attached as Appendix 1, be approved.

This reports seeks Council’s adoption of the Community Infrastructure Levy charging schedule.

7.56pm - The report of the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration on the Community Infrastructure Levy charging schedule was noted.

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.57pm – RESOLVED

That the Council has regard to the CIL Examiner’s report (Appendix 1 of the report) on the examination of the borough’s Draft CIL charging schedule and the recommendations and reasons therein, before approving:

(1)        The adoption of the CIL charging schedule.

(2)        The CIL charging schedule to take effect from 1 September 2015.

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

7.58pm – The report of the Chief Executive on the petitions annual report 2014/15 was formally moved by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.58pm – RESOLVED

(1)        That the Council agree to continue to operate the Petitions Scheme.

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

8.01pm – Councillor Stephen Cowan moved, seconded by Councillor Michael Cartwright, the special motion standing in their names.

"This Council notes the appointments by the Leader to the Cabinet as set out below.”

The special motion was put to the vote:

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.02pm – RESOLVED

That the 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

Lead Member – Representative for the Armed ServicesCouncillor Alan De’Ath

Local Business Champion                                                  Councillor Alan De’Ath                   

8.02pm – 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 2015/16, as set out in Appendix 1.

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

The special motion was put to the vote:

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.02pm – RESOLVED

(1)        That the Council agrees the appointments of Chairs and Memberships of Regulatory, Policy and Accountability and other Committees under its Constitution for the Municipal Year 2015/16, as set out in Appendix 1.

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

8.03pm – Councillor Larry Culhane moved, seconded by Councillor Ali Hashem, the special motion standing in their names.

“This Council agrees that meetings of the Council, it’s Committees and Panels be held on the dates, specified in the Council Calendar for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 Municipal Years, attached as Appendix 1.”

The special motion was put to the vote:

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.03pm – RESOLVED

That the Council agrees that meetings of the Council, it’s Committees and Panels be held on the dates, specified in the Council Calendar for the 2015/16 and 2016/17 Municipal Years, attached as Appendix 1.

8.03pm – 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.

This report highlights the achievements of the Policy and Accountability Committees during 2014/15 municipal year.

8.13pm - The report of the Policy and Accountability Committee Chairs on the activity of the Policy and Accountability Committees for the 2014/15 municipal year was noted.