Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign as an accurate record the Minutes of the Council Meeting held on 15 July 2015.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 15 July 2015were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Stephen Cowan, Michael Cartwright, PJ Murphy, Harry Phibbs, Marcus Ginn, and Donald Johnson.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors Joe Carlebach and Ali Hashem.

The Mayor announced the passing of former Councillor Mary-Lou Clarke. She had been elected as a Councillor representing Broadway Ward in 1972 and Gibbs Green Ward from 1974 to 1978. She was later appointed as the Council’s representative on the Inner London Education Authority where she Chaired the Schools Sub-Committee. The Council observed a minute of silence in remembrance.

The Mayor, on behalf of all Councillors, wished swift recoveries to Councillors Michael Cartwright and Adronie Alford.

In respect of Item 7.2 – Special Motion 2, Councillor Michael Adam declared a significant interest as a member of the MOPAC and Metropolitan Police Service Audit Panel. He considered that this did not give rise to a perception of a conflict of interest and, in the circumstances, it would be reasonable to participate in the discussion and vote thereon.

No questions were submitted.

There were no public questions.

This report recommends amendments to the Constitution to reflect changes to the Council’s management structure and new legislation.

7.05pm – The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by Councillor Andrew Jones.

Speeches on the report were made by Councillor Rob Largan (for the Opposition) and Councillors Andrew Jones and Max Schmid (for the Administration).

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.15pm – RESOLVED

1.         That the appointment of Mr Nigel Palace as the Returning Officer and Electoral Registration Officer and the Scheme of Delegation at Appendix 1, be approved.

2.         That the changes to the Officers Scheme of delegation, by the Monitoring Officer under delegated powers, to reflect new legislative changes in Appendix 2, be noted.

3.         That the appointment of the Leader of the Council to the Board of the Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation from 1st April 2015 to May 2018, be noted.

The Statement of Gambling Policy has undergone a review and a 12 week public consultation this year. The revised version is required to be adopted by Council to comply with the Gambling Act 2005.

7.16pm – The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by Councillor Wesley Harcourt.

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.17pm – RESOLVED

1.         That the revised Statement of Gambling Policy, attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be approved for adoption by the Full Council.

7.18pm – Under Standing Order 15(e) iii, Councillor Colin Aherne moved and Councillor Larry Culhane seconded a motion that Special Motions 2, 3, and 4 take precedence on the agenda. This was agreed.

7.20pm – Councillor Sue Fennimore moved, seconded by Councillor Hannah Barlow, the special motion in their names:

“This Council recognises the vital role played by Hammersmith and Fulham’s police service and thanks our police officers for the work they do protecting our citizens.

The Council notes that significant threats remain of violent crime and terrorism and that police officers consistently play the essential role in keeping order and halting terrorist atrocities. This Council therefore calls on Parliament to vote against the devastating cuts in police funding ordered by George Osborne MP (Con), the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Greg Hands MP (Con), the Chief Secretary to the Treasury and Member of Parliament for Chelsea and Fulham.

The Council further notes that Mr Osborne and Mr Hands are proposing to implement a staggering £800 million cut to the Metropolitan Police Service which could result in London losing up to a further 7000 front line police officers. The Council recognises that this is likely to mean significant cuts to Hammersmith and Fulham’s police service and that such a cut in police capacity will seriously risk endangering local residents.

The Council recognises how the Conservative government and Conservative London Mayor’s cuts to local policing starkly contrasts with the policy of H&F Council’s new Labour administration which has put the largest number of Council funded police officers onto the streets of Hammersmith and Fulham in the Borough’s history.”

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Sue Fennimore, Hannah Barlow, Sue Macmillan, and Guy Vincent (for the Administration).

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

“Delete title of Special Motion and insert: “METROPOLITAN POLICE SERVICE”

Delete all after “protecting our citizens” and insert:

1.         This Council notes that the Home Office will be asked to make savings as part of the Comprehensive Spending Review in order to ensure that the deficit is eliminated during this Parliament and the UK can begin to pay down its debts. The details of these savings are not yet known.

2.         The Council further notes that the Mayor of London is fighting hard to ensure a good deal for London, and recognises that the capital is a growing city and the engine of the UK economy, which needs adequate resources for policing.

3.         The Council commends the Government’s pledge to spend to 2% of GDP on defence and welcomes this additional investment into fighting the threat of terrorism at home and abroad.

4.         The Council recognises that the Mayor of London has prioritised neighbourhood policing, and will continue to do so. Despite already making savings of £600m, the Mayor has kept overall officer numbers at 32,000 and has put an extra 2,600 police officers into neighbourhoods, including 92 in Hammersmith and Fulham.

5.         The Council notes that any decisions by the Council to employ additional police officers on the “buy one get one free” scheme are only made possible by the Mayor of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.1

7.59pm – Councillor Larry Culhane moved, seconded by Adam Connell, the special motion in their names:

“The Council notes that London’s air is the filthiest in the UK with the 50 top worst black-spots in the country and that according to a study commissioned by the Greater London Authority and Transport for London air pollution in London resulted in nearly 9,500 deaths last year.

The Council is concerned that every day Londoners breathe in unhealthy levels of the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and that such air pollution is linked to lung and heart conditions, breast cancer and diabetes which is  estimated to cost the UK up to £20 billion a year to treat.

The Council welcomes the fact that the UK signed up to the European Union’s limit of 40 micrograms of NO2 per cubic metre on average per year but is deeply concerned that people living, working or simply passing by Hammersmith Flyover are breathing in air that has 114 micrograms of NO2 in it and that other spots around the Westway were also well over EU safe limits.

The Council notes the Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s view  when he stated "The air quality in London, you can go outside and breathe in great gulfs of virtually alpine air".

This Council calls on the Mayor of London and Government to take a serious and determined approach to improving air quality in London.

The Council resolves to combat air pollution in the borough and supports the work of the independent H&F Air Quality Commission. The Council agrees to bring forward measures to improve air quality and to lobby others in regional and national government and the EU to take measures to improve air quality and reduce the silent killer of air pollution.”

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Larry Culhane, Adam Connell, Caroline Needham, and Vivienne Lukey (for the Administration).

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

“Delete from “The Council notes…” and replace with:

This Council notes the work of the Mayor of London and the Government to improve air quality in London through schemes such as:

1.         Introducing the ULEZ in Central London;

2.         Requiring all new tenders for bus routes to be ULEZ-compliant;

3.         The introduction of the world’s first double decker electric bus, and;

4.         Electrification of the Great Western Mainline.

This Council resolves to combat air pollution in the borough and supports the work of the independent H&F Air Quality Commission. The Council agrees to bring forward measures to improve air quality and to lobby others in regional and national government and the EU to take measures to improve air quality and reduce the silent killer of air pollution.

The Council regrets that it has not introduced any real measures to support and promote plug-in electric vehicle ownership in the borough and commits to introduce on-street charging points.”

Speeches  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.2

9.00pm – Councillor Ali Hashem moved, seconded by Caroline Needham, the special motion in their names:

“This Council notes that conflicts in the Middle East have resulted in the largest refugee crisis in generations and that thousands of women, men and children have died while seeking sanctuary from atrocious violence – many trying to cross the Mediterranean sea.

This Council is proud that Great Britain has a long history of supporting refugees but notes that there have been many instances in history where countries turned refugees away and failed to act before it was too late.

This Council agrees to do its bit in offering help and support to refugees and agrees that getting a compassionate, reasonable tone to the debate about the scale of this crisis and the nature of Britain’s response is the duty of all in public life.”

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Ali Hashem, Caroline Needham, and Natalia Perez (for the Administration).

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

“After “too late” insert:

This Council recognises the anguish of all refugees from areas of conflict, in particular the plight of child refugees and specifically refugee orphans.

We call on all authorities, in the UK and in the wider international community, irrespective of political affiliations or international alliances to do everything they can to help save and protect these vulnerable and innocent victims of conflict.”

Speeches on the amendment to the special motion were made by Councillors Joe Carlebach and Rob Largan (for the Opposition), before it was put to the vote.

The amendment was declared CARRIED.

Speeches on the substantive motion were made by Councillors Ben Coleman and Sue Fennimore (for the Administration) and Councillor Rob Largan (for the Opposition). Councillor Ali Hashem made a speech winding up the debate. The substantive motion was then put to the vote:

The motion was declared CARRIED.

9:45pm – RESOLVED

This Council notes that conflicts in the Middle East have resulted in the largest refugee crisis in generations and that thousands of women, men and children have died while seeking sanctuary from atrocious violence – many trying to cross the Mediterranean sea.

This Council is proud that Great Britain has a long history of supporting refugees but notes that there have been many instances in history where countries turned refugees away and failed to act before it was too late.

This Council recognises the anguish of all refugees from areas of conflict, in particular the plight of child refugees and specifically refugee orphans.

We call on all authorities, in the UK and in the wider international community, irrespective of political affiliations or international alliances to do everything they can to help save and protect these vulnerable and innocent victims of conflict.

This Council agrees to do its bit in offering help and support  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.3

9.45pm – Councillor Greg Smith moved, seconded by Lucy Ivimy, the special motion in their names:

“This Council:

1.         Welcomes the Government’s proposals to give Housing Association tenants the same levels of ‘Right to Buy’ discount as council tenants.

2.         Recognises that even with the maximum discount in London of £103,900 many tenants will still be unable to afford to buy.

3.         Resolves to revive and extend the ‘Right to buy part’ scheme proposed by the previous Conservative administration to allow council tenants a right to shared ownership.”

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Greg Smith and Lucy Ivimy (for the Opposition).

Under Standing Order 15(e) (vi), Councillor Lisa Homan moved, seconded by Councillor Andrew Jones, an amendment to the motion as follows:

“Delete all after ‘welcomes’ and insert:

all opportunities to support the aspiration of home ownership for all residents in Hammersmith & Fulham and notes the failure of the last Conservative administration to deliver genuinely affordable homes that most residents could afford to buy. It further regrets the previous administration’s close relationship with property developers and its active support for the construction of properties for overseas investors.

2) Notes the success of this Labour administration in securing over £150 million for 550 new, genuinely affordable homes to date, including a substantial proportion of affordable homes to buy and various home ownership schemes.

3) Calls on David Cameron not to leave Hammersmith & Fulham tenants and residents out of pocket and to fund low cost homeownership in a fair and equitable way which does not exacerbate London’s housing crisis.”

Speeches on the amendment to the special motion were made by Councillors Lisa Homan, Andrew Jones, Sharon Holder, and Iain Cassidy (for the Administration), before it was put to the vote.

The amendment was declared CARRIED.

(NOTE: As the guillotine had passed all further items were voted on without speeches.)

The substantive motion was then put to the vote:

The motion was declared CARRIED.

22:05 – RESOLVED

This Council welcomes all opportunities to support the aspiration of home ownership for all residents in Hammersmith & Fulham and notes the failure of the last Conservative administration to deliver genuinely affordable homes that most residents could afford to buy. It further regrets the previous administration’s close relationship with property developers and its active support for the construction of properties for overseas investors.

2) Notes the success of this Labour administration in securing over £150 million for 550 new, genuinely affordable homes to date, including a substantial proportion of affordable homes to buy and various home ownership schemes.

3) Calls on David Cameron not to leave Hammersmith & Fulham tenants and residents out of pocket and to fund low cost homeownership in a fair and equitable way which does not exacerbate London’s housing crisis.

10.05pm – Councillor Natalia Perez moved, seconded by Wesley Harcourt, the special motion in their names:

“This Council notes:

·         The current administration inherited a situation where Hammersmith and Fulham is one of only four London boroughs that do not offer payment by phone for parking.

·         Following the change in administration in 2014, Hammersmith and Fulham launched a pilot of payment by phone in Zone E. After six months, nearly 70% of payments were made by phone in the pilot area, and more than 80% of residents in the pilot area support the extension of phone payments across the whole borough.

·         Plans are now in place to extend the option to pay by phone to the entire borough in 2016.

The Council regrets the Conservative administration’s failure to offer modern payment options to motorists and supports the new Labour administration’s determination to offer modern and accessible services to the borough’s residents.”

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

“Delete first bullet point and replace with:

“• The current administration inherited a situation where the back office infrastructure had been upgraded to enable ticketless parking to be easily introduced.”

Delete from “This Council regrets…” and replace with:

“This Council supports the current administration’s work to provide accessible parking services, building on the work started by the previous administration.”

The amendment to the special motion was put to the vote:

The amendment was declared LOST.

The substantive motion was then put to the vote:

The motion was declared CARRIED.

10:06pm – RESOLVED

This Council notes:

·         The current administration inherited a situation where Hammersmith and Fulham is one of only four London boroughs that do not offer payment by phone for parking.

·         Following the change in administration in 2014, Hammersmith and Fulham launched a pilot of payment by phone in Zone E. After six months, nearly 70% of payments were made by phone in the pilot area, and more than 80% of residents in the pilot area support the extension of phone payments across the whole borough.

·         Plans are now in place to extend the option to pay by phone to the entire borough in 2016.

The Council regrets the Conservative administration’s failure to offer modern payment options to motorists and supports the new Labour administration’s determination to offer modern and accessible services to the borough’s residents.

This report presents the Council’s Outturn Treasury Report for 2014/15 in accordance with the Council’s treasury management practices.

The report was noted.

This report details audit work undertaken by the Audit, Pensions and Standards Committee from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015.

The report was noted.

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