Agenda and minutes

To receive nominations for the election of a Mayor for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

To appoint a Deputy Mayor for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

7.05pm – 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 as Mayor of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for the 2016/17 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.

7.07pm – RESOLVED

Councillor Mercy Umeh was duly declared Mayor of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for the 2016/17 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; attending the Action on Disability Jack Petchy Award for Volunteering, attending the fourth Annual Ethiopian Sports and Cultural Festival, opening a poppy garden and unveiling a plaque in Furnival Gardens commemorating those who fought in the First World War, 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 and Ms Catherine Umeh as her Mayoresses for the 2016/17 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 2016/17 Municipal Year.

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 Council meeting held on 24 February 2016.

7.16pm - RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 24 February 2016 were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors Adam Connell, Andrew Jones, and Michael Adam.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors PJ Murphy, Mark Loveday, and Frances Stainton.

The Mayor thanked Mrs Sandy Cahill, the outgoing Deputy Lieutenant for her dedicated service to the Council and the borough since 2011. The Mayor then welcomed Mr Kevin McGrath as the incoming Deputy Lieutenant and wished him well in his new position.

To note the Chief Executive’s report on the various appointments made by the Party Groups on the Council for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

7.19pm - The report of the Chief Executive on the party appointments for the 2016/17 Municipal Year was noted.

The Council is asked to note the appointments by the Leader to the Cabinet.

7.19pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                            UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                   0

NOT VOTING            0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.20pm – RESOLVED

That The Council is asked to note the appointments by the Leader to the

Cabinet as set out below:

This report details the proportional division of seats on the Standing Committees and the Members appointed to them.

7.20pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                            UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                   0

NOT VOTING            0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.20pm – RESOLVED

That the allocation of seats, as set out in Appendix 1, be noted.

The Council is asked to agree the appointments of Chairs and Memberships of Regulatory, Policy and Accountability and other Committees for the Municipal Year 2016/17.

7.20pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                            UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                   0

NOT VOTING            0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.21pm – 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 2016/17, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

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

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

7.21pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                            Unanimous

AGAINST                   0

NOT VOTING            0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.21pm – 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.

This report details the outcome of the recent Youth elections and outlines some ideas and initiatives to promote the voices of young people.

7.21pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Cabinet Member for Children and Education, Councillor Sue Macmillan.

Speeches on the report were made by Councillors Sue Macmillan, Caroline Needham, and Stephen Cowan (for the Administration) and Councillor Viya Nsumbu (for the Opposition) before being put to the vote:

FOR                            Unanimous

AGAINST                   0

NOT VOTING            0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.34pm – RESOLVED

1.            That the Council welcomes and notes the election of the following young people:

·         Ms Aminata Koroma from Phoenix High School as Youth Mayor

·         Mr Joshua Yirenkyi Owuraka as the Deputy Youth Mayor

·         Mr Johnley Videna as the Member of Youth Parliament

·         Ms Huma Sindhu as the Deputy Member of Youth Parliament

2.            That the Council notes the Youth Council’s manifesto commitments and the structure put in place to achieve these goals.

3.            That the Youth Mayor or Deputy Mayor be invited to Full Council meetings to report on the Youth Mayoral or Youth Council activities.

4.            That Standing Orders be amended to allow the Youth Mayor or Deputy Mayor to report on the activities undertaken, submit questions from young people to Full Council and its Committees, and raise any other issues young people would like addressed that affects the lives of young people who live, study or work in the borough.

To approve and re-adopt the Council’s Constitution for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

7.34pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                            Unanimous

AGAINST                   0

NOT VOTING            0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.34pm – RESOLVED

1.            That the changes made to the Constitution by the Monitoring Officer under delegated powers, be noted.

2.            That the Council’s membership of the West London Economic Prosperity Board (WLEPB), be noted.

3.            That the changes to the Officers Scheme of Delegation and other areas of the Constitution, detailed in Appendix 2 of the report, be approved.

4.            That subject to the approval of recommendations above, the Council’s Constitution be adopted for the 2016/17 Municipal Year.

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

7.35pm - 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 Councillor Robert Largan and Alex Karmel (for the Opposition) and Larry Culhane, Ben Coleman, Max Schmid, and Stephen Cowan (for the Administration). The recommendations were then put to the vote and a roll call was requested:

FOR                            24

AGAINST                   18

NOT VOTING            1

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.05pm – RESOLVED

That the Members’ Allowances Scheme 2016/17, detailed in Appendix 1 of the report, be approved.

8.05pm – Councillor Vivienne Lukey moved, seconded by Councillor Sharon Holder, the special motion in their names:

“This Council is deeply concerned about the government’s approach to Charing Cross Hospital and to the junior doctors that serve our residents.  It concludes it has no confidence in the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, the Secretary of State for Health, and calls on him to resign.”

Speeches on the report were made by Councillor Vivienne Lukey, Sharon Holder, Rory Vaughan, and Stephen Cowan (for the Administration) and Councillors Joe Carlebach (for the Opposition). The special motion was then put to the vote and a roll call was requested:

FOR                            24

AGAINST                   18

NOT VOTING            1

The special motion was declared CARRIED.

8.38pm – RESOLVED

This Council is deeply concerned about the government’s approach to Charing Cross Hospital and to the junior doctors that serve our residents.  It concludes it has no confidence in the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, the Secretary of State for Health, and calls on him to resign.

8.38pm – The Council received an oral report from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan. The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Greg Smith, then made a speech on behalf of the Opposition.

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