Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign as an accurate record the minutes of the Council meetings held on 19 October 2016.

7.04pm – RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Council meetings held on 19 October 2016 were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Sharon Holder, Elaine Chumnery, Michael Cartwright, Michael Adam, Belinda Donovan, and Frances Stainton.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors Charlie Dewhirst, Jane Law, and Hannah Barlow.

The Mayor congratulated the following people who were recognised for their achievements by Her Majesty The Queen in the New Year’s Day honours list 2017.

·         Mr Seamus Oates CBE, Chief Executive of The Bridge and Courtyard Academies in Fulham.

·         Clare Chamberlain CBE, Executive Director of Children’s Services.

·         Professor Andrew George MBE, (former) Chair of the Hammersmith Research Ethics Committee.

The Mayor also congratulated Councillor Sue Macmillan on the birth of her son and Councillor Max Schmid on his recent marriage.

Councillor Robert Largan declared a pecuniary interest in item 6.3, Appointment of External Auditors, as his employer was a supplier of auditing services. He left the meeting for discussion and voting on the item.

The Mayor noted that all three public questions on the agenda had been withdrawn prior to the meeting.

This question was withdrawn prior to the meeting.

This question was withdrawn prior to the meeting.

This question was withdrawn prior to the meeting.

It was noted that item 6.2, Council Tax Support Scheme 2017-18, should be taken before 6.1, Council Tax Base and Collection Rate 2017-18, because Council Tax support was included in the calculation of the Band D Council Tax in section 8.3 of item 6.1.

The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by The Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Max Schmid.

Speeches on the report were made by Councillors Nicholas Botterill and Harry Phibbs (for the Opposition) and Councillors Max Schmid and Stephen Cowan, Leader of the Council (for the Administration).

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                            Unanimous

AGAINST                    0

NOT VOTING             0

7.23pm – RESOLVED

1.    That the Council continues with a scheme that reflects the old council tax benefit regulations as much as possible meaning no one in the borough is charged any council tax over and above what they would have been charged had the council tax benefit regulations continued.

2.    It is recommended a continuation of the assessment of in work Universal Credit cases as agreed in our scheme last year.

3.    To keep the scheme consistent with housing benefit rules it is recommend the reduction of the temporary absence rules for those travelling outside Great Britain to 4 weeks, in line with the housing benefit regulations. The same exemptions will be applied as the DWP (see appendix 1 of the report), but 26 weeks will be allowed where a resident is unable to return if they are looking after a sick relative, 52 weeks for military personnel as well as discretionary powers to maintain council tax support in other exceptional circumstances.

The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by The Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Max Schmid.

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

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                            Unanimous

AGAINST                    0

NOT VOTING             0

7.33pm – RESOLVED

1.    That the estimated numbers of properties for each Valuation Band as set out in this report be approved.

2.    That an estimated Collection rate of 97.5% be approved.

3.    That the Council Tax Base of 75,938 Band D equivalent properties be approved

4.    To note that authority has been delegated to the Cabinet Member for Finance, in consultation with the Strategic Finance Director, to determine the business rates tax base for 2017/18.

Councillor Robert Largan declared an interest and left the chamber for the duration of this item.

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 PJ Murphy and Iain Cassidy (for the Administration).

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                            Unanimous

AGAINST                   0

NOT VOTING            0

7.36pm – RESOLVED

To approve that the Council opts in to the appointing person arrangements made by Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) for the appointment of external auditors for five financial years commencing 1 April 2018.

7.37pm – Under Standing Order 15(m), Councillor Mark Loveday moved an alteration to the special motion as follows:

“In paragraph 2, delete ‘28,729’ and insert ’10,860’.”

Councillor Greg Smith moved, seconded by Councillor Steve Hamilton, the (altered) special motion in their names:

“This Council:

1.    Recognises the importance of improving air quality in Hammersmith & Fulham and all the health benefits associated with cleaner air.

2.    Notes the Labour administration’s proposal to introduce a surcharge for parking permits to apply to 10,860 diesel cars in the borough with an escalator to increase the level of charges in future years.

This Council condemns Labour’s Diesel Tax, which:

1.    Is not supported by any scientific evidence to show it will do anything to improve the level of air quality in our Borough.

2.    Is a stealth tax.

3.    Will disproportionately punish residents of low income and restricted financial means in our Borough.

This Council therefore:

1.    Calls for the immediate suspension of Labour’s Diesel Tax until a full and proper study is undertaken to examine the impact on air quality and the implications of this tax on the financial wellbeing of low income households.

2.    Further commits to work with the government and TfL to identify measures which will actually improve the borough's air quality.”

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

Under Standing Order 15(e)(6), Councillor Wesley Harcourt moved, seconded by Councillor Larry Culhane, an amendment to the special motion as follows:

“Delete all after:

“This Council:”

And insert:

“Notes that on 6 June 2014, the then CEO of LBHF, advised senior administration councillors that the former Conservative administration had been proposing to increase parking charges, mid-year and following the local elections, by a 14.7% and urged the new Labour administration to follow this plan. This proposed increase in charges has been confirmed through documents received under a Freedom of Information Act request. This council agrees that the Labour administration was right to reject that proposal and notes that it has successfully kept parking rates low.

The council also notes that the former Conservative administration increased parking charges by 25.3% during their term in office.

The Council is alarmed by London’s air pollution levels and is deeply concerned that this borough has some of the most polluted sites in the country. It therefore welcomes the report from the resident-led Independent Air Quality Commission and notes one of its recommendation is to suggest the Council increases parking permit charges for diesel vehicles.

The Council congratulates the administration for freezing parking charges for a third year in a row.

This Council rejects the rank hypocrisy of the Conservative councillors who brought in record increased stealth taxes to the borough’s motorists during their time in office.””

Speeches on the amendment to the special motion were made by Councillors Wesley Harcourt, Larry Culhane, Max Schmid, and Stephen Cowan (for the Administration) and Nicholas Botterill, Joe Carlebach, Andrew Brown, and Caroline Ffiske (for the Opposition). The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.1

This special motion was withdrawn.

8.28pm – Councillor Adam Connell moved, seconded by Councillor Colin Aherne, the special motion in their names:

“The British Red Cross has said that “The NHS is facing a humanitarian crisis as hospitals and ambulance services struggle to keep up with rising demand”.

Doctors leaders have said that more patients could die because of the chaos engulfing the NHS.

This crisis is detrimentally affecting the health and wellbeing of many residents of Hammersmith & Fulham.

This Council recognises that are serious flaws in the government’s approach to our NHS and that those are putting lives at risk including those of people living in Hammersmith & Fulham.”

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Adam Connell and Rory Vaughan (for the Administration).

Under Standing Order 15(e)(6), Councillor Andrew Brown moved, seconded by Councillor Joe Carlebach, an amendment to the special motion as follows:

“Delete all after “rising demand” and add:

This Council:

·         Recognises the multiple challenges facing the NHS in all parts of the U.K., including an ageing population and seasonal pressures.

·         Condemns the use of inappropriate and inflammatory language describing the current situation within the NHS.

·         Laments the poor record of this administration in integrating housing, health and Adult Social Care which has added significantly to the burden on already stretched local NHS resources.

·         Calls on the council to work more closely with the NHS to help them by relieving pressure during periods of increased seasonal demand.”

Speeches on the amendment to the special motion were made by Councillors Joe Carlebach, Andrew Brown, and Harry Phibbs (for the Opposition) and Councillors Vivienne Lukey and Lisa Homan (for the Administration).

The amendment was then put to the vote.

FOR                            18

AGAINST                  22

NOT VOTING            1

The amendment was declared LOST.

Speeches on the substantive motion were made by Councillors Colin Aherne and Max Schmid (for the Administration) and Councillors Robert Largan and Andrew Brown (for the Opposition).

Councillor Adam Connell then made a speech on the substantive motion winding up the debate. The substantive motion was then put to the vote.

FOR                            22

AGAINST                   17

NOT VOTING            1

The substantive motion was declared CARRIED.

9.13pm – RESOLVED

The British Red Cross has said that “The NHS is facing a humanitarian crisis as hospitals and ambulance services struggle to keep up with rising demand”.

Doctors leaders have said that more patients could die because of the chaos engulfing the NHS.

This crisis is detrimentally affecting the health and wellbeing of many residents of Hammersmith & Fulham.

This Council recognises that are serious flaws in the government’s approach to our NHS and that those are putting lives at risk including those of people living in Hammersmith & Fulham.

9.14pm – Councillor Wesley Harcourt moved, seconded by Councillor Larry Culhane, the special motion in their names:

“This Council recognises that global warming and climate change poses a clear and present danger and is one of the greatest threats facing the world. This Council therefore agrees that action is needed at an international, national, regional and local level.

We call upon the Government to work constructively with the London Mayor and take all necessary steps to combat these dangers which should include complying with the European Union regulations with regard to these matters and to implement the 2015 Paris agreement on climate change.

Locally, the residents of Hammersmith & Fulham face significant dangers which includes the potential of increased flooding, damage to the local environment, worsening air quality and more premature deaths because of air pollution.

The Council agrees it has a duty to provide investment and take actions to protect and improve the environment; That should include: increasing the use of electric cars; improving cycling lanes and making the roads safer; reducing flooding; insisting more developers build carbon positive buildings; improving bio-diversity and cutting its use of pesticides; and taking measures to improve air quality.”

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Wesley Harcourt, Caroline Needham, and Iain Cassidy (for the Administration).

Under Standing Order 15(e)(6), Councillor Robert Largan moved, seconded by Councillor Viya Nsumbu, an amendment to the special motion as follows:

“In paragraph 4, insert after “pesticides”:

“(where practical without leading to lower standards of street cleanliness)”.

After paragraph 5, insert:

“The Council further resolves:

1.      To introduce smart metering across the entire of the Council’s estate and to make all the information, including CO2 emissions, publicly available.

2.      To work with the Mayor of London to meet his pledge to increase the number of trees across London by 5% by 2025.””

Speeches on the amendment to the special motion were made by Councillors Robert Largan (for the Opposition) and Councillor Stephen Cowan (for the Administration). The amendment was then put to the vote.

FOR                            16

AGAINST                  22

NOT VOTING            1

The amendment was declared LOST.

Speeches on the substantive motion were made by Councillor Robert Largan and Andrew Brown (for the Opposition) and Councillors Stephen Cowan and Larry Culhane (for the Administration).

Councillor Wesley Harcourt then made a speech on the substantive motion winding up the debate. The substantive motion was then put to the vote.

FOR                            22

AGAINST                   0

NOT VOTING            18

The substantive motion was declared CARRIED.

9.53pm – RESOLVED

This Council recognises that global warming and climate change poses a clear and present danger and is one of the greatest threats facing the world. This Council therefore agrees that action is needed at an international, national, regional and local level.

We call upon the Government to work constructively with the London Mayor and take all necessary steps to combat these dangers which should include complying with the European Union regulations with regard to these matters and to implement  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.4

This special motion was withdrawn.

This special motion was withdrawn.