Agenda and minutes

To note any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Frances Stainton.

The Mayor will carry out a roll call of Councillors to confirm attendance. Councillors also have an opportunity to declare any interests.

If a Councillor has a disclosable pecuniary interest in a particular item, whether or not it is entered in the Authority’s register of interests, or any other significant interest which they consider should be declared in the public interest, they should declare the existence and, unless it is a sensitive interest as defined in the Member Code of Conduct, the nature of the interest at the commencement of the consideration of that item or as soon as it becomes apparent.

At meetings where members of the public are allowed to be in attendance and speak, any Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest or other significant interest may also make representations, give evidence or answer questions about the matter.  The Councillor must then withdraw immediately from the meeting before the matter is discussed and any vote taken.

Where Members of the public are not allowed to be in attendance and speak, then the Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest should withdraw from the meeting whilst the matter is under consideration. Councillors who have declared other significant interests should also withdraw from the meeting if they consider their continued participation in the matter would not be reasonable in the circumstances and may give rise to a perception of a conflict of interest.

Councillors are not obliged to withdraw from the meeting where a dispensation to that effect has been obtained from the Standards Committee.

A roll call was carried out to confirm attendance at the meeting. Attendance is listed above.

Councillor Sharon Holder declared a non-pecuniary interest in Special Motion 2 as she had a relative in a care home.

Before moving on to Item 3, The Mayor led the Council in a minute of silence in memory of those who had lost their lives to Covid-19.

To approve the minutes of the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 25 February 2020 and the Budget Council meeting held on 26 February 2020.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Extraordinary Council meeting held on 25 February 2020 and the Budget Council meeting held on 26 February 2020 were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

The Mayor announced the deaths of former Councillor Brendan Bird, former Deputy Lieutenant, Colonel John Holland, the founder and former Chairman of Berkeley Homes, Tony Pidgley, and Alexander Kareem, a 20-year-old local resident.

Speeches in remembrance of Brendan Bird were made by Councillors Lisa Homan, Stephen Cowan, Amanda Lloyd-Harris, and Alex Karmel.

Speeches in remembrance of Colonel John Holland were made by Councillors Stephen Cowan and Alex Karmel.

Speeches in remembrance of Tony Pidgley were made by Councillors Stephen Cowan and Alex Karmel.

Speeches in remembrance of Alexander Kareem were made by Councillors Stephen Cowan, Sue Fennimore, and Andrew Brown.

The Mayor led a minute of silence in their memory.

No public questions were submitted.

No public questions were submitted.

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

The Mayor noted the following amendment to the report had been circulated to all members:

“Councillor Zarar Qayyum to replace Councillor Ben Coleman as the Council’s nomination to the Greater London Employment Forum (GLEF)”

7.13pm – The amended report and recommendations were moved by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan, before being put to the vote:

FOR                            UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                    0

NOT VOTING 0

The amended report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.13pm – RESOLVED

That, with the amendment noted above, the Council’s appointments to Local Government Organisations for 2020/21, as set out in Appendix 1, and to Outside Bodies, as set out in Appendix 2, be agreed.

This report recommends a number of updates to the Council’s Constitution.

7.13pm – The report and recommendations were moved by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The following amendment to the report was moved by Councillor Alex Karmel and seconded by Councillor Dominic Stanton:

In Appendix 6, after “(f)… (no later than 12 noon) prior to the meeting” add:

“Amendments to Special Motions at virtual meetings of Full Council must be submitted prior to the meeting. They will only be accepted for debate if received by 7pm on the day before the meeting.”

The amendment was put to the vote:

FOR                            UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                    0

NOT VOTING 0

The amendment was declared CARRIED.

The amended report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                            UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                    0

NOT VOTING 0

The amended report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.14pm – RESOLVED

1.    That Council approve the updates to the Constitution that reflect changes to the organisational structure as detailed in Appendix 1.

2.    That Council approve the addition to the Constitution in Appendix 2 which details the relationship between the Council’s political leadership and the officer-level strategic response structure (Gold, Silver, and Bronze command) as required by the Civil Contingencies Act 2004.

3.    That Council note the changes to the Departmental Register of Authorities that reflect changes to job titles and changes in legislation, as detailed in Appendix 3.

4.    That Council approve the change of title from the ‘Lead Member for Child Refugees’ to the ‘Lead Member for Refugees’ and the associated description of role detailed in Appendix 4.

5.    That Council agree the updates to Contract Standing Orders in Appendix 5 that make provision for the newly created Contracts Assurance Board.

6.    That Council agree a change to Council Procedure Rules, detailed in Appendix 6 and the amendment noted above, requiring amendments to Special Motions to be submitted in advance of remote meetings.

This report seeks approval of a special dispensation granted to all Councillors for any non-attendance at meetings of the authority for virus related reasons to the end of February 2021.

7.14pm – The report and recommendations were moved by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan, before being put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.15pm – RESOLVED

To agree that any member unable to attend a council meeting for a period greater than six months for virus related reasons, receives a dispensation further to section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 to 28 February 2021.

7.15pm – Councillor Stephen Cowan moved, seconded by Councillor Sue Fennimore, the special motion in their names:

“This Council recognises Coronavirus COVID-19 is and has been the biggest threat to our residents and our economy in modern times. It recognises that many local people have lost their lives. It sends its profound sympathies to all their loved ones.

The Council thanks all of Hammersmith & Fulham’s residents, community groups, charities, and businesses for coming together to look out for and support others across our borough. The Council thanks with sincere gratitude:

·      Our residents for sticking to the lockdown rules and practicing safety measures that have saved lives and kept people safe

·      Care workers, our NHS, our council staff, and all key workers for their long hours and commitment to keeping people safe

·      The nearly 3000 people who volunteered through H&F CAN and the community aid networks which produced the biggest volunteering operation in the borough since the end of World War II

·      All the people and organisations who gave money, food, and other resources and donated premises which are still being put to good use by the Council and its partners.

The Council supports the administration’s decision to be amongst the first local authorities in the country to move onto an emergency footing, noting that preparation for this began in February and it was formally implemented on 13 March 2020. The Council notes these measures included:

1.    Adopting a people first approach which meant the Council would go onto take all the necessary actions to provide all the necessary resources to help keep people safe and able to cope with this crisis. 

2.    The appointment of a Director of COVID-19 Response to manage the engine room of Hammersmith & Fulham’s operation and coordinate how the Council works with the NHS and other partner organisations and our residents and businesses

3.    The establishment of a Borough Emergency Control Centre (BECC), to increase the Council’s ability to act effectively and with speed. 

4.    Cancellation of all council meetings so council officers could be re-skilled and re-allocated to providing essential services and supporting people and organisations in our community.

The Council notes that the consequence of these actions was that all the borough’s essential services were maintained and performed at a high level of proficiency and the Council was able quickly to develop a series of new essential services which are still supporting people through this crisis.

The Council notes that more than 9,000 residents have been shielding since the official lockdown on 23 March, many of whom went into isolation before then an it recognises how very challenging this is for them and assures them that they will continue to receive the support they need from the Council.

The Council understands why people are worried about the effects COVID-19 and a no-deal Brexit will have on their livelihoods and agrees to do everything it can to get through any form of economic downturn with the minimum harm to our community. It notes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.1

The Mayor noted that a corrected version of the amendment had been circulated to all members.

8.19pm – Councillor Ben Coleman moved, seconded by Councillor Patricia Quigley, the corrected special motion in their names:

“This Council:

Recognises the huge challenges facing the residents and staff of our care homes during the Covid-19 pandemic;

Deeply regrets every single one of the deaths in our homes – our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives;

Notes that it became aware in early April that hospitals were discharging people back into care homes (which are all privately run) without testing them for coronavirus;

Notes that the administration took swift action to save lives by closing the homes in early April to new and returning residents;

Applauds the effectiveness of the work to control infection and conduct test in our care homes then carried out by an integrated team comprising the Council, Imperial College NHS Trust and the UK Dementia Research Institute based at Imperial College London: this included public health professionals, social workers, GPs, experts in virology and elderly medicine, frailty matrons, infectious diseases teams, academics and paediatric infectious diseases and epidemiology teams;

Notes that every care home resident and member of staff has now been tested four times, in all cases whether symptomatic or not, and that this has controlled the virus and prevented further deaths;

Notes that what this borough has done has not happened everywhere and that many residents in care homes around the country still feel vulnerable;

Deplores the claim made on 19 May by Health Secretary Matt Hancock to parliament that the government had cast a “protective ring” around “all of our care homes”, as this bears no relationship to the reality which our borough and others have experienced; and

Applauds the open and equal joint working which has taken place between the council and the local NHS in our borough, and commends this as a blueprint for the future.”

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Ben Coleman, Patricia Quigley, Sharon Holder, Max Schmid, and Stephen Cowan for the Administration – and Amanda Lloyd-Harris, Alex Karmel, and Andrew Brown for the Opposition.

Councillor Ben Coleman then made a speech summing up the debate before the special motion was put to the vote:

FOR                        35

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         10

The special motion was declared CARRIED.

8.58pm – RESOLVED

This Council:

Recognises the huge challenges facing the residents and staff of our care homes during the Covid-19 pandemic;

Deeply regrets every single one of the deaths in our homes – our hearts go out to the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives;

Notes that it became aware in early April that hospitals were discharging people back into care homes (which are all privately run) without testing them for coronavirus;

Notes that the administration took swift action to save lives by closing the homes in early April to new and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.2

8.58pm – Councillor Max Schmid moved, seconded by Councillor Adam Connell, the special motion in their names:

“This Council calls on the government to honour its promise and reimburse councils across the country the full financial cost of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Council notes that on 18 March, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP - the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government - called a meeting at 10 Downing Street attended by leaders and chief executives from 300 councils. During that meeting, Mr Jenrick urged councils to act first and not to worry about the cost, making the specific assurance that “the government will provide whatever funding is needed for councils to get through this and come out the other side”.

The Council notes that the government has now reneged on that promise and is instead asking local authorities, their residents and businesses to pick up much of the increased expenditure and lost income arising from COVID-19 and the national lockdown. The Local Government Association estimates that there will therefore be a £6 billion funding shortfall across the country this year as a result of COVID-19.

The Council notes that Hammersmith & Fulham and other councils are still supporting thousands of people during the COVID-19 crisis across a wide range of areas, while also preparing for the possibility of a second wave of the contagion later this year.

The Council notes the critical role that local authorities play in reducing pressure on the NHS and other public services. The Council further notes the important role local government will play in supporting a post-COVID-19 economic recovery, facilitating the revival of business and helping residents back into work. All of this is put at risk by the financial crisis created by the Government’s broken promise.

The Council agrees that the government should honour the commitment it made to local government. Hammersmith & Fulham Council should take whatever measures necessary to force it to stick to its promise.”

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Max Schmid, Adam Connell, and Matt Uberoi for the Administration – and Andrew Brown for the Opposition.

Councillor Max Schmid then made a speech summing up the debate before the special motion was put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The special motion was declared CARRIED.

9.17pm – RESOLVED

This Council calls on the government to honour its promise and reimburse councils across the country the full financial cost of the COVID-19 crisis.

The Council notes that on 18 March, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP - the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government - called a meeting at 10 Downing Street attended by leaders and chief executives from 300 councils. During that meeting, Mr Jenrick urged councils to act first and not to worry about the cost, making the specific assurance that “the government will provide whatever funding is needed for councils to get through this and come out the other side”.

The Council notes that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.3

The special motion was withdrawn.

9.18pm – Councillor Andrew Brown moved, seconded by Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, the special motion in their names:

“This Council notes with pleasure the elevation of Stephen Greenhalgh, former Councillor for Town Ward and Leader of the Council from 2006-2012, to the House of Lords.

This Council further congratulates him on his appointment as Minister of State for Building Safety, Fire and Communities jointly at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Home Office.

This Council recognises his immense contribution to Hammersmith and Fulham and to London as Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime and wishes him well in his new role.”

Speeches on the special motion were made by Councillors Andrew Brown and Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler for the Opposition.

The following amendment to the special motion was moved by Councillor Lisa Homan and seconded by Councillor PJ Murphy:

Delete all after “This Council” in the first paragraph and insert the following,

“warmly congratulates Stephen Greenhalgh, former Councillor for Town Ward and Leader of the Council from 2006 - 2012 on his elevation to the House of Lords.

The council wishes him well in his new role as Minister of State for Building Safety, Fire and Communities.”

The amendment was put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The amendment was declared CARRIED.

Councillor Lisa Homan then made a speech on the amended motion before it was put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The special motion was declared CARRIED.

9.33pm – RESOLVED

This Council warmly congratulates Stephen Greenhalgh, former Councillor for Town Ward and Leader of the Council from 2006 - 2012 on his elevation to the House of Lords.

The council wishes him well in his new role as Minister of State for Building Safety, Fire and Communities.

To note the decisions taken by the Leader between 4 May 2019 and 1 July 2020 under the urgency provisions of the Constitution.

9.34pm – RESOLVED

The report was noted.