Agenda and minutes

6.33pm – Councillor PJ Murphy, as the outgoing Mayor, took the Chair at the start of the meeting.

Councillor Colin Aherne proposed, seconded by Councillor Zarar Qayyum, that Councillor PJ Murphy be re-elected as Mayor of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham for the 2021/22 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.

6.36pm - RESOLVED

That Councillor PJ Murphy was duly elected Mayor of the London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham for the 2021/22 Municipal Year, following which he made the statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office and signed the statutory undertaking to observe the Code of Conduct for the Councillors.

The Mayor announced he was nominating the Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank and United in Hammersmith & Fulham supporting the Tech4Kids Appeal as his charities for the Mayoral year.

The Mayor also announced that he was appointing Mary Smith to act as his Consort for the Mayoral year.

The Mayor then announced that he had appointed Councillor Daryl Brown as Deputy Mayor for the 2021/22 Municipal Year. She informed the Council that Mr Benito Brown had been appointed to act as her Deputy Mayor’s Consort for the Mayoral year.

6.37pm – The Mayor invited the Youth Mayor to address the Council.

The Youth Mayor, Scarlett Knowles, and Youth Councillors Marley Billing-Delapenha and Raniah Siobhan made a presentation on their manifesto and goals for 2021/22.

Councillors Adam Connell, Alex Karmel, Larry Culhane, and Stephen Cowan made speeches on the item.

The Mayor thanked the Youth Council for their hard work throughout the year and encouraged members to attend the Youth Achievement Awards on Tuesday, the 4^th of May 2021.

7.06pm – Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alexandra Sanderson and Rebecca Harvey.

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.

7.07pm – There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2021.

7.07pm – The minutes of the meeting held on 25 February 2021 were agreed as an accurate record.

Death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

The Mayor noted, with great regret, the death of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh who passed away on Friday 9 April at the age of 99. Speeches of remembrance were made by Councillors Stephen Cowan, Andrew Brown, and Francis Stainton.

The Council observed a minute of silence in his memory.

Death of Alderman Michael Cartwright

The Mayor informed the Council of the death of Alderman Michael Cartwright, former Mayor and Deputy Leader of the Council, who died peacefully on Monday 12 April after a long illness. The Mayor made a speech paying tribute to Alderman Cartwright and offered the Council’s deepest sympathy and condolences to his family and friends.

Speeches of remembrance were also made by Councillors Stephen Cowan, Andrew Brown, Colin Aherne, Wesley Harcourt, Adronie Alford, Natalia Perez, Andrew Jones, Alex Karmel, Rory Vaughan, Mercy Umeh, Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, Patricia Quigley, Bora Kwon, Guy Vincent, Sue Fennimore, and Frances Stainton.

The Council observed a minute of silence in his memory.

The Council is asked to note the Party appointments for the Municipal Year 2021/22.

8.27pm – The report on the party appointments for the 2021/22 Municipal Year was noted.

Council is asked to note the appointments made by the Leader to the Executive.

8.27pm – The Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan, made a speech thanking Councillor Sue Macmillan for her service to the borough as Cabinet Member for Children and Education and then as Cabinet Member for Strategy.

Councillor Sue Macmillan addressed the Council to thank members for the privilege of serving as a Cabinet Member and then welcomed Councillor Sharon Holder as the new Cabinet Member for Strategy.

8.33pm – The report on the appointment by the Leader of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet was noted.

This report recommends changes to the governance arrangements of the Local Government Pension Scheme following an independent review.

8.33pm – The report and recommendations on Pension Fund Governance Arrangements was formally moved for adoption 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.

8.34pm – RESOLVED

1.    That Full Council noted the recommendations of the independent review by John Raisin Financial Services Limited and the officer responses, as set out in the report.

2.    That Full Council approved the establishment of a Pension Fund Committee with its membership and terms of reference as set out in Appendix 1.

3.    That Full Council approved the changes to the terms of reference of the Audit and Pensions Committee (to become the Audit Committee) set out in Appendix 1.

Council is required to confirm the proportional division of seats on committees.

8.34pm – The report on the allocation of seats and proportionality on committees was noted.

Council is asked to appoint members to committees to discharge the responsibilities for council functions as outlined in the constitution.

The Mayor noted the following amendment to the Opposition membership of the Licensing Committee – Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler to be replaced by Councillor Dominic Stanton.

8.35pm – The amended report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The amended report and recommendations were put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The amended report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.36pm – 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 2021/22, as set out in Appendix 1.

2.    This Council also notes their respective portfolios / terms of reference, as set out in the constitution.

Council is asked to appoint representatives to Local Government Organisations and other Outside Bodies.

8.36pm – The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.36pm – RESOLVED

That the Council’s appointments to Local Government Organisations for 2021/22, as

set out in Appendix 1, and to Outside Bodies, as set out in Appendix 2, be agreed.

Council is asked to appoint Independent Persons to consider any complaints against members and to offer their impartial views on each case.

8.37pm – The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.37pm – RESOLVED

1.    That His Honour Judge John Rylance, Mr Tom Babbedge and Ms Dilina Ostborn be re-appointed as Independent Persons for a fixed term of two years.

2.    That the Council pay each appointed person a flat rate allowance of £504 per annum payable in line with the Members’ Allowance scheme.

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

8.37pm – The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

Councillor Alex Karmel made a short speech on the item (for the Opposition).

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.38pm – RESOLVED

To agree that any member unable to attend a council meeting for a period greater than six months for Covid related reasons, receives a dispensation further to section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972 to 31st October 2021.

This report updates the Members’ Allowances Scheme.

8.38pm – The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.39pm – RESOLVED

That the Members’ Allowances Scheme 2021/22 as set out in the report and

attached as Appendix 1, be approved.

This report recommends changes to the Council’s Financial Regulations following a comprehensive review.

8.39pm – The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Commercial Services, Councillor Max Schmid.

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST               0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.39pm – RESOLVED

To approve the revised Financial Regulations set out in Appendix 1.

The Council’s Monitoring Officer reviews the Constitution each year to ensure that its aims and principles are given full effect in accordance with Article 15 of the Constitution. A report on this subject is therefore included on the Annual Council meeting agenda each year.

8.39pm – The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.40pm – RESOLVED

1.    That the changes to Council Procedure Rules in Appendix 1 be approved.

2.    That Full Council noted that Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust Committee meetings and Licensing Sub-Committee hearings can be held virtually without changes to legislation.

3.    That the changes to the Deputy Leader’s Portfolio and the Strategic Director for The Environment’s scheme of delegation detailed in the report, regarding the Prevent Channel panel function be approved.

4.    That subject to the approval of the recommendations above, the Council’s Constitution be adopted for the 2021/22 Municipal Year.

8.40pm – The Council received a verbal report from the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan. The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Andrew Brown, made a speech on behalf of the Opposition.

8.49pm – The Annual Report of the Policy and Accountability Committees on their activities for the 2020/21 Municipal Year was noted.

Councillor Rory Vaughan, Chair of the Economy, Housing and The Arts Policy and Accountability Committee, made a speech on the report.