Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Sharon Holder, Andrew Jones, and Ann Rosenberg.

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.

Councillor Rory Vaughan declared a pecuniary interest in items 8.3 and 8.4 as an employee of the Bank of England. He recused himself from the meeting for the duration of the items.

Councillor Paul Alexander declared a pecuniary interest in item 8.5 as an employee of Transport for London. He recused himself from the meeting for the duration of the item.

To approve the minutes of the Annual and Special Council meetings held on 25 May 2022.

7.12pm – The minutes of the Annual and Special Full Council meetings held on 25 May 2022 were agreed as an accurate record.

Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours List 2022

The Mayor, on behalf of the Council, noted her congratulations to the following people who were recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for their outstanding achievements:

·      Professor James Robert Durrant, Professor of Photochemistry at Imperial College London, who was awarded a CBE for services to Photochemistry and Solar Energy Research.

·      Professor Mary Patricia Ryan, Armourers and Brasiers' Chair in Materials Science at Imperial College London, who was awarded a CBE for services to Education and to Materials Science and Engineering.

·      Professor Kathryn Maitland, Professor of Tropical Paediatric Infectious Disease at Imperial College London, who was awarded an OBE for services to Medical Science.

The Mayor thanked them for contributions to science and engineering.

Ben Ruzbehan (Youth Mayor), Niamh Faleye (Deputy Youth Mayor), Anastasia Odusanwo (H&F’s Member of Youth Parliament) and Vince Bigas (H&F’s Deputy Member of Youth Parliament) addressed the Council and discussed their manifesto goals for 2022/23.

Councillor Trey Campbell-Simon made his maiden speech (for the Administration), and Councillor Aliya Afzal-Khan made her maiden speech (for the Opposition). The Leader of the Council also made a speech.

The Mayor thanked all of the residents who submitted questions. She noted that public question time was limited to 20 minutes and it would not be extended as there were 9 public questions and a full agenda.

Questions 1, 5, 6, and 7 were addressed in the meeting. The Mayor noted that any questions not addressed in the meeting would receive written responses which would also be published in the minutes. All the questions and responses can be found in Appendix 1.

Under Standing Order 15(e)12, Councillor Alex Karmel moved to suspend Council Rules to allow an extension to public question time:

FOR                        10

AGAINST                32

NOT VOTING         1

The motion to suspend was declared LOST.

8.06pm – 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.

8.06pm – RESOLVED

1.    That Councillor Bora Kwon replaces Councillor Omid Miri as a substitute member of the OPDC Planning Committee.

2.    That Councillor Liz Collins, Councillor David Morton and Mr David Morris be appointed as trustees of Lygon Almshouses.

8.06pm – 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.

8.06pm – RESOLVED

1.    That Full Council notes that David Tatlow, Director of Corporate Resources, is the Council’s Proper Officer for Registration and approves updates to the Scheme of Delegation to Officers detailed in paragraph 5 of the report.

2.    That Full Council approves the revisions to the Cabinet portfolios and Lead Member responsibilities detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

3.    That Full Council appoint Councillor David Morton as Borough Representative for the Armed Forces Community.

4.    That Full Council agree to change the name of the ‘Policy Unit and Oversight Board’ to the ‘Policy and Oversight Board’.

8.06pm – The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

Councillor Alex Karmel made a speech (for the Opposition) and Councillor Max Schmid made a speech (for the Administration).

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                        32

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         11

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.08pm – RESOLVED

1.    That the revised Members’ Allowances Scheme 2022/23 as set out in the report and attached as Appendix 1, be approved.

8.08pm – The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by Councillor Zarar Qayyum.

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.09pm – RESOLVED

1.    That Full Council adopt the Statement of Licensing Policy 2022 - 2027 at Appendix 2.

Exempt appendix

This item has an appendix which contains information exempt within the meaning of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 and is not for publication. The appendix has therefore been circulated to Councillors only. Any discussion on the contents of an exempt appendix will require Council to pass the proposed resolution identified in the exempt appendix pack to exclude members of the public and press from the proceedings for that discussion.

The Mayor noted that the report had an exempt appendix and any discussion of the contents of the exempt appendix would require passing a resolution to exclude the public and press from the meeting.

8.09pm – The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

Councillor Adronie Alford made a speech (for the Opposition) and Councillor Frances Umeh made a speech (for the Administration).

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.15pm – RESOLVED

1.    That Full Council agrees that Appendix 1 is not for publication on the basis that it contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) as set out in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

2.    That Full Council approve a further capital budget of £57,304,856 to deliver the new homes which will result in an overall Development budget, including contingencies, of £61,020,118 funded through a combination of HRA borrowing, GLA grant, Right to Buy receipts and capital receipts from private sales as set out in exempt Appendix 1.

8.16pm – Councillor Max Schmid moved a motion under Standing Order 15(e)3 to reorder special motions in the following order: 4, 5, 1, 2, 3 and 6. Councillor Genevieve Nwaogbe seconded the motion, and it was agreed.

NOTE: Councillor Rory Vaughan left the virtual meeting room for this item.

8.16pm – Councillor Rowan Ree moved, seconded by Councillor Rebecca Harvey, the special motion in their names:

“This Council recognises that Britain is in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis.

• Inflation is currently above 9%, its highest level since 1982.
• Household bills are rising, with energy bills likely to rise significantly higher in October when the energy price cap is increased.
• Interest rates have increased from 0.1% to 1.25% since December, with further increases likely, putting pressure on borrowers, including mortgage payers.

The Council recognises that people across our borough are struggling to make ends meet and are in need of support.

·       One in five adults in the UK has less than £100 in savings.

·       Nearly four million children in Britain live in poverty.

·       Areas of Hammersmith & Fulham are among the most deprived in the country.

·       Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank is distributing record numbers of meals to residents who cannot afford to feed themselves and their families.

The Council thanks the many organisations across our borough who are providing much-needed financial support or advice to those who need it. We are blessed to have such caring, compassionate and dedicated residents who are prepared to go out of their way to help their neighbours and communities, and we praise this vital work.

This Council also recognises the need for government at all levels to step in and provide support for those who cannot bear the increasing costs that rising bills and prices bring.

H&F Council is playing its part by taking action to support residents through the cost-of-living-crisis. Although the Conservative government has cut 54% of the Council’s general grant funding in real terms since 2010, action by the Labour administration since 2014 has so far included:

• A real terms council tax cut of 9%;
• A generous and comprehensive council tax support scheme;
• Free breakfasts for primary school children, and free food for children who need it through school holidays;
• Abolition of home care charges for elderly and disabled residents;
• A freeze in other charges inchildren’s and adults’ services;
• Significant funding for local charities and the Hammersmith & Fulham Foodbank; and
• Expanded advice services for residents in need of support.

The Council is now working with its partners to develop a wide range of further support, including an extensive Financial Inclusion Strategy to improve access to financial information, advice and services for residents.

By contrast, we regret that where Boris Johnson’s government has acted, support has been poorly targeted and insufficient for those struggling the most.

·       Measures such as the regressive increase in National Insurance will push local residents deeper into financial difficulty.

·       The £20 per week cut to Universal Credit was a disastrous step just as the country became gripped by the-cost-of-living crisis.

This Council urges central government to take as proactive an approach to the cost-of-living crisis as Hammersmith & Fulham Council has done.

This Council calls on the government to reverse the £20 a week cut to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.4

NOTE: Councillor Paul Alexander left the room for this item.

8.47pm – Councillor Ben Coleman moved, seconded by Councillor Lisa Homan, the special motion in their names:

“This Council deeply regrets that Conservative ministers have told Transport for London to cut services after it lost money during Covid. Essential bus routes across Hammersmith & Fulham are now threatened with closure or severe reductions in service.

·       The C3, 11, 14, 72 and 74 will be scrapped.

·       Night buses N27 and N74 will be scrapped, and the N72 will no longer serve Hammersmith.

·       The 23, 27, 211, 272, 283, 328 and 430 will operate a reduced timetable or be rerouted.

Other governments from New York to Paris are funding public transport after the pandemic to maintain services and keep fares low. This is even more important in the cost-of-living crisis. Boris Johnson’s Conservatives, however, are requiring TfL to reduce services in return for a partial bailout.

This Council urges TfL to maintain the essential routes on which Hammersmith and Fulham residents depend.

This Council regrets that Fulham’s Greg Hands, a Conservative minister, is seeking to divert people’s attention from the real reason for the proposed bus cuts by attacking Transport for London. It calls on Mr Hands not to let his constituents pay for the pandemic but instead to campaign for his government to provide the investment that London’s transport needs.”

A speech on the motion was made by Councillor Coleman (for the Administration).

Under Standing Order 15(e)(6), Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler moved, seconded by Councillor Andrew Dinsmore, an amendment in their names:

“Delete all after ‘This council’ and replace with:

The opposition is deeply shocked by the bus service cuts proposed by Sadiq Khan and TfL. These would affect the residents in our borough to an unacceptable degree.

The C3, 11, 14, 72 and 74 would be cancelled.

The 23, 27, 211, 272, 283, 328, 414 and 430 would have a less regular or altered service.

The N27, N11 and N74 would be cancelled and the N72 diverted from Hammersmith.

This council calls for TFL to stop these proposed changes and stop the strikes on the London Underground and for the mayor to run the transport system efficiently, especially given the vast financial support coming from the government.

Londoners deserve a better service on public transport.”

Speeches on the amendment were made by Councillors Brocklebank-Fowler, Dinsmore (who made his maiden speech) and Afzal-Khan (for the Opposition) – and Councillor Homan (for the Administration).

The amendment was then put to the vote.

FOR                        10

AGAINST                31

NOT VOTING         1

The amendment was declared LOST.

Speeches on the substantive motion were made by Councillors Homan, Souslous (who made his maiden speech), and Antoniades (for the Administration).

Councillor Coleman then made a speech winding up the debate before the substantive motion was put to the vote.

FOR                        31

AGAINST                10

NOT VOTING         1

The motion was declared CARRIED.

9.26pm – RESOLVED

This Council deeply regrets that Conservative ministers have told Transport for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.5

9.26pm – Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler moved, seconded by Councillor Andrew Dinsmore, the special motion in their names:

“This Council welcomes the announcement made by the leader of the Administration, ahead of the May 2022 local government elections, that a Labour administration would reverse parking charges.

This Council endorses comments made by the Leader on 14 April that “the parking charge increases were a mistake at the time and they are even more of a mistake now that the pandemic has eased. I want to apologise for getting this wrong and promise that we will get it right if residents hire us again to run the Borough.” This Council notes that this U-turn took place several months after the Conservative Opposition had themselves pledged to reverse increases to parking charges if elected.

This Council welcomes the bipartisan agreement that a reversal of the parking charges increase is the right thing to do. However, this Council notes with concern that, over two months since the elections, this has not yet happened. This Council therefore calls upon the Administration to provide a clear and detailed plan of how and when these charges will be reversed.”

Speeches on the motion were made by Councillors Brocklebank-Fowler and Dinsmore (for the Opposition).

Under Standing Order 15(e)(6), Councillor Wesley Harcourt moved, seconded by Councillor Omid Miri, an amendment in their names:

“Delete all after “This Council…” in line 1 and add:

Reaffirms the commitment in the Labour Party 2022 Manifesto ‘Rising to the challenges of our times, together’ to “…introduce emissions-based residents’ parking, which will reduce parking fees for many residents and include free parking for clean vehicles outside of high-volume neighbourhoods and rush hour and school-run traffic.” The Council notes that the cut in parking charges will be introduced after the summer and is a part of the Administration’s measures to help residents deal with the cost-of-living crisis.

This Council also notes that when in office, the previous Conservative Administration (which many current opposition councillors belonged to) raised record amounts from local and visiting motorists by:

·      Increasing parking fine limits by 50% in 2007

·      Ending free visitor parking on bank holidays over the Christmas period in 2009

·      Increasing visitors’ parking charges by 55% in 2010

·      Increasing residents parking permit charges by 20% ion 2010

·      Budgeted to introduce a 14.7% increase in parking charges in 2014”

Speeches on the amendment were made by Councillors Harcourt, Miri, Schmid, Coleman, Homan, Cowan, and Ree (for the Administration) – and Councillors Lloyd-Harris, and Karmel (for the Opposition).

The amendment was then put to the vote.

FOR                        32

AGAINST                10

NOT VOTING         1

The amendment was declared CARRIED.

Councillor Brocklebank-Fowler then made a speech winding up the debate before the amended motion was put to the vote.

FOR                        32

AGAINST                10

NOT VOTING         1

The amended motion was declared CARRIED.

10.07pm – RESOLVED

This Council reaffirms the commitment in the Labour Party 2022 Manifesto ‘Rising to the challenges of our times, together’ to “…introduce emissions-based residents’ parking, which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.1

The special motion was withdrawn.

The special motion was withdrawn.

The special motion was withdrawn.

10.08pm - The report was noted.