Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Emma Apthorp, Patricia Quigley, Bora Kwon, Lisa Homan, Ben Coleman, Mercy Umeh, Ann Rosenberg, Trey Campbell-Simon, Alex Karmel, Adronie Alford, and David Morton.

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 Sharon Holder declared a non-pecuniary interest in Item 6.1 as her mother used free home care services.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 10 July 2024.

7.05pm – RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 10 July 2024 were agreed as an accurate record.

Death of Monique Newton, founder of Smile Brigade 

With much sadness, the Deputy Mayor announced the passing of Monique Newton, founder of Smile Brigade CIC, which provided over 90,000 meal and grocery bags to vulnerable residents in Hammersmith & Fulham during the pandemic.

Speeches of remembrance were made by Councillors Nikos Souslous and Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler.

Death of Gerald Wombwell, former Councillor and Opposition Leader

With great sadness, the Deputy Mayor informed the Council of the death of Gerald Wombwell, former Councillor and Leader of the Opposition.

Speeches of remembrance were made by Councillors Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, Amanda Lloyd-Harris, Wesley Harcourt, and Stephen Cowan.

Death of Charles Treloggan, former Councillor and Mayor

With much regret, the Deputy Mayor informed the Council of the death of Charles Treloggan, former Councillor and Mayor.

Speeches of remembrance were made by Councillors Wesley Harcourt, Rory Vaughan, Sally Taylor, Stephen Cowan, and Amanda Lloyd-Harris.

The Mayor then led the Council in a minute of silence in memory of Monique Newton, Gerald Wombwell and Charles Treloggan.

The Mayor thanked the residents who submitted questions. Question 1 was taken in the meeting. The Mayor explained that as the second questioner was unable to attend they would receive a written response. The questions and responses can be found at Appendix 1.

7.49pm – The report and recommendations were formally moved for noting by the Deputy Leader, Councillor Alex Sanderson.

Speeches on the report were made by Councillors Rory Vaughan, Natalia Perez, Stala Antoniades and Asif Siddique (for the Administration).

8.12pm – RESOLVED

That Full Council:

1. Recognised the significant and major achievement in the delivery of the unique free home care services for our residents for almost a decade (in the face of major financial challenges).

2. Acknowledged the work of members, staff, public partners and care providers in the delivery of the home care services.

3. Noted that this policy of the Council has reduced the financial pressures on public finances and avoided costs for our public sector partners.

8.12pm – The report and recommendations were formally moved for noting by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, Councillor Rowan Ree.

Speeches on the report were made by Councillors Jacolyn Daly and Rowan Ree (for the Administration).

8.22pm – RESOLVED

1. That Full Council noted and commented on the report.

8.22pm – The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Deputy Leader, Councillor Alex Sanderson.

Speeches on the report were made by Councillors Alex Sanderson and Adam Peter Lang (for the Administration).

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.29pm – RESOLVED

1. That Full Council noted and approved the contents of the report and attached Youth Justice Plan.

8.29pm – The report and recommendations were formally moved for noting by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, Councillor Rowan Ree.

Speeches on the report were made by Councillors Florian Chevoppe-Verdier and Rowan Ree (for the Administration).

8.39pm – RESOLVED

1. That Full Council noted and commented on the report.

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

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.40pm – RESOLVED

1. That Full Council approved the creation of a new Lead Member for Energy and Decarbonisation role as detailed in the report and appointed Councillor Ross Melton to the role.

8.40pm – Councillor Adrian Pascu-Tulbure moved, seconded by Councillor Amanda Lloyd-Harris, the special motion in their names.

“This Council calls on the Administration to provide additional support for low-income pensioners in the Borough who have had their Winter Fuel Allowance cut.”

Speeches on the motion were made by Councillors Adrian Pascu-Tulbure and Amanda Lloyd-Harris (for the Opposition).

Under Standing Order 15(e)(6), Councillor Rowan Ree moved, seconded by

Councillor Rebecca Harvey, an amendment:

“Delete all text after "This council" and replace with:

...regrets that the last H&F Conservative administration introduced home care charges for older and disabled people. The Conservative administration also increased charges for meals on wheels by over 80%, increasing the cost of the service by over £700 per year.

This council proudly notes that the current Labour administration provides £5.3m of support to pensioners through the council tax support scheme, has overseen 10 years of free home care and cut the charge for meals on wheels by 56%. This council regrets the lack of support of the Conservative opposition for the budgets that put these positive measures in place.

This council further notes that the current administration has invested heavily in third-sector organisations that support older people and, in the last budget, invested an additional £1 million in cost-of-living support schemes. It helped thousands of older people across the borough through the winter-ready home schemes, winter support fund, fuel energy support, and pensioner benefit take-up campaigns.

This council welcomes the new government’s commitment to the pension triple lock and the extension of the Household Support Fund over winter, abolished by the previous government, which will provide vital support, such as fuel vouchers to vulnerable pensioners in H&F.”

Speeches on the amendment were made by Councillors Rowan Ree and Rebecca Harvey (for the Administration) and Councillor Adrian Pascu-Tulbure (for the Opposition).

Councillor Ree then made a speech winding up the debate before the amendment was put to the vote:

FOR                        30

AGAINST                8

NOT VOTING         1

The amendment was declared CARRIED.

A speech on the amended motion was made by Councillor Jacolyn Daly (for the Administration).

Councillor Pascu-Tulbure made a speech summing up the debate.

Opposition Councillors called for a named vote:

FOR                        30

AGAINST                8

NOT VOTING         1

The amended motion was declared CARRIED.

9.16pm – RESOLVED

This Council regrets that the last H&F Conservative administration introduced home care charges for older and disabled people. The Conservative administration also increased charges for meals on wheels by over 80%, increasing the cost of the service by over £700 per year.

This council proudly notes that the current Labour administration provides £5.3m of support to pensioners through the council tax support scheme, has overseen 10 years  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.1

9.16pm – Councillor Rebecca Harvey moved, seconded by Councillor Nikos Souslous, the special motion in their names.

“The Council notes that in July 2024 the National Police Chiefs Council reported that there is an epidemic of violence against women and girls, with nearly 3,000 crimes reported every day in what they termed a “national emergency”. This council welcomes the new Labour Government’s commitment to tackle this.

The Council takes the safety of women and girls extremely seriously and is investing in services to support women and girls across our borough including Advance, the Angelou Partnership and Refuge.

The Council notes that following a public consultation with overwhelming support, in July 2024 the borough introduced a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), making street sexual harassment an offence. The Council is pleased to note that the PSPO has already been used to fine those who have harassed women and girls who live, work and visit our borough.

The Council thanks officers who are delivering the No More Sexual Harassment campaign with valued partners, including the youth council, schools, football clubs, businesses, community groups and residents.

The Council welcomes the work of the borough’s public protection teams to tackle violence against women and girls, including:

• The 72-strong Law Enforcement Officers, who have undertaken specialist training to support victims and hold perpetrators to account;
• The CCTV network with over 2,000+ CCTV cameras collecting evidence used to prosecute offenders;
• The Gangs, Violence & Exploitation Unit; and
• The Community Safety, Antisocial Behaviour and Trading Standards teams.

The Council is proud of the work being done to make the borough’s streets safer. It has invested millions of pounds in community safety and works closely with partners, including the police, probation and prison services, and the violence reduction unit.

The Council calls on all members to support this work to make Hammersmith and Fulham a stronger, safer and kinder borough.”

Speeches on the motion were made by Councillors Rebecca Harvey, Jacolyn Daly and Stephen Cowan (for the Administration) – and Councillors Andrew Dinsmore and Aliya Afzal-Khan (for the Opposition).

Councillor Harvey then made a speech winding up the debate before the motion was put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The motion was declared CARRIED.

9.40pm – RESOLVED

The Council notes that in July 2024 the National Police Chiefs Council reported that there is an epidemic of violence against women and girls, with nearly 3,000 crimes reported every day in what they termed a “national emergency”. This council welcomes the new Labour Government’s commitment to tackle this.

The Council takes the safety of women and girls extremely seriously and is investing in services to support women and girls across our borough including Advance, the Angelou Partnership and Refuge.

The Council notes that following a public consultation with overwhelming support, in July 2024 the borough introduced a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), making street sexual harassment an offence. The Council is pleased to note that the PSPO has already been used to fine those who  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.4

9.40pm – Councillor Ross Melton moved, seconded by Councillor Omid Miri, the special motion in their names.

“This Council welcomes the new Government’s robust and rapid actions to accelerate decarbonisation and growth of the UK economy, including:

1. The launch of the cross-Government Clean Power 2030 Mission, headed by Chris Stark.
2. The launch of a state-owned renewable generation developer, GB Energy, chaired by Jurgen Maier, headquartered in Aberdeen, and tasked with commercialising new low carbon generation technologies.
3. The launch of a £7.3 billion National Wealth Fund with the aim of galvanising more than 10 times more private investment in low carbon infrastructure.
4. The end of the moratorium on onshore wind in England, with the largest renewables allocation ever through the AR6 generation auction.
5. The approval of 1.35GW of solar generation within days of the 2024 General Election.
6. The closure of the UK’s last coal-fired powerplant in Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire.

As one of the London Boroughs most vulnerable to the negative affects of climate change, accelerating decarbonisation of the UK energy sector and wider economy is of vital importance to the residents of Hammersmith and Fulham.

In addition, the economic growth opportunity of decarbonising the UK economy is irrefutable, with the previous Government’s Skidmore Review identifying the green economy as the fastest growing contributor to UK GDP, valued at over £41.2 billion in 2023 and employing almost half a million high skilled UK workers.

Decarbonising energy will deliver a win-win-win: reduce the UK’s vulnerability to volatile energy imports, driving down household bills, and unlocking economic opportunities for millions of Britons.

Hammersmith and Fulham is at the forefront of the transition towards a green economy, investing in rooftop solar and retrofitting insulation and energy efficiency technologies into council-owned buildings. The Borough’s modern industrial strategy is fostering the next generation of low carbon innovations. Our planning team continues to support thoughtful, low carbon development across the Borough.

This Council resolves to continue to support the new Government’s strategy of driving rapid economic growth through decarbonisation of the economy, while providing an example of local leadership on the road to Net Zero.”

Speeches on the motion were made by Councillors Ross Melton, Omid Miri and Wesley Harcourt (for the Administration) – and Councillors Jose Afonso and Andrew Dinsmore (for the Opposition).

The guillotine fell at 10pm. Councillor Melton made a short speech summing up the debate before the motion was put to the vote:

FOR                        30

AGAINST                8

NOT VOTING         1

The motion was declared CARRIED.

10.03pm – RESOLVED

This Council welcomes the new Government’s robust and rapid actions to accelerate decarbonisation and growth of the UK economy, including:

1. The launch of the cross-Government Clean Power 2030 Mission, headed by Chris Stark.
2. The launch of a state-owned renewable generation developer, GB Energy, chaired by Jurgen Maier, headquartered in Aberdeen, and tasked with commercialising new low carbon generation technologies.
3. The launch of a £7.3 billion National Wealth Fund with the aim of galvanising more than 10 times more private investment in low carbon infrastructure.
4. The  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.2

The special motion was withdrawn.