Agenda and minutes

8.51pm – Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ben Coleman, Sally Taylor, Ann Rosenberg, Paul Alexander, Nikos Souslous, Patrick Walsh, Jackie Borland, Andrew Dinsmore, Jose Afonso, 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.

8.51pm – There were no declarations of interest.

In recognition of the achievements and contributions of the H&F Disabled People’s Commission to the wellbeing of the residents of our borough, this Council is requested to confer on them the “Freedom of the Borough”.

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

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR:                      UNANIMOUS

AGAINST:               0

NOT VOTING:        0

Following the vote, speeches on the report were made by Councillors Stephen Cowan, Emma Apthorp, Andrew Jones, and Rory Vaughan (for the Administration) – and Amanda Lloyd-Harris (for the Opposition).

Tara Flood, Kate Betteridge, Victoria Brignell, Ali Buhdeima, Martin Doyle, Mike Gannon, David Isaac, Ramona Williams, Jane Wilmot OBE, and Kevin Caulfield gave speeches of thanks.

9.49pm – RESOLVED

That the Council confer the “Freedom of the Borough” of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham” on the following members of the H&F Disabled People’s Commission in recognition of their achievements and contributions to the wellbeing of the residents of the borough:

Tara Flood

Tara is a disability rights activist. She was Director at the Alliance for Inclusive Education and has been involved with the disability rights movement at a grassroots level for many years. She is committed to creating social and political change, that will deliver equality for all Disabled people at a local, regional, national, and international level.

For over 20 years, Tara has worked with local and national organisations led by Disabled people, allied organisations, voluntary organisations and groups, statutory agencies and government departments, both in a personal and professional capacity. She is committed to the voices and experiences of all Disabled people being at the heart of discussions and decision-making about our lives.

Tara is a former chairperson of Hammersmith & Fulham Action on Disability, member of Hammersmith & Fulham Coalition against Cuts, and a trustee of Inclusion London. Tara currently works as Strategic Lead for Co-Production for H&F Council.

Kevin Caulfield

Kevin Caulfield worked at H&F Council for eight years and played a huge role in supporting Disabled residents. He worked as policy officer to the Disabled People's Commission, which produced the 'Nothing about Disabled people without Disabled People' report, and the eight recommendations on co-production that have become the foundation for co-production across all the council's work. He then took on the role of Strategic Lead for Co-production (job sharing with Tara Flood).

Kate Betteridge

Kate’s professional background was in the development of information to support people with long-term conditions to make informed decisions about their health and lifestyle choices.

She has lived in Hammersmith since 2002.

Victoria Brignell

Victoria has been Chair and a trustee of Action on Disability. She worked full-time as a radio producer and is a tetraplegic wheelchair-user.

Victoria is an ambassador for the international disability charity CBM UK, a patron of the Friends of Sunera Foundation, and secretary of Hammersmith & Fulham Amnesty International group.

Previously she was a governor of a White City primary school for eight years. In 2013 she was awarded an honorary doctorate by Anglia Ruskin University for being a disability champion.

She has also been an active Co-opted Member on the Health and Adult Social Care  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.