Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Patrick Walsh, Florian Chevoppe-Verdier, Helen Rowbottom, Paul Alexander, Emma Apthorp, Ann Rosenberg, Ben Coleman, Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the Annual and Special Council meetings held on 22 May 2024.

7.05pm – RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Annual and Special Council meetings held on 22 May 2024 were agreed as an accurate record.

The Mayor’s Charities for 2024/25

The Mayor announced that, in addition to Fulham Reach Boat Club, Action on Disability, and Solidarity Sports, she would also be appointing H&F Foodbank as one of her charities for the Mayoral year.

The Mayor invited members of the Youth Council to address the meeting. Albi Fenner (Youth Mayor), Precisa Getsevich (Deputy Youth Mayor), and Anushka Sharma (Youth Councillor) gave a short verbal presentation on their manifesto and goals for 2024/25.

Speeches on the item were made by Councillor Alex Sanderson (for the Administration) and Councillor Aliya Afzal-Khan (for the Opposition).

The Mayor thanked the residents who submitted questions. Question 2 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.

7.20pm – The Mayor noted that an amendment to the report had been published and circulated prior to the meeting.

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 recommendations were declared CARRIED.

7.20pm – RESOLVED

That Full Council noted:

1. The amended composition and new appointments made by the Leader to the Executive:

·       Deputy Leader (with responsibility for Children and Education) – Councillor Alex Sanderson

·       Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health – Councillor Bora Kwon

·       Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Skills – Councillor Zarar Qayyum

2. The creation of the Cabinet Member for Enterprise and Skills post and deletion of the Cabinet Member for Civic Renewal post.

3. The creation of a new Lead Member role (H&F Industrial Strategy Ambassador) – Councillor Helen Rowbottom.

4. The amended Executive Members responsibilities and portfolios at appendix 1.

5. The appointment of Councillor Bora Kwon to the Health and Wellbeing Board (Committee membership change).

6. The Local Government Organisations and Outside Bodies appointments outlined in paragraph 8 below made by the Leader.

7. The changes to senior officer job titles detailed in paragraph 14 of the report.

8. The Monitoring Officer will make the changes to the Constitution to reflect the recommendations of the report.

The special motion was withdrawn.

The special motion was withdrawn.

The special motion was withdrawn.

7.30pm – Councillor Adronie Alford, seconded by Councillor Adrian Pascu-Tulbure, the special motion in their names.

“This Council notes with concerns the repair bills charged to residents in Council-owned properties across the borough, including at Verulam House where leaseholders have received bills of up to £21,500 for replacement windows an independent surveyor deemed to be unnecessary. This Council vows to protect leasehold residents against being hit with inflated bills for works that aren't needed and calls upon the Administration to ensure fair treatment for Council leaseholders.”

Speeches on the motion were made by Councillors Alford and Pascu-Tulbure (for the Opposition).

Under Standing Order 15(e)(6), Councillor Frances Umeh moved, seconded by

Councillor Max Schmid, an amendment:

“The council is committed to providing the best possible homes to council tenants and leaseholders. As a landlord the council has a moral and legal duty to ensure our homes are safe and kept in good repair.

The council notes that it is putting right H&F’s repairs and planned maintenance, tackling a backlog created through a long period of underinvestment under the Conservative administration. Across H&F, the council is undertaking a £1.4million-a-week refurbishment programme of its homes – including required upgrades to cladding and windows, roofing, structural repairs, electrical infrastructure, lift upgrades and fire safety enhancements such as fire doors, sprinklers and evacuation systems.

It is further noted that under longstanding Right to Buy legislation introduced by the Thatcher government, leaseholders are legally required to contribute towards the cost of improvements according to the terms of their lease. Hammersmith & Fulham’s last Conservative administration charged leaseholders under this legislation.

It is notable that the Borough’s Labour administration has acted to reduce leaseholder charges despite the challenges of rampant inflation brought about in large part by the mismanagement of the national economy over the last fourteen years.

This Council is strongly sympathetic with leaseholders facing large bills that improve their homes. For that reason, it offers support with repayment support including interest-free payment plans that extend longer than many other councils.”

Councillor Frances Umeh made a speech on the amendment (for the Administration). Councillor Adronie Alford made a point of personal explanation (for the Opposition).

The amendment was then put to the vote:

FOR                        35

AGAINST                9

NOT VOTING         0

The amendment was declared CARRIED.

A speech on the amended motion was made by Councillor Pascu-Tulbure (for the Opposition).

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

FOR                        35

AGAINST                9

NOT VOTING         0

The amended motion was declared CARRIED.

7.54pm – RESOLVED

The council is committed to providing the best possible homes to council tenants and leaseholders. As a landlord the council has a moral and legal duty to ensure our homes are safe and kept in good repair.

The council notes that it is putting right H&F’s repairs and planned maintenance, tackling a backlog created through a long period of underinvestment under the Conservative administration. Across H  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.4

7.54pm – The Mayor noted that an amendment to the special motion from the Administration had been published and circulated prior to the meeting.

Councillor Max Schmid moved, seconded by Councillor Nikos Souslous, the amended special motion in their names.

“The council notes the results of the general election on Thursday 4th July 2024 and congratulates Ben Coleman, Rupa Huq and Andy Slaughter, who each now represent residents in Hammersmith and Fulham in parliament.

The council expresses its sincere appreciation to all candidates who stood for election, as well as the police, Law Enforcement Team, council officers, and all staff involved in running the election. Their efforts strengthened our precious democracy.

The council resolves to work closely with its Members of Parliament and the new Labour Government to deliver a stronger, safer, and kinder Hammersmith and Fulham for all residents and businesses.”

Speeches on the amended motion were made by Councillors Souslous, Harvey, Lang, Vaughan, and Antoniades (for the Administration) – and Councillors Dinsmore, Pascu-Tulbure, Lloyd-Harris, and Karmel (for the Opposition).

The amended motion was then put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The amended motion was declared CARRIED.

At the end of the item, the Mayor took a moment to thank the officers and staff for their hard work on the election. She also thanked all of the candidates for taking part, congratulated the winners, and wished them the best of luck in their roles. Finally, the Mayor gave thanks to Greg Hands who had served as the Member of Parliament for Chelsea and Fulham for 19 years. She wished him the best in his future endeavours.

8.20pm – RESOLVED

The council notes the results of the general election on Thursday 4th July 2024 and congratulates Ben Coleman, Rupa Huq and Andy Slaughter, who each now represent residents in Hammersmith and Fulham in parliament.

The council expresses its sincere appreciation to all candidates who stood for election, as well as the police, Law Enforcement Team, council officers, and all staff involved in running the election. Their efforts strengthened our precious democracy.

The council resolves to work closely with its Members of Parliament and the new Labour Government to deliver a stronger, safer, and kinder Hammersmith and Fulham for all residents and businesses.

8.22pm – The report was noted.

8.22pm – The report was noted.