Agenda item

9.27pm – Due to the subject of the motion, the Mayor vacated the chair and left the meeting.  The Deputy Mayor took the chair.

Councillor Colin Aherne moved, seconded by Councillor Michael Cartwright, the special motion standing in their names:

“The Council notes that at the Extraordinary Meeting of the Council on the 16th September 2010 the Mayor allowed Administration members to use their majority to stop public debates on the three Opposition Special Motions. This is the first time ever that this has happened in this borough. These motions had been legitimately placed onto the agenda for that meeting and were representing matters of concern brought to the Opposition by members of the public.

The Council notes that this unprecedented measure was proposed by the Conservative Chief Whip and agreed by all of the majority Conservative Members present. This happened despite the presence of over sixty homeless people, charity workers and other members of the public who had attended to witness these special motions being debated and voted upon.

This Council agrees that it is important that all Mayors must use the powers vested in that office to ensure that the ruling group do not abuse their powers to disregard the legitimate rights of the Opposition.

The failure of the Mayor to use these powers on the 16th September 2010 has had the consequence of Opposition Members being unable to maintain any confidence that the Mayor will act in an non-partisan manner to safeguard the democratic process at council meetings

Finally, it is with deep regret that the Council is asked to note that the Opposition members of the authority have no confidence in the impartiality of the current Mayor as she has endangered the non-political nature of her office.”

Speeches on the motion were made by Councillors Colin Aherne and Michael Cartwright (for the Opposition) and Councillors Alex Karmel and Matt Thorley (for the Administration).

Under Standing Order 15 (e) (vi), Councillor Lucy Ivimy moved, seconded by Councillor Tom Crofts an amendment to the motion to delete all words and insert:

“This Council has full confidence in the Mayor of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.”

Speeches on the amendment were made by Councillors Lucy Ivimy, Stephen Greenhalgh, Tom Crofts and Charlie Dewhirst (for the Administration) before it was put to the vote and a roll-call was requested:

FOR                            25

            AGAINST                   12

            ABSTENTIONS         0

The amendment to the motion was declared CARRIED.

Under Standing Order 24.3 Councillor Alex Karmel moved to extend the guillotine by 10 minutes.

Councillor Colin Aherne made a speech winding up the debate before the substantive motion was put to the vote and a roll-call was requested:

FOR                            25

AGAINST                   12

ABSTENTIONS         0

The substantive motion (as amended) was declared CARRIED.

10.05pm - RESOLVED: 

This Council has full confidence in the Mayor of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham.

10.05pm The Mayor re-entered the Council Chamber while the Deputy Mayor vacated the chair.