Agenda and minutes

Council - Thursday 30 November 2017 7.30 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, Harrow Civic Centre, Station Road, Harrow, HA1 2XY. View directions

Contact: Alison Atherton, Senior Professional - Democratic Services  Tel: 020 8424 1266 E-mail:  alison.atherton@harrow.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

270.

WELCOME AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Minutes:

Council welcomed Paul Walker, Corporate Director, Community to his first meeting and Michael Lockwood, Chief Executive, to his last.

 

The Mayor informed Council of the death of former Member Bob Aitken, aged 92, who had served as a member of the first Labour Administration on the Council from 1971-78.

271.

COUNCIL MINUTES pdf icon PDF 18 KB

That the minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2017 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 28 September 2017 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

272.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from all Members of the Council.

Minutes:

Item 6 – Leader and Portfolio Holders’ Announcements

 

Councillor Sachin Shah declared an interest in that his sister had a veterinary practice in Pinner.

 

Item 13 – Motions – Universal Credit Union Motion

 

Councillor Pamela Fitzpatrick declared an interest in that she worked for the Harrow Law Centre.

 

Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he worked for the Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

 

Item 13 – Motions – Tapan Ghosh – no place for hate speech in Harrow Motion

 

Councillor Graham Henson declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he had campaigned for equality of opportunity for 40 years.

 

273.

PROCEDURAL MOTIONS

To receive and consider any procedural motions by Members of the Council in relation to the conduct of this Meeting.  Notice of such procedural motions, received after the issuing of this Summons, will be tabled.

Minutes:

(i)            The Mayor drew Council’s attention to six tabled amendments to item 7 – Community Safety and Violence Vulnerability and Exploitation Strategy and amendments to Motions 2 and 3.

 

(ii)          Councillor Sachin Shah moved a Procedural Motion to enable the six tabled amendments to item 7 - Community Safety and Violence Vulnerability and Exploitation Strategy to be considered and voted upon en bloc.  This was seconded by Councillor Paul Osborn and upon being put to the vote was carried.

274.

PETITIONS

To receive any petitions to be presented:

 

(i)                 by a representative of the petitioners;

(ii)               by a Councillor, on behalf of petitioners;

(iii)             by the Mayor, on behalf of petitioners.

Minutes:

In accordance with Rule 10, the following petitions were presented

 

(i)            Petition submitted by Angela Murphy, a representative of the residents of Buckingham Road, Edgware in relation to parking and congestion containing 49 signatures.

 

[The petition stood referred to the Portfolio Holder for Environment].

 

(ii)          Petition submitted by Councillor Nitesh Hirani, on behalf of the residents of Mary Close, Ruth Close and Honeypot Lane (slip road), in relation to inconsiderate and dangerous parking containing 80 signatures.

 

[The petition stood referred to the Portfolio Holder for Environment].

 

(iii)         Petition submitted by Councillor Nitin Parekh, on behalf of the residents of Camrose Avenue, in relation to crime and safety around Chandos Park containing 138 signatures.

 

[The petition stood referred to the Portfolio Holders for Public Health, Equality and Community Safety and Environment].

 

(iv)         Petition submitted by Councillor Nitin Parekh, on behalf of the residents of Camrose Avenue, in relation to speeding vehicles containing 169 signatures.

                       

[The petition stood referred to the Portfolio Holder for Environment].

 

(v)          Petition submitted by Councillor Ajay Maru, on behalf of the residents of a number of streets, requesting the introduction of double yellow lines at certain road junctions containing 113 signatures.

 

[The petition stood referred to the Portfolio Holder for Environment].

 

(vi)         Petition submitted by Councillor Pamela Fitzpatrick, on behalf of the residents of Southfield Park, in relation to traffic conditions containing 35 signatures.

 

[The petition stood referred to the Portfolio Holder for Environment].

 

(vii)        Three Petitions submitted by Councillor Krishna Suresh, on behalf of the residents of Clitheroe Avenue, High Worple and Church Avenue, proposing a reduction of the speed limit to 20 mph containing 36, 18 and 18 signatures respectively.

           

[The petition stood referred to the Portfolio Holder for Environment].

275.

PUBLIC QUESTIONS

A period of up to 15 minutes is allowed for members of the public to ask questions of members of the Executive, Portfolio Holders and Chairs of Committees, of which notice has been received no later than 3.00 pm two clear working days prior to the day of this Meeting.  Any such questions received will be tabled.

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

276.

LEADER AND PORTFOLIO HOLDERS' ANNOUNCEMENTS

To receive a presentation from the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holders on business since the last ordinary meeting, followed by a question and answer session.  The item is allotted 20 minutes.

Minutes:

(i)            The Leader of the Council, Councillor Sachin Shah, introduced the item highlighting the achievements, challenges and proposals since the last ordinary meeting.

 

(ii)          Other Members of the Council spoke and/or asked questions of the Leader of the Council which were duly responded to.

277.

COMMUNITY SAFETY AND VIOLENCE VULNERABILITY AND EXPLOITATION STRATEGY pdf icon PDF 19 KB

Report of the Corporate Director of Resources and Commercial and Recommendation of Cabinet (13 July 2017)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Six amendments in the name of Councillor Paul Osborn were moved and duly seconded.  Upon a vote, the amendments were carried.

 

RESOLVED:  That the Community Safety and Violence, Vulnerability and Exploitation Strategy, as amended, be approved.

278.

YOUTH JUSTICE PARTNERSHIP PLAN 2017-18 pdf icon PDF 46 KB

Report of the Corporate Director of People and Recommendation of Cabinet (12 October 2017)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Youth Justice Partnership Plan 2017-18, as amended, be approved.

279.

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MARKETS IN FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS DIRECTIVE (MiFID II) pdf icon PDF 47 KB

Recommendation I:

Cabinet

 

(12 October 2017)

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That

 

(1)          the immediate commencement of applications for elected professional client status with all relevant institutions be agreed in order to ensure it could continue to implement an effective investment strategy;

 

(2)               responsibility be delegated to the Director of Finance, following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Commercialisation, for the purposes of completing the applications and determining the basis of the application as either full or single service.

280.

INFORMATION REPORT - REVIEW OF HARROW COUNCIL'S MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN pdf icon PDF 19 KB

Report of the Corporate Director, Resources and Commercial.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

281.

PENSION BOARD ANNUAL REPORT pdf icon PDF 47 KB

Recommendation I:

Pension Board

 

(8 November 2017)

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the Pension Board Annual Report 2017 be approved.

282.

INFORMATION REPORT - MINOR AND ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGE APPROVED BY THE MONITORING OFFICER pdf icon PDF 20 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

283.

MOTIONS pdf icon PDF 18 KB

The following Motions have been notified in accordance with the requirements of Council Procedure Rule 15, to be moved and seconded by the Members indicated:

 

(1)          Universal Credit Motion

 

 

To be moved by Councillor Kiran Ramchandani and seconded by Councillor Barry Kendler:

 

 

“Harrow Council notes that:

 

The start of the rollout in December means that families receiving Universal Credit for the first time will be left without benefit payments in the run up to Christmas. 

 

Those switching over to Universal Credit from other existing benefits, will also risk a significant disruption to their income at a challenging time of year for low income households.

 

Landlords are reporting that rent arrears among tenants receiving universal credit with arrears running up to five times the level of those on the old system.  Research by Citizens Advice found that of the people it had helped, over a third had been waiting for more than six weeks for their first payment, and more than half were borrowing money to cope.

 

Many statutory and voluntary services are closed or operating at a reduced level over the Christmas period and assistance for local families who are in practical and financial difficulty will be exacerbated.

 

This council therefore resolves to:

 

·                     Call on the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon David Gauke MP, to pause the rolling of the Universal Credit until all the issues of the new system that have been identified are solved

 

·                     Ask the Chief executive and the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State setting out the council’s concerns.”

 

(2)          Tapan Ghosh - no place for hate speech in Harrow Motion

 

 

To be moved by Councillor Kiran Ramchandani and seconded by Councillor Ghazanfar Ali:

 

 

“The Council believes:

 

·                     Harrow has an excellent reputation for outstanding community relations and tolerance of a wide diversity of faiths and peoples;

 

·                     Hate speech is not tolerated in Harrow and no local official, such as a local Member of Parliament, should be endorsing speakers who are considered to be hate speakers;

 

The Council notes:

 

·                     The Harrow East MP, Bob Blackman, has recently hosted an event where the keynote speaker was Mr Tapan Ghosh, who has written articles that are regarded by many in our community as anti-Muslim;

 

·                     Mr Ghosh has also inappropriately tried to justify the Myanmar ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya community;

 

The Council resolves:

 

·                     To instruct the Chief Executive to write to Bob Blackman MP, condemning the visit of Tapan Ghosh and reaffirming that Harrow is one of the most diverse places in the UK, where hate speech is not tolerated;

 

·                     To instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, calling on him to condemn the visit of Tapan Ghosh and to discourage hate speech in public institutions (such as the UK Parliament).”

 

(3)          Harrow Council supporting votes at 16

 

 

To be moved by Councillor Christine Robson and seconded by Councillor  Sachin Shah:

 

 

“This Council believes:

 

·                     Sixteen and seventeen year olds are able to become more active citizens,  ...  view the full agenda text for item 283.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(i)            Motion in the names of Councillor Kiran Ramchandani and Councillor Barry Kendler.

 

 

“Universal Credit Motion

 

Harrow Council notes that:

·                     The start of the rollout in December means that families receiving Universal Credit for the first time will be left without benefit payments in the run up to Christmas.  Those switching over to Universal Credit from other existing benefits, will also risk a significant disruption to their income at a challenging time of year for low income households.

 

·                     Landlords are reporting that rent arrears among tenants receiving universal credit with arrears running up to five times the level of those on the old system.  Research by Citizens Advice found that of the people it had helped, over a third had been waiting for more than six weeks for their first payment, and more than half were borrowing money to cope.  Many statutory and voluntary services are closed or operating at a reduced level over the Christmas period and assistance for local families who are in practical and financial difficulty will be exacerbated.

 

This council therefore resolves to:

·                     Call on the Secretary of State, the Rt Hon David Gauke MP, to pause the rolling of the Universal Credit until all the issues of the new system that have been identified are solved.

 

·                     Ask the Chief executive and the Leader of the Council to write to the Secretary of State setting out the council’s concerns.

 

Upon a vote, the Motion was agreed.

 

RESOLVED:  That  the  Motion set out at (i) above be adopted.

 

(ii)          Motion in the names of Councillor Kiran Ramchandani and Councillor Ghazanfar Ali.  The tabled amendment was voted upon and was lost.

 

 

“Tapan Ghosh - no place for hate speech in Harrow Motion

 

The Council believes:

 

·                     Harrow has an excellent reputation for outstanding community relations and tolerance of a wide diversity of faiths and peoples;

 

·                     Hate speech is not tolerated in Harrow and no local official, such as a local Member of Parliament, should be endorsing speakers who are considered to be hate speakers;

 

The Council notes:

 

·                     The Harrow East MP, Bob Blackman, has recently hosted an event where the keynote speaker was Mr Tapan Ghosh, who has written articles that are regarded by many in our community as anti-Muslim;

 

·                     Mr Ghosh has also inappropriately tried to justify the Myanmar ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya community.

 

The Council resolves:

 

·                     To instruct the Chief Executive to write to Bob Blackman MP, condemning the visit of Tapan Ghosh and reaffirming that Harrow is one of the most diverse places in the UK, where hate speech is not tolerated;

 

·                     To instruct the Chief Executive to write to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, calling on him to condemn the visit of Tapan Ghosh and to discourage hate speech in public institutions (such as the UK Parliament).”

 

Upon a vote, the Motion was agreed.

 

RESOLVED:  That the Motion set out at (ii) above be adopted.

 

(iii)         Motion in the names of Councillor Christine Robson and Councillor Sachin Shah. 

 

 

“Harrow Council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 283.

284.

QUESTIONS WITH NOTICE pdf icon PDF 259 KB

A period of up to 15 minutes is allowed for asking written questions by Members of Council of a member of the Executive or the Chair of any Committee:-

 

(i)                 of which notice has been received at least two clear working days prior to the day of this Meeting; or

 

(ii)               which relate to urgent matters, and the consent of the Executive Member or Committee Chair to whom the question is to be put has been obtained and the content has been advised to the Director of Legal and Governance Services by 12 noon on the day of the Council Meeting.

 

Any such questions received will be tabled.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor questions as were received were responded to and any recording placed on the Council’s website.  Those questions not reached would be responded to in writing and placed on the Council’s website.

285.

EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC

To resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business, on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of confidential information in breach of an obligation of confidence, or of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972:

 

Agenda Item No

 

Title

Description of Exempt Information

16.

Information Report – Severance Package of £100,000 or Greater

Information under paragraph 1 (contains information relating to any individuals).

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That in accordance with Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item for the reasons set out below:

 

Item

Title

 

Reason

16.

Information Report – Severance Packages of £100,000 or Greater

Information under paragraph 1 (contains information relating to any individual).

 

[Note:  Members of the Conservative Group wished to be recorded as having voted against the above Resolution].

286.

INFORMATION REPORT - SEVERANCE PACKAGE OF £100,000 OR GREATER

Minutes:

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.