Agenda and minutes

Following the Chaplain’s prayers, the Mayor requested Council to remain standing to pay honour to all those who had lost their lives consequent on the tsunami which had occurred in the Indian Ocean on 26 December 2004.

The Mayor informed the Council of a number of activities being undertaken in Harrow to aid the relief effort, and that an inter-faith memorial service for the victims of the tsunami was also planned.

The Council observed a minute’s silence as a mark of respect to the many thousands of  people who had died in South-East Asia as a result of the disaster.

To receive and consider any procedural motions by Members of the Council, under relevant Council Procedure Rules, in relation to the conduct of the business for this Council Meeting.

[Note:  Notice of such procedural motions, received after the issuing of this Summons, will be tabled].

The Leader of the Council, Councillor N Shah, moved and the Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor C Mote, seconded a procedural motion for an Urgent Motion relating to the Indian Ocean Earthquake Disaster to be admitted to the business to be transacted at this Council Meeting.

The Council noted that the proposed Urgent Motion had met the requirement of Council Procedure Rule 15.2(a), having been received prior to the deadline for receipt of such Motions.

The proposal received the general assent of the Council.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE PROCEDURAL MOTION UNDER COUNCIL PROCEDURE RULE 15.2 RELATING TO THE ADMISSION OF AN URGENT MOTION BE AGREED, AND THAT THE URGENT MOTION BE CONSIDERED AS THE NEXT ITEM OF BUSINESS.

(i)         The following Urgent Motion, having been admitted to the Council Summons under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 15.2 (see Resolution 266 above), was moved by Councillor N Shah and seconded by Councillor C Mote:

“The London Borough of Harrow expresses its deepest sympathy and support to the victims of the Indian Ocean earthquake disaster, and to the many residents of the Borough who have family and friends in the region.

The people of Harrow have reacted to the disaster with enormous generosity and humanity, and Members of this Council wish to put on record their admiration and thanks to all those who have reacted so swiftly in giving their time and money to the relief effort.

This Borough has proud and well-established cultural and social links with many of the affected areas, particularly Sri Lanka.  Many of the Borough’s residents have themselves been affected by this disaster, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who are grieving for lost relatives and friends.

The Council, through the Borough’s close links with the region, believes it is in a special position to play a long term role in helping to rebuild and reconstruct shattered communities, through the sharing of the experience and expertise we in Harrow have at our disposal.

We urge our residents to donate generously to the Relief Fund set up by the Council and support the fundraising events and activities that are being organised in the Borough.

The Council expresses its commitment to the relief efforts for the long term”.

(ii)         The Motion was agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE MOTION, AS SET OUT AT (i) ABOVE, BE ADOPTED UNANIMOUSLY.

That (1) the Minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting held on 21 October 2004 and of the Extraordinary Council Meeting held on 16 December 2004, having been circulated, be taken as read and signed as  correct records (subject to the corrections noted below).

Corrections - 21 October 2004:

Attendance: Councillor Kara was absent and should be deleted from the attendance list.

Resolution 251: correct name to read “Adrian Knowles”.

[Notes:  (i)  The 21 October and 16 December Council Minutes will have been circulated previously within Volumes 5 and 7 respectively of the Cabinet and Council Minutes ;

(ii)  those minutes are also now enclosed with the Summons for ease of reference].

RESOLVED:

THAT (1) THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 21 OCTOBER 2004, HAVING BEEN CIRCULATED, AND SUBJECT TO THE CORRECTIONS REFERRED TO IN THE SUMMONS AND AN ADDITIONAL AMENDMENT TO THE PREAMBLE OF RESOLUTION 255 TO READ “SUBSTITUTE COUNCILLOR THAMMAIAH BY COUNCILLOR GATE”, BE TAKEN AS READ AND SIGNED AS A CORRECT RECORD;

(2) THE MINUTES OF THE EXTRAORDINARY MEETING HELD ON 16 DECEMBER 2004 BE DEFERRED UNTIL PRINTED IN THE COUNCIL MINUTE VOLUME.

To receive declarations of interest (if any) from Members of Council arising from business to be transacted at this meeting.

It was noted that there were no declarations of interest on behalf of Members with regard to the business to be transacted at this Council Meeting.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

[Note:  Information as to recent Mayoral engagements will be tabled].

RESOLVED:

THAT THE COUNCIL RECEIVE AND NOTE THE REPORT OF THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR, AS TABLED, UPON HER OFFICIAL DUTIES, TOGETHER WITH THOSE OCCASIONS ON WHICH SHE WAS REPRESENTED BY THE DEPUTY MAYOR OR PAST MAYORS, SINCE THE COUNCIL MEETING ON 21 OCTOBER 2004

The Mayor regretfully informed the Council that the following past Members and former officer of the Council had recently died:

(1)            FORMER COUNCILLOR MRS SALLY EDGEWORTH – Mrs Edgeworth had been a Councillor of the London Borough of Harrow for Stanmore South Ward between 1958 and 1961, and had also been the first Secretary of the Harrow Association of Voluntary Service.

(2)            FORMER COUNCILLOR GLYN DAVIS – Mr Davis had served three terms as an elected Member of the London Borough of Harrow for Roxbourne Ward, totalling 11 years.

(3)        DEREK BARKER – Mr Barker had been a former Director of Engineering at the London Borough of Harrow.

Additionally, the Mayor advised of the recent death of the following person:

(4)        JIMMY FOREST – Mr Forest was President of the Royal British Region in Harrow and a holder of the Military Cross.

The following Harrow residents received awards in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List:

Miss Pamela Singh    – Commander of the British Empire

Mr Ray Cooper              – Member of the British Empire

Mr Derek Roy                – Member of the British Empire

Mr Michael Turvey   – Member of the British Empire

To receive petitions (if any) submitted in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11 and presented:-

(i)                 by a representative of the petitioners;

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

(iii)             by the Director of Corporate Governance, on behalf of petitioners.

It was noted that no petitions were submitted to this Meeting under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 11.

A period of up to 15 minutes is allowed under Council Procedure Rule 12 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 5.00 pm two clear working days prior to the day of this Meeting.

[Note:  Confirmation of any such questions will be tabled].

Further to Item 6 on the Summons, the following four questions were submitted by members of the public, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12.3:

[Notes: (1)  Oral answers were provided to the above questions;

(2) under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 12.4 and other than in respect of the third question, valid supplementary questions were also asked.  The supplementary questions were answered orally, with the exception of the supplementary question asked by Mr Miah, to which the Environment and Transport Portfolio Holder undertook to provide a written response;

(3)  the relevant Members indicated that written responses would additionally be provided to questions (1), (3) and (4) above, and to the supplementary question asked in respect of the fourth question].

RECOMMENDATION I:        (CABINET – 13 January 2005)

To consider a Recommendation in this matter (to follow).

Further to Item 7 on the Summons, the Council received Recommendation I of the Cabinet meeting of 13 January 2005 in this matter.

The Recommendation was adopted as printed.

RESOLVED:

(1) THAT THE BAND D EQUIVALENT NUMBER OF TAXABLE PROPERTIES BE CALCULATED AS SHOWN IN APPENDIX 1 TO THE RECOMMENDATION FROM CABINET AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GOVERNMENT CALCULATIONS;

(2) THAT THE PROVISION FOR NON-COLLECTABLE AMOUNTS OF COUNCIL TAX FOR 2005-2006 BE AGREED AT 1.0% PRODUCING AN EXPECTED COLLECTION RATE OF 99%;

(3) THAT SUBJECT TO (1) AND (2) ABOVE, A COUNCIL TAX TAXBASE FOR 2005-2006 OF 84,309 BAND D EQUIVALENT PROPERTIES (BEING 85,160 X 99%) BE APPROVED, ALLOWING FOR PAYMENT IN LIEU OF MINISTRY OF DEFENCE PROPERTIES;

(4) THAT THE COUNCIL CONTINUES WITH ITS POLICY OF VARYING THE DISCOUNT RATE ON EMPTY PROPERTIES TO 10% DISCOUNT OF SECOND HOMES AND FURNISHED EMPTY PROPERTIES AND NO DISCOUNT FOR UNFURNISHED EMPTY PROPERTIES.

[REASON:  To fulfil the Council’s statutory obligation to set the Council Tax taxbase 2005-2006].

In accordance with the Procedure Rules set out in the Constitution, the Chief Executive is required to report to the Council any decisions taken as a matter of urgency or special urgency on behalf of the Executive (that is, as individually authorised by the Portfolio Holders).

See attached paper from the Chief Executive.

FOR CONSIDERATION

In accordance with the Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules and Access to Information Procedure Rules set out in the Constitution, the Chief Executive presented a report at Item 8 of the Summons which set out details of urgent decisions taken by the Cabinet and individual Portfolio Holders since the previous Council Meeting, and of a decision taken under the Special Urgency procedure on behalf of the Executive.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE URGENT DECISIONS TAKEN BY THE CABINET AND INDIVIDUAL PORTFOLIO HOLDERS SINCE THE PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEETING, AND THE DECISION TAKEN UNDER THE SPECIAL URGENCY PROCEDURE ON BEHALF OF THE EXECUTIVE, AS NOW REPORTED, BE NOTED.

A period of up to 15 minutes is allowed (Council Procedure Rule 13.2) for the asking of written questions by Members of Council of a member of the Executive or the Chair of any Committee:-

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

(ii)               or which relate to urgent matters, 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 Chief Executive by 12 noon on the day of the Council Meeting.

A Question has been submitted by Councillor Williams, to be asked of the Leader of the Council (see attached).

(Confirmation of any other questions received will be tabled).

Further to Item 9 on the Summons, the following nine questions had been submitted by Members of the Council, notice of which had duly been given under the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 13.2.  Oral answers were provided by the relevant Portfolio Holders (see also Notes below).

To receive the following Motions submitted by Members of Council in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 15.1;-

(1)   Primary Care Trust Management Board

“The Conservative group wishes to amend the representation on the Harrow Primary care Trust Management Board.

We hereby nominate Councillor Eric Silver to replace Councillor Ann Groves”

FOR CONSIDERATION

(2)   Locally Listed Buildings

 “This Council notes its previous Motion regarding locally listed buildings, prompted by the untimely demise of The  Railway Public House, Hatch End.

This Council also notes the unhelpful comments of the Mayor of London.

This Council instructs the Chief Executive and the Chief Planning Officer to lobby the Secretary of state for Culture, Media and Sport to bring in legislation to protect effectively locally listed buildings.”

FOR CONSIDERATION 

The mover and the seconder of the Motion set out at Item 10(1) of the Summons sought leave of the Council to withdraw the Motion.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE MOTION SET OUT AT ITEM 10(1) OF THE SUMMONS IN THE NAMES OF COUNCILLORS C MOTE AND D ASHTON BE WITHDRAWN FROM CONSIDERATION WITH THE CONSENT OF THE COUNCIL.

(i)            Councillor C Mote moved and Councillor N Shah seconded the following motion appearing at Item 10(2) of the Summons:

“This Council notes its previous Motion regarding locally listed buildings prompted by the untimely demise of The Railway Public House, Hatch End.

This Council also notes the unhelpful comments of the Mayor of London.

This Council instructs the Chief Executive and the Chief Planning Officer to lobby the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport to bring in legislation to protect effectively locally listed buildings.”

(ii)         The Motion was carried by general assent.

RESOLVED:

THAT THE MOTION SET OUT AT (i) ABOVE BE ADOPTED.