Agenda and minutes

Recommendation I:

Cabinet

(26 March 2009)

Recommendation I:

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

(16 March 2009)

Recommendation I:

Strategic Planning Committee

(11 March 2009)

Recommendation I:

(To follow)

Development Management Committee

(25 March 2009)

Recommendation I:

Standards Committee

(17 March 2009)

QUESTION

BY

QUESTION OF

TEXT OF QUESTION

(1)    Councillor Bill Stephenson

Leader and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Partnership & Finance

(Councillor David Ashton)

“An important part of the Council’s budget strategy is to seek fifty voluntary severances.   Could Councillor Ashton update the Council on the current situation stating how many voluntary severances have been agreed so far?”

(1)               Reaffirmation of Twinning Agreement

To be moved by Councillor David Ashton and seconded by Councillors Bill Stephenson and Christopher Noyce:

“This Council notes and welcomes the opportunity to celebrate its links with Douai, France and, as part of the 30^th Anniversary celebrations, agrees the reaffirmation of the Twinning Agreement between Harrow and Douai by signature of both Mayors’ at a celebratory event to be held on 2^nd May 2009.  The text of the 2009 Twinning Agreement reaffirmation to read as follows:

“We John Nickolay, Mayor of Harrow and

Jacques Vernier, Le Maire de Douai

On this Thirtieth Anniversary of the Accord linking

Our two great Towns do re- affirm and uphold the

aspirations set out by our Forbears on the

5^th Day of May 1979

Freely appointed on behalf of the peoples of our two Towns

Committed to the aspirations and needs of our peoples

Conscious that western civilisation was cradled in our ancient communities and that the spirit of liberty was deeply entrenched in these freedoms which our Communities are certain will prevail

Aware that the fruits of history must continue in the larger world and that the world will continue to be a truly humanitarian one as long as mankind can live freely in free towns.

Solemnly pledge on this day

To maintain permanent links between the Councils of our communities and to encourage in all fields of exchanges between our peoples in order to promote a lively spirit of European brotherhood by better mutual understanding.

To co-ordinate our efforts with a view to furthering to the greatest extent possible through the means at our disposal the success of that very necessary enterprise for peace and prosperity: European Unity.

Douai, Harrow: the 2^nd of May 2009”

(2)               Absence of Chairman at meetings of Committees, Sub-Committees and Panels

To be moved by Councillor Paul Osborn and seconded by Councillor David Ashton:

“This Council supports amendments to Part 4B (Committee Procedure Rule 8.4 and to Part 4E (Advisory / Consultative Rule 6.2 to read as follows:

Absence of Chair at Meetings

In the absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall preside. 

If after 15 minutes since the identified start time of the Committee, sub-committee or Panel neither the Chair or Vice-Chair are present then the meeting shall elect a Chair for that meeting as its first order of business.

Where the Chair and Vice-Chair have both submitted apologies in advance of the meeting to the Director of Legal & Governance Services then the first order of business shall be to elect a Chair for the meeting.”

(3)               Business Rates

To be moved by Councillor David Ashton and seconded by Councillor Jeremy Zeid:

“This Council notes that from April 1^st 2009 business rates across the country are due to increase by 5%. This Council notes that this  ...  view the full agenda text for item 340.

(i)                   In accordance with Rule 16.1 and at Item 13(3) the Council noted the withdrawal of the Motion set out within the Summons and received the amended Motion in the names of Councillors David Ashton and Jeremy Zeid, in the following terms:

 “This Council notes that from April 1st 2009 business rates across the country are due to increase by 2%, as the result of a last-minute ‘U-turn’ by Government. This Council recognises that this increase has been brought down from 5% by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but is of the opinion that this action does not go far enough. This Council thus:

I.      is resolved to allow, on application, small businesses in the Borough to pay their business rates over 12 months rather than the usual 10.

II.      urges all local businesses to investigate whether they qualify for the Small Business Rate Relief Scheme. This Council estimates that over half of the Borough’s businesses are likely to qualify, but that at present nearly two-thirds of those businesses do not claim this relief.

III.     urges the Government to defer the entire increase on the grounds that:

a)     a 2% increase will still hit small businesses hard at a time when the majority of them are struggling through the recession.

b)     the original 5% increase is linked to September 2008’s RPI figure, but the economic situation has changed dramatically since then.

c)     if the increase had been linked to February 2009’s RPI it would have been 0%, rendering any form of increase unacceptable at this time.

IV.    is resolved to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to express the aforementioned concerns.”

(ii)                 There was a second amendment proposed in the names of Councillors Phillip O’Dell and Keith Ferry, which sought to amend the Motion to read as follows:-

“This Council welcomes the Government’s decision to peg the increase in business rates to 2% instead of 5% for this year as this will be of significant help for businesses with cash flow problems.  Council further notes the many different measures which the Government has introduced to help businesses in general and small businesses in particular.

Council further resolves

(i)                   to allow, on application, small businesses in the Borough to pay their business rates over twelve months rather than the usual ten,

(ii)                 that it will widely publicise the Small Business Rate Scheme which allows a 50% discount, and applies to nearly half the Borough’s businesses but which is not at present claimed by two-thirds of such businesses.”

(iii)                Upon a vote, the second amendment was lost.

(iv)               Upon a vote the substantive Motion, as amended, was agreed.

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

(i)                   At Item 13(4) the Council received a Motion in the names of Councillors Bill Stephenson and Phillip O’Dell, in the following terms

“This Council believes that the current economic downturn poses a serious threat, not only to the Council itself but, individually to the well-being of many Harrow residents and businesses.  This Council further believes that it should do everything in its power to help.

This Council:

(i)                   welcomes the initiatives already being taken but agrees that much more needs to be done;

(ii)                 believes that it is vital for all partners and organisations in Harrow to work together, and, in particular, welcomes the fact that the Harrow Partnership Board will be considering this matter at its next meeting;

(iii)                suggests to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that it should consider setting up a Challenge Panel to look at the best ways to help Harrow residents and businesses in this very difficult situation.”

(ii)                 There was an amendment proposed in the names of Councillors Marilyn Ashton and Paul Osborn, which sought to amend the Motion to read as follows:-

“This Council is concerned that the current recession, which would hit Britain hardest and has been described by the Chancellor of the Exchequer as the worst for over 100 years, has adverse implications for the Council, Harrow businesses, and the quality of life for many Harrow residents. Therefore, in addition to welcoming the many positive steps taken to limit the impact of the recession in the Borough, this Council:

(i)                   encourages all partners and organisations in Harrow to work together in meeting the challenges faced by the British economy.

(ii)                 welcomes the fact that the Harrow Partnership Board will be considering the local implications of the recession at its next meeting.

(iii)                encourages all Harrow politicians to publicise and support the initiatives intended to help those struggling through these difficult times.”

(iii)                Upon a vote, the amendment was carried.

(iv)               Upon a vote the substantive Motion, as amended, was agreed.

RESOLVED:  That the substantive Motion, as amended and set out at (ii) above, be adopted.

(i)                   In accordance with Rule 16.1 and at Item 13(6) the Council noted the withdrawal of the Motion set out within the Summons and received the amended cross-party Motion in the names of Councillors Brian Gate and Councillor Manji Kara, in the following terms:

“This Council notes that the North West London Light Railway is a proposal for the construction of an orbital light railway system centered on the planned £5 billion Brent Cross/Cricklewood development with potential branches to Mill Hill East, Wembley Stadium, Park Royal, Ealing Broadway and Finchley Road via West Hampstead.  It would largely make use of existing little used freight lines or abandoned railway tracks, and would both provide an attractive alternative to the estimated 29,000 extra vehicle movements likely to be generated by the expanded Brent Cross, and offer orbital light rail routes across the whole of North West London.  This will benefit the residents of Harrow; for example, by improving access to public transport connections and decreasing traffic congestion.

This Council supports, in principle, the North West London Light Railway proposal.  This Council therefore instructs the Chief Executive to write to Transport for London to ask whether it will provide funding for a feasibility study to examine this proposal.  This Council is of the opinion, however, that in the event of Transport for London stating that no funding shall be forthcoming, no more public money should be directed towards this proposal.

This Council further instructs the Chief Executive to write to the two Harrow MPs, the Brent and Harrow Assembly Member and to ‘London Councils’ to inform them of this motion and to ask for their support.”

(ii)                 The substantive Motion was carried unanimously.

RESOLVED:  That the substantive Motion, as set out above, be adopted.