Agenda and minutes

To elect a Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year 2010/11.

Under the provisions of Paragraphs 2(2) and 2(3) of Schedule 2 to the Local Government Act 1972, the retiring Mayor for 2009/10, Mr Eric Silver, will assume the Chair and preside for the purposes of the proceedings at Item 1 on the Summons, being the election of his successor as Mayor.

Only in the event of there being an equality of votes cast in the election would Mr Silver be entitled to vote on the appointment of a Mayor for 2010/11 by virtue of the statutory provisions, notwithstanding that he is not an elected Councillor.

The Mayor called formally for nominations for the Office of the Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow for the ensuing Municipal Year.

CouncillorNavin Shah nominated and Councillor Susan Hall seconded that COUNCILLOR ASAD OMAR be elected Mayor for the Municipal Year 2010/11.

CouncillorsNizam Ismail, John Nickolay, Nana Asante and John Nickolay also spoke in support of the nomination.

There being no other nominations, the Mayor put the nomination of Councillor Asad Omar to the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Asad Omar be elected Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow for the Municipal Year 2010/11.

The retiring Mayor, Mr Eric Silver, vacated the Chair and, after a short interval for robing, the newly elected Mayor, having made and subscribed the Declaration of Acceptance of Office, took the Chair.

The Mayor, Councillor Asad Omar, announced that in tribute to the memory of his late wife he named her posthumously his Mayoress.  He advised that it was his intention that he would invite Councillor colleagues to attend ceremonial events with him, where appropriate. 

The Mayor, Councillor Asad Omar, returned thanks for his election.

Councillor Anthony Seymour formally moved a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor and Mayoress, Mr and Mrs Eric Silver, which was seconded by Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane.

CouncillorsMrinal Choudhury, Lurline Champagnie OBE, Brian Gate and Chris Noyce endorsed the vote of thanks.

The Council also agreed to hear from Honorary Alderman Toms who added his support to the vote of thanks.

RESOLVED:  That the Council place on record its unanimous appreciation and sincere thanks to Mr Eric & Mrs Evelyn Silver for their year of office as Mayor and Mayoress of the London Borough of Harrow for 2009/10.

Mr Eric Silver congratulated the incoming Mayor, Councillor Asad Omar, on his appointment and thanked Members of Council for their kind words. 

In recalling his Mayoral Year, Mr Silver, expressed that he had attended many functions within the borough.  He had also been fortunate to have the opportunity to meet the people of the Borough. 

Mr Silver paid tribute to the voluntary organisations and the volunteers of Harrow.  He spoke on the generous funding towards his Special Appeal “Easi?Riders Wheelchairs”, advising that approximately £55,000 had been raised during the year. 

Mr Silver registered his heartfelt thanks and appreciation of the Mayoral Team for their hard work during his year in office particularly during a period of significant change and challenge.  He also thanked the Deputy Lieutenant and his Rabbi for their support at the many functions he attended. 

He then thanked his wife for serving as his Mayoress and for the commitment and skill she had brought to her role and in serving alongside him.  Finally, he thanked the Members of Council and the people of the Borough for granting him the privilege of serving as Mayor. 

Mr Eric Silver then left the Dais and was escorted by the Macebearer to his seat in the Council Chamber.

The Mayor, Councillor Asad Omar, on behalf of the Council presented a replica of the Mayor’s Medallion to Mr Eric Silver in commemoration of his Mayoralty of the Borough 2009/10.

The Mayor then presented to the immediate past Mayoress, Mrs Evelyn Silver, a Medallion to commemorate her year as Mayoress of the Borough 2009/10.

To elect a Councillor of the Borough to be Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2010/11.

The Mayor called formally for nominations for Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow for the ensuing Municipal Year.

Councillor Bill Stephenson nominated and Councillor Phillip O’Dell seconded that COUNCILLOR MRINAL CHOUDHURY be elected Deputy Mayor for the Municipal Year 2010/11.

There being no other nominations, the Mayor put the nomination of Councillor Mrinal Choudhury to the meeting.

The Deputy Mayor, having been duly invested with the Deputy Mayor’s robe and Badge of Office, occupied the Deputy Mayor’s Chair.

The Mayor then invested the Deputy Mayoress, Mrs Rama Choudhury, with her Medallion of Office.

The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Mrinal Choudhury, then returned thanks.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Mrinal Choudhury be elected Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow for the Municipal Year 2010/11.

To receive the Mayor’s announcement concerning a Chaplain (as may be appropriate).

[Note:  The order of proceedings for Items 1-3 above is to follow].

The Mayor confirmed to Council that he had appointed Imam Hafiz Muhammad Akram as his religious representative for the Municipal Year 2010/11.

The Director of Legal & Governance Services to submit a return of Councillors elected for the 21 wards in the Borough at the elections held on Thursday 6 May 2010 and details of the notification received of Members of the Political Groups, including Leaders, Deputy Leaders and Party Whips. 

RESOLVED:  That the report detailing the return of Councillors elected at the Borough Council Elections on 6 May 2010, including the membership of the respective political groups, be noted.

To be moved by the Chief Whip of the Majority Party.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Bill Stephenson be elected Leader of the Council.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 15 April 2010 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 15 April 2010 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive any communications from the newly elected Mayor as to the Civic Functions for 2010/11.

Council received tabled notification of forthcoming events for the Year.  The Mayor also nominated Ovarian Cancer Action as his special appeal for the Municipal Year 2010/11.

RESOLVED:  That the dates of the following Civic Functions be noted:

To receive declarations of personal or prejudicial interests arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from all Councillors.

No interests were declared.

To receive and consider any procedural motions by Members of the Council in relation to the conduct of this Annual Meeting.

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

No Procedural Motions were moved.

An Extraordinary Council Meeting is required to allow the Leader of the Council to advise the membership of his Cabinet and Portfolios, to implement the Determination of Committee places, to establish the Committees of the Council and their membership and the Allocation of Responsibility (Scheme of Delegation) as set out in Part 3 of the Constitution.

The Extraordinary meeting will also consider adoption of a Petition Scheme for the Council.

The Extraordinary Council will be held at 7.30 pm on Thursday 27 May 2010.

RESOLVED:  To note that an Extraordinary Meeting of Council would be held on Thursday 27 May 2010.

RESOLVED:  That the following dates for meetings of the Council in the Municipal Year 2010/11 be confirmed: