Agenda and minutes

That the minutes of the annual meeting held on 25 May 2010 and the extraordinary meeting on 27 May 2010 be taken as read and signed as correct records.

RESOLVED:  That

(i)           the minutes of the annual meeting held on 25 May 2010 be taken as read and signed as a correct record subject to an amendment at page 5, (5 – Presentation of Medallions to the Immediate Past Mayor) to read “Councillor Asad Omar…”.

(ii)         the minutes of the extraordinary meeting held on 27 May 2010, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

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

The Mayor invited declarations of interest by Members of the Council in respect of the business on the Summons.

(i)           Item 13(3): Motions: Magistrates’ Court Motion

         Councillor Husain Akhtar declared a personal interest in the above item as he was currently the deputy chair of the Crime Prevention Panel, but considered that he could speak and vote thereon.

         Councillor Stephen Greek declared a personal interest in the above item as his father was a magistrate, but considered that he could speak and vote thereon.

         Councillor Chris Mote declared a personal interest in the above item as he was a magistrate in a London borough other than Harrow, but considered that he could speak and vote thereon.

(i)           Item 12: Questions With Notice

         Councillor Bob Currie declared a personal interest in that he attended regular meetings of the Eastcote Lane Tenants’ Association, but considered that he could speak and vote thereon.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.

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

The Mayor requested that Council note the engagements he had undertaken.  The Mayor drew particular attention to his attendance at the Harrow Youth Games and congratulated the badminton team for achieving a gold medal.

The Mayor also congratulated those residents of Harrow who had received honours in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List, particularly the Borough Commander Dal Babu who was awarded an OBE.

RESOLVED:  That the report of the Worshipful the Mayor, as tabled, be noted and received.

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

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

In accordance with Rules 14.6 and 14.7, the Leader of the Opposition exercised her right that the referral of the Kenton Road Motion to Cabinet be disapplied.  This allowed Council to debate the Motion and offer comments or recommendations to Cabinet in its consideration of the matter.

To receive any petitions to be presented:

(i)                 by a representative of the petitioners;

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

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

In accordance with Rule 10, the following petitions were presented:

(1)         by Members of Council on behalf of petitioners:

(i)           Submitted by Councillor Tony Ferrari, containing 46 signatures of residents, requesting that the Council consider the appropriateness of issuing parking tickets in Kynaston Wood.

         [The petition stood referred to the Traffic and Road Safety Advisory Panel].

(ii)         Submitted by Councillor Stephen Wright, containing 2487 signatures requesting that the Council address parking issues in Pinner.

         [The petition stood referred to the next ordinary meeting of Council].

(2)         By members of the public:

(i)           Petition containing 67 signatures requesting that

·         the Council implement a 20mph speed camera as a solution to act as a deterrent for future accidents;

·         concerns be addressed relating to un-doctored kerbs in Taunton Way;

·         concerns be addressed in relation to a tree in Taunton Way blocking a 30mph warning board.

[The Petition stood referred to the next meeting of the Traffic and

Road Safety Advisory Panel].

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 Chairmen 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:  Any such questions received will be tabled].

The questions submitted by members of the public and responded to by Portfolio Holders, in accordance with Rule 11, are contained at appendix I.

In accordance with Rule 4.3 a period of up to 20 minutes to receive announcements from the Leader of the Council on business since the last ordinary meeting, at the conclusion of which is an opportunity for Members to ask questions relating to issues raised in the presentation. 

The Leader of the Council introduced his report highlighting achievements and proposals since the last ordinary meeting.

At the conclusion of his report, the Leader responded to questions from Members of the Council.

RESOLVED:  That the report of the Leader of the Council be received and noted.

Recommendation I:                         Licensing and General Purposes Committee

                                                (15 June 2010)

The revised Licensing Policy is included within the background papers pack.

Further to Item 8 on the Summons, the Council received a Recommendation from the Licensing and General Purposes Committee held on 15 June 2010.

The Recommendation was formally moved by Councillor Mano Dharmarajah (Chairman of the Committee).

RESOLVED:  That the revised Licensing Policy be approved and adopted.

Recommendation I:             Overview and Scrutiny Committee

                                                (13 April 2010)

The revised Annual Scrutiny Report 2009/10 is included within the background papers pack.

Further to Item 9 on the Summons, the Council received a Recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 13 April 2010.

The Recommendation was formally moved by Councillor Jerry Miles (Chairman of the Committee).

RESOLVED:  That the Scrutiny Annual Report for 2009/10 be endorsed.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

(i)                 In accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 47, which required Members to monitor annually the operation of the provisions for call-in and urgency, the Council received a report on this matter;

(ii)               During the debate, the Leader of the Opposition raised an issue that one of the methods for initiating call-in required amending.  This related to the requirement that signatures from six Members, from at least two political groups, were needed to request a call-in.  It was agreed that the Constitution Review Working Group would investigate this issue.

RESOLVED:  That the operation of the call-in and urgency procedures, as reported, be noted.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

The Council received a report which requested the approval of a Petition Scheme, in accordance with the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009.

The recommendation was formally moved by Councillor Bill Stephenson (Leader of the Council).

RESOLVED:  That

(1)               the Petition Scheme be approved, as set out in Appendix II to these minutes;

(2)               the consequential amendments to the Constitution be approved, as set out in Appendix III to these minutes.

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 Chairman 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 Chairman 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].

The questions submitted by Councillors and responded to by Portfolio Holders, in accordance with Rule 12, are contained at appendix IV.

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:-

(i)           At item 13(1) the Council received a Motion in the names of Councillors Barry Macleod-Cullinane and Susan Hall in the following terms:

         “This Council welcomes the proposals recently put forward by the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG), as part of its efforts to improve local government transparency and accountability.

         This Council therefore commits itself to complying with the DCLG recommendations, and by 1^st January 2011 at the latest will publish and continue publishing online:

1.            Details in full of total cumulative spending over £500.

2.            Information on all staff earning over £50,000 per annum (including details of salaries, benefits, and expenses) and their job descriptions.

3.            Councillor allowances and expenses (in a real-time rather than annual format).

4.            Frontline service data, including rubbish and recycling rates, as well as council tax collection rates.

5.            Automatic energy reading to measure energy consumption and enable residents to monitor the council’s drive towards lower emissions and energy use.

6.            Full answers to Questions with Notice at Council meetings (to be published in the Council minutes).

None of the above shall include information that:

a)     Relates to a commercial arrangement in negotiation.

b)     Is not publishable under the data protection act.

c)      Relates to the protection of vulnerable adults and children.

This Council also pledges that this information will be published at zero cost to taxpayers, with its collation and presentation forming part of other processes the Council already carries out.

With some of this information already available, this Council further pledges to make itself even more transparent by requiring that the various strands of information be collected and brought together on the main council website – with a link from the frontpage – under the heading, “www.harrow.gov.uk/transparency” to make it easy for residents to find.”

This Council believes that enacting these proposals will encourage financial responsibility, improve accountability, and be of substantial benefit to Harrow residents”.

(ii)         Upon a vote, the Motion was not carried.

RESOLVED:  That the Motion be not adopted.

[Note:  Councillors Husain Akhtar, Mrs Camilla Bath, Christine Bednell, Mrs Lurline Champagnie OBE, Kam Chana, Ramji Chauhan, John Cowan, Tony Ferrari, Stephen Greek, Susan Hall, Manji Kara, Jean Lammiman, Barry Macleod-Cullinane, Mrs Vina Mithani, Chris Mote, Janet Mote, John Nickolay, Joyce Nickolay, Paul Osborn, Richard Romain, Anthony Seymour, Lynda Seymour, Stanley Sheinwald, Yogesh Teli, Mark Versallion, Simon Williams and Stephen Wright wished to be recorded as having voted against the decision].

(i)           At Item 13(3) on the Summons, the Council received a Motion in the names of Councillors Chris Mote and Susan Hall in the following terms:

         “This Council notes that, as part of proposals recently put forward by the Ministry of Justice to reorganise magistrates' and county court services in London, Harrow Magistrates' Court is recommended for closure.

         This Council believes it is in Harrow's best interests for Harrow Magistrates' Court to remain open, and therefore instructs the Chief Executive to prepare, in conjunction with all political groups, a robust response as part of the Ministry of Justice consultation process”.

(ii)         There was an amendment proposed in the names of Councillors Bill Stephenson and Zarina Khalid, which sought to amend the Motion to read as follows:

         “Council notes with deep concern the proposal by the Justice Department to cut 103 Magistrates Courts and 54 County Courts including the closure of Harrow Magistrates’ Court.

Council believes it is in Harrow’s best interest and in the best interests of justice for Harrow Magistrates’ to remain open.

         Council welcomes the initiative in setting up an officer working group to draft a strong response to the Justice Department’s consultation paper which will be considered by the Partnership Board of Harrow Strategic Partnership on July 22.

         Council instructs the Chief Executive to write to the three Harrow MPs and the Brent and Harrow London Assembly member to seek their support in opposing the closure of Harrow Magistrates’ Court and on a cross-party basis to take any further measures such as seeking meetings with ministers, holding meetings, promoting petitions to further these ends”.

(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.

RESOLVED:  That the Motion at Item 13(2) of the Summons stand referred to the next meeting of Cabinet, as being a matter within the remit of the Executive.

(i)           In accordance with Rules 14.6 and 14.7, the Council received a Motion in the names of Councillors Yogesh Teli and Vina Mithani in the following terms.

         “This Council notes that the removal of the right turning from Kenton Road into Kenton Lane has proven unpopular with residents, and that a petition on this issue was presented to the Mayor of London by Cllrs. Teli, Mithani and Zeid in March 2010.  The removal of the turning has resulted in increased congestion and a larger number of vehicles travelling down the narrower back roads.

         This Council therefore pledges to work with Brent Council – who maintain responsibility for the junction – to ensure that the right-turn is reintroduced, and to liaise with Transport for London to ensure that it is swiftly implemented once Brent has agreed to its reintroduction”.

(ii)         There was an amendment proposed in the names of Councillors Bill Stephenson and Phillip O’Dell, which sought to amend the Motion to read as follows:

         “This Council notes that the removal of the right turning from Kenton Road into Kenton Lane has proven unpopular with residents, and that a petition on this issue was presented to the Mayor of London by Cllrs. Teli, Mithani and Zeid in March 2010.

         This Council requests that the Chief Executive write to the Mayor of London regarding what action has been taken.”

(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 referred to the Executive.