Agenda and minutes

That the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 27 February 2014, the extraordinary meetings held on 1 May 2014 and 12 June 2014 and the annual meeting held on 12 June 2014, be taken as read and signed as correct records.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 27 February 2014, the extraordinary meetings held on 1 May 2014 and 12 June 2014 and the annual meeting held on 12 June 2014, be taken as read and signed as correct records.

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.

The Mayor invited appropriate declarations of interest.

Item 7 – Petition – Carpender’s Park Cemetery

Councillor Richard Almond declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he was a member of a Catholic Church.

Item 13 – Questions with Notice

Councillors James Bond and Georgia Weston declared non-pecuniary interests in that they were members of the Friends of Pinner Park Farm.

To receive any announcements from the Mayor.  Information as to recent Mayoral engagements will be tabled.

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

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.

There were no procedural motions agreed by Council.

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.

In accordance with Rule 10, the following petition was presented:

(i)                 Petition submitted by Councillor Janet Mote containing 165 signatures of residents stating “No to North Harrow Area Parking Review.  We the undersigned oppose the current proposal to introduce a Controlled Parking Zone on the County roads”.

[The petition stood referred to the Portfolio Holder for Environment, Crime and Community Safety].

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 3.00 pm two clear working days prior to the day of this Meeting.  Any such questions received will be tabled.

To note that one question from a member of the public had been received and responded to, and the recording of this question and answer given had been placed on the Council’s website.

The Council received a Petition of over 2,000 signatures, on behalf of petitioners and outlining the following terms:

“Brent and Harrow Councils have decided to return Carpender’s Park Cemetery to grass and plan to sow grass seed over the graves. They have requested that ‘all items be removed except authorised plaques and vases’ including the wooden crosses on each grave and personal memorials, to be replaced by an approved plaque and one small vase. The cost of a plaque varies but it is in the region of £1,200 and takes weeks to make, leaving the grave unmarked before completion. We have obtained backing from Bob Blackman (MP Harrow East, Conservative) and Gareth Thomas (MP Harrow West, Labour) but need 500 signatures on a petition, to demonstrate support of retaining the wooden crosses, at the very least, on much loved graves of family and friends. May they rest in peace.

We, the undersigned, petition Brent and Harrow Councils to allow the wooden crosses on graves in Carpender’s Park Cemetery, particularly sections HA and HB, to be retained. We appeal they reconsider their request and permit memorials, including headstones, as allowed in other cemeteries across both boroughs.”

The Petition has been subject to the validation process and meets the threshold of signatures needed to engender a Council debate.

The Lead Petitioner, will be invited to read the terms of the petition on behalf of the petition signatories.  There is a period of one minute allocated to present.  A period of 10 minutes is permitted for Members to debate the Petition terms and issues.

Following discussion the Council may choose to refer the petition to the Cabinet to determine the matter, taking into account the views expressed by Council. 

RESOLVED:  That it be noted that further action would be taken by the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder forEnvironment, Crime and Community Safety, in relation to the petition.

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.

(i)                 The Leader of the Council, Councillor David Perry, 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.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

RESOLVED:  That

(i)                 it be noted that Councillor Keith Ferry was the Deputy Leader of the Council;

(ii)               the Councillors appointed to the Cabinet (Executive) with the identified portfolios and assigned delegations, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be noted.

(A)       Recommendation I:             Overview and Scrutiny Committee

                                                            (23 July 2014)

(B)       Recommendation II:                        Cabinet

                                                            (17 July 2014)

RESOLVED:  That

(i)                 the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee from its meeting held on 23 July 2014 be noted;

(ii)               the Corporate Plan 2014-15 be agreed and adopted.

Report of the Divisional Director of Human Resources, Development & Shared Services.

RESOLVED:  That the proposed changes to the terms of reference for the Employees Consultative Forum and the terms of reference for the Employees Consultative Forum Sub-Group be agreed.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

RESOLVED:  That

(i)                 Councillors Sue Anderson, Camilla Bath and Keith Ferry be appointed as representatives to the Greater Stanmore Country Park Management Committee for the remainder of the Municipal Year 2014/15;

(ii)               Councillor Lynda Seymour replace Councillor Susan Hall as a representative on the Harrow Association of Disabled People.

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.

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.

No Motions have been notified.

There were no Motions.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.