Agenda and minutes

Members of Council stood and observed a minute silence for the Elaine McEachron, Democratic, Electoral and Registration Services Manager, who had worked for the Council for over 30 years and had passed away the previous week following a short illness.

Members paid tribute to the late Elaine McEachron.

To elect a Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year 2022/23.

RESOLVED:  That Councillor Janet Mote be elected Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow for the Municipal Year 2022/23.

To receive notification from the incoming Mayor regarding the appointment of Deputy Mayor of the Borough for the Municipal Year 2022/23.

The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Janet Mote, notified Council that she had appointed Councillor Ramji Chauhan as Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow for the 2022/23 Municipal Year.

To receive the Mayor’s announcement concerning a Chaplain.

The Mayor confirmed to Council that she had appointed Monsignor Vincent G Brady of St Luke’s Church, Pinner, as Chaplain for her Mayoral Year.

To receive a report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services on the return of Councillors elected for the 22 wards in the Borough at the elections held on Thursday 5 May 2022 and details of the notification received of Members of the Political Groups, including Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition Group and Party Whips.

RESOLVED:  That the return of Councillors elected, their respective wards and membership of the respective political groups and the Group Officers as contained in the report noted.

To receive any communications from the newly elected Mayor as to the Civic Functions for 2022/23.

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

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.

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

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.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2022 and the Extraordinary Council meetings held on 17 May 2022 be taken as read and signed as correct records.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 24 February 2022 and the two Extraordinary meetings held on 17 May 2022 be taken as read and signed as correct records.

To seek Council approval to the appointments to Committees.

RESOLVED:  That

(i)              the determination of the allocation of places on the Council’s Committees in accordance with the ‘political balance’ rules in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 be agreed and Members be appointed to them, in accordance with the notification from Political Groups;

(ii)            the establishment and terms of reference of all of the Council’s Committees and other bodies contained in the Supplemental Summons agreed.

To receive proposals from Political Groups as to the appointment of representatives of the authority to serve on the Outside Bodies listed for the Municipal Year 2022/23.

RESOLVED:  That, subject to noting that Councillor David Ashton be appointed to the London CIV, the Outside Body appointments for the Municipal Year 2022/23 be approved, as set out in the Appendix to these minutes.

Report of the Director of Legal and Governance Services

RESOLVED:  That, under Section 33 of the Localism Act 2011, all Councillors be granted a dispensation for the following categories of business allowing them to participate in consideration of these matters at meetings of the Council until the next local elections in May 2026:

1.              General Dispensations to allow a Councillor to stay, speak and vote in relation to:

a)      Setting of Council Housing rent levels and approving the Housing Revenue Account where the Councillor (or spouse/partner) held a tenancy or lease with the Council;

b)      Overarching budget reports where the Councillor (or spouse/partner) received housing benefit;

c)      Agreeing allowances, travelling expenses, payments or indemnities for Councillors;

d)      Setting the Council Tax or a Precept;

e)      Overarching budget reports where the Councillor (or spouse/partner) received adult social care support.

2.              General Dispensation for a Member to stay, speak but not to vote:

In relation to decisions on Council Tax Support where a Councillor (or spouse/partner) was in receipt of Council Tax Benefit.

3.              General Dispensation for a Councillor not to have their private address published on the Council’s website where they so request of the Monitoring Officer.

To note and confirm the dates of ordinary meetings of Council for the 2022/23 Municipal Year, as follows:-

21 July 2022

24 November 2022

23 February 2023

18 May 2023 (Annual)

RESOLVED:  That the dates of the following Council meetings be confirmed:

21 July 2022

29 September 2022

24 November 2022

23 February 2023

18 May 2023 (Annual)