Agenda item

(1)            Standing against discrimination, racism and crime Motion

To be moved by Councillor Mrs Chika Amadi and seconded by Councillor Graham Henson:

“Harrow Council is concerned about the increasing levels of discrimination, racism and violent crime in London.  Even though the number of times Londoners have been stopped for “stop and search” fell by 28% in 2015-2016, black people are six times more likely to be stopped than white people.

Undoubtedly, Harrow has been declared the safest borough in London, but a lot more work will need to be done in order to ensure equality and safety for all residents of our very diverse Borough, making Harrow and London a better place for all our communities. 

Harrow Council welcomes Mayor Khan’s commitment to the restoration of real neighbourhood policing as the top priority for the Met, and that the Police and Crime Plan 2017-2020 will focus on neighbourhood and local policing; keeping children and young people safe; tackling violence against women and girls; tackling violent extremism, terrorism and hate crime; and ensuring an effective Criminal Justice System.

Harrow Council instructs the Council Leader and the Chief Executive to write to Sophie Linden, London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, expressing their support towards the proposed Police and Crime Plan 2017-2020 and call for any future plans to also focus on reducing discrimination and hate crime.”

(2)            Fair fundingMotion

To be moved by Councillor Kareema Marikar and seconded by Councillor Adam Swersky:

“Harrow Council is concerned about the constant decrease in Governmental funding that the Borough is receiving.  This funding is not adequate for the growing pressures that the Council is facing; despite its efforts the Council continues to face unprecedented demands upon its budget leading to an estimated budget pressure of £8m in 2016/17.  The homelessness crisis is causing a pressure of £2.5m due to the combined impact of a shortage of affordable accommodation in London, rapidly increasing rents in the private rented sector and the impact of welfare reforms placing increased pressures on household incomes.  The pressure against the Adults and Children’s budgets is estimated at £5m largely as a result of the pressure of social care placements, front line staffing costs and special needs transport. In the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2016/17 the revised allocation methodology for Revenue Support Grant saw the Council lose £6.4m in grant funding meaning Harrow Council fared the 6^th worst in London. 

Harrow Council instructs the Council Leader and the Chief Executive to write to and work with London Councils and the LGA in order to make the case for a fairer funding settlement for the Borough.”

(3)            Need for greater understanding of the implications of the administration’s regeneration plans

To be moved by Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane and seconded by Councillor Susan Hall in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 18.1.1:

“This Council notes:

·                     That the administration’s regeneration plans will include up to £356m of new borrowing, which would more than double the Council’s debt.

·                     That, at an assumed 2% interest rate, the interest charges alone on this new debt will cost the Council an additional £7 million a year from the Council’s already under-pressure Revenue budget.

·                     That, to put this additional £7 million in interest payments into perspective, the voluntary sector budget is around £1.45 million – and, after years of cuts, the administration is proposing to cut it again in the coming financial year.

·                     That, when the administration brought the report outlining its regeneration plans to September’s Council, the guillotine fell, preventing all Members from discussing the regeneration plans and their financing and implications for the borough and our residents.

This Council believes:

That any decision of such magnitude, with huge financial implications for the Council’s budget and potential to force additional cuts to other services, should be fully discussed by all members in Full Council.

This Council resolves:

That Council’s decision of September 22 2016 to agree “the additional capital budgets for 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 be approved and added to the Capital Programme” be reversed.

This Council further resolves:

That the administration should not bring its regeneration plans back to full Council until the plans have been brought to scrutiny and all Members feel that they have been fully briefed on all the implications of the administration’s regeneration plans for the Council, borough and our residents and feel able to fully contribute to an informed discussion of those regeneration plans.”

(i)            Motion in the names of Councillor Mrs Chika Amadi and Councillor Graham Henson.

“Standing against discrimination, racism and crime Motion

Harrow Council is concerned about the increasing levels of discrimination, racism and violent crime in London.  Even though the number of times Londoners have been stopped for “stop and search” fell by 28% in 2015-2016, black people are six times more likely to be stopped than white people.

Undoubtedly, Harrow has been declared the safest borough in London, but a lot more work will need to be done in order to ensure equality and safety for all residents of our very diverse Borough, making Harrow and London a better place for all our communities. 

Harrow Council welcomes Mayor Khan’s commitment to the restoration of real neighbourhood policing as the top priority for the Met, and that the Police and Crime Plan 2017-2020 will focus on neighbourhood and local policing; keeping children and young people safe; tackling violence against women and girls; tackling violent extremism, terrorism and hate crime; and ensuring an effective Criminal Justice System.

Harrow Council instructs the Council Leader and the Chief Executive to write to Sophie Linden, London’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, expressing their support towards the proposed Police and Crime Plan 2017-2020 and call for any future plans to also focus on reducing discrimination and hate crime.”

Upon a vote, the Motion was agreed unanimously.

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

(ii)          Motion in the names of Councillor Kareema Marikar and Councillor Adam Swersky.

“Fair fundingMotion

Harrow Council is concerned about the constant decrease in Governmental funding that the Borough is receiving.  This funding is not adequate for the growing pressures that the Council is facing; despite its efforts the Council continues to face unprecedented demands upon its budget leading to an estimated budget pressure of £8m in 2016/17.  The homelessness crisis is causing a pressure of £2.5m due to the combined impact of a shortage of affordable accommodation in London, rapidly increasing rents in the private rented sector and the impact of welfare reforms placing increased pressures on household incomes.  The pressure against the Adults and Children’s budgets is estimated at £5m largely as a result of the pressure of social care placements, front line staffing costs and special needs transport. In the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2016/17 the revised allocation methodology for Revenue Support Grant saw the Council lose £6.4m in grant funding meaning Harrow Council fared the 6^th worst in London. 

Harrow Council instructs the Council Leader and the Chief Executive to write to and work with London Councils and the LGA in order to make the case for a fairer funding settlement for the Borough.”

Upon a vote, the Motion was agreed unanimously.

RESOLVED:  That the Motion set out at (ii) above be adopted.

(iii)         Motion in the names of Councillor Barry Macleod-Cullinane and Councillor Susan Hall in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 18.1.1.

“Need for greater understanding of the implications of the administration’s regeneration plans Motion

This Council notes:

·           That the administration’s regeneration plans will include up to £356m of new borrowing, which would more than double the Council’s debt.

·           That, at an assumed 2% interest rate, the interest charges alone on this new debt will cost the Council an additional £7 million a year from the Council’s already under-pressure Revenue budget.

·           That, to put this additional £7 million in interest payments into perspective, the voluntary sector budget is around £1.45 million – and, after years of cuts, the administration is proposing to cut it again in the coming financial year.

·           That, when the administration brought the report outlining its regeneration plans to September’s Council, the guillotine fell, preventing all Members from discussing the regeneration plans and their financing and implications for the borough and our residents.

This Council believes:

That any decision of such magnitude, with huge financial implications for the Council’s budget and potential to force additional cuts to other services, should be fully discussed by all members in Full Council.

This Council resolves:

That Council’s decision of September 22 2016 to agree “the additional capital budgets for 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 be approved and added to the Capital Programme” be reversed.

This Council further resolves:

That the administration should not bring its regeneration plans back to full Council until the plans have been brought to scrutiny and all Members feel that they have been fully briefed on all the implications of the administration’s regeneration plans for the Council, borough and our residents and feel able to fully contribute to an informed discussion of those regeneration plans.”

Upon a vote, the Motion was not agreed.