Idea Transcript
Agenda Item 4 At a meeting of the Borough Council held on Tuesday, 24 July 2007 at 7.30pm at Hounslow Civic Centre, Lampton Road, Hounslow Present: The Mayor, Councillor Andy Morgan-Watts (in the Chair) The Deputy Mayor, Councillor Caroline Andrews Councillors: Phil Andrews, Barwood, Lily Bath, Rajinder Bath, Bowen, Carey, Connelly, Dakers, Lin Davies, Sukhbir Dhaliwal, Surjit Dhaliwal, Gopal Dhillon, Poonam Dhillon, Brad Fisher, Pamela Fisher, Paul Fisher, Shirley Fisher, Mohinder Gill, Shivcharn Gill, Ajmer Grewal, Pritam Grewal, Hardy, Harmer, Harris, Hibbs Hills, Howliston, Hughes, Hutchison, Jabbal, Kinghorn, Lal, Lee, Malik, Mann, McGregor, Nakamura, Oulds, O’Reilly, Pitt, Reid, Sangha, Sharma, Stewart, Thompson, Todd, Vaught, Virk, Williams and Wilson
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Apologies for Absence, Other Announcements and Declarations of Interest from Members
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cadbury, Chaudhary, Cooper, Samantha Davies, Ajmer Dhillon, Darshan Grewal, Lynch, Drew Morgan Watts. Having been informed by the Mayor that the reason for Councillor Drew MorganWatts’s absence was that he was on honeymoon, Members passed on their warm congratulations to Drew and his new wife, Kate. On a sadder note, the Mayor informed the Council that it had recently come to his attention that a former councillor, Spencer Wallis, had died earlier in the year. Mr Wallis had served during the 1980s as a ward member for Turnham Green and one of the current ward members, Councillor Lee, said that Spencer Wallis would be remembered as someone who was very involved with his local Conservative association and always enjoyed a drink with friends. Councillor Sharma recalled a noble man and said that Mr Wallis would be much missed. The Council stood for a minute’s silence in memory of Spencer Wallis and all those who had served the Borough. Councillor Reid announced that the Council had embarked on increased enforcement of planning regulations in accordance with the Hounslow Plan and that several successful prosecutions had already taken place. Councillor Reid thanked the planning and enforcement team officers for their hard work, and assured them that they had the full backing of Members. Members welcomed an announcement by Councillor O’Reilly that, following the tireless work of officers and residents of Spring Grove, the Planning Inspector’s inquiry had dismissed the appeal regarding Campion House, Osterley and upheld the Council’s decision. As a member of the Brentford Waste and Recycling Group, Councillor Dakers declared a non-prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 6.
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2.
Petitions
Councillor Brad Fisher presented a petition from residents of Westmacott Residents’ Association regarding the riding of motorbikes around the pits area. 3.
Minutes (a) The minutes of the meeting held on 26 June were confirmed, subject to the correction of several typographical errors, for signing by the Mayor (b) The minutes of the special meeting held on 26 June were confirmed and signed by the Mayor.
Matters Arising Councillor Andrews thanked colleagues for their sponsorship of the charity walk from Brentford to the House of Commons on 21 July. Councillor McGregor referred to the penultimate paragraph of Item 5 “Local Government Ombudsman Report” informing the Council that he had written to the Chair of Heston and Cranford Area Committee (Planning), Councillor Hughes, and that they had met to discuss the matter but a decision had not been reached on who exactly would be covering the payment of compensation to the complainants. Councillor Hughes explained that further advice had been sought from officers on this matter. 4.
The Council’s Constitution
See report of the Leader of the Council and Deputy Leader of the Council (Chair of the Constitution Review Group) Councillor Thompson moved and Councillor Bowen seconded the motion in paragraph 1.1 of the report. In accordance with paragraphs 20.2 of the Council Procedure rules debate on the motion was adjourned until the next ordinary meeting of the Council. Resolved – Borough Council noted the intention to seek its approval for amendments to the Council’s constitution, as set out in paragraphs 3.2 (definition of Budget and Policy Framework) and 7.3 (definition of Key Decisions) of the report and noted the Executive’s intentions relating to delegation of powers to individual Executive Members. 5.
Area Committees and Planning Decision
See report of the Chair of the Sustainable Development Committee Councillor Bowen moved and Councillor Jon Hardy seconded a motion under Council Procedure Rule 11 (g) seeking agreement that all decisions pertaining to Planning Enforcement should be removed from the Heston and Cranford Area Committee and transferred to the Sustainable Development Committee and that Borough Council would review this situation after one year. In addition, the motion proposed that a report covering all enforcement recommendations rejected by Heston and Cranford Area Committee since 2004 should be presented at the next 22007 and that officers would monitor the Borough Council meeting on 25 September
performance of each Area Committee in respect of enforcement and report on an annual basis to both the Executive and Sustainable Development Committee. A debate followed in which several Members voiced grave concerns at any proposal that removed the rights of Members to carry out work for which they had been democratically elected but other Members stressed the importance of ensuring that decisions were taken in an ethical and legal manner . On putting the motion to the vote, the Mayor declared it CARRIED. Under Council Procedure Rules 11 (g) and 20.2, Councillor Bowen moved and Councillor Sheila O’Reilly seconded an amendment to Council Procedures to facilitate the implementation of paragraph 3.3 of the report. On putting the amendment to the vote, the Mayor declared it CARRIED. Resolved –
(i)
That the proposals set out in paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3 of the report be approved
(ii)
In order to implement paragraph 3.3 of the report, it was noted that the current version of Council Procedure Rule 14.5 would be changed to: At all Sustainable Development and Area Committee Planning Meetings, the names for and against a motion or amendment or abstaining from voting will be taken down in writing and entered into the minutes. For all other meetings if three Members present (eight Members for a Borough Council meeting) demand it, a recorded vote will take place in the same way. and that pursuant to Rule 20.2 this proposal would stand until the next ordinary meeting
(iii)
That all decisions pertaining to Planning Enforcement be removed from the Heston and Cranford Area Committee and transferred to the Sustainable Development Committee and that Borough Council will review this situation after one year
(iv)
That a report covering all enforcement recommendations rejected by Heston and Cranford Area Committee since 2004 be presented at the Borough Council meeting on 25 September 2007. This report will include: (a) A list of all the recommendations related to enforcement that were not approved in that period (b) Whether any of those cases are now time barred (c) The option on whether to refer those cases which are not time barred to the Sustainable Development Committee for decision
(v)
That officers will monitor the performance of each Area Committee in respect of enforcement and report yearly to both the Executive and Sustainable Development Committee
6.
The Future of Waste Management in Hounslow
See report of the Lead Member for Environment and Planning
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Resolved – That the future waste and recycling collection arrangements set out in paragraph 9 of the report be endorsed. 7. Members Allowances Scheme See report of the Leader of the Council Councillor Thompson moved and Councillor Bowen seconded the recommendations set out in A (para 9.3 (a) Option 2) -H of the report and the tabled addendum which, in view of the responsibilities attached to the role, and in keeping with the relevant Regulations, proposed the inclusion of the Chair of the Audit Committee on the list of positions for which a Special Responsibility Allowance was payable. It was proposed that the Chair of the Audit Committee should be paid at the same level as the Chair of the Sustainable Development Committee. Following a debate the motion was put to the vote and the Mayor declared it CARRIED. Resolved – A.
That Option 2 in paragraph 9.3 be pursued in respect of basic allowances and Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) with the addendum that, in view of the responsibilities attached to the role and in keeping with the Regulations, the Chair of the Audit Committee will also be paid an SRA at the same level as the Chair of the Sustainable Development Committee
B.
That the dependent care allowance be paid at an hourly flat rate of £7.20 (the London Living Wage level)
C.
That the arrangements for the allowances to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor be altered as proposed in paragraph 5.6
D.
That the SRAs for Licensing Committee members be set at £500 per annum, with payment dependent on the member being available for a minimum of four hearings per year (the Licensing Committee to keep this criterion under review and to advise the Council accordingly when the allowances scheme is reconsidered).
E.
That annual allowances of £500 each be paid to the Chair of the Standards Committee, to Parent Governor Representatives and to the formal representatives of the Church of England and Roman Catholic denominational maintained schools in the Borough, who are nominated by the dioceses.
F.
That the allowances scheme be altered to make explicit the expectations of councillors in respect of costs which are to be met from their basic allowances, eg. phone calls from home, minor stationery items, print cartridges, etc
G.
That the London Councils’ job profile, as set out in paragraph 6.1 be adopted as an expression of the general expectations of its councillors; and that the Leaders and Deputy Leaders Group consider options for appraising councillor performance and report back in due course.
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H.
That the Scheme be amended to reflect the decisions in response to Recommendations A to G above, with effect from 1 April 2007.
At this point the meeting agreed to suspend Standing Orders to enable the meeting to proceed for a further 30 minutes. QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS 8.
Councillor Howliston asked the following question of Councillor Kinghorn: “Can the Lead Member for Education and Children explain what measures are being taken to replace the ‘Pottery for Older Learners’ course that has recently closed in the West Area?” Councillor Kinghorn explained that the Hounslow Adult and Community Education Service rented space for the pottery course from Feltham Community College. Unfortunately the room was now needed by the school owing to the expansion of the sixth form and the need to accommodate vocational work for Year 10 pupils. Councillor Kinghorn appreciated the importance and value of the pottery course for older learners but said that the school had a statutory duty to pupils and a key target to encourage young people in the Feltham area to remain at school in the sixth form. Regretfully no alternative building appeared to be available to the older learners in the west part of the Borough. In a supplementary question, Councillor Howliston asked whether the Lead Member could use his influence to intervene in this matter. Councillor Kinghorn replied that it would not be appropriate for him to interfere with the day -to-day management of schools’ own buildings. Councillor Kinghorn reiterated that the Adult and Community Education Service rented space in suitable establishments but that the management of the buildings was not within the control of the Council.
9.
Councillor Sharma asked the following question of Councillor McGregor: "Following the success of the Mayor’s event in the new Lampton Centre, can the Lead Member advise the Council of their lettings and marketing strategy, including income generation, for this new facility? Councillor McGregor responded that it was the intention of the Executive to ensure that the new premises were used as a resource for the whole Borough and not just certain sections of the community. Having inherited the project from the previous Administration it was the current Executive’s intention to adopt a suitable plan for the use of the new facility and time had been taken in order to give serious consideration to several proposals including a disability daycentre, offices for the Primary Care Trust, data centre and work place nursery. Whatever option was chosen would seek to facilitate delivery of the objectives in the published Hounslow Plan.
MOTIONS 10.
Councillor Bowen tabled moved and Councillor Pamela Fisher seconded the 5 following motion
“This Council congratulates the successful candidate at the recent by-election in Hanworth Park and wishes them every success as a Councillor from now until 2010. This Council is concerned at a number of statements that were made by the Labour Party about the current administration at the above by-election, including the following claims: “Sacked all the council officers that used to deal with your complaints” – Spring 2007 Campaign Edition 1(Printed and published by Colin Ellar) “Cancelled plans to redevelop Feltham Arenas for local people” - Spring 2007 Campaign Edition 1(Printed and published by Colin Ellar) "...closure of a valuable care home like Eldridge house happen, closed secretly and cynically by the uncaring Tories" – Letter dated 7 July 2007 from Labour Candidate Colin Ellar (Printed and promoted by Ruth Cadbury) This Council does not accept that the first two of the above are true, nor does it accept that there was anything improper in the way that the Executive handled Eldridge House. In view of the above, all political parties are urged to campaign responsibly, with honesty and integrity, in future”. Councillor Bowen moved and Councillor Fisher seconded the following tabled amendment to paragraph 1 of the motion:This Council congratulates Councillor Paul Jabbal on his successful election at the recent by-election in Hanworth Park and wishes him every success as a Councillor. It also recognises that people in Hanworth Park knew exactly what they were voting for, which is contrary to the comment made by the defeated Labour candidate, as reported in the Feltham Chronicle on 19 July. The substantive motion was debated together with the proposed amendment. At this point the meeting agreed to suspend Standing Orders to enable the meeting to proceed until 10.50pm. The debate was brought to a close when Councillor Reid proposed under Standing Order 12 that the motion now be put. The substantive motion (as amended) was then put to the vote which was declared CARRIED by the Mayor.
11.
Exclusion of Public and Press
That the public and press be asked to leave the meeting during discussions of the remaining items of business because exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 3 of the Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972 is likely to be made known
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12.
Performance Improvement Programme
See report of the Leader of the Council The Leader’s report informed Borough Council of the process and results of the tender evaluation exercise for the letting of the contract to deliver the Performance Improvement Programme (PIP). Members noted that the position of the preferred participant had been awarded to KPMG as they had been assessed as providing the most economically advantageous bid.
Resolved – That the decision of the Executive on 3 July to approve the selection of KPMG as the preferred service provider to deliver the Council’s Performance Improvement Programme be noted
The meeting ended at 10.52pm
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