Minutes for Council meeting, Jan 28 2009, 7.00PM official page

Apologies for absence are listed above.

The Speaker welcomed those present to the meeting. He advised members that he would be making a few small changes to the running order of the agenda in order to bring forward the Elected Mayor’s statement as some of the changes to his Cabinet that he would be announcing would impact on the agenda item relating to Council questions.

The Speaker offered congratulations to Gideon Amos OBE, and Jennifer Bell MBE, Jennifer Sealey MBE, and Dr Marie Stewart MBE who had received honours in the Queen’s New Year Honours List.

The Speaker had held a special Speaker debate for schools in November. He had visited a number of schools and invited students to the Town Hall to learn more about citizenship and democracy.

In December the Speaker had presented the Al Falah School in Kenninghall Road with a top schools environmental award, and he had presented Hackney Free and Parochial School with their fourth Green Flag for environment.

The annual Speaker’s carol service had taken place in the Methodist Church on Mare Street on 18^th December and had focussed on homelessness and the work of the Hackney Winter Night Shelter. This had been preceded by carol singing on the steps of the Town Hall accompanied by a ten piece brass band.  The Speaker had also handed out awards at the Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association annual art competition.

On Christmas Day the Speaker had visited Homerton Hospital where he had met a number of patients, all of whom had high regard for the staff and standard of service. He had been encouraged by the work and commitment of staff there.

On New Year’s Day the Speaker had taken part in the New Year’s Parade with many other Mayors from London boroughs.

The Speaker advised that in January he had taken two schoolchildren to the Lord Mayor’s Fancy Dress Party at Mansion House.

Also in January the Speaker had witnessed the signing of the Hackney Compact by the Mayor and other community leaders. 

The Speaker had held a reception in honour of His Royal Highness the Fon of Fontem, a kingdom in Cameroon, attended by the Deputy High Commissioner for Cameroon and a number of local residents with a connection to Cameroon.

Finally the Speaker said that a ceremony to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day had been held at the Town Hall the previous day. The theme was Stand Up To Hatred and the Speaker thanked pupils from Clapton Girls’ Technology College, the Petchey Academy, and Hackney Free and Parochial School. He and two students had laid flowers at the foot of the Holocaust memorial tree in the Town Hall Square. At this point in the meeting the Speaker lit a candle in remembrance of those who had died in the Holocaust and other victims of genocide, and Council then observed a minute’s silence.

This is the time for Members to declare any personal or prejudicial interests, or dispensations they may have in any matter being considered at this meeting having regard to the guidance attached to the agenda.

Cllr Stops and Desmond declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 9 in regard to their roles as Chair and Vice-Chair respectively of the Planning Sub-Committee and stated that they would withdraw for this item.

Cllr Luke Akehurst declared a prejudicial interest in agenda item 9 as the company for which he worked for had done some work for Hammerson although not on the development that was before this meeting of the Council. He stated that he would withdraw for this item.

Cllrs Buitekant, Levy and Sharer also declared a personal interest in agenda item 9 as members of the Planning Sub-Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the ordinary meeting on 26^th November 2008 be approved as a correct record and the Chair authorised to sign them.

The Mayor advised Council that Cllr Alcock was the new Deputy Mayor who would retain her existing duties and take on the strategic housing role. Cllr Lloyd was new Cabinet member for finance. Cllr Price was now Cabinet Advisor for Hackney Homes.

The Mayor drew members’ attention to the fact that this was the last meeting of Amanda Kelly, Interim Corporate Director of Legal and Democratic Services, and he thanked her for all her hard work and commitment to Hackney.

The Mayor advised that he had received confirmation that both the Broadcast Centre and the Media Centre for the 2012 Games would be built in Hackney Wick.

With the by-election for Stoke Newington Central ward taking place the following day, the Mayor made reference to a leaflet produced by the Green Party. 

With regard to the leaflet, Cllr Borris advised that she had been asked to raise the issue of Mayors for Peace by a constituent who had contacted the Mayor but not received a response.  The Mayor confirmed that he responded to all constituents who contacted him.

Cllr Coggins congratulated those who were now in the Cabinet and paid tribute to the work of Amanda Kelly. He asked the Mayor to confirm whether there was a proposal for building a new university on the site of the Olympic Park as part of the Games legacy, or whether the Mayor thought this should primarily be a private sector place of employment. 

The Mayor responded that private companies were unlikely to want to sign a lease now for a site they could not occupy until 2013. He was clear that the legacy of the Games should be jobs and training for local people. 

Cllr Sharer also congratulated the new Cabinet members and thanked Amanda Kelly for the helpful and impartial advice she had always provided.

Cllr Sharer raised the issue of the theft of blue badges, referring to constituents who had then been penalised.  In response, the Mayor asked for details of the individual cases to be referred to him. 

5.1  From Mr Sills to the Mayor:

‘What steps are the Council taking to ensure that current Hackney residents are getting their fair share of the jobs available from the 2012 Olympics and its legacy and has the Council, in conjunction with the Learning Trust and the Further Education Colleges and the Olympic Delivery Authority considered whether any extra courses are needed to give Hackney residents a better chance of getting the jobs available?’

6.1 From Mr Sills to the Mayor:

‘What steps are the Council taking to ensure that current Hackney residents are getting their fair share of the jobs available from the 2012 Olympics and its legacy and has the Council, in conjunction with the Learning Trust and the Further Education Colleges and the Olympic Delivery Authority considered whether any extra courses are needed to give Hackney residents a better chance of getting the jobs available?’

The Mayor responded that ensuring that the legacy of the Games benefited Hackney residents was the Council’s primary objective in relation to 2012, and securing a meaningful employment legacy was a major part of that work. He made reference to various initiatives including the Olympic jobs fair held in March 2008 which was attended by over 1,000 local residents who received career advice and information; the Personal Best programme which was designed to attract those hardest to reach into volunteer training; and On-Site, a recruitment centre established in 2005 as Hackney’s construction job-brokerage scheme.  On-Site linked directly with Ways Into Work, a Hackney project tackling worklessness, which was working with a number of Registered Social Landlords in the borough delivering outreach services which would provide access to 30,000 households across the borough.

The Olympic Delivery Authority had delegated co-ordination of employment and training initiatives linked to Olympic initiatives to the Office of the Five Host Boroughs which had set up three training centres (one of which was due to open in May 2009) delivering vocational training linked to vacancies at the Park.

6.1  From Cllr Mischa Borris to the Deputy Mayor:

‘Following the Audit Commission’s inspection of Hackney Homes, does the Cabinet Member expect Hackney Homes to have passed, and now be awarded two stars?’

6.2  From Cllr Maureen Middleton to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods:

‘Does the Cabinet Member agree with me that congestion is spoiling the Narroway and that this is caused by the 110 buses routed down it at peak hours? What action is the Council taking to restore the Narroway as the centre of Hackney’s shopping?’

6.3  From Cllr Mischa Borris to the Cabinet Member for Finance:

‘Will Hackney Council amend its Contract Standing Orders and the Corporate Procurement Strategy to ask any potential suppliers, including suppliers of agency or temporary staff, whether they will agree a contractually binding commitment with LB Hackney to pay their employees at a rate equivalent to at least London Living Wage, and that they will incorporate similar clauses in contracts with their own sub-contractors?’

6.4  From Cllr Matthew Coggins to the Deputy Mayor:

‘Why hasn’t the Council done more to promote the chances of Shoreditch Park in the “Help A London Park” competition?’

6.2  From Cllr Matthew Coggins to the Mayor:

‘Why did you overrule the Acting Head of Libraries by preventing Iain Sinclair from launching a book in a Hackney library?’

Questions from Members of the Council and their oral and written responses are set out at Appendix 1 and Appendix 2.

The Mayor introduced the report, stating that this was the fourth year in which Council Tax had been frozen. 

At this juncture Cllr Odze declared a personal interest in this item as he had been involved in an enquiry relating to a local charity’s application regarding the continuation of 20% discretionary relief to its national non-domestic rate.

Cllr Coggins noted that the Council Tax collection rate target was rising to 94% and asked whether the economic recession had been factored into this. The Mayor replied that the impact of the recession on collection seemed to be less significant in Hackney than elsewhere, possibly because local communities were more economically polarised with few big City-earners and a number of residents on benefits.

Cllr Desmond highlighted that that the scrutiny function in the Council had been monitoring Council Tax collection rates. He noted that the numbers of summons issued for non-payment had reduced and that a more sensitive approach to collection had proved successful. 

RESOLVED:-  That in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992, the amount calculated by Hackney Council as its Council Tax Base for 2009/10 shall be £71,749 for Band D properties adjusted for non-collection. This represents an estimated collection rate of 94%.

The Speaker drew members’ attention to the tabled reference from the Council meeting held on 26^th January 2009, and Mayor Pipe introduced the report.  The recommendation relating to Sun Street Conservation Area was not considered and would be considered at future Cabinet and Council meetings.

RESOLVED: -

(1)  To approve and adopt the South Shoreditch Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Map 3

(2)  To approve and adopt the designation of the enlarged South Shoreditch Conservation Area (incorporating the recommended boundary changes as shown on Map 2).

Cllr Odze introduced the report of the Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission and thanked officers, registered social landlords, members of the public and all those who had provided evidence, as well as other members of the Commission.  He drew particular attention to two recommendations, one of which was that the Council consider how best to use ward councillors as champions for local parks and green spaces, and one of which was that the Parks Service actively encourage more formal play provision within areas of its remit and that all relevant stakeholders improve consultation when considering play facilities within the borough.  He commended the report to Council.

In response, the Mayor advised that the Executive accepted the Commission’s recommendations and was pleased that the Commission was broadly supportive of the Parks Service. Many of the Commission’s recommendations had already  been taken forward.

Cllrs Sharer, Taylor, Lloyd, Stops, Steinberger and Boyd took part in the ensuing debate.

Council noted the scrutiny review and the executive response. 

Cllr Oguzkanli introduced the report from the Community Safety and Social Inclusion Scrutiny Commission which had been promoted by members’ wish to have oversight of the Council’s consultation plans for the Dalston, Hackney Central and Hackney Wick masterplans. He thanked all those who had contributed to the report and commended the report to Council.

In response, the Mayor thanked members of the Commission for their work, stating that the Council was committed to growing a local economy.

Council noted the scrutiny review and the executive response. 

The Interim Corporate Director of Legal and Democratic Services introduced this report, drawing members’ attention to the fact that recommendation 2.2 should refer to authorising the new Corporate Director to agree any minor variations to the proposed terms of reference for the joint committee as she was taking up post the following week.

Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Board raised concerns that they had not seen the report at an individual or collective level in advance of it being forwarded to Council for agreement.  They were advised however that as the formal twelve week consultation was due to commence at the end of January, any delay in approving the proposal would compromise the Council’s position. The Interim Corporate Director of Legal and Democratic Services expressed her surprise that members were not aware of the report. She understood their  dissatisfaction and undertook to raise this matter with the Overview and Scrutiny Team who had commissioned the report.  

RESOLVED: - That the Council:

1) Agree to establish a London-wide Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee, to review the second Healthcare for London Consultation [Stage 2] on Major Stroke and Trauma Services in London, with the following proposed terms of reference:-

  1.  Consider and respond to proposals set out in the Healthcare for London consultation document regarding Improving Stroke and Major Trauma Services in London with reference to any related impact assessments or other documents issued by or on behalf of Healthcare for London in connection with the consultation

2.  Consider whether the Healthcare for London proposals affecting stroke and major trauma are in the interests of the health of local people and will deliver better healthcare for the people of London and people travelling across the Greater London Authority boundary, having regard to cross border issues, and

3.  Consider the Healthcare for London consultation arrangements including the formulation of options for change and whether the formal consultation process is inclusive and comprehensive.

2)  Authorise the Corporate Director to agree any minor variations to the proposed terms of reference for the Joint Committee;

3)  Appoint Councillor Jonathan McShane as Hackney’s representative to this Joint Committee

There were no appointments to Council committees made at this meeting.

Meeting closed: 9pm.

Appendix 1.

7.1  From Cllr Mischa Borris to the Deputy Mayor:

‘Following the Audit Commission’s inspection of Hackney Homes, does the Cabinet Member expect Hackney Homes to have passed, and now be awarded two stars?’

This question was withdrawn.

7.2 From Cllr Maureen Middleton to the Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods:

‘Does the Cabinet Member agree with me that congestion is spoiling the Narroway and that this is caused by the 110 buses routed down it at peak hours? What action is the Council taking to restore the Narroway as the centre of Hackney’s shopping?’

In the absence of Cllr Middleton it was agreed that a written answer would be provided to this question and this is set out at Appendix 2.

7.3  From Cllr Mischa Borris to the Cabinet Member for Finance:

‘Will Hackney Council amend its Contract Standing Orders and the Corporate Procurement Strategy to ask any potential suppliers, including suppliers of agency or temporary staff, whether they will agree a contractually binding commitment with LB Hackney to pay their employees at a rate equivalent to at least London Living Wage, and that they will incorporate similar clauses in contracts with their own sub-contractors?’

Response from Cllr Lloyd:

Cllr Lloyd stated that Hackney had a long-standing commitment to the London Living Wage but that problems remained with the National Minimum Wage which was something for which Mayor Pipe was campaigning.  It would not be necessary to amend the Council’s Contract Standing Orders as set out in the question as the Council could already request this information and had done so recently when re-tendering contracts.

In response to a supplementary question in which Cllr Borris asked for a timetable for implementation, Cllr Lloyd stated that the London Living Wage would be implemented when this was possible.

7.4  From Cllr Matthew Coggins to the Mayor:

‘Why hasn’t the Council done more to promote the chances of Shoreditch Park in the “Help A London Park” competition?’

Response from the Mayor:

The Mayor described various ways in which the competition had been publicised including coverage on the Council’s website; posters, flyers and banners; media publicity; and large quantities of publicity materials that had been given to the Shoreditch Trust for distribution.  Cllr Glanville had also set up a Facebook Group, ‘Shoreditch Park needs your votes.’

In response to a supplementary question about why this had not featured more prominently in Hackney Today, the Mayor said that an article had been published on 1^st December and follow-up information was being publicised before voting closed. However he felt that the competition was not the most effective way in which to distribute public money as he believed this should be spent where the need was greatest.

7.5  From Cllr Matthew Coggins to the Mayor:

‘Why did you overrule the Acting Head of Libraries by preventing Iain Sinclair from launching a book in a Hackney library?’

Response from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.