Agenda and draft minutes

The Mayor’s Chaplain, Reverend Julie Gittoes offered prayer.

 Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Monasterio, Rich, Radford, Innocenti and Joshua Conway.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Naqvi.

The Worshipful the Mayor called for nominations for the election of the Mayor of Barnet for the ensuing municipal year.

Councillor Sargeant moved, seconded by Councillor Khalick, that Councillor Nagus Narenthira be elected Mayor.

Upon being put to the vote the nomination for Councillor Nagus Narenthira was declared carried.

RESOLVED that Councillor Nagus Narenthira be elected Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet for the ensuing municipal year 2023-24.

Councillor Nagus Narenthira then left the Council Chamber to robe. Upon her return, she was invested with the badge and chain of the office of Mayor.

THE WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR COUNCILLOR NAGUS NARENTHIRA IN THE CHAIR

The Worshipful the Mayor thanked the Council for the honour conferred upon her by her election. The Worshipful the Mayor announced the appointment of Councillor Tony Vourou to act as Deputy Mayor during her term of office.

Council noted a correction to the minutes of the Budget Council meeting on 28 February 2023 that Councillor Claire Farrier was incorrectly recorded as being absent. Subject to that correction it was RESOLVED that the minutes of the Extraordinary Council meeting on the 2 May 2023 and the Budget Council meeting on 28 February 2023 were agreed as a correct record.

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The Worshipful the Mayor informed Council of the Civic Awards ceremony that took place in the Chamber on 25 April. The three categories recognised were: Lifetime Achievement Award; Outstanding Service to the Community; and Barnet Young Citizen of the Year. Pictures of the very worthy winners could be found on the website.

The Worshipful the Mayor informed Council of the BarNET ZERO Awards that took place which was further national recognition for the council’s BarNET ZERO sustainability work, with our pilot study of the Net Zero Estates Tool shortlisted for the Innovation of the Year – Product or Service category in the Unlock Net Zero Awards. This news comes following the recent shortlist for the Sustainable City Awards Public Sector Campaign of the Year for our BarNET ZERO campaign, centred around becoming a net zero council by 2030 and borough by 2042.

The Worshipful the Mayor informed Council of the Mayor’ Multi-Faith Civic Service, held on Sunday 14 May marking the Coronation and celebrating Barnet’s diverse communities. The service was held at Middlesex University with representation from many faiths and were entertained by wonderful choirs and dancing.

The Worshipful the Mayor informed Council of the upcoming Armed Forces Day parade to be held on Saturday 24 June and flag raising which will be held at the RAF Museum at 10am.

The Worshipful the Mayor informed Council of the sad death of former Councillor John Davies who lived in and represented East Finchley, between 1982 and 1994, serving as the Leader of the Labour Group.

The Worshipful the Mayor also announced the sad death of former Mayoress Mrs Mary Elizabeth Goodman who served as Mayoress to the late Mayor and former Councillor Don Goodman in 1988 – 1989. Mary passed aged 91.

Worshipful the Mayor then asked the Council to stand for a minute’s silence.

The Worshipful the Mayor wrote to His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla on 6 May 2023 on behalf of the borough to congratulate them on their coronation. The letter read:

‘On behalf of the Council and Citizens of the London Borough of Barnet, it gives me great pleasure to send to Your Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla ‘Loyal Greetings’ and congratulations on the most happiest occasion of your Coronation.

We would like to express our gratitude to you both for your continued dedication and selfless contributions to the life of our Borough, our Nation and the Commonwealth.

I have the honour to be, Sir, Ma’am, Your Majesties’ humble and obedient servant,’

The Worshipful the Mayor informed Council of the Coronation Celebrations took place in celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III at Golders Hill Park on 8 May where the event was very well attended by members of the public, councillors and guests. The Mayor expressed her thanks to all those who made the event a success.

The Worshipful the Mayor asked Council to join her in making the following statements:

“Council believes that:

1.    The Monarchy is a much-loved institution,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Councillor Rawlings, Leader of the Council, moved the reception and adoption of appointments recommended for noting in the report.

RESOLVED that Council note the recommendations.

Council considered the report which outlined further amendments to sections of the Constitution.

On the recommendations in the report being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows as:

For: 37

Against: 21

Abstain: 0

Absent: 5

Total: 63

RESOLVED that:

1.    Council approve the amendments to the Constitution as set out in the Appendices A, B & C. 

2.   Council agree the new Constitution will come into effect during Annual Council.

3.    Council delegate authority to the Monitoring Officer to make ‘housekeeping changes’ to the Constitution such as terminology to ensure consistency, numbering and formatting changes.

Council considered the report which outlined agreeing a waiver for all members of the Authority until the end of May 2024 should they be unable to attend a meeting of the Authority for 6 months due to illness, pregnancy or maternity.

An amendment to the report was noted to include paternity leave.

On the recommendations in the report being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows as:

For: 58

Against: 0

Abstain: 0

Absent: 5

Total: 63

RESOLVED that Council agree a waiver for all members of the Authority until the end of May 2024 should they be unable to attend a meeting of the Authority for 6 months due to illness, pregnancy or maternity.

Council considered the report which outlined appointments to Committees and Boards, as set out in Appendix A of the report. Council noted the amendments to Appendix A:

For the Licensing & General Purposes Committee, the Chair is proposed to be Cllr Emma Whysall and the Vice-Chair is proposed to be Cllr Claire Farrier.

For the Appeals Committee, the Chair is proposed to be Cllr Edith David and the Vice-Chair is proposed to be Cllr Ross Houston.

For the Call-In Sub-Committee, there is no longer a requirement to appoint members to the sub-committee.  Membership of the sub-committee will be drawn from the membership of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee or Sub-Committees as and when a Call-In Sub-Committee is required to be convened.

In relation to other appointments, Council were requested to note that the position of Lifelong Learning Champion had been omitted from the Member Champion list in Appendix A.  Councillor Anne Hutton was proposed for that position. 

On the appointments to Committees outlined in Appendix A as amended above being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

For: 58

Against: 0

Abstain: 0

Absent: 5

Total: 63

On the non-councillor appointments outlined in Appendix B being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

For: 58

Against: 0

Abstain: 0

Absent: 5

Total: 63

RESOLVED that:

1.    Council approve the appointments to the committees as set out in Appendix A as amended above.

2.    Council note the continuing appointments of Independent, Co-opted, Partner and Officers as listed in Appendix B and agree any re-appointments where required.

Council considered the report which outlined the appointments to Outside bodies for Council’s agreement.

The Worshipful the Mayor advised that there was competition for membership on one of the outside bodies: Eleanor Palmer Trust.

On the Labour group nominations for the contested outside body being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

For: 37

Against: 21

Abstain: 0

Absent: 5

Total: 63

On the Conservative group nominations for the contested outside body being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

For: 21

Against: 37

Abstain: 0

Absent: 5

Total: 63

RESOLVED that the Labour Group nominations for the Eleanor Palmer Trust representative be agreed.

On the remaining uncontested nominations in Appendix A being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

For: 58

Against: 0

Abstain: 0

Absent: 5

Total: 63

RESOLVED that the uncontested nominations to Outside Bodies outlined in Appendix A be agreed.

Council considered the report which outlined changes to the published calendar of meetings 2023/24. Council was also asked to note the following corrections to the published calendar of meetings:

To move Licensing & General Purposes Committee from Thursday 9 November 2023 to Wednesday 8 November 2023

To move North Area Committee: from Thursday 15 June 2023 to Thursday 22 June 2023; and from Thursday 21 March 2024 to Thursday 28 March 2024.

On the recommendations in the report being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

For: 58

Against: 0

Abstain: 0

Absent: 5

Total: 63

RESOLVED that the changes to the published calendar of meetings 2023/24 be approved.