Agenda and minutes

Venue: Hendon Town Hall, The Burroughs, London NW4 4BQ. View directions

Contact: Maria Lugangira 020 8359 2761 Email: maria.lugangira@barnet.gov.uk 

Items
Note No. Item

Rabbi Schochet

1.

Prayer - the Mayor's Chaplin

Minutes:

The Mayor’s Chaplin offered prayer.

 

To sign as a true record.

2.

Minutes of the meeting held on 15 May 2012 pdf icon PDF 42 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of theannual meeting of the Council held on 15 May 2012 be approved.

 

To receive Members’ declarations of interest.

3.

Declarations on Interest

Minutes:

None were declared.

4.

Official Announcements

Minutes:

The Worshipful Mayor formally welcomed Councillor Andreas Ioannidis who was elected as a Ward Councillor for Brunswick Park in the by-election held on the 31 May  2012.

 

The Worshipful Mayor congratulated Councillors Jack Cohen and Brian Salinger on having both achieved 25 years service as Members of the Council and gave the following tribute to both Members:-.

 

Councillor Jack Cohen served as Mayor of the Borough in the Municipal Year 1999 to 2000. He is Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group and, in his time on Council, he has chaired the;

·                     Development and Protection Committee

·                     The Finchley and Golders Green Area Planning Sub-Committee

·                     The Golders Green and Childs Hill Area Forum

 

Councillor Cohen has made a very significant contribution the Council, particularly in the field of planning, having served with distinction on planning committees throughout his time on Council.

 

CouncillorBrian Salinger is currently the official escort to the Deputy Mayor. He was Leader of the Council for the Municipal Year 2005-2006. Prior to that, he served as Cabinet Member for Housing and Environmental Health (2002-2005).

 

He has been Chairman of a number of Committees including amongst others:

·                     Health and Safety Joint and Negotiation Consultation

·                     First Class Education and Children Overview and Scrutiny

·                     Budget, Financing and Performance Review Executive Committee

·                     Appeals Committee

 

Councillor Salinger has also made a very significant contribution to the Council. He has always demonstrated a great interest and expertise in housing matters and has always tackled problems in this and other areas with commitment and vigour.

 

Both Members are and have always been exemplary in representing their local residents and their respective Wards of Childs Hill and Oakleigh.”

 

The Worshipful Mayor congratulated and thanked both Councillor Jack Cohen and Councillor Brian Salinger for their service to the London Borough of Barnet.

 

The Worshipful Mayor wished good luck to the 13 torch bearers taking part in the Barnet Torch Relay and those residents of the Borough competing in the Olympics, in particular Councillor Solcombe’s grandson James representing Team GB in the Fencing. The Worshipful Mayor further thanked the numerous residents who had volunteered for Olympic duties.

 

On behalf of the Council, the Worshipful Mayor passed on his condolences to Councillor Brian Gordon and his family on the passing of his mother.

 

The Worshipful Mayor informed Council that he had recently attended the funeral of Dennis Signy OBE. Mr Signy, was a former editor of the Hendon Times, passed away on 6 June 2012 at the age of 85. It was in 1983 that Dennis Signywas awarded an OBE for his community and charity work.  He leaves behind five children, seven grand children and his wife Pat.

 

5.

Resolution of Appreciation

Minutes:

RESOLUTION OF APPRECIATION

Councillor Melvin Cohen

 

That the Council of the London Borough of Barnet hereby place on record their sincere appreciation for the dedicated service to local government and to the residents of Barnet rendered over a period of 30 years by Councillor Melvin Cohen.

 

 “Councillor Melvin Cohen served as the Mayor of the Borough in the Municipal

Year of 2003 to 2004 and had a successful appeal for the Shooting Star Trust, as his chosen charity.

 

He has also served as Chairman of the former:

·                     Town Planning and Research Committee

·                     The General Executive Committee

·                     Golders Green & Childs Hill Residents Forum.

·                     Finchley and Golders Green Area Planning Sub

 

and Vice-Chairman of the former Central Area Planning Sub-Committee.

 

He has also served on numerous other Committees including the former:

·                     Housing Committee,

·                     General Purpose Committee

·                     Development and Estates Committee

·                     Western Area Planning Sub-Committee

·                     Northern Area Planning Sub-Committee

·                     Public Works Committee

·                     Policy and Resources Committee

·                     Development and Protection Committee

·                     Finchley and Golders Green Development and Protection Sub-Committee

 

From 2005 to 2010, Councillor Melvin Cohen served as the Cabinet Member for Planning and then as the Cabinet Member for Governance and Civic Affairs from 2010 to 2011.

 

Councillor Cohen currently serves as Chairman of the Special Committee (Constitution Review), Vice-Chairman of the Finchley and Golders Green Area Environment Sub-Committee and as a member the West Area Planning Sub-Committee.

 

Councillor Cohen is also currently appointed as a Council representative on the Hampstead Heath Management Committee (City of London) and the Wright Community Development Trust.

 

Councillor Cohen has served as a governor of Menorah Primary School, Rosh Pinah Primary School and Whitefield School.

 

Council extend their gratitude for his commitment to the residents of Golders Green Ward and of the London Borough of Barnet and for his continued striving to represent their best interests.”

 

 

 

 

 

Councillor Agnes Slocombe

“That the Council of the London Borough of Barnet hereby place on record their sincere appreciation for the dedicated service to local government and to the residents of Barnet rendered over a period of 30 years by Councillor Agnes Slocombe.

 

Councillor Slocombe served as the Mayor of the Borough in the Municipal Year of 1997 to 1998and had a successful appeal for the Alzheimer’s Society, her chosen charity.

 

She has served as Chairman of the Hendon Development and Protection Sub-Committee and of the Hendon Area Planning Sub-Committee.

 

She has also served on numerous other Committees including the former:

 

·                     Appeals Committee

·                     Development and Protection Committee

·                     Education Committee

·                     Education and Children’s Scrutiny Committee

·                     Environment Policy Development Committee

·                     General Purposes Committee

·                     Hendon Development and Protection Sub-Committee

·                     Housing and Environmental Services Committee

·                     Policy and Implementation Committee

·                     Recreation, Leisure and Arts Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·                     Standards Committee

·                     Street Based Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·                     Teachers Joint Negotiation and Consultation Committee

·                     Town Planning and Research Committee

·                     Western Divisional Planning Sub-Committee

 

Councillor Slocombe currently serves on the following Committees

·                     Hendon Area Planning Sub

·                     Licensing

·                     Planning and Environment

·                     Safeguarding Overview and Scrutiny

 

Councillor Slocombe is also currently appointed as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Any business remaining from the last meeting

Minutes:

There was none.

7.

Council Questions to the Leader and Cabinet

Additional documents:

Minutes:

These questions, together with the answers provided and the text of any supplementary questions and answers, are set out in Appendix 1 to these minutes

 

8.

Public Examinations - Councillor Andrew Harper pdf icon PDF 13 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Andrew Harper moved the Administration Business Item in his name. Councillor Anne Hutton moved her amendment.  Debate ensued. Upon being put to the vote the amendment in name of Councillor Hutton was declared lost. Upon being put to the vote the Administration Business Item in the name of Councillor Andrew Harper, was declared carried.

 

RESOLVED - Council welcomes proposals from Education Secretary Michael Gove for introducing greater rigour to public examinations, believing that Barnet's schoolchildren are more than capable of meeting new standards. 

 

Council calls upon the Administration to work with the DfE and schools to ensure that the examination system provides a more accurate reflection of pupils' abilities and leads to better outcomes.

 

9.

Let the people decide if they want the £1bn 'One Barnet' gamble - Councillor Alison Moore pdf icon PDF 14 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Alison Moore moved the Opposition Business Item in her name. Councillor Geof Cooke moved his amendment. Debate ensued. During the debate Councillor Anthony Finn, moved that the question now be put (to the vote), this was duly seconded by Councillor Brian Gordon. Upon being put to the vote the motion that the question now be put (to the vote) was carried.

 

Upon being put to the vote the amendment in name of Councillor Geof Cooke was declared lost. Upon being put to the vote the Opposition Business Item in the name of Councillor Alison Moore was declared lost.

 

10.

Joint Non-Executive Business Item pdf icon PDF 14 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Joan Scannell, duly seconded, moved that Non-Executive Business Item 3.3, 3.4 and 3.6 are taken together. Upon being put to the vote, the Motion was declared carried.

 

Councillors Brian Salinger, Brian Gordon and Alison Moore confirmed they supported the Joint Non-Executive Item which was a composite of the three Business Items they had submitted. This was circulated to all Members in the Chamber.

 

There was a cross party agreement that the Business Item is presented in the name of Councillor Richard Cornelius, Leader of the Conservative Group and the Council, Councillor Alison Moore, Leader of the Labour Group and Councillor Jack Cohen, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group.

 

RESOLVED - Council expresses its enthusiastic support for the forthcoming Olympic Games in London. Council wishes the British athletes every success in the event in which they are competing and expresses its hope that this major world event will pass triumphantly and peacefully bringing prestige to London, as the greatest city on earth.

 

Council sends best wishes to all those Barnet residents and those who have used Barnet based facilities to train for their events. The Council also sends best wishes to all those Barnet residents who are taking part in the many supporting roles that will be carried out to ensure that the games run safely and smoothly.

 

Council also recalls the horrific events at the Munich, Olympic games forty years ago where Israeli athletes were brutally massacred. Council adds its voice in calling for a minute’s silence during the games as a fitting memorial to the murdered athletes and as a gesture of international unity against terrorism, violence and hatred.

 

Accordingly, Council asks the three party leaders to write to the International Olympic Committee expressing our support for the minute’s silence. Council calls on Parliament to join this call.

 

11.

Barnet's Jubilee Beacon - Councillor Alan Schneiderman pdf icon PDF 14 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Alan Schneiderman  moved the Non-Executive Business Item in his name.  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 31.5, the item was voted on without discussion. Upon being put to the vote, the Non-Executive Business Item was declared lost.

9.30pm - 10:00pm

12.

Time Extension

Minutes:

The Worshipful Mayor in accordance with the Constitution moved that the period for the transaction of business be extended to 10.30pm.

 

13.

Petition for Debate

Minutes:

The Council heard representations from the Lead Petitioner, Ms Helen Michael. The petition with over 13,000 signatures called on the Council to undertake a review of both the charges and payment system. The Cabinet Member for Environment, Councillor Dean Cohen spoke in response to the petition. Further comments were heard from Councillor Alan Schneiderman and Councillor Lord Palmer.

 

RESOLVED – That Council note the petition.

 

14.

Report from Cabinet

Minutes:

There was none.

15.

Report from Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Overview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2011/12 pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Hugh Rayner moved adoption and reception of theOverview and Scrutiny Annual Report 2011/12. Councillor Alison Moore moved an additional recommendation to the report. Upon being put to the vote the additional recommendation was declared carried.

 

RESOLVED –

1.         That Council endorse the Overview & Scrutiny Annual Report 2011/12.

2.         That Council endorse the principle that all meetings of Task & Finish Groups and Ad Hoc Scrutiny Panels take place in the evenings unless there is a specific reason for a daytime meeting eg. visits or taking evidence from those who can only do a daytime meeting.  This is to ensure that as wide a range of Councillors as possible can contribute their skills and experience and can participate in scrutiny.

 

16.

Report from Audit Committee - Annual Report 2011-12 pdf icon PDF 94 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Lord Palmer moved adoption and reception of the report.

 

RESOLVED – That Council agree and note Annual Report of the Audit Committee 2011/2012.

 

17.

Report from Special Committee (Constitution Review)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Melvin Cohen moved adoption and reception of the report Special Committee (Constitution Review).

 

RESOLVED –

 

1.         That the amendments to the Contract Procedure Rules, set out in the report and in Appendix B to the report, be approved.

2.         That the monitoring/advisory role of the current Standards Committee and the role of satisfying the council’s continuing duty to promote and maintain high standards of conduct for Members and ethical standards in general be transferred to the Special Committee (Constitution Review).

 

3.         That the name of the Special Committee (Constitution Review) be changed to the Constitution, Ethics and Probity Committee in order to reflect the additional role of the Special Committee (Constitution Review) as reflected in recommendation 2 above.

 

4.         That two ‘independent persons’ with the statutory role of giving views on any complaint about the conduct of a member of the authority should be recruited through public advertisement, with the Independent Members of the existing Standards Committee being invited to apply.

 

5.         That the amendments to the Code of Conduct for Members be approved.

 

6.         That the Head of Governance makes the necessary revisions to the Council’s Constitution.

 

18.

Report of the Chief Executive pdf icon PDF 23 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That Council note Andreas Ioannidis has been elected Councillor for the Brunswick Park Ward.

19.

Report and Supplemental Report of the Head of Governance pdf icon PDF 15 KB

Minutes:

Corporate Parenting Advisory Panel

 

RESOLVED  - That the following change to the Corporate Parenting Advisory Panel  be noted;

 

  • Councillor  Brian Salinger to replace Councillor Hugh Raynera Member of the Panel.
  • Councillor Hugh Rayner to replace Councillor Brian Salinger as a substitute Member of the Panel.

 

 

 

Political Proportionality and Changes to Committee Membership

 

RESOLVED –

1.         That on the basis that the Council is made up of 63 members comprising three political groups (Conservative group (38 members), Labour group (22 members), and Liberal Democrat group (3 members), the revised allocation of seats on ordinary committees be as set out in the report.

2.         That the following changes to Committee memberships be noted:

 

            Licensing Committee

·         Councillor John Marshall (VC) relinquishes his position on the Committee.

·         Councillor Lisa Rutter is appointed the Vice-Chairman of the Committee.

·         Councillor Andrea Ioannidis is appointed as a Member of the Committee.

 

            Budget and Performance Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·         Councillor Andrew Strongolou relinquishes his position on the Committee.

·         Councillor Arjun Mittra is appointed as a Member of the Committee.

           

            Business Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·         Councillor Andrew Strongolou is appointed as a Member of the Committee.

 

Safeguarding Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·         Councillor Brian Salinger is appointed as a Member of the Committee.

 

Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

·         Councillor John Hart  is appointed as a substitute Member of the Committee.

 

 

20.

Report of the Monitoring Officer

Minutes:

There was none.

21.

Questions to representatives on Outside Bodies

Minutes:

None were received.