Agenda and minutes

There were none.

The Mayor was present.

The Mayor’s Chaplain, Pastor Doreen Teh, offered prayers.

The Worshipful the Mayor noted a minor correction had been made to the minutes on page 29 of the published agenda pack to add the word ‘Extraordinary’ to the title.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the ordinary and extraordinary Council meetings held on 3 March 2015 be approved.

The Worshipful the Mayor made the following announcements:

On behalf of Council, The Worshipful the Mayor invited Mr James-Andrew Davis, Councillor Agnes Slocombe’s grandson, to the front of the Council Chamber to congratulate him on his achievements, in particular his becoming the first ever Britain to win the 2014 European Fencing Championship title in Strasbourg, France.

The Worshipful the Mayor noted that the borough had recently marked its 50^th anniversary.  Council were informed that the formation of London Borough of Barnet 50 years ago on 1 April 1965 saw an end to the municipal boroughs of Finchley and Hendon, the Friern Barnet District of Middlesex and the East Barnet Urban District and Barnet Urban District of Hertfordshire.  At the time Barnet which became one of 32 London boroughs (excluding the City of London) had a population of little over 300,000 and had been in decline during the 10 to 20 years before its formation. The current population now stood at 360,000 and Barnet was currently set to become London’s most populous borough during the summer.

The Deputy Mayor moved the following resolution:

“That we the Members of the Council of the London Borough of Barnet, hereby express to The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Hugh Rayner, our appreciation of the excellent service he has rendered to the London Borough of Barnet as its Mayor during the period June 2014 to May 2015, and for the friendly and conscientious way in which he has performed the duties of that office.

We offer him our sincere gratitude for the concern that he has shown at all times in promoting the welfare of the Borough and its residents, particularly for his willingness to support the many organisations and individuals who called on his time and services during his Mayoralty. 

We congratulate him on the success of his appeals for two charities; Firstly the Barnet Association for the Blind, a charity which is part of the Middlesex Association for the Blind, and provides support to blind, partially sighted and deaf/blind people throughout the borough of Barnet.

Also, the RAF Museum Hendon, which The Worshipful the Mayor has taken in a keen interest in supporting, having himself served 17 years in the RAF and in his continuing capacity as president of the Royal Air Force Association Hendon and District Branch.”

The foregoing resolution is to be engrossed over the common seal of the corporation and presented to The Worshipful Mayor at the Annual Meeting.

There was none.

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

There were none.

There was none.

Councillor Richard Cornelius introduced the report and moved reception and adoption.  Debate ensued.

The recommendations as set out in the report were put to the vote. Votes were declared as follows:

For:          31

Against:   31

Abstain:     0

Absent:      0

TOTAL:    62

The Mayor used his casting vote and voted for the recommendations.  The recommendations in the report were declared carried.

RESOLVED that:

1.         Council consider the proposed fees and charges as detailed in Appendix A and approve them for implementation from 1 April 2015, or as soon as possible thereafter.

2.         Council endorses the recommendations (as set out in paragraphs 5.3.12 to 5.3.14 of this report) from Adults and Safeguarding Committee of 26 January 2015 and 19 March 2015 on the setting of fees and charges.

3.         Council note the charges for Regeneration & Housing Development within Appendix A are for noting only not formal approval.

4.         Council note the updated Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) price schedule for leisure centres within Appendix A taking effect from 1 April 2015.

Councillor Daniel Thomas introduced the report and moved reception and adoption. The information in the exempt report was noted. Councillor Kathy Levine moved her amendment. Debate ensued.

The amendment in name of Councillor Kathy Levine was put to the vote. Votes were recorded as follows:

For:          31

Against:    31

Abstain:     0

Absent:      0

TOTAL:    62

The Mayor used his casting vote and voted against the amendment.  The amendment was declared lost.

Upon the amendment in the name of Councillor Kathy Levine being put to the vote, at least ten members called for a formal division on the voting. Upon the vote being taken the results of the division were declared as follows:

For:           31

Against:    31

Abstain:      0

Absent:       0

TOTAL:     62

The Mayor used his casting vote and voted against the amendment.  The amendment was declared lost.

The recommendations as set out in the report were put to the vote. Votes were declared as follows:

For:         31

Against:    0

Abstain:  31

Absent:     0

TOTAL:   62

The recommendations in the report were declared carried.

RESOLVED that:

1.         Council note progress on the depot relocation project; and

2.         Council approve the purchase by way of an assignment of the Waste Operation lease, and delegate the finalisation of terms to the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Chairman of the Assets, Regeneration and Growth Committee.

Councillor John Marshall introduced the report and moved reception and adoption.  Debate ensued.

The recommendations as set out in the report were put to the vote. Votes were declared as follows:

For:           31

Against:    31

Abstain:      0

Absent:       0

TOTAL:    62

The Mayor used his casting vote and voted for the recommendations.  The recommendations in the report were declared carried.

RESOLVED:

1.      That Council approve the recommendations contained in the report from the Constitution Ethics & Probity Committee at Annexe A, and the track change versions attached at Appendix A to Appendix L (except for Appendix H which was for noting only).

2.      That the Monitoring Officer be authorised to implement these revisions and publish a revised Constitution.

Councillor Richard Cornelius introduced the report and moved reception and adoption.  Debate ensued.

The recommendations as set out in the report were put to the vote. Votes were declared as follows:

For:         62

Against:    0

Abstain:    0

Absent:     0

TOTAL:   62

The recommendations in the report were declared carried.

RESOLVED:

1.         That Council note the appointment of Ms Davina Fiore as the Director of Assurance.

2.         That Council note the appointment of Mr John Hooton as the Chief Operating Officer subject to the receipt of satisfactory references.

RESOLVED - That Council note the action taken by the Deputy Monitoring Officer in granting the dispensation for this meeting as set out in this report.

Councillor David Longstaff, Chairman of the Safer Communities Partnership Board, introduced the report and moved reception and adoption.  Debate ensued.

The recommendations as set out in the report were put to the vote. Votes were declared as follows:

For:          31

Against:   30

Abstain:     1

Absent:      0

TOTAL:    62

The recommendations in the report were declared carried.

RESOLVED that the Community Safety Strategy 2015-2020 is adopted.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Richard Cornelius, introduced the report and moved reception and adoption.  Debate ensued.

The recommendations as set out in the report were put to the vote. Votes were declared as follows:

For:           31

Against:      1

Abstain:    30

Absent:       0

TOTAL:     62

The recommendations in the report were declared carried.

RESOLVED that the Council approves the Corporate Plan for 2015 – 2020. 

The Chief Executive introduced the report and moved reception and adoption.  Debate ensued.

A separate vote was taken on each of the recommendations.

Changes to the Calendar of Meetings for 2014-15

RESOLVED that Council note the changes to the Calendar of Meetings as set out in the table below:

Appointments to Outside Bodies:

VALENTINE POOLE CHARITY

The Conservative Group and Labour Group Secretaries moved their nominations which had been circulated.  Two nominations had been put forward for the Valentine Poole Charity: Councillor Brian Salinger (Conservative nomination); and Councillor Philip Cohen (Labour nomination).  Upon the Conservative nomination being put to the vote, the votes were declared as follows:

For:        31

Against: 30

Abstain:   1

Absent:    0

TOTAL:  62

The Conservative nomination was carried.

RESOLVED that Councillor Brian Salinger be appointed to the Valentine Poole Charity.

Local Pension Board

The Conservative Group and Labour Group Secretaries moved their nominations which had been circulated.

The following nominations had been put forward for the Local Pension Board: Councillors Brian Salinger and Daniel Thomas (Substitute) (Conservative nominations); and Councillors Laurie Williams and Barry Rawlings (Substitute) (Labour nominations).  Upon the Conservative nominations being put to the vote, the votes were declared as follows:

For:       31

Against: 30

Abstain:   1

Absent:    0

TOTAL: 62

RESOLVED that Councillor Brian Salinger be appointed to the Local Pension Board, and that Councillor Daniel Thomas be appointed as substitute.

North London Waste Authority

The Conservative Group and Labour Group Secretaries moved their nominations which had been circulated.

Two nominations had been put forward for the North London Waste Authority: Councillor Peter Zinkin (Conservative nomination); and Councillor Alan Schneiderman (Labour nomination).  Upon the Conservative nomination being put to the vote, the votes were declared as follows:

For:         31

Against:  30

Abstain:    1

Absent:     0

TOTAL:   62

RESOLVED that Councillor Peter Zinkin be appointed to the North London Waste Authority

Adoption Permanency Panel

RESOLVED that Councillor Laurie Williams be appointed to the Adoption Permanency Panel

Calendar of Meetings 2015-16

RESOLVED that Council endorse the Calendar of Meetings 2015/16 attached at Appendix C to the report, as recommended by General Functions Committee at its meeting on 23 March 2015, prior to its final approval and adoption at Annual Council on13 May 2015.

There were none.

Under rule 6.2 of Full Council Procedure Rules the Worshipful the Mayor moved that the order of business be varied so that the next item of business be item 15.2.

Councillor Houston moved the motion in his name. Debate ensued.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 13.4, Councillor Daniel Thomas, seconded by Councillor Reuben Thompstone, moved at the conclusion of a speech of another member, the motion “That the question be now put.”  Upon being put to the vote, votes were declared as follows:

For:          31

Against:    31

Abstain:     0

Absent:      0

TOTAL:    62

The Mayor used his casting vote and voted for the motion. The motion “That the question be now put” was declared carried.

At least ten members called for a formal division on the voting. Upon the vote being taken the results of the Division were declared as follows:

Votes were declared as follows:

For:           31

Against:    31

Abstain:     0

Absent:      0

TOTAL:    62

The Mayor used his casting vote and voted for the motion. The motion “That the question be now put” was declared carried.

RESOLVED that the question be now put

In accordance with Council procedure rule 13.5 Councillor Ross Houston retained his right of reply, which was given to Councillor Ammar Naqvi.

The motion in the name of Councillor Ross Houston was then put to the vote. Votes were declared as follows:

For:         31

Against:  31

Abstain:    0

Absent:     0

TOTAL:   62

The Mayor used his casting vote against the motion. The motion was declared lost.

Councillor Richard Cornelius moved the motion in his name. Debate ensued.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Richard Cornelius was put to the vote.  Upon being put to the vote the motion was declared carried.  Votes were declared as follows:

For:         62

Against:    0

Abstain:    0

Absent:     0

TOTAL:   62

RESOLVED that:

Council notes with great concern the increase in the reported number of anti-Semitic incidents throughout the UK, involving verbal and physical attacks against Jewish people and attacks on Jewish premises. As the Borough with the largest Jewish population in the country, this Council wishes to express its unreserved condemnation of anti-Semitism and all other manifestations of racial hatred, bigotry and terrorism and its determination to continue to use all the resources and influence at its disposal to combat these evils.

Council welcomes the recent decision to award £11m from public funds towards the extra security required for Jewish communal premises. Council calls upon those charged with administering the said funds to allocate a major proportion to premises in Barnet, in view of the large number of Jewish schools and synagogues situated in this Borough.

The meeting was adjourned at 7.30pm. The meeting resumed at 7.38pm.