Agenda and minutes

There were none.

The Worshipful the Mayor was present.

In the absence of The Mayor’s chaplain, Dayan Yonason Abraham, the Mayoress offered prayers.

The Worshipful the Mayor noted that on 15 July 2014 Council granted a General Dispensation to all Members to be present, speak and vote where they would otherwise have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest on the grounds that it was appropriate to grant a dispensation to allow all Members to participate fully.  It was noted that this was in effect until the next Council elections, and that the general dispensation applied to:

·         Council Tax:

·         Setting the Council Tax or a Precept; and

·         Decisions in relation to Council Tax Benefit.

The Worshipful the Mayor noted that Councillor John Marshall had been granted a dispensation by the Monitoring Officer in relation to his interest as a Trustee of Home Start Barnet, allowing him to stay and vote on item 11.1.

The following Members also declared an interest:

Members highlighted that the transcript of the Questions to the Leader attached to the minutes was incomplete. Officers advised that this was due to a technical issue with the recording equipment. Officers acknowledged that this was unsatisfactory, and informed Members that it would be resolved for future meetings.

The minutes of the meeting of 26 January 2016 were agreed as a correct record.

The Worshipful the Mayor noted he was honoured to welcome a visit to the borough from the Duchess of Cornwall last week, who was visiting the Holocaust Survivors Centre.

The Worshipful the Mayor noted he would be visiting the council’s regional office in Belfast next week, where he would also be visiting the Mayor of Belfast.

A reminder was given that tickets for the Mayors gala dinner taking place on 7 April at Saracens were still available, with proceeds going to the Mayor’s charities. Members were also encouraged to join up to the walking and cycling Community Challenge for charity, taking place on Sunday 13 March.

On procedural matters, the Worshipful the Mayor noted that this was a Council Budget Meeting, meaning that under Council Procedure Rule 4.1 only (Statutory Formalities/ Announcements) and 3 (Statutory Council Business) would apply to this meeting. It was noted that Item 14 Motions for Adjournment had been included on the agenda in error and that no business could be conducted under item 14 as it fell under Part 4 of council business.

There was none.

The Worshipful the Mayor called for nominations for election of Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet for 2016/17:

Conservative Group Nomination

Councillor Wendy Prentice, duly seconded by Councillor Bridget Perry moved that Councillor David Longstaff be proposed for the appointment of Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet at the annual meeting of the council on 24 May 2016.

Labour Group Nomination

Councillor Ross Houston, duly seconded by Councillor Jim Tierney moved that the Councillor Kath McGuirk be proposed for the appointment of Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet at the annual meeting of the council on 24 May 2016.

The Worshipful the Mayor advised Council that a vote for was in favour of the Conservative Nomination, Councillor David Longstaff, and a vote against was in favour of the Labour Nomination, Councillor Kath McGuirk. Upon the Conservative nomination being put to the vote, the votes were declared as follows:

For:            32

Against:     30

Abstain:       0

Absent:        1

TOTAL:      63

Councillor David Longstaff was nominated.

RESOLVED – That Councillor David Longstaff be formally proposed and seconded at the annual meeting of the council on 24 May 2016 for the appointment as Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet for the municipal year 2016/17.

Councillor David Longstaff thanked those present for his nomination and announced that Councillor Suri Khatri had consented to be his Deputy Mayor.

There were none.

There were none.

The Worshipful the Mayor moved suspension of Council Procedure Rule 26 with regards to the length of speeches on the budget. This was duly seconded and carried.

The Worshipful the Mayor noted there were corrections to recommendations 1.3 and 1.4 in the report, to delete the words ‘subject to the results of the current consultation’ as the final results of the consultation had been received and considered.

RESOLVED to allow the initial speeches on the budget to be up to the following lengths:

The Leader, Councillor Richard Cornelius, moved reception and adoption of the recommendations set out in the report from the Policy and Resources Committee.

Councillor Councillor Barry Rawlings moved his amendment which was seconded by Councillor Adam Langleben. Councillor Jack Cohen moved his amendment which was seconded by Councillor Anthony Finn.

Debate ensued.

In line with Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 and in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 15.4 voting was recorded.

Upon being put to the vote, the Labour Alternative Budget was declared lost.  Voting on the Labour Alternative Budget:

For:                 31

Against:         32

Abstain:          0

Absent:           0

TOTAL:           63

Upon being put to the vote, the Liberal Democrat Alternative Budget was declared lost.  Voting on the Liberal Democrat Alternative Budget:

Councillor John Marshall and Councillor Ross Houston left the Chamber at the start of consideration of this item.

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

The recommendations as set out in the report were put to the vote, and were declared carried.

RESOLVED:

1.    That Council approve the of a loan of £57.5m to Opendoor Homes, subject to approval of the establishment of Opendoor Homes as a Registered Provider by the Homes and Communities Agency on such terms as the Section 151 Officer considers, on advice, to be appropriate and in the best interests of the Council.

2.    That authority is delegated to the Council’s Section 151 Officer to increase the loan amount as specified in recommendation 1 up to £65m during the draw down period, if needed to provide contingency for unanticipated increases in costs over the life of the development programme.

3.    That authority is delegated to the Council’s Section 151 Officer; in consultation with HB Public Law and other professional advisors as appropriate, to agree the legal documentation to support the loan, including the Loan Agreement and Development Agreement.

4.    That authority is delegated to the Council’s Section 151 Officer, in consultation with HB Public Law, to authorise entering into the Agreements on behalf of the Council and to do such acts as are reasonably required to give effect to the Agreements.

Councillor Tom Davey moved reception and adoption of the report. Debate ensued.

The recommendation as set out in the report was put to the vote and was declared carried.

RESOLVED:

That Council approve the creation of a wholly owned council housing company to develop and own homes, subject to the Policy and Resources Committee further agreeing the business plan in due course, prior to the wholly owned housing company commencing trading.

The Worshipful the Mayor noted that that if there were any questions on the exempt report relating to this item, consideration and voting on the item would be deferred to the end of the meeting, with debate on the exempt information taken in exempt session. It was noted a Member wished to raise a matter relating to the exempt report and therefore consideration on the item was deferred to agenda item 16.

Councillor Joan Scannell moved reception and adoption of the recommendation set out in the report of the General Functions Committee. Councillor Barry Rawlings moved his amendment. Debate ensued.

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

For:           31

Against:    32

Abstain:      0

Absent:       0

TOTAL:     63

The amendment was declared lost.

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

For:           32

Against:      0

Abstain:    31

Absent:       0

TOTAL:    63

The recommendation in the report was declared carried.

RESOLVED that Council approves the annual Pay Policy Statement for the financial year 2016/17 (Annex A).

The Monitoring Officer moved reception and adoption of the recommendations set out in the report.

The recommendations as set out in the report were put to the vote. The votes were recorded as follows:

For:                 32

Against:           2

Abstain:         29

Absent:            0

TOTAL:           63

The recommendations were declared carried.

RESOLVED that:

1.     Council have regard to the recommendations of the Independent Panel on the Remuneration of Councillors in London as attached as Appendix A.

2.     Council approve the Members’ Allowances Scheme attached as Appendix B for 2016/17 with effect from 1 April 2016.

The Head of Governance moved reception and adoption of the recommendations set out in the report. It was noted that there was an error in the narrative to Appendix B. The membership of the Chipping Barnet Area Planning Committee was not subject to proportionality rules, but must have one member from each of the relevant wards, which in this case was applicable to Cllr Paul Edwards for Underhill.

The recommendations as set out in Appendix A to the report were put to the vote, and were declared carried.

The recommendations as set out in Appendix B to the report were put to the vote, and were declared carried.

RESOLVED that:

1.     Council note the changes to the Calendar of Meetings 2015/16 and 2016-17 in Appendix A.

2.     The Labour Group nomination for change of membership on the Committee detailed in Appendix B be approved.

There were none.

That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended)

The Worshipful the Mayor moved that under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act (as amended).

Councillor Daniel Thomas introduced the report and moved reception and adoption. Debate ensued.

Following consideration of the exempt information the public were re-admitted to the meeting.

The recommendations as set out in the report were put to the vote, and were declared carried.

RESOLVED that Council:

1.     Note the report of Assets, Regeneration and Growth Committee on 30 November 2015 as attached at Appendix 1 which approved the Joint Venture Structure and authorised the establishment of a Shadow Shareholder Board for the Brent Cross South Joint Venture, and that its terms of reference and membership to be drawn up for Council approval.

2.     Note the Brent Cross South Joint Venture Structure at Appendix 3 attached to the report of the Assets, Regeneration and Growth Committee on 30 November approved by the Committee on 30 November 2015.

3.     Agree the terms of reference for the Shadow Shareholder Board for the Brent  South Joint Venture as outlined in paragraph 2.15.

4.     Agree that the composition and Membership of the Shadow Shareholder Board be agreed, as per paragraphs 2.13 and 2.14.

5.     Note the decisions outlined in Appendix 2 which will be required by the Shadow Shareholder Board as detailed in the Project Agreement and Shareholder and associated documentation necessary to form the Brent Cross South Joint Venture.

6.     Note that the Project Agreement, Shareholder Agreement and associated documentation will be reported to Assets, Regeneration and Growth Committee on 17 March 2017 for approval. That report will recommend that the Chief Executive be authorised in consultation with the Leader to finalise the documentation.