Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Kirstin Lambert, Email: kirstin.lambert@barnet.gov.uk, 020 8359 2177 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Zakia Zubairi. Apologies for late arrival were received from Councillor Kitty Lyons.

2.

Elect a Member to preside if the Mayor is absent

Minutes:

The Worshipful the Mayor was present.

3.

Prayer

Minutes:

The Mayor’s chaplain, Reverend Tristan Chapman, offered prayers.

4.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

The following members declared an interest:

 

Councillor

Subject

Interest declared

Councillor Alan Schneiderman

14.4 – Motion in the name of Councillor Anne Hutton

Councillor Alan Schneiderman declared a non-pecuniary interest as he is employed in the Department of Education. He noted he would not be participating in the debate or vote on this item.

 

Councillor Adam Langleben

14.3 – Motion in the name of Councillor Brian Gordon and 14.6 – Motion in the name of Councillor Barry Rawlings

Councillor Langleben declared a non-pecuniary interest as his employer is the Jewish Leadership Council which is to adopt the definition.

 

It was noted that being a member of a school governing body was not an interest required to be declared in respect of agenda item 14.5 – Motion in the name of Councillor Anne Hutton.

5.

Minutes of the last meeting pdf icon PDF 132 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2016 were agreed as a correct record, subject to the addition of Councillor Rohit Grover’s surname on the attendee list.

6.

Official announcements

Minutes:

The Worshipful the Mayor asked Council to join him in sending best wishes for the speedy recovery of Councillor Zakia Zubairi who it was noted had recently suffered a fall and was recovering in hospital.

 

The Worshipful the Mayor acknowledged the achievement of several Barnet residents who had received the highest commendations in the New Years’ Honours List this year:Department for Work and Pensions employee Mira Vyas and mental health campaigner Jonathan Bernard Benjamin were both made Member of the British Empire (MBEs). Four other Barnet figures were awarded British Empire Medals for their charitable and community work: Marcia Feldman, Ivan French and Sheila French, and Ingrid Park. It was also noted that Sir David Sloman, who was appointed as the chief executive of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust in 2009, had been knighted for services to the NHS.

 

The Worshipful the Mayor thanked Members who attended Holocaust Memorial Day on Sunday. It was noted the event was very well attended, and a very moving occasion.

 

In other announcements the Worshipful the Mayor noted he had recently entered the London New Years Day Parade for the borough of Barnet with the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School. It was noted he had come 6th in the float competition, and won £5K for his charities the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice and Dementia Club UK.

With sadness the Worshipful the Mayor announced several recent deaths of well-known Barnet residents. It was noted Rabbi Lionel Blue sadly passed away late last year at the age of 86. Rabbi Lionel Blue was the first openly gay British Rabbi, well known for his liberal teachings and his achievements as a broadcaster and journalist, for which he was awarded an OBE.

The Worshipful the Mayor also noted the loss of former Barnet resident and singer George Michael who was born in Church Lane East Finchley, and tragically passed away on Christmas day.

 

The Worshipful the Mayor with great sadness announced that former Brunswick Park conservative councillor, and in more recent years editor of the Barnet Bugle, Dan Hope, had passed away.

 

Councillor Richard Cornelius, Councillor Brian Salinger and Councillor Kath McGuirk each spoke in remembrance of Dan Hope.

 

On request of The Worshipful the Mayor Council held a minute’s silence.

7.

Any business remaining from last meeting

8.

Questions to the Leader (and Committee Chairmen if he/she has delegated) pdf icon PDF 250 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Answers to the questions submitted were provided as a supplementary paper to the agenda.

 

Supplementary questions were then asked and answered within the allotted time given for the item.

 

9.

Petitions for Debate

Minutes:

There were none.

10.

Reports from the Leader

Minutes:

There were none.

11.

Report of the Chief Officer Appointment Panel - 25 January 2017 pdf icon PDF 230 KB

Minutes:

Councillor Richard Cornelius, Chairman of the Chief Officer Appointment Panel, moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report.

 

The recommendations in the report were then put to the vote, and were unanimously agreed.

 

RESOLVED – that

 

1.    Mr John Hooton be appointed as Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service.

 

2.    The appointment be subject to the clearance of satisfactory employment checks.

12.

Report of the Interim Chief Executive and s151officer - Invitation to opt-in to the national scheme for auditor appointments pdf icon PDF 254 KB

Minutes:

The Chairman of the Audit Committee, Councillor Brian Salinger moved reception and adoption of the report.

 

The recommendation in the report was then put to the vote and was unanimously agreed.

 

RESOLVED that Full Council approves the decision to accept the invitation for the Authority to opt into the sector-led procurement of external audit services.

 

13.

Report of the Head of Governance pdf icon PDF 227 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Governance introduced the report. He noted that the items set out at agenda item 12.1 detailed in-year changes to the 2016/17 and 2017/18 calendar of meetings and changes to committee memberships. It was noted that some meetings which had been scheduled for the period between the local elections on 3 May 2018 and Annual Council on 22 May 2018 may need to be re-scheduled, and officers would liaise with Group Leaders, relevant committee Chairmen and the Chairman of General Functions Committee to establish dates.

 

The recommendations as set out in Appendix A were put to the vote and were unanimously agreed with the exception of the Chipping Barnet Area Committee which had been scheduled to take place on 4 May 2017. The Head of Governance undertook to find an alternative date for this meeting.

 

The recommendations as set out in Appendix B and B1 were put to the vote and were unanimously agreed.

 

RESOLVED – that Council

 

1.    Note the changes to the Calendar of Meetings 2016/17 and 2017-18 as attached in Appendix A, with the exception of the Chipping Barnet Area Committee which had been scheduled to take place on 4 May 2017. The Head of Governance undertook to find an alternative date for this meeting.

 

2.    Approve the Conservative Group nominations for change of membership on the Finchley and Golders Green Area Committee as set out in Appendix B.

 

3.    Approve the Labour Group nominations for change of membership on the Adults and Safeguarding Committee as set out in Appendix B1.

 

 

14.

Questions to Council Representatives on Outside Bodies

Minutes:

There were none.

15.

Motions (45 minutes) pdf icon PDF 60 KB

Minutes:

The Worshipful the Mayor noted that the Opposition had proposed that Council agree to debate an emergency motion in the name of Councillor Barry Rawlings on ‘Ban on people from Muslim-majority countries entering the US’.

 

The reasons given for urgency were that:

 

1.    The executive order was signed this week after the deadline for motions;

2.    Barnet residents affected may be caught up in current and imminent travel difficulties.

 

It was noted that to consider this item Council would need to invoke Council Procedure Rules 7.1 and 7.2 to resolve to suspend Full Council procedure Rules 2.1 and 23.1 to agree to the additional agenda item.

 

A vote was taken on whether to suspend Full Council Procedure Rules 2.1 and 23.1 to agree to the additional agenda item, and the votes were declared as follows:

 

For

30

Against

32

Abstain

0

Absent

1

TOTAL

63

 

The vote was declared lost.

 

The Mayor then called on the Group Secretaries to state which motions they wished to put forward for debate.

  

The Conservative Group Secretary stated that the Administration had chosen to debate the motion at 14.3 – Administration Motion in the name of Councillor Brian Gordon - An internationally recognised definition of anti-Semitism.

 

The Labour Group Secretary stated that the Opposition had chosen to debate the motion at 14.5 – Opposition Motion in the name of Councillor Anne Hutton - Impact of National Funding Formula on Barnet’s Schools.

15.1

Administration motion in the name of Cllr Brian Gordon - Adoption of an internationally recognised definition of anti-Semitism pdf icon PDF 58 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Brian Gordon moved the Motion in his name. Councillor Barry Rawlings moved the amendment in his name. Debate ensued.

 

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

 

For

30

Against

32

Abstain

0

Absent

1

TOTAL

63

 

The amendment was declared lost.

 

The motion was then put to the vote, and was unanimously declared carried.

 

RESOLVED –

 

Council deplores the marked increase in anti-Semitic incidents in this country. Council notes the variety of guises in which anti-Semitic hate-mongering can be manifested and the indirect tactics often employed to promote animosity towards Jews, such as inflammatory, slanderous attacks on Israel and Zionism.   Such tactics are equally deplorable, be they from extreme Right, Left or fundamentalist sources.

 

Council considers these developments to be of particular concern within this Borough, which has the largest Jewish population in the country, and prides itself on the good inter-community relations existing among its citizens Council accordingly welcomes the lead taken by HM Government in promoting the adoption of an internationally recognised definition of antisemitism, consistent with that adopted last year by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. These states: “Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred towards Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.” Council hereby adopts the said definition as part of its own efforts to combat antisemitism and all other forms of racism and hate crime.

 

15.2

Opposition motion in the name of Cllr Anne Hutton - Impact of National Funding Formula on Barnet's schools pdf icon PDF 105 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Having declared an interest, Councillor Alan Schneiderman left the chamber for consideration and voting on this item.

 

Councillor Anne Hutton moved the Motion in her name. Councillor Kathy Levine moved the amendment in her name. Debate ensued.

 

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

 

For

29

Against

32

Abstain

0

Absent

2

TOTAL

63

 

The amendment was declared lost.

 

Votes were then taken on the motion, and recorded as follows:

 

For

29

Against

32

Abstain

0

Absent

2

TOTAL

63

 

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

Against

Not Voting

Absent

Maureen Braun

ü

 

 

Rebecca Challice

ü

 

Pauline Coakley Webb

ü

 

 

 

Dean Cohen

 

ü

 

 

Jack Cohen

ü

 

 

 

Melvin Cohen

 

ü

 

Philip Cohen

ü

 

 

 

Geof Cooke

ü

 

 

 

Alison Cornelius

 

ü

 

 

Richard Cornelius

 

ü

 

 

Tom Davey

 

ü

 

 

Val Duschinsky

 

ü

 

 

Paul Edwards

ü

 

 

Claire Farrier

ü

 

 

 

Anthony Finn

ü

 

 

Brian Gordon

ü

 

 

Eva Greenspan

ü

 

 

Rohit Grover

 

ü

 

 

Helena Hart

ü

 

 

John Hart

ü

 

 

Ross Houston

ü

 

 

 

Anne Hutton

ü

 

 

 

Andreas Ioannidis

ü

 

 

 

Devra Kay

ü

 

 

Sury Khatri

 

ü

 

 

Adam Langleben

ü

 

 

 

Kathy Levine

ü

 

 

David Longstaff

 

ü

 

 

Kitty Lyons

ü

 

 

John Marshall

 

ü

 

 

Kath McGuirk

ü

 

 

Arjun Mittra

ü

 

 

 

Alison Moore

ü

 

 

 

Ammar Naqvi

ü

 

 

 

Nagas Narenthira

ü

 

 

 

Charlie O’Macauley

ü

 

 

 

Graham Old

 

ü

 

 

Alon Or-Bach

ü

 

 

Reema Patel

ü

 

 

Bridget Perry

 

ü

 

 

Wendy Prentice

 

ü

 

 

Sachin Rajput

 

ü

 

 

Barry Rawlings

ü

 

 

Hugh Rayner

 

ü

 

 

Tim Roberts

ü

 

Gabriel Rozenberg

 

ü

 

 

Lisa Rutter

 

ü

 

 

Shimon Ryde

 

ü

 

Brian Salinger

 

ü

 

 

Gill Sargeant

ü

 

Joan Scannell

 

ü

 

Alan Schneiderman

 

ü

Mark Shooter

 

ü

 

Agnes Slocombe

ü

 

 

Stephen Sowerby

 

ü

 

Caroline Stock

 

ü

 

 

Daniel Thomas

 

ü

 

 

Reuben Thompstone

 

ü

 

 

Jim Tierney

ü

 

 

 

Amy Trevethan

ü

 

 

Laurie Williams

ü

 

 

 

Peter Zinkin

 

ü

 

 

Zakia Zubairi

 

ü

 

For

29

Against

32

Abstain

0

Absent

2

TOTAL

63

 

The motion was declared lost.

 

15.3

Opposition motion in the name of Cllr Barry Rawlings - Reunification of Cyprus pdf icon PDF 55 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Under Council Procedure Rule 23.5 the Motion in the name of Councillor Barry Rawlings and the amendment to the Motion in the name of Councillor Richard Cornelius, were put to the vote without debate

 

The amendment in the name of Councillor Richard Cornelius was put to the vote, and was agreed unanimously by Council.

 

The substantive motion as amended was then put to the vote, and was unanimously agreed by Council.

 

RESOLVED –

 

Council welcomes the recent 5-party talks in Geneva on Cyprus, and the progress made so far towards finding a lasting and viable solution that reunifies Cyprus and its people - an issue affecting the significant Cypriot community in Barnet.

 

Council hopes that the talks and ongoing process are given the time needed to find an equitable solution for all.Council trusts that any settlement will reflect the views of those residents of Cyprus residing in Barnet, exiled from their homes in parts of the island that are occupied.

 

Council asks the Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition to jointly write to the Foreign Secretary and three Barnet MPs in support of the current process and the UK Government's efforts and role in working towards a united Cyprus.

15.4

Administration Motion in the name of Cllr Rohit Grover - A Public Realm Management Forum for Barnet pdf icon PDF 67 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Under Council Procedure Rule 23.5 this motion was referred to the Environment Committee for consideration.

15.5

Administration Motion in the name of Cllr Lisa Rutter - Volunteering in care homes pdf icon PDF 51 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Under Council Procedure Rule 23.5 this motion was referred to the Health & Wellbeing Board for consideration.

15.6

Opposition Motion in the name of Cllr Barry Rawlings - Adoption of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism pdf icon PDF 63 KB

Minutes:

Under Council Procedure Rule 23.5 the Motion in the name of Councillor Barry Rawlings was put to the vote without debate. On being put to the vote the motion was agreed unanimously by Council.

 

RESOLVED –

Council expresses alarm at the rise in antisemitism in recent years across the UK. This includes incidents when criticism of Israel has been expressed using antisemitic tropes. Criticism of Israel can be legitimate, but not if it employs the tropes and imagery of antisemitism.

We therefore welcome the UK Government’s announcement on 11th December 2016 that it will sign up to the internationally recognised International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) guidelines on antisemitism which define antisemitism thus:

Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

The guidelines highlight manifestations of antisemitism as including:

“• Calling for, aiding, or justifying the killing or harming of Jews in the name of a radical ideology or an extremist view of religion.

• Making mendacious, dehumanizing, demonizing, or stereotypical allegations about Jews as such or the power of Jews as collective — such as, especially but not exclusively, the myth about a world Jewish conspiracy or of Jews controlling the media, economy, government or other societal institutions.

• Accusing Jews as a people of being responsible for real or imagined wrongdoing committed by a single Jewish person or group, or even for acts committed by non-Jews.

• Denying the fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality of the genocide of the Jewish people at the hands of National Socialist Germany and its supporters and accomplices during World War II (the Holocaust).

• Accusing the Jews as a people, or Israel as a state, of inventing or exaggerating the Holocaust.

• Accusing Jewish citizens of being more loyal to Israel, or to the alleged priorities of Jews worldwide, than to the interests of their own nations.

• Denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination, e.g., by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour.

• Applying double standards by requiring of it behaviour not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation.”

15.7

Opposition motion in the name of Cllr Phil Cohen - Support our GPs and NHS - don't attack them! pdf icon PDF 64 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Under Council Procedure Rule 23.5 this motion was referred to the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for consideration.

16.

Motions for Adjournment

Minutes:

There were none.