Agenda and minutes

There were none.

The Mayor was present.

In the absence of the Mayor’s Chaplain who was in hospital, Vicky Golestaneh of the Baha’i Community of Barnet offered prayers.

It was noted that many Councillors were appointed as members to school governing bodies in the borough and that where this applied there was no need to declare an interest.

The Worshipful, the Mayor clarified that Councillor Cooke declared an interest as a school Governor and not as a private landlord, and that list of declarations of interests had been corrected in the published minutes. 

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 16 December 2014 be approved subject to the following corrections:

1.            Recording of votes on item 11.4 – be amended as Councillor Langleben was out of the room for the initial vote on the item and should not be recorded as voting on the division list.

The voting is therefore amended as follows:

For         32

Against: 30

Abstain:   0

Absent:    1

TOTAL: 63

2.            Recording of votes on item 11.1 – be amended to reflect that Councillor Lisa Rutter abstained from voting and was not absent. The voting is therefore amended as follows:

For          31

Against:  31

Abstain:    1

Absent:     0

TOTAL:  63

The Worshipful the Mayor made the following announcements:

The Worshipful the Mayor congratulated all those people mentioned in the New Year’s honours list.

On behalf of Council the Worshipful the Mayor wished Mr Chris Naylor, who was leaving Barnet, best wishes in his new role as Chief Executive of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham.

The Worshipful the Mayor congratulated the DurumOcakbasi Restaurant in Golders Green who had won the Best Customer Satisfaction award at the recent British Kebab Awards.

With regret, the Worshipful the Mayor announced the death of Bob Richardson, husband to Angela Richardson, the Mayor’s Secretary. On behalf of Council the Mayor extended condolences to Angela and her family at this sad time.

The Worshipful the Mayor spoke of the terrorist attacks that took place in Paris on 7 January and added Barnet’s voice to those of the citizens of France and the world in condemning these acts of terror.

In support for the families of those who lost their lives and as demonstration of Barnet’s commitment that terrorism will never succeed a two minutes silence was held in remembrance.

School Governor Appointments had been deferred for consideration at the last meeting of Council.  The outstanding business was covered in the Head of Governance report at agenda item 12.2.

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.

Council noted the additional information circulated as Annex 2 in relation to this item which provided additional information on the financial context.

Councillor Richard Cornelius introduced the report and moved reception and adoption. Councillor Alison Moore moved her amendment. Debate ensued.

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

For:         31

Against:   31

Abstain:    0

Absent:      1

TOTAL:    63

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

Upon the amendment in the name of Councillor Alison Moore 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:       1

TOTAL:    63

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

Votes were taken on the recommendations set out in the report. 

For:         31

Against:   31

Abstain:     0

Absent:      1

TOTAL:    63

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

RESOLVED that:

1.            That Council adopt the draft Barnet Council Tax Support Scheme 2015 based on Option 3 (Increase the Council Tax contribution rate to 20%) as detailed in the report to the Policy & Resources Committee attached at Annex 1.

2.            That Council agree the uprating of the scheme in line with Department for Work and Pension changes for Housing Benefit and working age non-dependant deductions as set out in Appendix 3.

Councillor Reuben Thompstone introduced the report and moved reception and adoption.

Councillor Alison Moore, seconded by Councillor Kath McGuirk moved the motion “That the question be now put.”  Votes were declared as follows:

For: 31

Against: 0

Abstain: 31

Absent: 1

TOTAL: 63

The motion “That the question be now put.”  was declared carried.

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: 1

TOTAL: 63

The recommendations in the report were declared carried.

At least ten Members called for a formal division on the voting.

Before the vote being taken the Labour Group withdrew from the Council Chamber.

Upon the vote being taken the results of the Divison were declared as follows:

Votes were declared as follows:

For:          31

Against:     1

Abstain:     0

Absent:    31

TOTAL:    63

The recommendations in the report were declared carried.

RESOLVED –

1.         That the Council note the content of the report and the outline business case.

2.         That the Council agree the development of a full business case on the establishment of a joint venture company with a third party for the future delivery of the Education and Skills service.

3.         That the Council authorise the commencement of the procurement exercise to identify a third party partner to inform the development of the full business case.

4.         That the Council note that the outcome of the procurement exercise and a full business case for final approval will be considered by the Children, Education, Libraries and Safeguarding Committee in July 2015.

RESOLVED - That Council designate Mr. John Hooton, the Council’s Deputy Chief Operating Officer (Deputy Section 151 Officer), as the Council’s Chief Financial Officer (Section 151) as required by the Local Government Act 1972 pending the appointment of a Chief Operating Officer.

1.            CHANGES TO THE CALENDAR OF MEETINGS

RESOLVED - That Council note the changes to the Calendar of meetings as set out in the table below.

2.            SCHOOL GOVERNOR APPOINTMENTS

The Conservative Group Secretary withdrew the nomination of Mr C Newton for St Andrew CE Primary School and further moved that Councillor Shimon Ryde be put forward as a nominee forBeis Yaakov Primary School

Two nominations were put forward for St Mary’s and St John’s CE Primary School, Councillor Dr Devra Kay (Labour nomination) and Councillor Mark Shooter (Conservative nomination).  Upon the Conservative nomination being put to the vote, the votes were declared as follows:

For:       31

Against: 31

Abstain:   0

Absent:    1

TOTAL: 63

The Mayor used his casting vote and voted in favour of the Conservative nomination, Councillor Mark Shooter.  Councillor Shooter was nominated.

RESOLVED – The Council approve the nominations as set out in the table below.

There was none.

There were none.

Councillor Tom Davey moved the Motion in his name. Councillor Ross Houston moved his amendment. Debate ensued.

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

For: 31

Against: 31

Abstain 0

Absent: 1

TOTAL: 63

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

Votes were taken on the Motion in the name of Councillor Tom Davey.

For: 31

Against: 31

Abstain: 0

Absent: 1

TOTAL: 63

The Mayor used his casting vote and voted in favour of the motion. The motion in the name of Councillor Tom Davey was declared carried.

RESOLVED that:

Council notes that with accelerating population and economic growth, housing supply is an increasing concern among residents.

Council recognises that Barnet has some of the largest and most ambitious regeneration schemes in London, which have begun to deliver on the 20,000 plus new homes they are set to add. Council notes that 3260 new homes were built in the three years to 2013, including 1072 affordable homes – placing Barnet in the top third of London boroughs on this measure.

Council further notes that progress is being made to expand the programme of council house building, with another 38 having gone through the planning phase. Council recognises, though, that it is important to investigate and take advantage of all options for providing new homes for families.

Council notes the decision by neighbouring Labour-run Camden Council to develop property for private sale. Council believes that building or developing General Fund housing is both a way of increasing provision to meet resident demand and also a means of helping the taxpayer share in the opportunities of growth, closing the budget gap and thus offsetting potential future further cuts.

Council instructs officers to explore a programme of General Fund housing to sit alongside our existing and progressing regeneration and council house building schemes.

Councillor Alison Moore moved the Motion in her name. Councillor Amy Trevethan moved her amendment. Debate ensued.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Amy Trevethan was put to the vote.  Votes were declared as follows:

For: 31

Against: 31

Abstain 0

Absent: 1

TOTAL: 63

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

Votes were taken on the Motion in the name of Councillor Alison Moore.

For: 31

Against: 31

Abstain 0

Absent: 1

TOTAL: 63

The Mayor used his casting vote and voted against of the motion. The motion in the name of Councillor Alison Moore was declared lost.

There were none.