Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ella Rose, Councillor Tony Vourou, Councillor Matthew Perlberg, Councillor Danny Rich, Councillor Giulia Monasterio and Councillor Nick Mearing-Smith.

The Worshipful the Mayor was present.

The Worshipful the Mayor invited Jonah Howe, a member of the My Say Matters project to say a few words. 

None.

Council noted a correction to the minutes that Councillor Lemon left the meeting at minute item 14.4 and not Councillor Naqvi as recorded in the minutes. Subject to that correction it was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Council meeting on 26 July 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

The Worshipful the Mayor sadly acknowledged the passing of former Councillor, Laurie Williams and expressed her condolences to Laurie’s widow, Sally and family who were in the public gallery.

The Worshipful the Mayor invited tributes from Councillors Phil Cohen, Caroline Stock, Marianne Haylett, Jennifer Grocock, Tim Roberts and Alison Cornelius.

The Worshipful the Mayor then asked the Council to stand for a minute’s silence.

The Worshipful the Mayor on behalf of the Council, extended her warmest congratulations to Councillor Dan Thomas and Victoria on the birth of their son Noah.

The Worshipful the Mayor informed Council that we had recently received the Defence Employer Recognition Silver award and were now going for Gold. 

The Worshipful the Mayor commended the wonderful events that had taken place across the borough to mark Black History Month which had been a huge success.

The Worshipful the Mayor noted that last month she had held a reception to mark the 50^th anniversary of Ugandan Asians in Barnet.

The Worshipful the Mayor informed Council that at the beginning of October, she had visited Morphou for the annual rally.

The Worshipful the Mayor reminded Council that Remembrance Sunday was on 13 November 2022 and encouraged Councillors to attend services in their wards. She extended her thanks to those Councillors who would be representing the Mayoralty, Councillors and burgesses by laying a wreath on her behalf this year.

The Worshipful the Mayor reminded Councillors that the Civic awards nominations were now open and would close on 31 December 2022.

The Worshipful the Mayor also reminded Council that Holocaust Memorial Day will be held on 29 January 2023 with an event held at Middlesex University organised by the Council.

The Worshipful the Mayor informed Council that Barnet officially celebrated Diwali which fell on 24 October this year at Hendon Town Hall by lighting of Diwa with traditional prayers and dance led by children from a local temple.

None.

Council were asked to note that the answers to questions 24 and 46 were amended as

follows:

Question 24 amended so that it reads “None-we’re not increasing the charge.”

Question 46 amended so that it reads “There won’t be an increase.”

A proposed increase had incorrectly been included in a report to Policy & Resources Committee on 29 September 2022.

None.

None.

Councillor Mittra, Chair of the Audit Committee, moved the reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report.

On the recommendations in the report being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

For: 57

Against: 0

Abstain: 0

Absent: 6

Total: 63

RESOLVED that Council note and approve the Annual Report of the Audit Committee for 2021/22 as an accurate record of the outcomes and work programme for the year.

Councillor Sara Conway, Chair of the Communities, Leadership & Libraries Committee, moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report.

On the recommendations in the report being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

For: 57

Against: 0

Abstain: 0

Absent: 6

Total: 63

RESOLVED that Council to note and approve the Barnet Safety Communities Strategy 2022-2027.

Councillor Rawlings, Chair of the Constitution and General Purposes Committee moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report.

On the recommendations in the report being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

For: 36

Against: 21

Abstain: 0

Absent: 6

Total: 63

RESOLVED that:

1.    Council note the report of the Constitution & General Purposes Committee held on 6 October 2022 (Annex 1i) and note that the Committee approved the amendments.

2.    Council approve the Constitution amendments as set out in Appendices A to D.

3.    Council authorise the Monitoring Officer to implement these revisions and publish a revised Constitution.

Council noted that an addendum report had been published on the Fees and Charges consultation findings and Equalities Impact Assessment. 

Councillor Rawlings, Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report.

On the recommendations in the report being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

For: 36

Against: 21

Abstain: 0

Absent: 6

Total: 63

RESOLVED that Council approve the proposed fees and charges for 2023/24 set out in Appendix A having taken into account the consultation responses and Equality Impact Assessment.

The Head of Governance introduced the report, outlining the various administrative matters for Council’s agreement.

On the recommendations in the report being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

For: 57

Against: 0

Abstain: 0

Absent: 6

Total: 63

RESOLVED that:

1.    That Council note and approve the appointments to Outside Bodies in Appendix A.

2.    That Council approve the appointments of the Other Appointments outlined in Appendix B.

3.    That Council approve the changes to appointments of Committees outlined in Appendix C.

*Councillor Mark Shooter left the meeting at 8.55pm.

None.

Councillor Radford moved the motion in his name. Councillor Thomas moved an amendment in his name. Councillor Whysall moved an amendment in her name. Debate ensued.

Votes on the amendment in the name of Councillor Thomas were recorded as follows:

For: 20

Against: 36

Abstain: 0

Absent: 7

Total: 63

The amendment in the name of Councillor Thomas was LOST.

Votes on the amendment in the name of Councillor Whysall were recorded as follows:

For: 36

Against: 20

Abstain: 0

Absent: 7

Total:63

The amendment in the name of Councillor Whysall was CARRIED.

Votes on the motion as amended by Councillor Whysall were recorded as follows:

For: 36

Against:20

Abstain:0

Absent: 7

Total: 63

The motion as amended by Councillor Whysall was CARRIED.

RESOLVED that:

This Council notes:-

1. The disastrous lasting impact of the Government’s ‘mini-budget’ on the markets, inflation, interest rates, the economy, and the cost-of-living crisis.

2. The sacking of the Chancellor of the Exchequer after only 38 days and the reversal of the ‘mini-budget’ following the financial turmoil.

3. The resignation of the Prime Minister, Liz Truss, after only 44 days in office.

4.The decisions of “eye-watering difficulty” that the new Chancellor has said are now required, including brutal real terms cuts to public services to repair the destruction caused by the ill-advised ‘mini-budget’.

1.  The delay of the fiscal statement until 17 November, which falls after the Bank of England’s next interest rate decision and causes further uncertainty.

2.  The detrimental impact the inevitable cuts are likely to have on frontline public services that are already experiencing a funding and recruitment/retention/pay crisis.

3.    The devastating consequential impact this will have on the users of these services in Barnet and on the Council’s ability to respond to support the growing number of people in need.

Council also notes that:

1. Many people in Barnet are already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis, with around 9,500 families known to have debts to the Council of more than £1,000.

2. There will be more people with other debts not known to the Council, meaning the total number of households in Barnet in need of support is in fact much higher.

3. LB Barnet’s new administration is doing all it can to help, and has agreed a package of support totalling £9m for those struggling with the cost-of-living crisis including:

a. Launching a cost-of-living hub and a public awareness campaign to support residents by giving them quick access to advice, information and financial support

b. Setting up a £2m Residents’ Support Fund to provide financial support to residents in crisis (equivalent to 1% of council tax)

c. Agreeing to refund this year’s 1% Council Tax increase in 2023/24 to keep bills lower next year

d. Providing additional funding to the cross-sector partnership, Barnet Together Alliance, who are doing so much good work to support our communities

e. Providing other targeted interventions to mitigate food and fuel poverty challenges to our residents.

However, Council believes that this will not be sufficient  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.1

Votes on the motion in the name of Councillor Thomas were recorded as follows:

For: 20

Against: 36

Abstain: 0

Absent: 7

Total: 63

The motion in the name of Councillor Thomas was LOST.

Votes on the motion in the name of Councillor Lemon were recorded as follows:

For: 36

Against: 20

Abstain: 0

Absent: 7

Total: 63

The motion in the name of Councillor Lemon was CARRIED.

RESOLVED that:

Council notes that:

1.    The pressure on organisations to pay their fair share of tax has never been stronger.

2.    Polling from the Institute for Business Ethics finds that “corporate tax avoidance” has, since 2013, been the clear number one concern of the British public when it comes to business conduct.

3.    Two thirds of people (66%) believe the Government and local councils should at least consider a company’s ethics and how they pay their tax, as well as value for money and quality of service provided, when awarding contracts to companies.

4.    Around 17.5% of public contracts in the UK have been won by companies with links to tax havens.

5.    It has been conservatively estimated that losses from multinational profit-shifting (just one form of tax avoidance) could be costing the UK some £17bn per annum in lost corporation tax revenues.

6.    The Fair Tax Mark offers a means for business to demonstrate good tax conduct and has been secured by a wide range of businesses across the UK, including FTSE-listed PLCs, co-operatives, social enterprises and large private businesses.

Council believes that:

1.    Paying tax is often presented as a burden, but it shouldn’t be.

2.    Tax enables us to provide services from education, health and social care, to flood defence, roads, policing and defence. It also helps to counter financial inequalities and rebalance distorted economies.

3.    As recipients of significant public funding, local authorities should take the lead in the promotion of exemplary tax conduct; be that by ensuring contractors are paying their proper share of tax, or by refusing to go along with offshore tax dodging when buying land and property.

4.    Where councils hold substantive stakes in private enterprises, influence should be wielded to ensure that such businesses are exemplars of tax transparency and tax avoidance is shunned.

5.    More action is needed, however, as current and proposed new UK procurement law significantly restricts councils’ ability to either penalise poor tax conduct (as exclusion grounds are rarely triggered) or reward good tax conduct, when buying goods or services.

6.    UK cities, counties and towns can and should stand up for responsible tax conduct - doing what they can within existing frameworks and pledging to do more given the opportunity, as active supporters of international tax justice.

Council also notes that:

1.    LB Barnet’s compliance in ensuring contract workers pay a fair share of employment taxes (IR35) is robust, following a positive audit by HMRC.

2.    LB Barnet is developing a new procurement strategy to see how the Council can work proactively with its supply chain, contractors and partners to set out wider ethical procurement practices, including on environmental sustainability and fair tax.

Council resolves subject to complying legislative and regulatory requirements to:

1.    Request that Policy & Resources Committee consider the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.3

Council was asked to note that the amendment in the name of Councillor Alan Schneiderman has been withdrawn.

Votes on the motion in the name of Councillor Thomas were recorded as follows:

For: 56

Against: 0

Abstain: 0

Absent: 7

Total: 63

The motion in the name of Councillor Thomas was carried.

RESOLVED that:

Council notes that:

1.    Residents across the borough are suffering from a cost-of-living crisis

2.    The London Borough of Barnet currently charges £70 a year for garden waste collections

Council believes that:

It would be wrong to increase the price of the garden waste collection service when so many in Barnet are suffering from the increasing costs of living

Council resolves to:

Not raise the price of the garden waste collection service in Barnet for the remainder of the administration

Votes on the motion in the name of Councillor Ambe were recorded as follows:

For: 36

Against:20

Abstain: 0

Absent: 7

Total: 63

The motion in the name of Councillor Ambe was CARRIED.

RESOLVED that:

Council believes that:

1.    Everyone should be paid a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work.

2.    The real Living Wage (in London, the London Living Wage), set annually by the Living Wage Foundation, is the minimum rate of pay that covers the cost of living.

Council notes that:

1.  LB Barnet currently pays at least the London Living Wage to all permanent directly employed staff, but not all contracted-out staff or those working for commissioned providers and in the Council’s wider supply chain are currently paid the relevant real Living Wage.

2. Working towards becoming a London Living Wage Borough is a manifesto commitment of the Council’s new administration, and this requires the Council to achieve Living Wage accreditation as the next step.

Council resolves to:

1.  Request that Policy & Resources Committee considers the steps necessary for the Council to become a Living Wage Employer, including instructing officers to bring options to achieve accreditation to a future meeting.

Councillor Longstaff moved the motion in his name. Councillor Rawlings moved an amendment in his name. Councillor Longstaff moved an amendment in his name. Debate ensued.

The votes on the amendment in Councillor Rawlings name were recorded as follows:

For: 36

Against: 20

Abstain: 0

Absent: 7

Total: 63

The amendment in the name of Councillor Rawlings was CARRIED.

The votes on the amendment in the name of Councillor Longstaff were recorded as follows:

For: 20

Against: 36

Abstain: 0

Absent: 7

Total: 63

The amendment in the name of Councillor Longstaff was LOST.

Votes on the motion as amended by Councillor Rawlings were recorded as follows:

For: 36

Against: 20

Abstain: 0

Absent: 7

Total: 63

The motion as amended by Councillor Rawlings was CARRIED.

RESOLVED that:

Council notes that:

1.  Barnet Labour promised to “freeze council tax and refund residents this year's 1% council tax increase”.

This Council also notes that:

1.     General council tax in 2022/23 has been frozen.

2.  LB Barnet’s Labour administration has refunded residents the 1% council tax increase through a targeted £2m Resident Support Fund in 2022/23

3. LB Barnet’s Labour administration has also agreed to refund residents a further £2m through a universal 1% council tax refund in council tax bills in 2023/24

Council resolves to:

1.  Continue to freeze general council tax in 2022/23

2. Refund residents, as Labour promised, within the 2022/23 financial year by implementing the targeted 1% refund made available through the £2m Resident Support Fund

3. And in addition, effect the universal 1% refund in 2023/24 as set out in the Policy & Resources Report in September.

Votes on the motion as amended by Councillor Schneiderman were recorded as follows:

For: 36

Against:20

Abstain: 0

Absent: 7

Total: 63

  The amendment in the name of Councillor Schneiderman was CARRIED.

Votes on the motion as amended by Councillor Schneiderman were recorded as follows:

For: 36

Against: 20

Abstain:0

Absent:7

Total: 63

RESOLVED that:

Council notes that:

1.    The LB Barnet Labour administration has a policy of agreeing 20mph zones on roads where a majority of residents support this.

Council believes that:

2.    Varied speed limits should be left in where residents want them.

3.    20mph zones can serve a good purpose in certain localities, for example, outside schools.

4.    Speed limits should be based on evidence.

Council resolves to:

1.    Commit to listening to residents and only introduce 20 mph zones where residents want them.

None.