Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Sara Conway. Councillor Charlie O’Macauley was also absent.

The Worshipful the Mayor was present.

Rabbi Berger was called upon by the Worshipful the Mayor to speak to Council and say prayers.

Councillor Paul Edwards, Councillor Melvin Cohen, Councillor John Hart, Councillor Anthony Finn, Councillor John Marshall and Councillor Richard Cornelius declared an interest in item 10.2 of the agenda, the Referral from the Pension Fund Committee: Local Pension Board Annual Report by virtue of being in receipt of a pension from the London Borough of Barnet.

Councillor Peter Zinkin declared a pecuniary interest in item 10.1 of the agenda, Referral of the Policy and Resources Committee – Business Planning – Corporate Plan, Budget 2021/22 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2021-25 by virtue of being a Director of London Energy. Councillor Zinkin had been granted a dispensation by the Monitoring Officer.

Councillor John Marshall declared an interest in item 10.1 of the agenda, Referral of the Policy and Resources Committee – Business Planning – Corporate Plan, Budget 2021/22 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2021-25 by virtue of being a Saracens season ticket holder and a Trustee for Home Start Barnet for most of the financial year.

An amendment to the minutes was noted by Council, in that Councillor Paul Edwards was present for the meeting on the 19^th January 2021, however due to technical difficulties he was unable to participate in the voting.

Following the amendment outlined above being noted, the minutes of the meeting held on the 19^th January 2021 were agreed as a correct record.

The Worshipful the Mayor expressed sincere condolences on behalf of the Council to Councillor Zubairi on the passing of her husband. The Worshipful the Mayor also expressed sincere condolences to the family of former Councillor Julie Johnson who passed away recently.

The Worshipful the Mayor invited Councillor Narenthira to say a few words in memory of Julie Johnson.

The Worshipful the Mayor said a few words on the passing of Captain Sir Thomas Moore and the way in which he had lifted the nation’s spirits during the pandemic.

The Worshipful the Mayor invited the Director of Public Health to provide an update on the Council’s response to the pandemic.

None.

The Deputy Mayor moved the following resolution:

At a meeting of the Council held at Hendon Town Hall on Tuesday 2^nd March 2021 it was resolved that we, the Members of the Council of the London Borough of Barnet, hereby express to The Worshipful the Mayor Councillor Caroline Stock our appreciation of the excellent service she has rendered to the London.

Borough of Barnet as its Mayor during the period May 2019 to May 2021, and for the friendly and conscientious way in which she has performed the duties of that office.

We offer her our sincere gratitude for the concern and empathy she has shown at all times in promoting the welfare of the Borough and its residents, particularly during an extraordinary time in our history and for her willingness to support the many organisations and individuals who called on her time and services during her Mayoralty.

We congratulate her on the success of her appeals for her charities Home-Start Barnet, Cherry Lodge Cancer Care and The Royal Free Charity.

This was duly agreed, with the foregoing resolution to be engrossed over the common seal of the corporation and presented to the Worshipful Mayor at the Annual Meeting.

The Worshipful the Mayor called for the nominations for election of Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet 2021/22. She noted that there was one nomination for the Mayor Designate.

Conservative Group Nomination:

Councillor Daniel Thomas, duly seconded by Councillor David Longstaff, moved that Councillor Alison Cornelius be proposed for the appointment of the Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet at the Annual meeting of the Council on 25 May 2021.

On the nominations being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

RESOLVED that Councillor Alison Cornelius be nominated as the Mayor designate for the municipal year 2021/22.

The Mayor designate Councillor Alison Cornelius nominated Councillor Saira Don as the Deputy Mayor designate for the municipal year 2021/22.

Councillor Alison Cornelius thanked those present for her nomination and nominated Councillor Saria Don to be her Deputy Mayor Designate.

RESOLVED that Council note Councillor Saira Don as the Deputy Mayor Designate for the municipal year 2021/22.

None.

None.

Council noted a correction to Agenda item 10.1 (Referral from Policy and Resources Committee – Business Planning – Corporate Plan, Budget 2021/22 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2021-25), Appendix E (Summary of Savings Proposal 2021-25). In relation to the saving proposal “ENV 12” the description in the “impact on Customer Satisfaction” column should read “The opporunity may impact on access to open sites which are under-utilised.” This correction was required to ensure that the decision proprerly refletcs the recommentations of the Policy and Resources committee made to Full Council.

Councillor Daniel Thomas, Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee, moved the reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report. Councillor Barry Rawlings moved the Labour Group amendment and Councillor Gabriel Rozenberg moved the Liberal Democrat amendment. Debate ensued.

The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 and Council Procedure Rule 12.4 requires that voting decisions relating to the budget and Council Tax be recorded.

On the Labour Group’s amendment to the budget being put to the vote, votes were individually recorded for all Members as follows:

Votes were recorded as follows:

RESOLVED that The Labour Group’s amendment to the budget was therefore lost.

On the Liberal Democrat Group’s amendment to the budget being put to the vote, votes were individually recorded for all Members as follows:

Councillor Mark Shooter, Chairman of the Pension Fund Committee, moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report. Debate ensued.

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

RESOLVED that the Council noted the Annual report of the Local Pension Board, as outlined in Annex 1 and Appendices A-C.

The Worshipful the Mayor moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report.

The Head of Governance asked Council to note that the Administration Group had requested that the Members Allowance Scheme be unchanged from the 2020/21 Scheme. As such, a revised Appendix B which retained the allowances at the same levels as 2021/21 had been published and circulated.

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

RESOLVED that Council:

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

2.    Approve the Members’ Allowances Scheme 2021/22 attached in the Revised Appendix B with effect from 1 April 2021.

3.    Note that Council note that following approval the Scheme, a notice will be advertised pursuant to Regulation 16 of the Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 (as amended).

The Worshipful the Mayor moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report.

The Head of Governance asked Council to note an additional change to the calendar of meetings The Constitution and General Purposes Committee had been moved from the 23^rd March to the 12^th April 2021.

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

RESOLVED that Council:

1.    Noted the changes to the calendar of meetings as outlined in Appendix A.

2.    Approved the agreed the appointment of Salar Rida to the position of Employee Representative for the Local Pension Board as outlined in Appendix B.

The Mayor declared the meeting closed.

The meeting finished at 20.57