Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Elliot Simberg, Councillor Dean Cohen, Councillor Wendy Prentice, Councillor Sarah Wardle, Councillor Gill Sargeant, Councillor Charlie O-Macauley and Councillor Barry Rawlings.

The Worshipful the Mayor was present.

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

Councillor Geoff Cooke declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to agenda item 12.4 (Referral from Policy and Resources Committee - Pension Fund Administration) by virtue of the fact that his wife and one of his daughters are ex-employees of the council with deferred benefits in the pension fund.

The minutes of the meeting dated 28 January 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

The Worshipful the Mayor noted that all were aware of the fast-moving situation with Coronavirus, a new virus with limited accurate understanding of its characteristics. The Mayor noted that Barnet Public Health were working closely with Public Health England and the NHS and that any updates would be sent to Councillors, with the NHS website providing daily updates and advice. The Mayor advised that as new information arose, the Council would take appropriate action.

The Worshipful the Mayor was delighted to announce that Livability, a disability charity in Edgware that connects people with their communities, had celebrated an Outstanding grade from CQC. The Council had also welcomed a Royal Visit to the borough on Wednesday 19th February by HRH, The Princess Royal, who is the Charity’s patron.

There were none.

The Deputy Mayor moved the following resolution:

“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 2020, 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 that she has shown at all times in promoting the welfare of the Borough and its residents, particularly 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 and Cherry Lodge”

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 nominations for election of Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet for 2020/21. She noted that there were two nominations for Mayor Designate.

Conservative Group Nomination

Councillor Linda Freedman, duly seconded by Councillor Daniel Thomas, moved that Councillor Brian Gordon be proposed for the appointment of Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet at the Annual meeting of the Council on 19 May 2020.

Labour Group Nomination

Councillor Arjun Mittra, duly seconded by Councillor Laurie Williams, moved that Councillor Anne Clarke be proposed for the appointment of Mayor of the London Borough of Barnet at the Annual meeting of the Council on 19 May 2020 

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

For Brian Gordon – 33

For Cllr Anne Clare – 23

Councillor Brian Gordon was duly nominated as Mayor Designate.

RESOLVED that Councillor Brian Gordon be nominated as Mayor Designate.

Councillor Brian Gordon thanked those present for his nomination and nominated Councillor Saira Don to be his Deputy Mayor Designate.

There were none.

There were none.

Councillor Sachin Rajput, Chairman of the Adults and Safeguarding 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 recommendations were agreed.

Votes were recorded as follows:

RESOLVED that Council approve recommendations 1A and 1B set out in Annex 1.

Councillor Daniel Thomas, Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee, moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the Report. Councillor Ross Houston 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 relating to the budget and Council Tax be recorded.

In accordance with this requirement, voting on the budget decisions was as follows:

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

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

Councillor Daniel Thomas, Chairman of the Policy and Resources 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 recommendations were unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED that Council approve the proposed Barnet Local Council Tax Support Reduction Scheme as set out in the amended Appendix A.

Councillor Daniel Thomas, Chairman of the Policy and Resources 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 recommendations were unanimously agreed.

RESOLVED that Council:

1.     Note the decisions taken by the Policy & Resources Committee as set out in section 1.2 of the report.

2.     Agree, under a Section 101 agreement, to delegate the Pensions Administration function to West Yorkshire Pension Fund (WYPF).

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

On the recommendations in the report being put to the vote, the recommendations were agreed.

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 2020/21 attached as Appendix B with effect from 1 April 2020.

3.     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 Head of Governance introduced the report. Council was asked to note that the nominations to the Valentine Poole Charity had been withdrawn and would be brought to Annual Council on 19 May 2020.

At the meeting the Conservative Group nominated Councillor Hart to the Arts Depot Trust Ltd. 

The Worshipful the Mayor moved to the vote on the three nominations received for the vacancy on the Arts Depot Trust Ltd. Votes were recorded as followed:

RESOLVED that Council:

1.     Appoint Councillor John Hart to the vacancy on the Arts Depot Trust Ltd for a period for 3 years.

2.     Note the changes to the Calendar of Meetings 2019/20 as set out in Appendix B and B1.

3.     Approve the Labour Group change of membership to the Pension Fund Committee as set out in Appendix C.