Agenda and minutes
Venue: Grand Hall - Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ. View directions
Contact: Peter Goss, Democratic Services Manager 020 8937 1353, Email: peter.goss@brent.gov.uk
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To elect the Mayor of the borough for the municipal year 2015/16 Minutes: The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Naheerathan called for nominations for the office of the Mayor of the Borough for the municipal year 2015/2016.
Councillor Butt nominated Councillor Jones and this was seconded by Councillor Harrison.
There being no other nominations it was
RESOLVED:
that Councillor Jones be and is hereby elected, Mayor of the London Borough of Brent, for the municipal year 2015/2016.
Councillor Jones was robed and invested with the Mayor’s chain. Councillor Naheerathan received his past Mayor’s badge.
The past Mayor, Councillor Naheerathan vacated the Chair which was taken by the newly elected Mayor.
Councillor Jones signed the statutory Declaration of Acceptance of Office of Mayor.
The Mayor then thanked Members of the Council for her election and stated that the charity she would be supporting would be Brent Young Carers. |
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Appointment of a councillor of the borough to be Deputy Mayor Minutes: The Mayor announced the appointment of Councillor Ahmed as Deputy Mayor of the London Borough of Brent for the municipal year 2015/2016. |
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Votes of thanks Minutes: Councillor Pavey moved a vote of thanks, which was unanimously supported. He added that everyone who freely gave of their time to help serve the community should be thanked. These included those involved in the work of the Scrutiny Committee, Brent Youth Parliament and Hope not Hate and those who had campaigned on a range of issues.
RESOLVED:
that the Council place on record their thanks and regard for the outstanding public service rendered by the co-opted members, independent members, observers and others who have served on council committees, sub-committee, consultative committees, boards, governing bodies, resident associations etc during the past municipal year.
Councillor Butt moved a vote of thanks to the retiring Mayor for his services to the community. He recalled the efficient and skilful manner in which he had presided over some difficult Council meetings and his tireless work in support of his charities – Brent Mencap and Prostate Cancer UK. Councillor Butt stated that, in addition to his full time job, Councillor Naheerathan had attended many charitable, community and faith events representing the Borough; most significantly, he ensured a fitting tribute to mark Remembrance Sunday and the centenary of the First World War.
Councillors Warren and Kansagra congratulated the new Mayor on her appointment and paid tribute to the work Councillor Naheerathan had undertaken during his year as Mayor.
RESOLVED:
that the Council records its appreciation of the outstanding service rendered by Councillor Kana Naheerathan as Mayor of Brent during the past Municipal Year. The Council also appreciates his attendance at a vast number of community events and functions and his service to all sections of Brent's diverse community.
Councillor Naheerathan, having been invested with the past Mayor’s Badge, congratulated Councillor Jones, thanked councillors for their tributes and support and reflected on his year in office. He made reference to his absent wife who was in Sri Lanka to care for her mother and thanked officers, particularly the mayoral staff, for their support. |
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The outcome of the Kenton Ward by election held on 05 March 2015 for noting. Minutes: The Mayor welcomed Councillor Maurice to his first Council meeting.
RESOLVED:
That the result of the Kenton by election held on 5 March 2015 be noted. |
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Minutes of the previous meeting PDF 114 KB Minutes: RESOLVED:
that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 2 March 2015 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting. |
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Declarations of personal and prejudicial interests Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, any relevant personal and prejudicial interests and discloseable pecuniary interest in any matter to be considered at this meeting. Minutes: None declared. |
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Long Service Citation Minutes: The Mayor presented Councillor Shaw with a citation marking her 25 years of service on the Council. Councillor Shaw acknowledged her award and thanked the residents of Brondesbury Park for their support over the years. |
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Notification of Executive appointments To receive notification of appointments to the Cabinet, Highways Committee and the Barham Park Trust Committee. Minutes: RESOLVED:
that the appointments to the Cabinet and Highways Committee be noted. |
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Representation of political groups on committees PDF 94 KB This report deals with rules to be applied on the allocation to political groups of seats on committees established by the Council and the position regarding political assistants. Minutes: RESOLVED:
(i) that the size of the committees to be established by the Council and the allocation of seats to each of the political groups be as follows:
*plus 1 non voting co-opted member #plus 4 statutory co-opted members and 2 non statutory co-opted members
(ii) to note that the political balance on sub-committees will be reviewed at the first meetings of the Alcohol and Entertainment Licensing Committee and General Purposes Committee. |
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Appointments to committees and outside bodies and appointment of chairs/vice chairs PDF 139 KB Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Warren referred to the allocation of seats under the previous item and the advice he had received that the two Conservative groups had three weeks within which to agree the allocation of seats between themselves otherwise Council on 22 June would take the decisions. He expressed the view that his group should be allocated the Opposition place on General Purposes and Planning Committees.
Councillor Duffy questioned the allocation of committee places to members across the council.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the appointment of Chairs, Vice-Chairs and the memberships of committees be as set out in Appendix A to these minutes;
(iv) that the following statutory co-optees be appointed to the Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year 2015/16:
(v) that Dr J Levison, representing the Jewish faith, and Payam Tamiz, representing the Muslim faith, be appointed as non-statutory co-opted members of the Scrutiny Committee for the municipal year 2015/16; (vi) that Sheila Darr be appointed as a non-statutory co-opted member of the Standards Committee for the municipal year 2015/16; (v) that David Ewart be appointed as a non-statutory co-opted member and chair of Audit Committee; (vii) that appointments/nominations to outside bodies be made as set out in Appendix B to these minutes. |
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Calendar of meetings PDF 65 KB The Council will be asked to agree the dates on which it shall meet during the ensuing year, and to settle, as far as is considered advisable and practical, the dates and times at which the Cabinet, committees and other bodies shall meet. Additional documents: Minutes: A revised calendar of meetings was circulated.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the dates for Full Council and other meetings to take place during the municipal year 2015/2016, as set out in the tabled version of the calendar be agreed in principle;
(ii) that the Head of Executive and Member Services be authorised to make any alterations deemed necessary to the municipal calendar during the course of the municipal year having consulted the Leader of the Council; the Leader of the Principal Opposition Group and the Chair of the affected meeting. |
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Member's absence from meetings PDF 81 KB Minutes: RESOLVED:
(i) that Councillor Oladapo’s absence from meetings of the Council since 27 November 2014 be approved on the basis of his ongoing ill-health and that the position be reviewed, if required, at the Full Council meeting in September 2015;
(ii) that the Council’s wishes for a speedy return to good health be passed on to Councillor Oladapo. |
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Changes to the constitution PDF 89 KB This report sets out various proposed changes to the constitution. Additional documents: Minutes: Members considered the circulated report which set out proposed changes to the Constitution; these included the need to determine which political group was the Principal Opposition Group, the establishment of a new Equalities Committee, recording the establishment of a Pensions Board and a Local Safeguarding Board and the establishment of Old Oak and Park Royal Development Corporation; delegating certain powers to the Chief Executive to act in cases of urgency and delegating to the Chief Legal Officer certain powers to make changes to the constitution.
Councillor Warren submitted that his group should be recognised as the principal opposition group. He expressed support for the establishment of an Equalities Committee and put forward himself to serve on it. Councillor Warren also submitted a number of additional suggested amendments to the constitution.
Councillor Kansagra argued against the position put by Councillor Warren and maintained that his group properly represented the Conservative Party.
Councillor Butt stated that it was not for the Conservative Party to interfere with how the Council structured itself politically and that a decision had to be taken on which of the two Conservative opposition groups was to be recognised as the principal opposition group. He drew a comparison with the consistency of the Conservative Group whose members had stood as Conservatives at the 2014 elections and maintained that position with the group now called the Brent Conservatives who, having stood as Conservative candidates, once elected named themselves as the Brondesbury Park Conservatives and had now changed the name of their group to the Brent Conservatives. Regarding the amendments proposed to the constitution by Councillor Warren, Councillor Butt proposed that these be further considered outside the meeting before any final decisions were taken.
A view was expressed that the way Council meetings operated needed to be reviewed to enable more backbench councillors to participate.*
Councillor Warren requested that a recorded vote be taken on recommendation (i) in the report submitted.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the Conservative Group comprising Councillors Colwill, Kansagra and Maurice be recognised as the Principal Opposition Group for the purposes of the Members’ Allowance Scheme;
(ii) that an Equalities Committee be established on the basis set out in the report submitted;
(iii) that the Constitution be changed as shown in Appendix 1 of the report submitted.
In accordance with the provisions of Standing Order 47(c) the voting on (i) above was recorded as follows:
FOR: Councillors Aden, Agha, Ahmed, Bradley, Butt, Chohan, Choudry, Choudhary, Colacicco, Collier, Colwill, Conneely, Daly, Denselow, Dixon, Duffy, Eniola, Ezeajughi, Farah, Filson, Harrison, Hector, Hirani, Hoda-Benn, Hossain, Hylton, Kabir, Kansagra, Kelcher, Khan, Long, Mahmood, Marquis, Mashari, Maurice, McLeish, McLennan, Miller, Moher, J Mitchell Murray, Naheerathan, Nerva, M Patel, R Patel, Pavey, Perrin, Shahzad, Krupa Sheth, Southwood, Stopp, Tatler, Thomas and Van Kalwala (53)
AGAINST: Councillors Carr, Davidson, Shaw and Warren (4)
ABSTENTIONS: The Mayor, Councillor Jones (1)
*the above minute was amended at the meeting on 22 June (amendment incorporated) |
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Urgent business At the discretion of the Mayor to consider any urgent business. Minutes: None. |