Agenda and decisions

Deputation to be introduced by Cllr Clare Joseph

We ask the Council to stop the Frampton Park Community Hall from being demolished and removed from the housing supply programme and for the youth services to be restarted. We also ask that there is a cap on the number of flats being built and no more housing developments allowed on the estate.

Question from Ms Feodora Rayner to the Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm

I welcome the Council's increasing recognition of the importance of active travel and liveable neighbourhoods. Unfortunately, Sadiq Khan is implementing the Silvertown Tunnel Scheme, effectively a motorway into central London. How will you mitigate the negative public health effects of increased traffic and congestion on Hackney residents, workers and visitors?

Question from Mr Noah Birksted-Breen to the Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm

In spite of the best car-reduction schemes by Hackney Council, most Hackney residents are still breathing illegally toxic air. Will you commit to consult residents on removing non-essential cars from Hackney, alongside a borough-wide health campaign informing residents of the toxicity level in their ward plus the benefits of walking/cycling?

Question from Mr Christopher Sills to The Cabinet Member for Planning, Culture and Inclusive Economy

In May 1968 when the Conservatives controlled the Council the twinning arrangements with a suburb of East Berlin were suspended and not revived.

Would you agree with me that it is now time to revive it to show that Hackney wants to remain friends with the European Union people?

Cllr Ben Hayhurst to Deputy Mayor Rennison

Please can the Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing Needs and Supply give an update on the work the Council has done to increase the take up of pension credit.

Cllr Desmond to Deputy Mayor Rennison

Given damaging central government changes to the benefits system that is leaving Hackney residents in debt and in rent arrears, can the Cabinet Member for Finance update us on what the Council is doing to support residents who are struggling financially, particularly those that are in debt to the Council?

Cllr Wrout to Cabinet Member for for Community Safety, Policy and the Voluntary Sector

The Conservative government shamefully overturned a House of Lords amendment to the EU Withdrawal Bill, and ended the guarantee that child refugees have the right to join their families in the UK. Can the cabinet member with responsibility for refugees outline what, if anything, Hackney with its strong tradition of welcoming refugees, can do to help children and refugee families who are estranged, now the Bill has become law?

Cllr Conway to the Cabinet Member for Employment, Skills and Human Resources

Can the Cabinet Member with responsibility for equalities update me in what steps she has taken to address concerns I raised with her about the discrimination young black Caribbean and African girls face when they choose to embrace their natural hair?

Cllr Garasia to Cllr Kennedy, former Cabinet Member for Families, Early Years and Play

Can the Cabinet Member for Families, Early Years and Play provide an update on the commitment to make Hackney a child friendly borough?

Cllr Adejare to the Cabinet Member for Planning Culture and Inclusive Economy

Dalston is one of Hackney’s most vibrant areas; its community has helped give Hackney the reputation as a creative heart of London. Can the Cabinet Member for Planning update us on the work to protect Dalston’s character and its residents from the worst elements of regeneration and growth?

Cllr Snell to the Cabinet Member for Energy, Waste, Transport and Public Realm

Can the Cabinet Member for Energy inform me about the Council energy company and what it will do for residents?

Cllr Smyth to Deputy Mayor Rennision

Councils are on the frontlines of fighting austerity, defending our most vulnerable residents from the worst elements of central government cuts by protecting frontline services. Can the Cabinet Member for Finance tell us how the government’s Fair Funding Review may damage the Council’s efforts to invest in our services on behalf of the residents of Hackney?

Cllr Billington to Mayoral Adviser for Private Renting and Housing Affordability

There are now three privately owned sites with apartment blocks in De Beauvoir ward which have been deemed to have cladding which is not compliant with fire safety standards. The residents - tenants, mortgage holders and those in shared ownership - are left in the distressing situation of uncertainty about their homes, worried about their safety and the risk of the costs which could be astronomical passed on  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7.

The Mayor MOVED the Budget and Council Tax 2020/21 proposals.

An amendment to the Budget and Council Tax 2020/21 proposals was moved by Councillor Steinberger, and seconded by Councillor Odze. A copy of the amendment will be recorded in the minutes.

On a vote on the amendment there being:

three for :–

Councillors Klein, Odze, and Steinberger,

forty-eight against :–

Councillors Adams, Adejare, Bell, Billington, Deputy Mayor Bramble, Burke, Cameron, Chapman, Chauhan, Coban, Conway, David, Desmond, Etti, Fajana-Thomas, Garasia, Mayor Glanville, Gordon, Gregory, Hanson, Hayhurst, Joseph, Kennedy, Lynch, Maxwell, McKenzie, Moema, Nicholson, Oguzkanli, Ozsen, Pallis, Patrick, Peters, Plouviez, Potter, Rahilly, Rathbone, Deputy Mayor Rennison, Selman, Sharman,  Smyth, Snell, Spence, Stops, Webb, Williams, Woodley, and Root

Abstentions :– nil

Members not present at the vote: Councillors Clark, Levy, Lufkin, McMahon, Papier, and Race,

It was;

RESOLVED

That the amendment to the Budget and Council Tax 2020/21 proposals  be not agreed.

The Mayor MOVED that the substantive proposed budget and council tax 2020/21 proposals be agreed.  

On a vote there being:

forty-seven for  :–

Councillors Adams, Bell, Billington, Deputy Mayor Bramble, Burke, Cameron, Chapman, Chauhan, Coban, Conway, David, Desmond, Etti, Fajana-Thomas, Garasia, Mayor Glanville, Gordon, Gregory, Hanson, Hayhurst, Joseph, Kennedy, Lynch, Maxwell, McKenzie, Moema, Nicholson, Oguzkanli, Ozsen, Pallis, Patrick, Peters, Plouviez, Potter, Rahilly, Rathbone, Deputy Mayor Rennison, Selman, Sharman,  Smyth, Snell, Spence, Stops, Webb, Williams, Woodley, and Root

three against :–

Councillors Klein, Odze, and Steinberger,

Abstentions – nil

Members not present at the vote: Councillors Adejare, Clark, Levy, Lufkin, McMahon, Papier, and Race.

The MOTION was carried.

RESOLVED That:

1.  Approval be given to bring forward into 2020/21 the Council’s projected General Fund balances of £15.0m and to note the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) balances of £15m;

2.  Approval be given to the directorate estimates and estimates for the General Finance Account items set out in Table 1 below;

3.  the budget is a financial exposition of the priorities set out within the Corporate Plan attached at Appendix 11 of the report;

4.  it be noted that in line with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2003, the Group Director, Finance and Corporate Resources, is of the view that:

The General Fund balances of £15.0m and the level of reserves, particularly in relation to capital, are adequate to meet the Council’s financial needs for 2020/21 and that considering the economic uncertainty they should not fall below this level. This view takes account of the reserves included in the Council’s latest audited Accounts as at 31 March 2019, the movements of those reserves since that date – which have been tracked through the Overall Financial Position (OFP) Reports, and the latest OFP projections. Note also, that the projections in the HRA to maintain the balance at £15m by 31 March 2020 are also considered to be adequate at  ...  view the full decision text for item 9.

RESOLVED

That the annual Pay Policy Statement be approved.

RESOLVED

That the Executive Response to the Living in Hackney Scrutiny Commission Investigation into Council and Partnership Response to Escalation in Serious Violence be agreed.

RESOLVED

i.  That the changes proposed to the Council’s Constitution as set out in the schedule of changes attached as Appendix 1 to the report, be agreed; and

ii.  That authority be delegated to the Council’s Monitoring Officer to continue to make any necessary inconsequential changes in consultation with Deputy Mayor Bramble and the Elected Mayor.

RESOLVED

i.  That approval be given to the appointment of Cllr David to the Health in Hackney Scrutiny Commission; and

ii.  that approval be given to the appointment of Cllr David to the Licensing Committee to fill the current vacancy.

RESOLVED

That the draft schedule of meetings for the Municipal Year 2020/21 be received and noted,  and that any comments, or proposed variations to the draft schedule by any Member be forwarded to governance services direct, and prior to the Annual Council meeting on 20 May 2020 where the proposed final schedule of meetings for the Municipal Year 2020/21 will be agreed.