Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Benson.

To elect a Mayor of the London Borough of Hillingdon to hold office from 9 May 2013 until his or her successor becomes entitled to act as Mayor.

i)                    The retiring Mayor, Councillor Markham, to provide a summary of his year in office.

ii)                   Nominations for Mayor invited by the retiring Mayor – election (if necessary)

iii)                 Retiring Mayor declares the result

The Mayor thanked the Mayoress, his fellow Councillors, officers and the Borough’s residents for the support that they had offered him throughout his year as Mayor. He provided Council with some brief highlights of his mayoral year in which he particularly commended carers and volunteers for their work that bound the Borough together.

Nominations were invited for a Mayor to hold office for the 2013/2014 municipal year. Councillor Kauffman was nominated by Councillor Harper-O’Neill and seconded by Councillor Kelly. Councillors Burrows and Higgins spoke in support. There were no further nominations.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Kauffman be elected as Mayor for the municipal year 2013/2014. 

The Council adjourned for the robing of the new Mayor at 7.50pm and reconvened at 8.04pm.

i)                    The newly elected Mayor to make and sign the declaration of acceptance of office.

ii)                   The Head of Democratic Services to declare the election of the Mayor to be complete.

The newly elected Mayor signed the declaration of acceptance of office. 

To receive the Mayor’s appointment in writing of a Councillor of the Borough to be Deputy Mayor for the coming year.

The Mayor informed the Council that he had appointed Councillor Dann as Deputy Mayoress.

RESOLVED: That the Deputy Mayoress for the year be noted. 

To receive announcements from the new Mayor

The Mayor thanked those who had come to support him in his appointment, the retired Mayor (Councillor Markham) and Mayoress (Mrs Rosemary Markham) and the Mayoral Support Team. He advised that he would be raising money for seven charities during his time as Mayor.

i)                    Vote of thanks to the outgoing Mayor to be moved and seconded

ii)                   Presentation of Past Mayor and Past Mayoress’ badges

Councillor Puddifoot moved a vote of thanks to the retired Mayor, Councillor Michael Markham, and his wife Mrs Rosemary Markham. This was seconded by Councillor Curling. Councillors Burrows, Gilham, Major and Harmsworth spoke in support.

The Mayor (Councillor Kauffman) presented the Past Mayor’s badge to Councillor Markham and Past Mayoress’s badge to Mrs Markham.

RESOLVED:  That the vote of thanks to the outgoing Mayor, Councillor Markham, be agreed.

To note the appointment by the Leader of the Deputy Leader and Cabinet for 2013/2014

Councillor Puddifoot advised Members that the Deputy Leader and Cabinet positions would be filled as follows:

Councillor Puddifoot moved the recommendations as set out on the Order of Business. The motion was seconded by Councillor Simmonds.

Councillor Allam moved, and Councillor Duncan seconded, an amendment to approve the recommendation subject to the deletion, as shown below, of the following words in paragraph 5, on page 2, item 9 iii) of the report:

“As the potential number of applications will be less than those being considered by the existing Committees, it is suggested that the Committee meet as and when required, on the same evening as one of the scheduled meetings of the other two Planning Committees.”

Following debate (Councillors Allam and Puddifoot), the amendment was put to the vote and lost.

The original motion was put to the vote and it was:

RESOLVED: That the changes to the Constitution, as set out below, be agreed:

1.      That the Audit Committee Terms of Reference as set out in Annex B of these minutes, be approved.

2.      That the Terms of Reference for the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committees as set out in Annex C of these minutes, be approved.

3.      That:

a)     the establishment of a ‘Major Applications Planning Committee’ and the Terms of Reference as set out in Annex D of these minutes, be approved;

b)     the Head of Democratic Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council be authorised to make any amendments to the Scheme of Delegations required as a result of a) above.

4.      That:

a)     the establishment of a Health and Wellbeing Board and its Terms of Reference as set out in Annex E of these minutes, be approved;

b)     authority be given to the Head of Democratic Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to agree the names of the representatives and substitutes for the Statutory Members on the Board from Healthwatch Hillingdon and the Clinical Commissioning Group.

c)     authority be given to the Head of Democratic Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any further necessary changes to the Constitution and in particular, officer delegations, that may be required in respect of the implementation of the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and associated regulations.

d)     That the following dates for meetings of the Board for 2013/14 be approved and added to the Programme of Meetings:

·         30 May

·         1 August

·         31 October

·         5 December

·         6 February 2014

1.      That the revised Petition Scheme as set out in Annex F of these minutes, be approved.

2.      That paragraph 4.1(b) of the Procurement and Contract Standing Orders be amended to include the Leader of the Council.

To decide the number and size of Council committees and allocate Members to serve on those committees based on the political balance of the Council, where required. (to follow)

Councillor O’Brien moved the proposals on memberships, as set out on the sheets provided, subject to Councillor Bliss replacing Councillor Allen on the Corporate Services and Partnerships Policy Overview Committee and Councillor Barrett replacing Councillor Harper-O’Neill on Licensing Committee and Licensing Sub-Committee (South). This was seconded by Councillor G. Cooper.

RESOLVED:  That the Members be appointed to the Committees as set out in Annex A of the minutes.

To consider recommendations from Cabinet for the adoption of:

i)                    the Borough’s Housing Strategy 2012/15;

ii)                   the Accessible Hillingdon Supplementary Planning Document and

iii)                 the Interim Planning Policy on Houses in Multiple Occupation

Councillor Corthorne moved the recommendations as set out on the Order of Business. The motion was seconded by Councillor Burrows.

Councillor Major moved, and Councillor Curling seconded, an amendment to the recommendation to delete the words “Borough’s Housing Strategy 2012/15” and thereafter to add an additional recommendation to read:

“That the Borough’s Housing Strategy 2012/15 be referred back to Cabinet for further examination into the supply, security and length of tenure of affordable housing.”

Following debate (Councillors Corthorne, Curling and Major), the amendment was put to the vote and lost.

The original motion was put to the vote and it was:

RESOLVED: That the Borough’s Housing Strategy 2012/15, Accessible Hillingdon Supplementary Planning Document and Interim Planning Policy on Houses in Multiple Occupation be adopted as part of the Council’s policy framework.

To receive the annual report

The Council received a report of the work covered by the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committees in 2012/13. It was commended by Councillor Lewis and seconded by Councillor J. Cooper. 

RESOLVED:  That the Policy Overview and Scrutiny Committees’ Annual Report 2012/2013 be endorsed. 

In accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, to receive, without comment, a statement by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Puddifoot.

The Leader noted that the Borough of Hillingdon had probably never been in a stronger financial position than it was at the end of the 2012/13 Municipal year. With the economic climate worsening and predictions that there would be further financial restrictions to come, the Council could face the future with a greater degree of confidence than many other authorities.

He advised that the Council could be proud of what had been achieved to date with:

• the completion of the £50 million investment in leisure facilities;
• the continued delivery of the £150 million schools building programme;
• the only total library rebuilding and refurbishment programme in the country;
• more land under green flag status than any other London borough;
• A strong level of financial balances and reserves which enabled the freezing of Council Tax for Hillingdon residents.

The Leader advised that, at a time of hugely demanding financial pressure on local government, the Council would continue its policy of sound financial management and continuous review of its operating structures and operational procedures.

He outlined proposed changes to the Directorate structure that had been agreed with the Chief Executive. He advised that, with effect from the 1st May, he had transferred responsibility for Health, including Public Health to the Deputy Chief Executive responsible for Residents Services who would put this service through the BID process.

He advised that the current administration was passionate about putting residents first and noted that this was a driving force for every member of Council regardless of political allegiance. He thanked all Members of Council - those from his own party and those from the opposition for the service they gave as individuals to the Borough and its residents.

He also thanked the Chief Executive, who had served the Borough admirably through her first year in office and asked her to thank the staff of Hillingdon Council who were staff that any Council Leader would be proud to have in their authority.

The Leader wished both the newly elected Mayor and Mayoress a wonderful and enjoyable year ahead.