Issue - meetings

Further to Minute 64 (23 November 2010), received a report from the Leader of the Council on proposals for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham to be formally recognised as the sixth Host Borough for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, alongside the London Boroughs of Hackney, Greenwich, Newham, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.

Since 2006, the original Host Boroughs have been party to an Inter Authority Agreement aimed at fostering and developing co-operative joint working as well as securing local benefits and a sustainable legacy from the Olympic Games.  In the summer of 2009 the five Host Boroughs also established a Joint Committee to facilitate the discharge of executive functions regarding joint arrangements in respect of the Games and legacy.  In the light of the invitation to Barking and Dagenham to become the sixth Host Borough, it is necessary for each Council to enter into new Joint Committee arrangements via an agreed Memorandum of Understanding and Terms of Reference.

Agreed, in order to support the Council’s Olympic legacy ambitions, to:-

(i)  The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham joining and participating as a member of a Joint Committee of the six Host Boroughs for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games with effect from 1 April 2011, subject to approval of same by all the current Host Boroughs;

(ii)  The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham

a.  entering into and signing up to the revised Memorandum of Understanding, the revised Inter Authority Agreement and any other necessary documents to be entered into between the six Host Boroughs, and

b.  Delegate power to the Chief Executive to do everything and give effect to any matter necessary to achieve their objectives.

(iii)  The Terms of Reference specified in Appendix 1 to the Memorandum of Understanding or any amended version thereof;

(iv)  All executive powers, duties and functions required to be executed by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham to facilitate the objectives of the Host Boroughs in connection with the Games and their legacy, being delegated to and discharged by the Joint Committee with effect from 1 April 2011;

(v)  Appoint the Leader of the Council and Councillor McCarthy as the Council’s representatives on the Joint Committee; and

(vi)  Authorise the Leader of the Council to nominate two other Members to be the Council’s substitute representatives on the Joint Committee.

The Leader also referred to his meeting earlier today with JJ Jegede, a former pupil of Manor and Barking Abbey Schools and the current No. 1 ranked men’s long jumper in Great Britain.  The Leader spoke of his personal admiration for JJ’s drive, enthusiasm and passion and was pleased to announce that he had given a commitment on behalf of the Council to support JJ in his efforts to win the gold medal at the 2012 Olympics.