Agenda and minutes

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Members are asked to declare any interest they may have in any matter which is to be considered at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 2014 were confirmed as correct.

Further to Minute 6, the Chief Executive advised that a report would be presented to the next Assembly meeting relating to the payment of a Special Responsibility Allowance to the previous position of Chief Whip as part of the Members' Allowances Scheme.

(The Chair agreed that this matter could be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency under the provisions of Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 to allow the Assembly to mark the passing of a former Councillor.)

The Assembly noted with deep regret that former Councillor John Dias-Broughton had passed away on Wednesday, 10 September 2014 following a short illness.

A number of Councillors spoke in tribute to Mr Dias-Broughton, recalling their personal anecdotes and commenting on his commitment to his constituents.

The Assembly stood for a minute's silence as a mark of respect.

Assembly agreed the following appointments:

·  Councillor Channer as the Thames Ward representative on the Barking Housing Forum, following the resignation of Councillor Turner

·  Councillor C Rice to the Development Control Board, following the resignation of Councillor Zanitchkhah

·  Councillors Bright and Choudhury  to the Health & Adult Services Select Committee

·  Councillors Butt and Kangethe to the Licensing and Regulatory Board

·  Councillor Reason to the Living and Working Select Committee

and noted the following appointments:

Ø  by the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Councillor Geddes:

o  of Councillors Alasia and Butt as deputies on the London Councils Transport and Environment Committee

o  of Councillor Turner to the Public Transport Liaison Group, and

Ø  by the Cabinet Member for Housing, Councillor Ashraf, of Councillors Ahammad and Fergus to the Registered Provider Forum.

The Assembly received this report introduced by the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, relating to a Local Development Order to benefit businesses in Barking and Dagenham and promote the borough as a business friendly place.

The Assembly agreed to adopt the Barking and Dagenham Employment Areas Local Development Order as attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Assembly received this report introduced by the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, relating to the Supplementary Planning Document "Last Orders? Preserving Public Houses" which aimed to give the Council more control over the loss of pubs through the planning system.

Following debate, the Cabinet Member thanked Members for their support in preserving the status of public houses in the Borough, recognising the important role they play in the community, and noted that Whalebone ward has two public houses and not one as stated in the report.

The Assembly agreed to adopt the Supplementary Planning Document "Last Orders? Preserving Public Houses" attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The draft Constitution has been circulated to all Members under separate cover (Supplementary 1).

The Chair advised the Assembly that the Constitution Review report as set out on pages 121-125 of the agenda had been deferred.

The Assembly received this report introduced by the Leader of the Council, relating to the proposed new vision and priorities for Barking and Dagenham, which are intended to reflect the changing relationship between the Council, partners and the community, and the Council's role in place shaping and enabling community leadership within the context of a significantly reducing budget.

Following debate, the Leader thanked Members for their useful and supportive comments.

The Assembly agreed to adopt the refreshed vision and priorities as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

In accordance with the Council Constitution (Part B, Article 1, paragraph 9.8) Councillor Quadri was not permitted to vote as he had not been present throughout the discussion on this item.

The Assembly received this report relating to the appointment of the Primary School Parent Governor position on the Children's Services Select Committee, introduced by the Cabinet Member for Central Services.

The Assembly agreed to approve the appointment of Mrs Toluwalope Elizabeth Dahunsi as the Primary School Parent Governor Co-opted Member to the Children's Services Select Committee for a term of four years.

In accordance with the Council Constitution (Part B, Article 1, paragraph 9.8) Councillor Alasia was not permitted to vote as she had not been present throughout the discussion on this item.

The Assembly received this report relating to the appointment of two Independent Persons, introduced by the Cabinet Member for Central Services.

Following debate, the Assembly agreed to defer this item, pending a further report from the Monitoring Officer.

Question 1 from Councillor L Waker:

“Having seen the appreciation from elderly, disabled and vulnerable tenants to having the decorations carried out in their homes that the Council introduced recently, I am seeking an assurance from the Cabinet Member for Housing that this highly valued service will continue for the rest of this electoral term of office and that there is no intention to stop or reduce this service or other front-line services such so those in flatted communal areas etc.”

RESPONSE from Councillor Ashraf, Cabinet Member for Housing:

"Thank you for the question.

This scheme commenced in September 2013.  It was previously delivered by Enterprise.  I am proud to say that since September 2013 B&D Direct Labour Organisation has delivered this service to our tenants.  Very positive feedback has been received from those tenants who have benefited with many personal compliments being passed on to the painters and decorators.  Tenants applying must be over the age of 80.  If Members want further details about the acceptance criteria, please contact me.

As you know, we are currently reviewing budgets and I am unable to give guarantees as this time.  However, I support the decorations to elderly persons' property scheme and want to ensure it continues to be available to as many of our elderly tenants as possible.

I think it is an excellent service.  However, I am very mindful of financial considerations.  I therefore hope to continue to offer elderly tenants in the borough to have two rooms of their choice decorated.  This I believe will make this important and successful scheme available to the maximum number of our elderly tenants."

Question 2 was withdrawn by Councillor Miles as he considered that the Cabinet Member for Housing in her response to Question 1 had answered his question.

Question 3 from Councillor L Smith:

“Can the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services confirm and fully commit this Council to continuing to provide the residents of the borough with a weekly household rubbish collection for the next three financial years?

Could the Cabinet Member also give her full support to keeping all Environmental Services in-house including street sweepers, grounds maintenance and refuse collection, rather than follow the approach of many Conservative Councils to outsource front line services”?

RESPONSE from Councillor L Rice, Cabinet Member for Environment:

"This Council currently operates waste collection services on a fortnightly basis for dry recyclables in a brown bin, and green garden waste in a green bin.  All other waste is collected in a grey bin every week.  

In 2012 this Council successfully bid for funding made available by Government so that local authorities can maintain their weekly waste collections.  Our bid brought in £1.3 million over 3 years for us to promote waste minimisation and to maintain our existing waste collection arrangements. As a condition of this funding there is on record an existing commitment to maintaining a weekly waste collection service until 2017/8.

As the Member is well aware we face many difficult decisions as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.