Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the Assembly held on 30 November 2016 were confirmed as correct.

·  JNC Salaries and Conditions Panel held on 30 November 2016

·  JNC Appointments Panel held on 13 December 2016

·  JNC Appointments Panel held on 9 January 2017

The Assembly received and noted the minutes of the:

·  JNC Salaries and Conditions Panel held on 30 November 2016;

·  JNC Appointments Panel held on 13 December 2016; and

·  JNC Appointments Panel held on 9 January 2017.

The Leader will present his statement.

At the request of the Leader, the Chair asked the Assembly to stand for a minute’s silence for the two victims of the fire which took hold of a maisonette in the Borough that morning and for Duran Kageearma who was tragically murdered in Dagenham on 12 November 2016.

The Assembly stood for a minute’s silence.

The Leader then presented a verbal statement updating the Assembly on a range of matters since the last meeting, including:

·  The first-ever freight train to travel from China to the UK entirely by rail.  The train had left the city of Yiwa on an 18-day journey and covered 7,500 miles and seven countries before arriving at Barking’s East London Terminal this week. The Leader and the Mayor greeted the train upon arrival and presented gifts to the Chinese Ambassador;

·  The new Vicarage Field development in Barking Town Centre which would deliver around 900 new homes and a state of the art shopping centre.  The development would also include a 150-bed hotel, affordable space for start-up businesses, a cinema, gym, music venue, 3-form entry primary school and new healthcare facilities.  The development was expected to bring more than 1,000 jobs to the Borough; and

·  The Councils ability to deliver on its ambitions against significant challenges, which had resulted in Barking and Dagenham being known as the Borough of Aspiration. 

The Labour Group Secretary will announce any nominations to fill vacant positions on Council committees or other bodies.

There were no appointments.

The Assembly received the BAD Youth Forum’s 15^th Annual report, introduced by Erik Stein, Group Manager for Youth Services who was accompanied by representatives of the Youth Forum.

The Forum was made up of 60 young people who were elected from schools and youth groups in the Borough in January 2016.  Amongst the initiatives undertaken during the year was the creation of sub-groups, which considered the following:

Mental Health and Voluntary Work Sub-Group:  The Sub-Group focused addressing the stigma around mental health issues and how to get young people talking about the subject.  The Sub-Group developed a questionnaire for young people on a range of mental health and, arising from the results, made an infomercial to raise awareness, break the stigma and get young people to talk about mental health.  The infomercial was then shown to the Assembly.

Young Mayor’s Sub-Group:  The Sub-Group focused on the activities of the Young Mayor for 2016.  Various events were attended by the Young Mayor during the year and fundraising activities included a stall at the summer festival, attendance at the Youth Parade, non school uniform day, a bucket shake at ASDA and a Halloween Movie night.  In total, £1363.17 was raised by the Sub-Group for the Young Mayors chosen charity, Richard House’s Children’s Hospice.

Young Inspectors Sub-Group:  The Sub-Group looked at sexual health and undertook inspections to pharmacies within the Borough which had signed up to the “Come Correct” scheme.  The Young Inspectors undertook 125 visits to 29 pharmacies looking at the environment, whether a demonstration was received on how to use condoms, information about STI’s and guidelines for those who were under 16.  Feedback from each of the visits was given to the pharmacies and follow up inspections were undertaken.

Following the presentation, a number of Councillors paid tribute to the hard work of the Forum during the year, particularly in relation to addressing the stigma around mental health.  The mental health infomercial made by Youth Forum members was found to be very powerful and the Assembly asked that the video be placed on the Councils website and other of social media platforms. In response to questions, the Forum advised that the infomercial was filmed and edited by members of the Youth Forum.

The Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety introduced a report on the draft Statement of Licensing Policy for 2017 – 2022 which set out the principles by which the Council would discharge its responsibilities, as a licensing authority, in relation to the sale of alcohol, regulated entertainment and late night refreshment.

In particular, the Cabinet Member referred to the two new key provisions within the policy, the first relating to sound limiting devices, when required, and the second relating to restrictions on licensed premises that were within 400 metres of schools and colleges.

The Assembly welcomed the new provisions and sought clarification of the representation received during the consultation process from the Musicians’ Union in relation to sound limiters, which an officer provided to the Assembly.

The Assembly resolved to adopt the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Statement of Licensing Policy 2017-2022 in respect of the Licensing Act 2003, as attached at Appendix A to the report.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Growth and Investment presented a report on the proposal to retain the existing Council Tax Support Scheme and £50,000 discretionary hardship fund, in order to continue to support low income households in exceptional financial difficulties.

The Cabinet Member advised that officers would be looking into how many residents used the discretionary hardship fund and may amend the fund accordingly.

In response to a question, the Assembly was advised that the collection rate for Council Tax 2016/2017 would only be known at  the end of the financial year. 

The Assembly resolved that the Council Tax Support Scheme implemented for 2016/17 be retained for 2017/18.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Growth and Investment introduced a report on the appointment of an external auditor, following the closure of the Audit Commission and the end of the transitional arrangements after the 2017/18 audits. 

The Cabinet Member explained that when the current transitional arrangements would end on 31 March 2018 and the Council would become responsible for the appointment of the external auditor. 

There were three options open o the Council which detailed in the report, together with the advantages/benefits and disadvantages/risks of each:

·  Option 1 – To make a stand-alone appointment;

·  Option 2 -  Set up a Joint Auditor Panel/local joint procurement arrangements; or

·  Option 3 – Opt into a National Procurement Scheme: the “Appointing Person” arrangement offered by Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd

The Assembly noted that the Public Accounts and Audit Select Committee had initially considered the report and asked the Assembly to consider option 2.

The Assembly resolved endorse Option 3 as set out within the report and that the external auditor for the Council and for the Pension Fund, from 2018/19, be appointed by the Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd.

The Chief Executive introduced a report on the appointment of a statutory Chief Financial Officer following recent changes to the senior management structure which included the deletion of the posts of Strategic Director of Finance and Investment (the former Chief Financial Officer) and the Strategic Director for Customer, Commercial and Service Delivery and the creation of the new post of Chief Operating Officer from 1 January 2017.

The Assembly resolved to:

(i)   Ratify the appointment of Claire Symonds as Chief Operating Officer with effect from 1 January 2017; and

(ii)   Appoint Claire Symonds as the Council’s statutory Chief Financial Officer.

Moved by Councillor Mullane and seconded by Councillor Carpenter:

“Barking and Dagenham Council is against the re-introduction of Grammar Schools as there is no evidence that they increase social mobility.  Indeed, the contrary is true.  These schools have only ever serviced the needs of the few and this Council is determined to give all children the opportunity to achieve academically.

Bringing back Grammar Schools would introduce divisive selection in our Borough.  What is required is an inclusive, strategically planned education system that enables every child to thrive, learn and prosper and allows local industry and businesses to benefit from the achievements of Barking and Dagenham’s young people.

Barking and Dagenham Council needs to be able to continue to play a full part on providing good schools where and when they are required in our Borough.  Changing the status of schools and introducing selection will be a waste of time and resources of the Council, preventing them from producing good outcomes for all and helping local schools to recruit and retain the best teachers.

This Council will write to the Secretary of State for Education and the Prime Minister urging them not to allow the introduction of such schools in Barking and Dagenham.”

Members of the Assembly spoke in support of the motion and expressed their concerns in relation to the proposed reintroduction of Grammar Schools.  The reintroduction of Grammar Schools was not welcomed in the Borough, particularly as the Assembly felt that schools within the Borough were currently inclusive of all students and the proposal would be divisive in the community.

The motion was carried and resolved accordingly.

Question 1

From Councillor McCarthy

“There has been an increase in incidences of fly-tipping at Eastbrookend Cemetery car park. The cemetery is one the most special places along with our other two cemeteries within the Borough. Can the Council install a camera to deter and be used as a tool to prosecute these criminals who have no respect for our dead? If there are similar instances at our other two cemeteries I would like to see them get the same enforcement aids.”

Response

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene advised that the Enforcement Service had a small number of cameras that could be deployed in areas where there was persistent fly-tipping.  Officers would be carrying out a survey of Eastbrookend Cemetery during the week to identify the viability of installing a camera in the  area and advise Councillor McCarthy accordingly.

Question 2

From Councillor McCarthy

“We have had a tragic death on Dagenham Road since the last Assembly. Will the relevant Cabinet Member work with local councillors and residents to make improvements to road safety on Dagenham Road to encompass speed cameras, new road surface and traffic calming measures and whatever suggestions come forward from a review of the area?”

Response

The Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety advised that the tragic accident remained under Police investigation.  Council representatives  had met with Metropolitan Police Traffic Management Officers on 16 January 2017 to discuss the circumstances behind the fatality and were waiting the Police report which would support a review of highway’s issues in the area.

Supplementary Question

Councillor McCarthy requested that Ward Councilors be included in future discussions on the matter and be updated on progress.

The Cabinet Member advised that Councillors should contact her regarding the issue.

Question 3

From Councillor Mullane

“Can the Cabinet Member for crime confirm she is doing everything within her power to ensure the Police service is at full capacity in regard to posts being filled and confirm the current position?”

Response

The Cabinet Member for Enforcement and Community Safety advised that the Metropolitan Police applied a formula for allocating resources to Boroughs.  The Council had long argued that the formula, over 10 years old, no longer adequately reflected the needs of the Borough.  The Cabinet Member advised that ahead of a full review by the Police, it had been accepted that the Borough needed five neighbourhood officers and the posts were recently appointed to.  Furthermore, the number of Schools and Youth Engagement Officers had been doubled.

Supplementary Question

Councillor Mullane advised that she had been made aware that the statistics of Police Officers for the Borough included those who were sick and/or on secondment and asked the Cabinet Member to take this up with relevant officers at the Metropolitan Police.

The Cabinet Member confirmed she would discuss the issue with relevant officers.

Question 4

From Councillor Mullane

“Can the Cabinet Member responsible for crime explain whether the Council is encouraging the Police to take pro-active steps towards crime rather than  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.