Agenda and minutes

To appoint a relief Chairman.

Motion, moved by the Lord Mayor and seconded by Councillor Tim Mitchell that Councillor Judith Warner be elected as Relief Chairman.

Motion put, and on a show of hands, declared CARRIED.

To sign the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council meeting held on 2 March 2016.

The minutes of the proceedings at the Council meeting held on Wednesday 2 March 2016 were, with the assent of the Members present, signed by the Lord Mayor as a true record of the proceedings.

To note that Councillor Vincenzo Rampulla (Church Street Ward) resigned on 11 March 2016.  A by-election for the vacancy will be held on Thursday 5 May 2016.

The Council noted the resignation of Councillor Vincenzo Rampulla.

(a)      The Lord Mayor to report that on Tuesday 26 January she attended City Hall as a guest of the Mayor of London to commemorate National Holocaust Memorial Day. This ceremony was followed by a reception.

(b)      The Lord Mayor to report that on Sunday 14 February she and her Consort attended a celebration, organised by the London Chinatown Chinese Association, to mark the Chinese New Year (Year of the Monkey) in Trafalgar Square followed by a buffet lunch.

(c)      The Lord Mayor to report that on Saturday 27 February she attended and addressed the annual dinner of the London Mayor’s Association at The Corinthia Hotel

(d)      The Lord Mayor to report that on Monday 7 March she attended a Crown Estate and Exemplar Reception at 1 New Burlington Place W1 to celebrate the launch of 1 New Burlington Place, the latest development to be completed on Regent Street.

(e)      The Lord Mayor reports that on Wednesday 9 march she was entertained to lunch at Southwark Crown Court by His Honour Judge McCreith, Honorary Recorder of Westminster.

(f)       The Lord Mayor reports that on Monday 14 March she attended, along with her Chaplain, The Annual Observance of Commonwealth Day in Westminster abbey in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh. The service was followed by a reception in the Jerusalem Chamber  

(g)      The Lord Mayor reports that on Wednesday 16 March she attended the 2016 (20^th Anniversary) LGC Awards ceremony preceded by a reception and dinner at The Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, W1

(h)      The Lord Mayor reports that on Thursday 17 March she hosted, in The Lord Mayor’s Reception Rooms, a visit by a group of children and teachers from St Georges Church of England Primary School, Hanover Square. They were given tea a talk by the Lord Mayor and a tour of the silver vaults.

(i)       The Lord Mayor reports that on Thursday 24 March she visited the residents of Athlone House, Woodfield Road, W9 where she distributed Easter Eggs and helped them make Hot Cross buns and Simnel cake.

(j)       The Lord Mayor reports that on Friday 25 March (Good Friday) she was invited to welcome and join The Procession of Witness (a march and demonstration of faith bringing together Christian traditions) starting at Methodist Central Hall, marching to Westminster Cathedral and then culminating in an act of worship at Westminster Abbey.

(k)      The Lord Mayor reports that on Monday 4 April she attended the unveiling ceremony of a statue of Sir Simon Milton outside City Hall

(l)       The Lord Mayor reports that on Friday 8 April she continued the annual tradition of hosting a luncheon in her Reception Rooms in honour of the Lord Mayor of London

4.1     The Lord Mayor reported that Hon Alderman Anne Mallinson had represented the Council at the funeral service of former Councillor Reg Watts.  He had served as a Hyde Park Ward Councillor and as Deputy Lord Mayor in 1981-1982.

4.2     The Lord Mayor also welcomed John Quinn, the recently appointed Bi-borough Director of Corporate Services to his first Council meeting.

To the Lord Mayor, Councillor The Lady Christabel Flight and the Lord Mayor’s Consort, The Lord Howard Flight.

(a)      Vote of Thanks to the retiring Lord Mayor and Consort, Councillor The Lady Christabel Flight and the Lord Flight

          Motion moved by Councillor Robert Davis and seconded by Councillor Nickie Aiken that the full Council resolve to record a vote of thanks to Councillor The Lady Christabel Flight for the distinguished service rendered by her as Lord Mayor and for the Lord Flight constant and invaluable help given by him as the Lord Mayor’s Consort.

          We assure them of our gratitude for, and high appreciation of, the dignity and ability with which they have carried out their many duties in accordance with the highest traditions of the City and this Vote of Thanks be inscribed on Vellum under the Common Seal and presented to them.

          Motion put and on a show of hands declared CARRIED following which the Lord Mayor replied.

          RESOLVED: That we assure them of our gratitude for, and high appreciation of, the dignity and ability with which they have carried out their many duties in accordance with the highest traditions of the City and this Vote of Thanks be inscribed in Vellum under the Common Seal and presented to them.

To receive any Declarations of Interests from Members and Officers of the Council.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

7.1     Councillor Lindsey Hall presented two petitions opposing the Cycle Superhighway Scheme in North London.  These petitions were referred to the Executive Director for Growth, Planning and Housing for reporting to the Cabinet Member for Sustainability and Parking.

Standing Order 9 limits the questions to matters relevant to the general work or procedure of the Council.

The questions, supplementary questions and replies are included on the Council’s website.

(a)      Councillor Louise Hyams: St James’s Matters.

(b)      Councillor Richard Beddoe: Planning to Protect: Safeguarding our   Communities.

(a)      St James’s Matters

          Councillor Louise Hyams spoke and Councillor Nickie Aiken replied.

(b)      Planning to Protect: Safeguarding our Communities

          Councillor Richard Beddoe spoke and Councillor Robert Davis replied.

With the approval of the Chairman of the meeting, the Leader of the Council may make a statement on an urgent matter and the Leader of the Opposition will have an equivalent right of reply.

There were no urgent matters.

To consider items chosen for debate from the attached Future Policy Plan.

11.     The meeting debated the item chosen for debate from the Future Policy Plan by the Majority Party.

          Education

          The Majority Party had selected Item Number 44 on the Future Policy Plan: Education.  The debate will be referred to the relevant Executive Director for consideration when reporting on the subject.

To be moved by Councillor Guthrie McKie and seconded by Councillor Barbara Grahame:

This Council notes with regret, the continuing delays to the Futures Plan for Church Street. Phase 1 of the plan was voted on by residents and is now over 1 year behind schedule. A number of factors have contributed to this delay, including a loss of staff during reorganisation at City Hall, indecision on Cosway Street development. But the most serious impact has been the delay to the rehousing of residents at Penn House. These are elderly residents who need greater urgency in dealing with their housing needs.

The Council has said it will proceed with Phase 2 of the Futures Plan without carrying out a consultation programme. This has caused concern in the community as to the motives of the Council and the developers.  Residents and retailers have a vital stake in this development.

We call on the Leader of the Council to give greater urgency to the Futures Plan for Church Street and to implement decisions agreed by residents. We further call on a full consultation programme with residents and retailers on Phase 2 of the plan.

The Minority Party had selected for debate the Notice of Motion as set out on the agenda.  The Notice of Motion was moved by Councillor Guthrie McKie and seconded by Councillor Barbara Grahame.

Councillor Daniel Astaire moved and it was seconded by Councillor Susie Burbridge that the Notice of Motion be amended as follows:

         Delete all after "This Council notes with regret, the continuing delays to the Futures Plan for Church Street.  Phase 1 of the plan was voted on by residents and is" and add:

         "an ambitious regeneration project to improve the quality and number of homes in the Church Street area as well as deliver community facilities, infrastructure and greening. 

         Whilst unfortunate, a number of factors have contributed to this delay, including delays caused by the discovery of infrastructure on site and the need to work around the requirements of utility companies, which has been lengthy and costly.  Nevertheless, plans are ongoing.  As a result of the regeneration to the area, the elderly residents of Penn House are to be rehoused into new 1 bedroomed self-contained flats, replacing outmoded bedsits.  This will be at Lisson Arches and also provide much needed business space

         Moving forward with the implementation and extension of the Futures Plan will involve a new phase of community engagement, in which residents and businesses will continue to have a voice in shaping the proposals.   The Council is developing with its partners in the statutory and voluntary sectors further tools to engage with all stakeholders, including extending the membership of the Futures Steering Group and working closely with the Neighbourhood Forum.

         During the current fiscal year planning consent will be sought for the new development at Luton Street where residents have had a strong voice in the design process and design has begun on the Green Spine running from Lisson Street to Fisherton Street.  The team to deliver the Neighbourhood Keepers programme has been appointed and work has begun on further design work to accelerate the delivery of new homes.  New homes have now been delivered in Orchardson Street, again where residents led the design process.  Options are being considered for Cosway Street to deliver a significant number of new homes that benefit the community.

         This is an ambitious, complex and lengthy programme that the Council is committed to delivering in in partnership with residents.  The engagement and project management team is well resourced and making progress on all outstanding projects.

         We ask that the Full Council endorses the on-going commitment of resident engagement to supporting implementation of the regeneration work in Church Street which is a process requiring careful consideration of all options to ensure that we make best use of public money and that proper governance and transparency in decision making is in place with the relevant Cabinet Members."

During the course of his reply Councillor Guthrie McKie accepted the amendment moved by Councillor Astaire and seconded by Councillor Susie Burbridge.

The Lord Mayor put the Notice of Motion, as amended to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

The Lord Mayor put the remaining business to the vote in accordance with Standing Order 18.

Special Policy Areas and Policies Map – Revision to the City Plan: Submission versions to the Secretary of State and Examination by an Independent Inspector –

Resolved:  That the recommendations of the Cabinet Member for Built Environment be adopted.

The Council’s Petition Scheme:

Resolved: That the recommendation of the General Purposes Committee be adopted.

Audio Broadcasting of Council Meetings: 

Resolved: That the recommendation of the General Purposes Committee be adopted.