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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Porchester Hall, Porchester Road, Bayswater, London W2 5DU

Contact: Mick Steward, Head of Committee and Governance Services  Email:  msteward@westminster.gov.uk Tel: 020 7641 3134

Live Broadcast: audiorecordingofcouncilmeeting

Items
No. Item

1.

Appointment of Relief Chairman

To appoint a relief Chairman.

Minutes:

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

 

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

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 128 KB

To sign the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council meeting held on 17 May 2017

Minutes:

The minutes of the proceedings at the Council meeting held on Wednesday 17 May 2017 were, with the assent of the Members present, signed by the Lord Mayor as a true record of proceedings.

3.

Lord Mayor's Communications

       i.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 18 May, he attended an Interfaith Service hosted by the Marylebone Association.

 

      ii.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 19 May, he presented an Equalities Award at St. Peter’s Church of England Primary School.

 

    iii.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 22 May, he attended a dinner hosted by the City of London Corporation in honour of Michael Welbank MBE.

 

    iv.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 25 May, he attended a Show and Reception hosted by the Sir Simon Milton Foundation to commemorate “500 Years of Covent Garden”.

 

     v.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 28 May, he attended the Vitality Westminster Mile.

 

    vi.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 1 June, he attended a Garden Party hosted by Her Majesty The Queen at Buckingham Palace.

 

  vii.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 4 June, he attended an event with St. John’s Community to mark the start of his mayoral year.

 

 viii.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 7 June, he attended a Service of Thanksgiving for the Life and Work of Ronnie Corbett CBE.

 

    ix.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 8 June he attended the St. Christopher’s Place “One Great Day” charity event.

 

     x.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 11 June, he attended the finals of the “Pride’s Got Talent” competition.

 

    xi.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 12 June, he attended the Bessborough Gardens Annual Garden Party.

 

  xii.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 15 June, he attended Beating Retreat, hosted by the General Officer Commanding London District.

 

 xiii.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 17 June, he attended Trooping the Colour.

 

xiv.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 18 June, he attended “City for All” at Paddington Recreation Ground.

 

  xv.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 20 June, he hosted a Flag Raising Ceremony and Reception on the occasion of Armed Forces Day.

 

xvi.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 21 June, he attended the State Opening of Parliament.

 

xvii.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 22 June, he attended the Covent Garden Area Trust Annual Rent Ceremony.

xviii.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 22 June, he attended Westminster City Council’s Annual Staff Awards at City Hall.

 

xix.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 25 June, he attended “West End Live”.

 

  xx.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 26 June, he attended a ceremony to mark the laying of two V.C. paving flags and subsequently hosted a reception at City Hall.

 

xxi.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 28 June, he attended a Service for the new Parliament at St. Margaret’s Church, Westminster.

 

xxii.          The Lord Mayor to report that, on 29 June, he attended a College Dinner at Westminster Abbey, in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal, on the occasion of St. Peter’s Day.

 

Minutes:

3.1     The Lord Mayor referred to these as set out on the agenda.

 

3.2     In view of the recent terrorist attacks in Manchester, London Bridge and Finsbury Party and the fire at Grenfell Tower he asked the Council to stand for a minutes silence in memory of all the victims.

 

3.3     With the permission of the Lord Mayor Aziz Saiq, the Youth MP, gave the annual address to the meeting.

14.

Statement on an Urgent Matter Pursuant to Standing Order 4 (3)

Minutes:

Councillor Nickie Aiken made a statement in response to the recent terrorist attacks and the fire at Grenfell Tower to which Councillor Adam Hug replied.

4.

Declarations of Interest

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

Minutes:

4.1     Councillor Ruth Bush declared that she was a Trustee of the Westminster Tree Trust and would be speaking in the Air Quality debate.

 

4.2     Councillor Nick Evans declared that he was a long standing resident of Pimlico and would be speaking on this under Item 7.

5.

Petitions and Deputations

Minutes:

(a)      Petition

 

          Councillor Patricia McAllister presented a petition from local residents        requesting a school crossing at St Luke’s Primary School, Fernhead Road,          W9.  The petition was referred to the Executive Director for City Management           and Communities for reporting to the relevant Cabinet Member.

6.

Questions

Note of the Head of Committee and Governance Services:  With the consent of the Chief Whips of both the Majority Party and the Minority Party it is intended that rather than produce an order of questions these will be sought by the Lord Mayor from Members indicating at the meeting that they have a question.  The Leader of the Opposition will still be entitled to ask up to 3 questions during the 45 minutes set aside for questions.

 

Minutes:

Procedural Motion

 

Moved by Councillor Tim Mitchell and seconded by Councillor Guthrie McKie and

 

Resolved:

 

That Standing Order 9 be suspended to the extent only to allow that rather than Members, entitled to do so, being selected by draw to ask Questions the Lord Mayor call Members entitled to ask a question who indicate when asked by the Lord Mayor by show of hands at the meeting a wish to do so.  The Lord Mayor, when calling Members, may have regard to the proportionality of the political groups on the Council.  The Leader of the Opposition shall still be entitled to ask up to 3 questions during question time which shall be for a maximum of 45 minutes.

 

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

7.

Councillor Issues

(a)      Councillor Tim Roca – “The Future of Housing in Westminster in light of     recent events”.

 

(b)      To follow

Minutes:

(a)      The Future of Housing in Westminster in Light of Recent Events

 

          Councillor Tim Roca spoke and Councillor Rachael Robathan replied.

 

(b)      Pimlico

 

          Councillor Nick Evans spoke and Councillor David Harvey replied.

9.

Future Policy Plan pdf icon PDF 141 KB

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

Minutes:

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

 

          Air Quality

 

          The Majority Party had selected item number 6 on the Future Policy Plan, Air      Quality.  The debate will be referred to the relevant Executive Director for consideration when reporting on the subject.

11.

Notice of Motion

To be moved by Councillor Roca and seconded by Councillor Williams.

 

Tackling the Housing Shortage

 

“With the continuing demand for housing for low to middle income families the Council believes that current models of delivering homes fail to build sufficient housing for this need.

Although this is not a problem unique to Westminster it is clear that other local authorities are looking at different housing models that will deliver housing for local residents. The most common model is that where the local authority sets up a partnership body (to include RSL's and developers) to oversee the development of housing for social and intermediate rent. The borrowing power of such a partnership enables it to be ambitious in its objectives and creates confidence in a programme that delivers on its promises.

 

The Council is therefore urged to set aside the failed proposals for Phase 2 of the Church Street Masterplan and proposals for the regeneration of Ebury Bridge Estate. A new Council run partnership development team can then look afresh at the housing needs in those areas and in other areas of Westminster."

 

 

Minutes:

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 Tim Roca and seconded by Councillor Jason Williams.

 

Councillor Rachael Robathan moved and it was seconded by Councillor Susie Burbridge that the Notice of Motion be amended, as follows:

 

First paragraph remains, then delete subsequent paragraphs then add:

 

“The Council commends the bold new vision for housing in Westminster as outlined by the Leader and Cabinet Members for Housing and Planning and Public Realm.

 

The Council’s new City Plan will set out a refreshed and rigorous approach to our planning policies.  There will be a focus on aiming for 35% new affordable homes on all new developments, with 60% of these being intermediate units for people and families on middle incomes.  The Council will work with developers on a new approach to viability with an emphasis on new affordable homes being delivered on-site or close by.

 

The Council notes renewed efforts to utilise innovative models to accelerate housing delivery in Westminster.  Like other local authorities, the Council is looking to create a wholly owned company, bringing more flexibility and freedom to delivering new homes.  This model will allow the Council to pursue new avenues of borrowing, deliver different tenure types and explore working more commercially to fund our core services.  This model allows us to maintain our freehold interest whereas other partnership models do not.

 

The Council recognises the commitment given by the Leader and the Cabinet Member for Housing to spend over £285m over the next five years, repairing and improving council homes.  This includes the Church Street Masterplan and a viable scheme for the regeneration of the Ebury Bridge Estate.  All options are still under consideration and residents will be at the heart of these plans.  Proposals will be launched in the autumn to ensure residents have the maximum opportunity to shape plans”.

 

Following debate, to which Councillor Tim Roca replied, the Lord Mayor put the amendment moved by Councillor Robathan and seconded by Councillor Burbridge to the vote and on a show of hands declared the amendment CARRIED.

 

The Lord Mayor then put the substantive motion to the vote and on a show of hands declared the substantive motion CARRIED.

 

RESOLVED:

 

“With the continuing demand for housing for low to middle income families the Council believes that current models of delivering homes fail to build sufficient housing for this need.

 

 

“The Council commends the bold new vision for housing in Westminster as outlined by the Leader and Cabinet Members for Housing and Planning and Public Realm.

 

The Council’s new City Plan will set out a refreshed and rigorous approach to our planning policies.  There will be a focus on aiming for 35% new affordable homes on all new developments, with 60% of these being intermediate units for people and families on middle incomes.  The Council will work with developers on a new approach to viability with an emphasis on new  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

13.

Report of the General Purposes Committee 5 July 2017 and Appendix A pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Lord Mayor advised that due to lack of time the amendment tabled by Councillor Hug fell.  The Lord Mayor then put the recommendation in paragraph1 of the General Purposes Committee to the vote and on a show of hands declared the recommendation ADOPTED.

 

RESOLVED:  That the Petition Scheme be amended as set out in the report attached as Appendix A to the report of the General Purposes Committee.