Skip to main content

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Westminster Council House, 97-113 Marylebone Road, London, NW1 5PT

Contact: Reuben Segal, Acting Head of Committee and Governance Services  Email:  rsegal@westminster.gov.uk Tel: 020 7641 3160

Live Broadcast: recordingofmeeting

Items
No. Item

1.

Appointment of Relief Chairman

To appoint a relief Chairman.

Minutes:

1.1      It was moved by the Lord Mayor and seconded by Councillor Tim Mitchell that Councillor Louise Hyams be elected as relief chairman.

 

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

 

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 220 KB

To sign the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council meeting held on 6 March 2019.

Minutes:

2.1      RESOLVED: The minutes of the proceedings at the Council meeting on Wednesday 6 March 2019, with the assent of the Members present, signed by the Lord Mayor as a true record of the proceedings.

 

3.

Lord Mayor's Communications

1.                The Lord Mayor to report that, on 28 February, she hosted an afternoon tea for the Mini Mayor of Soho in her Parlour.

2.                The Lord Mayor to report that, on 1 March, she attended Westminster Abbey for the visit of Their Majesties The King and Queen of Jordan.

3.                The Lord Mayor to report that, on 1 March, she attended the World Day of Prayer service at Westminster Abbey.

4.                The Lord Mayor to report that, on 4 March, she welcomed His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to Westminster, to plant a commemorative tree.

5.                The Lord Mayor to report that, on 4 March, she attended the Daffodil Day Celebration at Methodist Central Hall.

6.                The Lord Mayor to report that, on 6 March, she welcomed His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales to Westminster, on the occasion of his visit to the Royal College of Music.

7.                The Lord Mayor to report that, on 7 March, she hosted a reception to mark International Women’s Day in her Parlour.

8.                The Lord Mayor to report that, on 11 March, she laid a wreath during a Commonwealth Memorial Ceremony at the Commonwealth Memorial Gates in Westminster.

9.                The Lord Mayor to report that, on 11 March, she spoke at a forum to mark International Women’s Day, held at the London Rotary Club.

10.            The Lord Mayor to report that, on 11 March, she attended the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey, in the presence of Her Majesty The Queen and other members of the Royal Family.

11.            The Lord Mayor to report that, on 19 March, she attended the opening of Bush House and welcomed Her Majesty The Queen and Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge to the engagement.

12.            The Lord Mayor to report that, on 21 March, she visited the National Gallery to attend an Open Doors schools session.

13.            The Lord Mayor to report that, on 21 March, she attended the Oranges and Lemons festival at St Clement Danes Church.

14.            The Lord Mayor to report that, on 24 March, she started the London Landmarks Half Marathon and gave out medals to the finishers.

15.            The Lord Mayor to report that, on 25 March, she attended and handed out awards at the Westminster Care Awards at City Hall.

16.            The Lord Mayor to report that, on 2 April, she hosted a reception for the Diplomatic Community in her Parlour.

 

 

Minutes:

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

 

4.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

4.1      Councillor Butler-Thalassis declared in respect of Item 10 that she works for a charity that provides public health services.

 

5.

Statement on Urgent Matters

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.

Minutes:

5.1      There were no urgent matters.

6.

Vote of Thanks to the Lord Mayor

Minutes:

6.1      Motion moved by Councillor Heather Acton, seconded by Councillor Matthew Green and further supported by Councillor Guthrie McKie, that the Council resolve to record a Vote of Thanks to Councillor Lindsey Hall.  That the Council resolve to record a Vote of Thanks to Councillor Lindsey Hall for the distinguished service rendered by her as Lord Mayor and to her Consort, Mr Robert Hall, for the 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.

 

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

 

           RESOLVED: 

 

           1.        That the Council resolve to record a Vote of Thanks to Councillor Lindsey Hall for the distinguished service rendered by her as Lord Mayor and to her Consort, Mr Robert Hall, the constant and invaluable help given by him as the Lord Mayor’s Consort.

 

           2.       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.

 

7.

Petitions and Deputations, if any

Minutes:

7.1      There were no petitions or deputations received.

8.

Questions

The Lord Mayor will call Members who indicate that they wish to ask a question after the Leader of the Opposition has asked his questions.

Minutes:

8.1      The questions, supplementary questions and replies are included as an audio recording on the Council’s website

9.

Councillor Issues

(a)      Councillor Margot Bright: “Rubbish-- what have we learnt from the   SWAT team so far?”

 

(b)      Councillor Patricia McAllister: Exclusions (School)

Minutes:

(a)               Rubbish:  What have we learned from the SWAT team so far?

 

               Councillor Margot Bright spoke and Councillor Tim Mitchell replied

 

(b)        Exclusions (Schools)

 

               Councillor Patricia McAllister spoke and Councillor David Harvey   replied.

10.

Future Policy Plan pdf icon PDF 136 KB

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

Additional documents:

Minutes:

10.1    The meeting accordingly debated the item chosen from the Future Policy Plan by the Majority Party:

 

           Public Health

 

10.2    The Majority Party had selected item number 90 on the Future Policy Plan: Public Health.  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 Pancho Lewis and seconded by Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg

 

“This Council believes the right to decent housing is a basic human right. Far from guaranteeing such a right, existing UK law seems designed to deny it. Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 is a particularly vicious demonstration of the point. It allows a landlord to evict a tenant without any requirement to specify or prove a reasonable ground for repossession. This unilateral and unrestrained power creates insecurity and a real risk of homelessness for tenants who dare to complain about unacceptable living conditions or unfair rent rises. To achieve fairness and security for the thousands of tenants living in private rented accommodation, the balance of power needs to shift. This Council supports the stated objective of the Government to abolish section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 and will submit a response to the consultation process in favour of abolition. The council urges the Government to move swiftly to enact this vital change and continue to improve conditions for those in the private rented sector.”

 

Minutes:

11.1     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 Pancho Lewis and seconded by Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg.

 

11.2     The Majority Party had submitted an amendment to the notice of motion as set out on the order paper. 

 

11.3     Councillor Andrew Smith moved and it was seconded by Councillor Murad Gassanly that the notice of motion be amended, as follows:

 

           This Council believes the right to decent housing is a basic human right. Far from guaranteeing such a right, existing UK law seems designed to deny it. Section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 is a particularly vicious demonstration of the point. It allows a landlord to evict a tenant without any requirement to specify or prove a reasonable ground for repossession. This unilateral and unrestrained power creates insecurity and a real risk of homelessness for tenants who dare to complain about unacceptable living conditions or unfair rent rises. To achieve fairness and security for the thousands of tenants living in private rented accommodation, the balance of power needs to shift. This Council supports the stated objective of the Government to abolish section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 and will submit a response to the consultation process in favour of abolition reform including the strengthening of the Housing Act's section 8. The council urges the Government to move swiftly to enact this vital change and continue to improve conditions for those in the private rented sector.”

 

11.4     Following debate, to which Councillor Pancho Lewis replied, the Lord Mayor put the amendment moved by Councillor Smith and seconded by Councillor Gassanly to the vote and on a show of hands declared the amendment CARRIED.

 

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

 

            RESOLVED:  

 

            This Council supports the stated objective of the Government to abolish section 21 of the Housing Act 1988 and will submit a response to the consultation process in favour of reform including the strengthening of the Housing Act's section 8. The council urges the Government to move swiftly to enact this vital change and continue to improve conditions for those in the private rented sector.”