Agenda and minutes

1.1      To appoint a relief Chairman.

1.1      Motion moved by the Lord Mayor and seconded by Councillor Paul Swaddle, that Councillor Judith Warner be elected as Relief Chairman.

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

2.1       To sign the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council meeting held on 18 September 2019.

2.1      The minutes of the proceedings at the Council meeting held on Wednesday 18 September 2019 were, with the assent of the Members present, signed by the Lord Mayor as a true record of the proceedings.

1.              The Lord Mayor to report that, on 19 September, she attended the Merchant Navy Association “MN100” Gala Dinner in Greenwich.

2.              The Lord Mayor to report that, on 24 September, she hosted an afternoon tea and award ceremony for the Past Overseer’s Society in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour.

3.              The Lord Mayor to report that, on 25 September, she hosted a reception for School Governors in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour.

4.              The Lord Mayor to report that, on 26 September, she attended the Westminster Business Council’s Chairman at Home House.

5.              The Lord Mayor to report that, on 29 September, she attended the London Matsuri Festival in Trafalgar Square.

6.              The Lord Mayor to report that, on 29 September, she took part in the London Pearly Kings and Queens’ Costermonger’s Harvest Festival in the City of London.

7.              The Lord Mayor to report that, on 3 October, she hosted a reception in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour to bid farewell to Dr John Hall as Dean of Westminster.

8.              The Lord Mayor to report that, on 4 October, she took part in a day of visits to Westminster care homes to celebrate Silver Sunday.

9.              The Lord Mayor to report that, on 4 October, she attended the Westminster Dragoon’s Annual Dinner.

10.           The Lord Mayor to report that, on 6 October, she attended events around Westminster to celebrate Silver Sunday.

11.           The Lord Mayor to report that, on 9 October, she attended a Service for Seafarers at St Paul’s Cathedral.

12.           The Lord Mayor to report that, on 12 October, she attended a memorial ceremony and laid a wreath in honour of nurse Edith Cavell at her statue by Trafalgar Square.

13.           The Lord Mayor to report that, on 14 October, she attended the State Opening of Parliament.

14.           The Lord Mayor to report that, on 15 October, she attended a service to mark 750 years since the rebuilding of Westminster Abbey, in the presence of HM The Queen and HRH The Duchess of Cornwall.

15.           The Lord Mayor to report that, on 19 October, she attended an Open House Shabbat at the West London Synagogue.

16.           The Lord Mayor to report that, on 20 October, she attended the Trafalgar Day Parade at Horse Guards Parade.

17.           The Lord Mayor to report that, on 20 October, she attended the London Mayors’ Association Civic Service at Westminster Abbey.

18.           The Lord Mayor to report that, on 22 October, she attended the inaugural Westminster Business Council Business Awards.

19.           The Lord Mayor to report that, on 23 October, she attended the final showcase of Westminster City Council’s Black History Month programme at the Yaa Centre.

20.           The Lord Mayor to report that, on 25 October, she attended the Royal Horticultural Society’s Britain in Bloom Awards at the RHS Lindley Hall.

3.1      The Lord Mayor referred to these as set out on the agenda. She also commented that these represented only a small proportion of the events that she had attended.

4.1      Councillor Jonathan Glanz declared that he derives part of his income from let residential properties and will be speaking on that debate (Item 9 – Short Term Lets) and some of the properties are not in Westminster so are not covered in his standard declaration.

4.2      Councillor Boothroyd declared that the he is the Head of Research and Psephology for Thorncliffe, whose clients are companies applying for planning permission from various local authorities. He advised that no current schemes are in Westminster; if there were, he would be precluded from working on them under the company’s code of conduct. 

4.3      Councillor Lorraine Dean declared in relation to Item 12 – Notice of Motion on Care Homes in Westminster that her son is in a residential home paid for by the City Council.

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.

5.1      There were none.

6.1      A petition was presented by Councillor David Boothroyd on behalf of the residents of Westbourne Terrace Road, calling on Westminster City Council to prepare revised designs for the Blomfield Mews development before proceeding with the designs currently awaiting planning consent.

6.2      A petition was also presented by Councillor Robert Rigby on behalf of Westminster residents calling on the Council & Government to increase powers to charge larger on-the-spot fines to motorists found to be engine idling.

6.3      The petitions were referred to the relevant Chief Officers for reporting to the relevant Cabinet Members.

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.

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

Councillor Jonathan Glanz - “Connectivity – at the Heart of Westminster’s Future”

Councillor Louise Hyams – The Big Issue

Connectivity – At the Heart of Westminster’s Future

Councillor Jonathan Glanz and Councillor Paul Swaddle replied

The Big Issue

Councillor Louise Hyams spoke and Councillor Nickie Aiken replied.

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

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

9.2      The Majority Party had selected item number 97 on the Future Policy Plan: Short Term Lets.  The debate will be referred to the relevant Executive Director for consideration when reporting on the subject.

To receive, consider and debate, if chosen, the following report from the Cabinet Member for Place Shaping and Planning which contains a recommendation to the council for decision.

Appendix 1: Westminster City Plan for submission to the Secretary of State

Report and Appendices

10.1    The Lord Mayor, at the conclusion of the time for debates, then put the recommendation of the Cabinet Member for Place Shaping and Planning report to the vote. 

10.2    The Minority Party had submitted amendments to the recommendation which were tabled on blue paper.

Amendment 1 to the recommendation was moved by Councillor Geoff Barraclough and seconded by Councillor David Boothroyd.

After 'report', insert ", subject to the following amendments:

a) Point E of policy 9 on page 57 to read "60% of the affordable units will be social rent or London Affordable Rent and 40% will be 'intermediate' affordable housing for rent or sale".

b) In paragraph 9.4 on page 58, delete "60%" and insert "40%".

c) In paragraph 9.7 on page 58, delete "40%" and insert "60%"."

10.3    The Lord Mayor put amendment 1 to the vote and on a show of hands declared the amendment LOST.

10.4    Amendment 2 to the recommendation was moved by Councillor Geoff Barraclough and seconded by Councillor David Boothroyd.

           Add at end: "The Council also resolves to bring forward Supplementary Planning Guidance that builds on the City Plan to specifically address the Climate Emergency."

10.5    The Lord Mayor put amendment 2 to the vote and on a show of hands declared the amendment LOST.

10.6    The Lord Mayor put substantive recommendation to the vote and on a show of hands declared the recommendation ADOPTED.

10.7    RESOLVED:

           That the Council, pursuant to Regulation 22 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012, approved the Draft City Plan and the supporting documents appended to this report for submission to the Secretary of State for approval by way of examination.

To receive, consider and debate, if chosen, the following report which contains a recommendation to the council for decision.

Appendix 2:  Programme of Meetings: 2020 - 2021

REPORT

APPENDIX A

General Purposes Committee: 6 November: Programme of Meetings 2020-2021

11.1    RESOLVED: That meetings of the Council be held as follows:

20 May 2020 (Annual), 24 June 2020, 16 September, 11 November (Budget Proposals), 20 January 2021, 3 March 2021 (Council Tax/Budget Setting) and         12 May 2021 (Annual).

Moved by Councillor Adam Hug and seconded by Councillor Nafsika Butller-Thalassis

The Council notes the deeply troubling situation in Garside House and wider concerns about standards and practices at Sanctuary-run care homes in Westminster.

The Council believes that all residents of Westminster’s Care Homes should be treated with dignity and looked after to the highest possible standards.

The Council also believes that the current outsourced arrangements where homes are managed by Sanctuary Care are not fit for purpose.

The Council further believes that more direct and consistent oversight of the functioning of the Council's care homes and relevant facilities being created in the SHSOP programme will be required in future to ensure all residents get the standard of care they deserve.

The Council resolves to ask Cabinet/the relevant Cabinet Member to:

·             Work to remove operational control of care homes in Westminster from Sanctuary as soon as is legally possible

·             Appoint an independent review of bi-borough contract management in Adult Social Care

·             Take steps to end the joint contracting and management arrangements for care homes with the NHS so that Westminster retains responsibility only for the homes it owns

·             Restore direct council management of council owned care homes in Westminster

12.1    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 Adam Hug and seconded by Councillor Nafsika Butler-Thalassis.

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

12.3    Councillor Louise Hyams moved and it was seconded by Councillor Jim Glen that the notice of motion be amended, as follows:

           That the Notice of Motion be amended as follows:

           Supporting the delivery of care in Westminster Care Homes

           The Council notes the deeply troubling situation in Garside House and wider concerns about standards and practices at Sanctuary-run care homes in Westminster.

           [INSERT] serious nature of the allegations reported at Garside House Nursing Home and believes that the priority of this Council is to ensure that all residents of care homes in Westminster

The Council believes that all residents of Westminster’s Care Homes should        be treated with dignity and looked after to the highest possible standards.

           [INSERT]

           The Council notes that action has already been taken to investigate these allegations and to put in place interim management measures to improve practice and protect residents’ safety. This has been delivered in liaison with key partner agencies.

           The Council also believes that the current outsourced arrangements where homes are managed by Sanctuary Care are not fit for purpose.

           The Council further believes that more direct and consistent oversight of the         functioning of the Council's care homes and relevant facilities being created in      the SHSOP programme will be required in future to ensure all residents get      the standard of care they deserve.

           The Council resolves to ask Cabinet/the relevant Cabinet Member to:

           [INSERT]

· Consider the findings of the CQC investigation and take swift and proportionate action to ensure the highest standards are care are delivered at Garside House as well as across all Westminster-run care homes.

· Continue to support the residents and families of Garside House throughout the police investigation.

· Work to remove operational control of care homes in Westminster from Sanctuary as soon as is legally possible

·             Appoint an independent review of bi-borough contract management in Adult Social Care

·             Take steps to end the joint contracting and management arrangements for care homes with the NHS so that Westminster City Council retains responsibility only for the homes it owns

·             Restore direct council management of council owned care homes in Westminster

12.4      Following debate, the Lord Mayor put the amendment to the Motion to the vote and on a show of hands declared the amendment to the motion CARRIED. 

12.5      The Lord Mayor then put the Substantive Motion to the vote and on a show of hands declared the Substantive Motion CARRIED.

             RESOLVED:

             The Council notes the serious nature of the allegations reported at Garside House Nursing Home and believes that the priority of this Council is to ensure that all residents of care homes in Westminster should be treated with dignity and looked after to the highest  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.