The Deputy Chair of Council was sad to announce the death of former councillor Sidney Harold Smith.

He informed that Sidney Smith died on 12 July 2012 aged 86.  He was first elected to serve Park Ward in 1971, and served until 1986.  During his time as a councillor, he served on a number of different Committees and Sub-Committees, a number of which reflected his Trade Union background.

There were no announcements by the Mayor.

The Chief Executive announced that Councillor Griffiths had been appointed to fill a vacancy on the Local Development Committee.

This is the time for Members to declare any personal or personal and prejudicial interests they may have in any matter being considered at this meeting having regard to the guidance attached to the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 2 July 2012 are enclosed for approval.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 July 2012 were approved as a correct record, subject to the inclusion of Councillor Gangadharan’s name as being present at the meeting.

There were no requests for Deputations referred to Council by the Chief Executive.

There were no petitions.

A.  Questions to the Mayor and Executive (if any)

B.  Questions to Scrutiny Chairs (if any)

No questions were submitted.

No speeches were made by Members.

The Annual Finance Report is a summary report that details the financial performance of the Council during 2011/12.  The report also contains details of the Council’s General Fund outturn for 2011/12, a section on treasury management activity over the same period and details of the main budget risks for 2012/13.

The Council is recommended to NOTE the Annual Report on Treasury Management 2011/12.

The Annual Finance Report detailed the financial performance of the Council during 2011/12.  It contained details of the Council’s General Fund outturn for 2011/12, a section on treasury management activity over the same period and details of the main budget risks for 2012/13.  The report set out the Council’s General Fund financial performance and the outturn for the 2011/12 financial year, as reported to Audit Board on 25 June 2012.

Council agreed to note the Annual Finance Report for 2011/12.

At their meeting on 17 May 2012, Council approved a report concerning changes to the Code of Conduct and related matters, necessitated by the provisions brought in by the Localism Act 2011.  At the time Council considered the report it was emphasised that the report anticipated the necessary regulations concerning transitional provisions, defining Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and dealing with other related matters.  These regulations were not published until June and Council is now required to ratify their position in relation to the adoption of the Code of Conduct and arrangements for dealing with alleged breaches, and to adopt the new provisions about interests. 

The Council is recommended to APPROVE the following to take immediate effect:

1.  Approve the Code of Conduct and guidance at Appendix 1 to the report; including provision for the Monitoring Officer to prepare and maintain a new register of Members’ interests; ensure that it is available for inspection as required by the Act, and that the Monitoring Officer ensures that Members are informed of their duty to register interests;

2.  Establish a Standards Committee with advisory terms of reference as set out in Appendix 2 to the report;

3.  Appoint the current Co-Opted Members of the Standards Committee as Co-Optees to the new Standards Advisory Committee.

4.  Agree that in the event of any current Independent Member becoming an Independent Person under the transition arrangements or otherwise resigning, that a replacement(s) shall be sought by advertisement up to a maximum 5 Co-Optees at any one time.

5.  Agree the arrangements for dealing with allegations of a breach of the Code of Conduct as set out in Appendix 3 to the report;

6.  Approve the Monitoring Officer to take the necessary action to appoint an Independent Person and a reserve Independent Person whose appointment shall be confirmed by Full Council;

7.  Grant the Monitoring Officer delegated authority to consider applications for dispensations from the restrictions on participation in any matter in which there is a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, referring any of those that they feel necessary to the Standards Committee;

8.  Amend the Council’s Constitution to provide that any Member with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter which is being decided at a meeting shall leave the room during the debate and vote.

At their meeting on 17 May 2012, Council approved a report concerning changes to the Code of Conduct and related matters, necessitated by the provisions brought in by the Localism Act 2011.  At the time Council considered the report it was emphasised that the report had to anticipate the necessary regulations concerning transitional provisions, defining Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and dealing with other related matters.  These Regulations were not published until June 2012 and because of the wording of the Regulations the Council was required to ratify its position in relation to the adoption of the Code of Conduct, arrangements for dealing with alleged breaches, and to adopt the new provisions about interests. 

Council agreed the following to take immediate effect:

1.  Approve the Code of Conduct and guidance at Appendix 1 to this report; including provision for the Monitoring Officer to prepare and maintain a new register of Members’ interests; ensure that it is available for inspection as required by the Act, and that the Monitoring Officer ensures that Members are informed of their duty to register interests;

2.  Establish a Standards Committee with advisory terms of reference as set out in Appendix 2 to this report;

3.  Appoint the current Co-Opted Members of the Standards Committee as Co-Optees to the new Standards Advisory Committee;

4.  Agree that in the event of any current Independent Member becoming an Independent Person under the transition arrangements or otherwise resigning, that a replacement(s) shall be sought by advertisement up to a maximum 5 Co-Optees at any one time;

5.  Agree the arrangements for dealing with allegations of a breach of the Code of Conduct as set out in Appendix 3 to this report;

6.  Approve the Monitoring Officer to take the necessary action to appoint an Independent Person and a reserve Independent Person whose appointment shall be confirmed by Full Council;

7.  Grant the Monitoring Officer delegated authority to consider applications for dispensations from the restrictions on participation in any matter in which there is a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, referring any of those that they feel necessary to the Standards Committee;

8.  Amend the Council’s Constitution to provide that any Member with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter which is being decided at a meeting shall leave the room during the debate and vote.

In accordance with Part 4.2, 19.2 of the Council Constitution, this report details those decisions taken by the Executive under the Special Urgency procedure and decisions which were exempted from Call-In.

Council is asked to NOTE the schedule.

In accordance with Rule 19.2 of Part 4.2 of the Council Constitution, all decisions of the Executive which have been taken under the Special Urgency procedure or which have been exempted from Call-In must be reported to the Council.

Since last reported to Council in February 2012, there has been one decision which was taken under the Special Urgency procedure and also exempted from Call-In.

Council agreed to note the schedule.

No motions have been submitted in accordance with Rule 11 of Part 4.1 of the Constitution.

The following motion was submitted in accordance with Rule 11.4.6 of Part 4.1 of the Constitution – Urgent Motions

Support TUC March 20 October 2012 for a Future that Works

Proposer:  Councillor John Gray (Labour)

Seconder:  Councillor Unmesh Desai

Newham Council welcomes the call from the TUC to help organise a National March for A Future That Works on Saturday, 20th October 2012.

We agree to work together to maximise the participation of Newham residents and employees to this event as we did for the 26th March 2011 TUC March for the alternative.

We welcome the TUC publication “Austerity is Failing. We Need A Future That Works” and recognise the need to ensure that at the next General Election a government is elected that will implement an alternative economic policy, to deliver that Future that Works.

Following discussion of this item, the Motion was put to vote.  The motion was carried unanimously.

There being no further business the Chair declared the meeting closed.