Minutes: Assembly 10:00am Wednesday 12 November 2003 City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA

Present

Sally Hamwee (Chair)

Samantha Heath (Deputy Chair) Dianna Johnson

Tony Arbour Jenny Jones

Jennette Arnold Noel Lynch

John Biggs Bob Neill

Angie Bray Eric Ollerenshaw

Len Duvall Andrew Pelling

Roger Evans Val Shawcross

Lynne Featherstone Mike Tuffrey

Richard Barnes

Toby Harris

Meg Hillier

Elizabeth Howlett

1. APOLOGIES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Apologies for absence were received from Brian Coleman, Nicky Gavron and Graham Tope.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

Toby Harris declared an interest in relation to item 7 on the agenda (Review of the London Ambulance Service) as he was a non-executive member of the London Ambulance Trust

Declarations in relation to the Functional Bodies and London Boroughs as listed at Appendix A were noted.

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3. MINUTES

Resolved:

To confirm and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 15 October 2003 as a correct record.

4. PETITIONS

Darren Johnson presented 45 petitions listed at Appendix B to these minutes. The petitions opposed trains carrying nuclear waste come through various parts of London, and called for an end to this transport, especially through built-up areas, because such cargoes continually give off radiation – any increase in radiation-level causes an increased risk of radiation- linked cancers such as leukemia and the danger of an accident involving the flask leading to the release of deadly high-level radiation, being passed to the Secretary of State for Transport.

Resolved: -

(i) To note the formal withdrawal of the petition on nuclear trains presented by Darren Johnson to the last Assembly on 15 October 2003; and

(ii) To refer the 45 petitions to the Secretary of State for Transport for comment.

5. QUESTIONS TO THE LONDON FIRE AND EMERGENCY PLANNING AUTHORITY (LFEPA)

The Assembly welcomed the following to the meeting: • Valerie Shawcross – Chair of LFEPA; and • Ken Knight – Commissioner of LFEPA.

A transcript of the questions and answers is attached as Appendix C.

6. ASSEMBLY REPORT ON THE OLYMPIC BID

The Assembly received a report of the Director of Secretariat and a motion submitted in the name of the Chair and Deputy-Chair as set out in the order paper.

At the Chair’s suggestion, the Assembly agreed to consider the report, section by section, and then the motion.

During the discussion of the report, Darren Johnson proposed and Noel Lynch seconded the following two amendments:

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• In para 1.1 delete the line “We strongly and fully support the bid for the Olympics Games to be held in London 2012”

• Delete para 6.20 – “ We look forward to working with the London 2012 bid company, the London Development Agency, the Mayor, sporting bodies and Londoners to ensure that London wins the bid, hosts the best possible Olympic Games and ensures that the benefits are felt not only throughout our city, but across the UK”

These two amendments were put to the vote and declared lost.

There were two amendments to the motion set out in the order paper and as the amendment proposed by Darren Johnson was more extensive in terms of its impact on the motion, the Chair agreed that Darren Johnson should move the following amendment first:

The following amendment to the motion was proposed by Darren Johnson and seconded by Noel Lynch:

Amend the first line to read: ” The notes the bid to hold the 2012 Olympic Games in London”.

Delete after the first line and replace with the following:

“This Assembly would only give its support to a London Olympics bid, if it met the following conditions:

• It was the best use of public money; • It would strengthen rather than undermine and disrupt local economies; • The additional transport needs could be met by public transport; • Maximum use was made of existing facilities and any new developments were extremely low impact and appropriate to the needs of the local community; • The protection of London’s open space and environment were guaranteed; and • The concerns of local people and community groups were adequately addressed.

As questions still remain unanswered in each of these areas, the Assembly does not believe that a strong case for London hosting the 2012 Olympics has yet been made.”

This amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

The following amendment to the motion was proposed by Eric Ollerenshaw and seconded by Tony Arbour:

Insert at the end “ However, the Assembly notes that the Mayor should have a struck a better financial deal with the government which would have not hit London Council taxpayers for what is, ultimately, a national event”.

This amendment was put to the vote and declared lost.

The original motion was put to the vote and there were 19 votes in favour and 3 against.

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Resolved: -

(i) to agree the report and recommendations as set out in Appendix A of the report;

(ii) to adopt the following motion:

“The London Assembly supports with enthusiasm the bid to hold the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The bid and the Games should be grasped as a unique opportunity to bring together all Londoners.

We look forward to seeing a bid which is inclusive, environmentally sustainable and one which secures long-term benefits across the whole of London”.

7. LONDON AMBULANCE REVIEW ADVISORY COMMITTEE

The Assembly received a report of the Director of Secretariat.

Resolved: -

(i) that an advisory committee of the Assembly be established under section 55 (4) of the GLA Act 1999, to be called the “ London Ambulance Review Advisory Committee” (the Committee) for the purposes of the review of the London Ambulance Service and that the Committee be wound up when the review is completed;

(ii) the Committee comprise 12 members (six appointed by the Assembly and six appointed by the Association of London Government) and that the persons named in the report be appointed to serve on the Committee;

(iii) the Committee appoint its Chair and Deputy Chair from among its membership; and

(iv) the Committee’s terms of reference be as set out in the report.

8. REFERENCE TO STANDARDS COMMITTEE OF COMPLAINTS FOR LOCAL DETERMINATION

The Assembly received a reference from the Standards Committee

Resolved:-

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(i) The Assembly agrees that paragraphs 9 to 13 of Appendix 1 to Standing Orders be amended to provide that when it sits as a hearing panel to determine matters referred to the Committee by the Standards Board for concerning potential breaches of the GLA Code of Conduct or non- statutory protocols attached to that code, no Members of the Assembly other than Members of the Standards Committee be allowed to substitute for Members of the panel who cannot attend; and

(ii) That paragraph 14 of Appendix 1 to Standing Orders be amended to provide that the quorum of the Standards Committee be reduced from 5 (including 1 independent standards member) to 3 members (including 1 independent standards member when it sits in the circumstances described in paragraph 1.1 above.

9. COMMISSION FOR RACIAL EQUALITY (CRE) – LONDON BOARD

The Assembly received a report of the Director of Secretariat.

Resolved:

(i) That the Assembly agree to nominate three members to the CRE Board;

(ii) That the nominations to the CRE Board be agreed by a ballot of Assembly Members to be undertaken by the Director of Secretariat.

10. SCHEME OF DELEGATION OF FUNCTIONS OF THE ASSEMBLY

The Assembly received a report of the Director of Secretariat.

Resolved:-

That the updated draft scheme of delegation of functions of the London Assembly attached as an appendix to the report be approved.

11. CONSULTATION ON THE PROPOSED EXPANSION OF THE CONGESTION CHARGE ZONE

The Assembly received a report of the Director of Secretariat.

Resolved:-

That the Assembly notes the consultation pack on the proposed extension of the central London congestion charging zone westwards has been received from Transport for London and a response will be drawn up and agreed by the Assembly’s Transport Committee.

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12. 2002/3 SCRUTINY PROGRAMME ACHIEVEMENTS

The Assembly received a report of the Director of Secretariat.

Resolved:-

That the Assembly notes the summary of the achievements of the 2002/3 Scrutiny Programme, as set out in the appendix to the report.

13. MOTIONS

An emergency motion in the name of Jenny Jones was tabled. In accordance with Standing Order 3 (12) the Assembly indicated that it agreed to accept the motion as urgent and the Chair agreed to accept the item as urgent business.

(During consideration of this item the Chair proposed, and the Assembly agreed, to extend the meeting to allow the completion of business in accordance with Standing Order 2 (36) – Length of Meetings)

The following emergency motion was proposed by Jenny Jones and seconded by Darren Johnson:

Bush Visit

“This Assembly is gravely concerned about the US Government’s demand for an exclusion zone in central London during his visit next week. Such a move would limit people’s democratic right to demonstrate peacefully and we urge the relevant authorities to oppose such a move”.

The following amendment to the motion was proposed by Toby Harris and seconded by Eric Ollerenshaw.

Delete after “Assembly” and replace with:

“notes the press reports about possible disruption to London during the visit of President Bush next week and asserts that policing and security arrangements should be based on the following principles:

• Disruption to London, including road closures, should be kept to a minimum, consistent with realistic security arrangements; • Any extra costs of policing should be borne by central government not London council tax payers; and • The democratic right to legitimate and peaceful protest should be facilitated.

Following a debate the amendment was put to the vote and declared carried.

The emergency motion, as amended, being put to the vote it was unanimously -

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Resolved:-

That this Assembly notes the press reports about possible disruption to London during the visit of President Bush next week and asserts that policing and security arrangements should be based on the following principles:

• Disruption to London, including road closures, should be kept to a minimum, consistent with realistic security arrangements; • Any extra costs of policing should be borne by central government not London council tax payers; and • The democratic right to legitimate and peaceful protest should be facilitated

The meeting ended at 12.46pm

Date of next Meeting – 19 November 2003

Chair: Date:

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