DOCSLIB.ORG

Name of Committee Here

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Name of Committee Here ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING 31 JULY 2002 (7.15pm – 10.15pm) PRESENT: The Mayor (Councillor Edith Macauley) (in the Chair); Councillors: Pauline Abrams, Tariq Ahmad, Mark Allison, Jillian Ashton, Su Assinen, Stephen Austin, Matt Bird, John Bowcott, Margaret Brierly, Fiona Bryce, Horst Bullinger, Angela Caldara, Horatio Cheng, David Chung, John Cole, Andrew Coles, Danny Connellan, John Dehaney, Nick Draper, Mary Dunn, Corinna Edge, Samantha George, Tony Giles, Maurice Groves, Stephen Hammond, Richard Harwood, Philip Jones, Andrew Judge, Dot Kilsby, Linda Kirby, Sheila Knight, Maxi Martin, McCabe, Christopher MacLaughlin, Oonagh Moulton, Ian Munn, Leslie Mutch, John Nelson-Jones, Dennis Pearce, Amanda Ramsay, George Reynolds, Judy Saunders, Deborah Shears, Andrew Shellhorn, David Simpson, Mickey Spacey, Geraldine Stanford, Terence Sullivan, Mike Tilcock, Leighton Veale, Martin Whelton and David Williams. Apologies for absence were received from: Councillors Joe Abrams, William Brierly, Mick Fitzgerald, Gilli Lewis-Lavender, Russell Makin, Beth Mitchell and Peter Southgate; and for lateness from Councillors Ian Munn and Peter McCabe. 285 TO RECEIVE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE MAYOR, LEADER OF THE COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF THE CABINET OR THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE (Agenda Item 2) Announcements were tendered as follows: The Mayor drew Members’ attention to the details of the Mayor’s Civic Engagements for the period 22 May to the 31 July that had been circulated around the Council Chamber. In particular, the Mayor highlighted the event that occurred on the 4 July when Her Majesty the Queen met with the Mayors’ of South London as part of her Jubilee Tour. The Mayor was accompanied by 9 people from the Borough including Mr Slim Flegg, a previous Mayor of the Borough, a representative of the Ethnic Minority Centre and two young people who are taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme. The Mayor also announced that, in addition to her special project on Mitcham Cricket Club, Crystal Care and Diabetes UK were to be her charities for the year. Councillor Maxi Martin, Cabinet Member for Care Services informed the Council that one of the Council’s recent care leavers, Ms Nicola Oliver, has been awarded a first class honours degree in mathematics from Brunel University. Councillor Martin read out a message received from Ms Oliver: “Please let them know that it was a good investment helping people like me. I and my daughter should never be dependent on benefits again and this enhances our opportunities for a better future.” Councillor Martin encouraged all Members to sign a card of congratulations to be sent to Ms Oliver. 187 ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING 31 JULY 2002 Councillor Danny Connellan assured the Council that the lighting in the Council Chamber would be fully operational by the middle of next year. 286 MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS (Agenda Item 3) RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting and of the Special Council Meetings held on 22 May 2002; and of the Extraordinary Meetings held on 29 May 2002 be signed as correct records. 287 TO RECEIVE ANY DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST FROM MEMBERS (Agenda Item 4) In view of the motion detailed in the agenda regarding ‘Youth Services’ Councillor David Williams advised of a personal interest in that he was a member of the management committee for the Endeavour Youth Club. 288 TO RECEIVE A REPORT FROM THE LEADER AND RECEIVE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON HIS REPORT (Agenda Item 5) In his report the Leader of the Council made a number of points on the final report of the Audit of Corporate Governance. His comments are summarised as follows: He thanked those staff, in particular Ben Harris and his team, who prepared for the visit by the Audit team and those officers and members who made contributions during the Audit process. It is clear from the Audit report that any concerns about officer/member relationships have been allayed and that there is much that was positive from the report including: Improved local consultation through ward surveys and local area forums; Partnership working described as a strength in particular the work on community safety; an improved financial position; a sound response to special measures in Children’s Services; and the Council’s willingness to carry forward major projects i.e. schools reorganisation. There was still a need to improve corporate working, performance and project management, income generation and the need to prioritise. The Council was invited to have ‘greater pace and challenge’ and this it will seek to ensure in order that Merton becomes and remains an excellent Council. The Council has agreed strategic objectives and principles and a series of 3-year priorities. The Council wishes to deliver quality services and achieve a local environment of high quality. To achieve the Council’s vision there needs to be cross-Council co-operation accepting criticism where it is justified and well intentioned. A number of questions were put to the Leader and responses made summarised as follows: 188 ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING 31 JULY 2002 Councillor Williams asked the Leader as to the urgency he gives to the gaps in the IdeA action plan as highlighted by the Corporate Governance inspection. The Leader responded that there is urgency across the Council. It was intended that the Cabinet and Corporate management Team will review progress on each of the targets on a monthly basis. In view of the Audit by Corporate Governance it is now appropriate that the individual targets of the IdeA action plan be subsumed in an action plan for the Audit of Corporate Governance. He confirmed that all the recommended improvements were to be carried out efficiently and promptly. Councillor Harwood drew attention to the observation arising from the Audit review of poor project management. He illustrated this point in referring to the school PFI deadline being missed once again and the collapse of the Council’s housing stock transfer proposals. The Leader responded that the stock transfer proposals have not collapsed and that it was always intended to offer the choice to tenants as to whether their properties should be transferred to a registered social landlord. Tenants have decided not to take the opportunity and the Council made no recommendations as to whether they should say yes or no to the transfer. It also suggests that no matter what the material benefits of transfer might have been the tenants have a liking for democratic central control of their houses. They want the Council’s management services to continue to manage them. In terms of the reorganisation of schools we are looking at the most complex and unique project this Council has ever undertaken combining PFI with schools reorganisation at the same time and involving several member partners. I, therefore, reject the contention that we are failing. We do take on board the comments made in the Audit report but these are not a general condemnation of project management. Councillor Samantha George asked as to why the Leader had addressed the Audit in his report when no other Councillors have seen or been able to discuss it and enquired as to when it was that the report would be presented to the Council. The Leader responded that it was wholly appropriate to bring the general lessons of the report on this matter to members at the earliest opportunity and that this was what he was seeking to do. 289 TO RECEIVE WRITTEN QUESTIONS AND WRITTEN ANSWERS AND SUPPLEMENTARY QUESTIONS FROM MEMBERS (Agenda Item 6) 1. By Councillor David Williams of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Support “The Leader of the Council and I were at an ALG meeting with Nick Raynsford in which he outlined draft proposals to replace Standard Spending Assessment (SSA) methodology and these have now been published. Irrespective of the political control of Merton or national government, this Council has had difficulty in gaining recognition of the extent of economic diversity within the Borough - in particular levels of deprivation and that Merton is neither a truly Inner or Outer London Borough. This Administration, with its friends in Government and two Labour MP's are in a unique position, at a time of change, to secure a lasting and more favourable Revenue Support Grant for Merton. 189 ORDINARY COUNCIL MEETING 31 JULY 2002 What steps are being taken to press Merton's case?” Reply “The Government has carried out a review of Local Government fundingand is proposing to make changes to the existing funding arrangements. These changes would result in a redistribution of money principally from London, the South East and the Shires to the Northern Metropolitanareas. The Government have produced exemplification’s based on 2002/03 data of the options being considered to illustrate how this will affect SSA in all Councils. The options being considered by Government range from London gaining £360m to London losing £510m.For Merton, the options under consideration show that at best Merton ould gain £4.8m and at worst lose £14m. There are however special arrangements which would limit the loss and gain in any one year. There is therefore a significant risk that Merton will lose a substantial amount of funding. As Government funding represents about 2/3rds of Council spending, any reduction in grant funding will result in a significant increase in Merton’s Council Tax. The ALG are currently collecting the views of its members and will be representing these to Government. The Government has issued its proposals for consultation and Merton will be making a submission by the 30th September based on “Making the Merton Case”. We will also be talking with our local MP’s and asking them to reflect our concerns over the proposed changes to the Deputy Prime Minister.” Supplementary question “In one sense there is nothing that divides the Council on this issue as we all want to see the best deal for Merton and there have been times when cross party groups have gone to see the junior member who is responsible.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • How Pre-Parliamentary Po- Litical Experience Affects Political Careers in the House of Commons
    ORBIT-OnlineRepository ofBirkbeckInstitutionalTheses Enabling Open Access to Birkbeck’s Research Degree output Bring in the professionals: how pre-parliamentary po- litical experience affects political careers in the House of Commons https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/40042/ Version: Full Version Citation: Allen, Peter (2014) Bring in the professionals: how pre- parliamentary political experience affects political careers in the House of Commons. [Thesis] (Unpublished) c 2020 The Author(s) All material available through ORBIT is protected by intellectual property law, including copy- right law. Any use made of the contents should comply with the relevant law. Deposit Guide Contact: email 1 Bring in the professionals: how pre- parliamentary political experience affects political careers in the House of Commons Peter Allen Thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Politics Department of Politics Birkbeck, University of London 2 I declare that the work presented in this thesis is my own. Signed…………………………………. Peter Allen 3 Abstract In this thesis I use original empirical data to examine the impact of the political experience of MPs before they enter parliament on their careers once inside the House of Commons. The contribution I make to knowledge is twofold. First, I build on existing literature in the field by developing a stand-alone classification of pre-parliamentary political experience that distinguishes between experience gained on the local level, for example as a local councillor, and experience gained on the national level, working for an MP or in the head office of a political party. Second, I empirically operationalise this classification and support it adopting quantitative research techniques.
    [Show full text]
  • Members 1979-2010
    Members 1979-2010 RESEARCH PAPER 10/33 28 April 2010 This Research Paper provides a complete list of all Members who have served in the House of Commons since the general election of 1979 to the dissolution of Parliament on 12 April 2010. The Paper also provides basic biographical and parliamentary data. The Library and House of Commons Information Office are frequently asked for such information and this Paper is based on the data we collate from published sources to assist us in responding. This Paper replaces an earlier version, Research Paper 09/31. Oonagh Gay Richard Cracknell Jeremy Hardacre Jean Fessey Recent Research Papers 10/22 Crime and Security Bill: Committee Stage Report 03.03.10 10/23 Third Parties (Rights Against Insurers) Bill [HL] [Bill 79 of 2009-10] 08.03.10 10/24 Local Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny) Bill: Committee Stage Report 08.03.10 10/25 Northern Ireland Assembly Members Bill [HL] [Bill 75 of 2009-10] 09.03.10 10/26 Debt Relief (Developing Countries) Bill: Committee Stage Report 11.03.10 10/27 Unemployment by Constituency, February 2010 17.03.10 10/28 Transport Policy in 2010: a rough guide 19.03.10 10/29 Direct taxes: rates and allowances 2010/11 26.03.10 10/30 Digital Economy Bill [HL] [Bill 89 of 2009-10] 29.03.10 10/31 Economic Indicators, April 2010 06.04.10 10/32 Claimant Count Unemployment in the new (2010) Parliamentary 12.04.10 Constituencies Research Paper 10/33 Contributing Authors: Oonagh Gay, Parliament and Constitution Centre Richard Cracknell, Social and General Statistics Section Jeremy Hardacre, Statistics Resources Unit Jean Fessey, House of Commons Information Office This information is provided to Members of Parliament in support of their parliamentary duties and is not intended to address the specific circumstances of any particular individual.
    [Show full text]
  • Education for Citizenship and the Teaching of Democracy in Schools
    Education for citizenship and the teaching of democracy in schools Final report of the Advisory Group on Citizenship 22 September 1998 The Young People’s Parliament, Birmingham, (YPP) – Educating for Democracy – gives young people in Birmingham and the West Midlands a voice - whether on school, local quality of life or wider national issues; and on global concerns such as sustainable development and human rights. The initiative is a partnership between The University of the First Age, Birmingham City Council and the new centre for learning and leisure, Millennium Point. Already by using ICT, websites, video conferencing and e-mail, as well as use of the City’s Council Chamber, the young people of Birmingham and beyond have been able to participate in two pilot projects. The General Election project in 1997 linked young people in the West Midlands directly with politicians and provided a lively and robust exchange of views. The first G8 Young People’s Summit (YPS) was held in May 1998 to coincide with the G8 Summit meeting in Birmingham. Two youth delegates came from each of the G8 countries as well as the EU. A communiqué was drafted, mainly on the issues of third world debt relief, after a meeting with the Prime Minister. It made a powerful statement for the right of young people to be heard in international affairs. The Youth Parliament Competition is now in its eighth year, organised by the Citizenship Foundation and sponsored by Motorola. Each participating secondary school holds a mock parliamentary session of the pupils’ own choosing. There are ministers and shadow ministers and a host of backbenchers on both sides.
    [Show full text]
  • BRA-13981 the Brazen Nose 2011.Indd 1 11/01/2012 16:20 BRA-13981 the Brazen Nose 2011.Indd 2 11/01/2012 16:20 CONTENTS
    The Brazen Nose Volume 45 2010-2011 BRA-13981 Final Cover.indd 1 12/01/2012 08:52 The Brazen Nose 2010-2011 BRA-13981 The Brazen Nose 2011.indd 1 11/01/2012 16:20 BRA-13981 The Brazen Nose 2011.indd 2 11/01/2012 16:20 CONTENTS Records Clubs College Notes ................................ 5 Rowing ....................................... 83 Senior Members .......................... 11 Womens Rowing ......................... 84 Class Lists .................................... 19 Mens Rowing.............................. 85 Graduate Degrees ........................ 23 Association Football ..................... 86 Matriculations 2010 ..................... 27 Rugby Football ............................ 88 College Prizes .............................. 30 Knitsoc(k) .................................... 88 Scholarships and Exhibitions ........ 32 Cricket ........................................ 88 Netball ........................................ 90 Reports Hockey ........................................ 92 JCR ............................................ 35 Basketball..................................... 92 HCR ........................................... 37 Staff ............................................ 42 Articles Library ....................................... 45 Elizabeth Boardman - Presentations to the Library ......... 50 Student Crime & Punishment ...... 95 Chapel ......................................... 56 JG Farrell ................................... 108 Tanner Lectures 2011 ................... 58 Professor Russell Foster Lessons
    [Show full text]
  • EU Immigrants in the UK: Their Future Under the Points-Based System
    EU Immigrants in the UK: Their Future under the Points-Based System by Dr Dagmar Rita Myslinska 17 September 2020 D E PA R T M E N T O F L AW, BRITAIN IN EUROPE THINKTANK GOLDSMITHS UNIVERSITY OF LONDON Britain in Europe is an innovative academic thinktank which feeds into the Law programme at Goldsmiths, University of London. The Law programme at Goldsmiths, University of London brings together cutting-edge academic Britain in Europe’s dynamic membership research, teaching expertise and public policy work comprises Law academics and academic scholars in areas such as criminal law and criminology, media from other disciplines, barristers, solicitors, judges, law, human rights, artificial intelligence, intellectual politicians, members of international human rights property, European law and international law. organisations and other third sector experts from across Britain and Europe. The programme draws on this wealth of knowledge to educate future lawyers looking to tackle society’s Britain in Europe research benefits from a wide range inequalities, injustices and abuses of power. In tune of dynamic external collaborations, including with with Goldsmiths’ rich heritage of social awareness Liberty, Justice, the Honourable Society of the Inner and social engagement, championing human rights Temple, the Bar Human Rights Committee, the New and social justice, the Law programme is an intellectual Europeans, Fair Trials International, the European space for radical, critical and creative thinking. Criminal Bar Association, the Hellenic Criminal Bar Association and others. For more information on the Law programme at Goldsmiths, see: www.gold.ac.uk/law/ BiE develops its main research activity in the UK, and extends its initiatives to Brussels and Strasbourg, particularly at the European Parliament, in close collaboration with civil rights organisations and former British MEPs.
    [Show full text]