Agenda and minutes

To sign the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council meetings held on 8 November 2017.

The minutes of the proceedings at the Council meetings held on Wednesday 8 November 2017 were, with the assent of the Members present, signed by the Lord Mayor as a true record of proceedings.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Monday 2^nd October, he attended a dinner hosted by The Rt Hon The Lord Mayor of London.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Saturday 14^th October, he attended Eucharist at Westminster Abbey on the occasion of the Abbey’s patronal festival, the Feast of St. Edward.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Sunday 15^th October, he attended the annual London Mayors’ Association Civic Service and Reception at Westminster Abbey.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Sunday 15^th October, he attended the launch of National Hate Crime Awareness Week at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Monday 16^th October, he attended the annual WellChild Awards and Dinner at The Royal Lancaster Hotel in the presence of HRH Prince Henry of Wales.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Tuesday 17^th October, he attended a service and reception at Westminster Abbey to celebrate the 10^th anniversary of the Westminster Guide Lecturers’ Association.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Thursday 19^th October, he attended a Review of The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery by Her Majesty The Queen on the occasion of the Troop’s 70^th anniversary.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Thursday 19^th October, he attended a dinner hosted by the Dean of Westminster Abbey.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Sunday 22^nd October, he attended the Sea Cadets’ annual Trafalgar Day Parade at Trafalgar Square and afterwards attended a reception at Wellington Barracks.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Tuesday 31^st October, he attended a service at Westminster Abbey, in the presence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, to mark the 500^th anniversary of the 95 Theses and the start of the Reformation.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Saturday 4^th November, he visited the Regent Street Motoring Festival and afterwards attended a lunch hosted by the Chairman of the Royal Automobile Club.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, Sunday 5^th November, he attended the premiere of the movie ‘Paddington 2’.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Monday 6^th November, he attended a reception hosted by the Northbank Business Improvement District.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Tuesday 7^th November, he attended the Annual Dinner of the Past Overseers’ Society.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Wednesday 8^th November, he attended a lunch at The Goring Hotel in the presence of HRH The Duke of Cambridge.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Thursday 9^th November, he visited the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Saturday 11^th November, he attended The Lord Mayor’s Show in the City of London.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Saturday 11^th November, he attended the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.

·         The Lord Mayor to report that, on Sunday 12^th November, he laid  ...  view the full agenda text for item 3.

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

3.2     The Lord Mayor advised the Council of the deaths of two former Councillors, namely Isla Robertson and Manuela Sykes.  The Council stood in their memory.

3.3     The Lord Mayor informed the Council of a charity concert on Saturday 23^rd February 2018 in aid of his charity.

To receive any Declarations of Interests from Members and Officers of the Council.

4.1     Councillor Ruth Bush declared that she was Trustee of the Westminster Tree      Trust and would be speaking in the Air Quality Debate.

There were no Petitions or Deputations.

Note by the Head of Committee and Governance Services

With the consent of the Chief Whips of both the Majority Party and the Minority Party it is intended that rather than produce an order of questions by draw these will be sought by the Lord Mayor from Members indicating at the meeting that they have a question.  The Leader of the Opposition will be entitled to ask up to 3 questions during the 45 minutes set aside for questions.

Procedural Motion

Moved by Councillor Tim Mitchell and seconded by Councillor Guthrie McKie and

Resolved:

That Standing Order 9 be suspended to the extent only to allow that rather than Members, entitled to do so, being selected by draw to ask Questions the Lord Mayor call Members entitled to ask a question who indicate when asked by the Lord Mayor by show of hands at the meeting a wish to do so.  The Lord Mayor, when calling Members, may have regard to the proportionality of the political groups on the Council.  The Leader of the Opposition shall still be entitled to ask up to 3 questions during question time which shall be for a maximum of 45 minutes.

The questions, supplementary questions and replies are included on the Council’s website.

(a)      Councillor Got Mohindra – Technology in Westminster

(b)      Councillor Shamim Talukder – Arts and Culture in Westminster

(a)      Technology in Westminster

          Councillor Gotz Mohindra spoke and Councillor Tim Mitchell replied.

(b)      Arts and Culture in Westminster

          Councillor Shamim Talukder spoke and Councillor Robert Davis replied.

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.

There were no urgent matters.

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

9.1     The Majority Party has selected the report of the Appointments Sub-Committee: Appointment of the Chief Executive.

9.2     The Leader of the Council and the Leader of the Opposition both spoke in favour of the proposed appointment.

9.3     The Lord Mayor put the recommendation to the vote and on a show of hands declared the recommendation adopted.

          Resolved:  That Stuart Love be appointed Chief Executive and the Head of the Paid Service with immediate effect.

10.1    The meeting debated the items chosen for debate from the Future Policy Plan by the Majority Party:

          Public Health

          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.

          Air Quality

          The Majority Party had selected item number 6 on the Future Policy Plan, Air Quality.  The debate will be referred to the relevant Executive Director for consideration when reporting on the subject.

To be moved by Councillor Hug and seconded by Councillor Less.

"The Council notes the recent Church Street Master Plan consultation exercise. It notes a number of positive aspects of the current proposals, including ideas to improve the local public realm and support the future development of the market. It however notes resident concern over the current housing proposals and the need to improve the Council’s offer to local people on this critical issue before any scheme proceeds.

The Council believes that the regeneration of Church Street is a strategic priority for Westminster and an important opportunity to improve the lives of our residents. It believes the regeneration must prioritise the needs of existing local residents, while also focusing on providing new opportunities for Westminster residents in housing need and for local people and families on or below average incomes as desired by a majority of respondents to the Masterplan consultation.   

It notes the recent Church Street Master Plan consultation exercise. It notes a number of positive aspects of the current proposals, including ideas to improve the local public realm and support the future development of the market. It however notes resident concern over the current housing proposals and the need to improve the Council’s offer to local people on this critical issue before any scheme proceeds.

It further believes that if the Council is to deliver the number of social and genuinely affordable homes that Westminster needs it is essential that the council maximises the proportion of public housing built on public land.

The Council resolves to ask the Cabinet to urgently revise the masterplan in-order to move swiftly forward with a plan that commands wider public support. The council resolves to:

·         Redraft the proposals to better take into account concerns raised by the Church Street Ward Neighbourhood Forum and other residents during the initial consultation phase.

·         Look at ways to limit the amount of demolition being proposed to levels more in-line with residents wishes.

·         Review the current assumptions on the potential height of the proposed new blocks.

·         Amend the housing mix in the development sites identified in the 2012 Futures Plan that are being brought to planning in 2018 in-order to increase the amount       of social housing in these schemes thereby expanding the amount of local             decant opportunities to assist with the delivery of these new proposals.

·          Enshrine a commitment to replace not only existing council homes but where possible any Westminster owned temporary accommodation units with a like for like replacement.

·          Ensure that the plan requires at least 50% of the additional units built are social or genuinely affordable homes, at least 60% of which should be social units in-line with Westminster’s existing policy framework.

·          Develop an effective local lettings strategy that gives priority to Church Street residents.

·          Ballot residents impacted by the scheme before the masterplan is implemented. "

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 Aicha Less.

Councillor Rachael Robathan moved and it was seconded by Councillor Murad Gassanly that the Notice of Motion be amended, as follows:

Delete first paragraph and second paragraph remains:

          “The Council believes that the regeneration of Church Street is a strategic priority for Westminster and an important opportunity to improve the lives of residents.  It believes the regeneration must prioritise the needs of existing local residents, while also focusing on providing new opportunities for Westminster residents in housing need and for local people and families on or below average incomes as desired by a majority of respondents to the Masterplan consultation”.

Then delete subsequent paragraphs and add:

          “The Council commends the high level of engagement undertaken by the Consultation Team at 99 Church Street with residents, businesses and other stakeholders.  It notes the need for active ongoing consultation engagement, as set out in the Mayor’s draft Regeneration guidelines.  The wide ranging approach and well thought out consultation process was praised by the Housing and Finance Policy and Scrutiny Committee on 6^th November and the Council welcomes this.

          The Council notes that the masterplan sets out the framework for development in Church Street.  It is not a final decision on any demolition proposal or new building locations or heights.  The Council further notes that extensive analysis and consultation will be undertaken before the detail of the scale and scope of development proposals come forward.

          The Council welcomes the increase in the proposed number of new homes from 776 in the 2012 Futures Plan to more than double (1750) in the current masterplan.  This includes over 50% affordable housing to be offered as social rents, supporting the Mayor’s draft good practice guide for regeneration as well as the Council’s City for All vision.  It also welcomes the other commitments in the masterplan, such as those around green space, health and well-being and community hubs.

          The Council believes that it is a fundamental objective of the masterplan to address the current and future needs of the Church Street residents, this informed the brief to the masterplan team and will continue to be a fundamental objective and consideration as the detail plans progress”.

Following debate, to which Councillor Adam Hug replied, the Lord Mayor put the amendment moved by Councillor Robathan and seconded by Councillor Gassanly to the vote and on a show of hands declared the amendment CARRIED.

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 believes that the regeneration of Church Street is a strategic priority for Westminster and an important opportunity to improve the lives of our residents.  It believes the regeneration must prioritise the needs of existing local residents, while also focusing on providing new opportunities for Westminster residents in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

The Lord Mayor, at the conclusion of the time for debates, then put the recommendations in paragraph 1 of the Cabinet Report to the vote and on a show of hands declared the recommendations ADOPTED.

Resolved:

1.       That the Council approve for the financial year 2018-2019.

(i)              That the Council Tax discount for second homes remains at 0%.

(ii)             That the Council Tax discounts for empty properties, including the discounts that replaced the previous Class A and C Council Tax exemptions remains at 0%.

(iii)           That a long term Empty Property Premium is introduced at the maximum percentage allowed for by the relevant legislation.

(iv)           That the Head of Revenues and Benefits determines any individual local discount applications from vulnerable Council Taxpayers received during the course of the 2018-2019 financial year which will include a 100% Council Tax discount for Care Leavers for a period of 3 years.

2.       That the Council approve the same Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2018-2019 as operated successfully since 2013-2014 which is based on the Default Scheme Regulations and that War Disabled Pensions, War Widow, Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation Scheme payments are disregarded in full when calculating a claimant’s income.

3.       That the Council resolve that the Council Tax Base for 2018-2019 for the whole city is 128,833.30 equivalent Band D properties for Montpelier Square alone 95.68 equivalent Band D properties and for Queen’s Park 3,406.61 equivalent Band D properties.

The Lord Mayor then put the recommendation in paragraph 1 of the General Purposes Committee to the vote and on a show of hands declared the recommendation ADOPTED.

Resolved:

That the Extraordinary Council meeting on 7 March 2017 be not held but that instead an Ordinary Council meeting be held at 7pm on Wednesday 7 March 2018 with provision on the agenda for all the business usually considered at an Ordinary Council meeting together with provision for a report from the Cabinet containing a recommendation to adopt a formal Council Tax resolution for 2018-2019.