Agenda and minutes

Council - Wednesday 24th June, 2020 7.00 pm

Venue: This is a virtual meeting

Contact: Reuben Segal, Head of Committee and Governance Services  Email:  rsegal@westminster.gov.uk Tel: 07890 380137

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Appointment of Relief Chairman

To appoint a relief Chairman.

Minutes:

1.1      It was moved by the Lord Mayor and seconded by Councillor Paul Swaddle that Councillor Ian Adams be elected as Relief Chairman.

 

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

 

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 192 KB

To sign the minutes of the meeting of the Council meeting held on 20 May 2020.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: The minutes of the proceedings at the Council meeting on Wednesday 20 May 2020 were, with the assent of the Members present, signed by the Lord Mayor as a true record of the proceedings.

 

3.

Lord Mayor's Communications

1.               The Lord Mayor to report that, on 20 May, he was elected Lord Mayor at the virtual Full Council Meeting.

2.               The Lord Mayor to report that, on 26 May, he undertook a phone interview for Soho Radio.

3.               The Lord Mayor to report that, on 28 May, he had an online meeting with Centrepoint to discuss their Independent Living Programme.

4.               The Lord Mayor to report that, on 28 May, he chaired a meeting of the City of Westminster Charitable Trust.

5.               The Lord Mayor to report that, on 2 June, he took part in a socially distanced flag raising ceremony outside City Hall to mark Pride Month.

6.               The Lord Mayor to report that, on 2 June, he visited Westminster Abbey for a socially distanced meeting with the Dean of Westminster.

7.               The Lord Mayor to report that, on 3 June, he had an introductory phone call with the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London, Sir Kenneth Olisa.

8.               The Lord Mayor to report that, on 6 June, he had an online interview with Sky News.

9.               The Lord Mayor to report that, on 6 June, he took part in and spoke at the London Mayors’ Association’s virtual meeting for new Mayors.

10.            The Lord Mayor to report that, on 9 June, he had a virtual meeting with the Soho Theatre.

11.            The Lord Mayor to report that, on 9 June, he had an online meeting with Centrepoint.

12.            The Lord Mayor to report that, on 11 June, he had an introductory phone call with the Representative Deputy Lieutenant for Westminster, Kevin Traverse-Healy.

 

Minutes:

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

 

4.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

4.1      There were no declarations.

 

5.

Statement on Urgent Matters

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.

 

Minutes:

5.1      The Leader of the Council, Councillor Rachael Robathan, made an urgent statement regarding Covid-19 and the Council’s response to it.

 

5.2      After Councillor Robathan had spoken the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Adam Hug, replied.

 

6.

Future Policy Plan pdf icon PDF 190 KB

To consider items for debate from the attached Future Policy Plan

 

Minutes:

The meeting debated the item chosen for debate from the Future Policy Plan by the Majority Party.

 

The Council’s Response to Covid-19 and City Renewal

 

The Majority Party had selected item number 23 on the Future Policy Plan,The Council’s Response to Covid-19 and City Renewal.  The debate will be referred to the relevant Executive Director for consideration when reporting on the subject.

 

 

7.

Petitions and Deputations, if any

Minutes:

7.1      There were none.

 

8.

Questions

The Lord Mayor will call members who have previously indicated that they wished to ask a question in accordance with the circulated list after the Leader of the Opposition has asked his questions

Minutes:

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

 

9.

Councillor Issues

Councillor Robert Rigby - ZSL/London Zoo – Why it needs saving’

 

 

Minutes:

           ZSL/London Zoo – Why it Needs Saving?

 

9.1      Councillor Robert Rigby spoke and Councillor Paul Swaddle replied.

 

 

 

 

10.

Notices of Motion

To be moved by Councillor Nafsika Butler Thalassis and seconded by Councillor Papya Qureshi

 

Minority Party Motion – Health Inequalities

 

This Council notes that according to the Office of National Statistics and Public Health England Covid-19 has killed disproportionately many more BAME people than white people.

 

This Council notes that some of the higher death rates in BAME communities relate to pre-existing health problems particularly diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and obesity.

 

This Council notes that, while many people during this crisis have had the opportunity to work from home it was our poorest households that continued sending people out to work. The highest Covid-19 death rates have been among security guards, care workers, bus drivers, taxi drivers and retail workers.

 

This Council notes Westminster’s history as a place of arrival for many BAME communities, who make up at least 40% of our City’s population today.

 

The Council also notes the positive initiatives by WCC such as the Community Cohesion Commission, efforts to improve opportunities for BAME staff and City Hall commemorating George Floyd and Grenfell, but also appreciates the scale of the work still to do to achieve equality in our city.

 

The Council believes health inequalities have their roots in the social determinants of health – in this case overcrowded or insecure housing, poverty, and employment in occupations with high exposure to Covid-19.

 

This Council resolves to take active measures to reduce the structural disadvantage and racism faced by BAME communities in Westminster.

 

The Council resolves to carry out a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) on the needs of BAME communities in Westminster, looking at access to decent housing (particularly addressing overcrowding and homelessness), employment, health inequalities and the relationship between these communities and public institutions such as the Council and Police.

 

The Council will allocate the resources needed to implement the findings of the JSNA while taking urgent action now to address known problems including local public health led efforts to improve Covid-19 testing and access to healthcare in BAME and other excluded communities.

 

Minutes:

10.1    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 Nafsika Butler-Thalassis and seconded by Councillor Papya Qureshi

 

10.2    Councillor Tim Mitchell moved and it was seconded by Councillor Tim Barnes

           that the Notice of Motion be amended, as follows:

 

“This Council notes that according to the Office of National Statistics and Public Health England, COVID 19 has killed disproportionately many more BAME people than white people.

 

This Council notes that some of the higher death rates in BAME communities relate to pre-existing health problems particularly diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and obesity. 

 

This Council notes that, while many people during this crisis have had the opportunity to work from home it was our poorest households that continued sending people out to work. The highest COVID 19 death rates have been among security guards, care workers, bus drivers, taxi drivers and retail workers. 

 

This Council notes Westminster’s history as a place of arrival for many BAME communities, who make up at least 40% of our City’s population today. 

 

The Council also notes the positive initiatives by WCC such as the Community Cohesion Commission, efforts to improve opportunities for BAME staff and City Hall commemorating George Floyd and Grenfell, but also appreciates the scale of the work still to do to achieve equality in our city. 

 

Add words in italics:

 

The Council also notes the role WCC has played in working with partners on equality issues including the recent WCC BAME Staff Network webinar event, hosting representatives from 22 London local authorities, MOPAC, the LGA, NHS, and MIND, to discuss the disproportionate impact of COVID 19 on BAME communities and work towards practical solutions to help these communities recover.

 

The Council believes health inequalities have their roots in the social determinants of health – in this case overcrowded or insecure housing, poverty, and employment in occupations with high exposure to COVID 19. 

 

This Council resolves to take active measures to reduce the structural disadvantage and racism faced by BAME communities in Westminster. 

 

Add words in italics:

 

“The Council resolves to publish a presentation produced by its Public Health department, which looks at disparities in the risks and outcomes of COVID 19. This presentation including the analysis will be scrutinised by the Health and Wellbeing Board at the 9 July 2020 meeting. The presentation will promote a shared understanding of health inequalities, including those that impact across Westminster and RBKC, the NHS, and other key partners.  

 

The Council resolves that the Director of Public Health should conduct an in-depth study of health inequalities in Westminster as part of the Annual Public Health Report for 2020-21. This report will review the findings of the “Marmot Review: Ten Years On” publication from March 2020 - a core focus of which is how social and economic factors lead to poor health and premature death for the most deprived. The report will identifyThe Council resolves to carry out  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.