Agenda and minutes

To appoint a relief Chairman.

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

1.2      Motion put and declared CARRIED.

To sign the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council meeting held on 9 September 2021.

2.1      RESOLVED: The minutes of the proceedings at the Council meeting held on Thursday 9 September 2021 were, with the assent of the Members present, signed by the Lord Mayor as a true record of the proceedings.

1.     The Lord Mayor to report that, on Saturday September 11th, he attended St Mary le Strand Church Relaunch Community Party. 

2.     The Lord Mayor to report that, on Sunday September 19^th, he attended the battle of Britain Service at Westminster Abbey. 

3.     The Lord Mayor to report that, on Tuesday September 21^st, he attended the City of London ‘Big Curry’ event at Mansion House. 

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

4.1      There were no declarations.

5.1      There were no statements on urgent matters.

6.1      (a)      Petitions

Councillor Matt Noble presented a petition from the Lisson Green Tenants and Residents Association calling for the return of Greenside Community Hall to community use. The petition was referred to the Executive Director for Adult Social Care and Health reporting to the relevant Cabinet Member.

(b)      Deputations

There were no deputations.

The Lord Mayor will call Members who have indicated that they wish to ask a question after the Leader of the Opposition has asked his questions. 

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

Councillor Gotz Mohindra – Revitalising St John’s Wood High Street in a post-pandemic world 

Councillor Richard Elcho – Improving Housing 

8.1      Revitalising St John’s Wood High Street in a Post-pandemic World

Councillor Gotz Mohindra spoke and Councillor Matthew Green replied.

Improving Housing

Councillor Richard Elcho spoke and Councillor David Harvey replied.

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

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

Refugee Resettlement

9.2      The Majority Party had selected item number 107 on the Future Policy Plan, Refugee Resettlement. The debate will be referred to the relevant Executive Director for consideration when reporting on the subject.

To receive, consider and debate, if chosen, the following report from the Cabinet Member for Business, Licensing and Planning which contains a recommendation to the council for approval and adoption. 

10.1    The council debated the report. Following debate, the Lord Mayor put the recommendations as set out in the report of the Cabinet Member for Business, Licensing and Planning to the vote and following a show of hands declared:

RESOLVED:

That the Council reviewed, considered and approved the revised Statement of Licensing Policy in accordance with section 5 of the Licensing Act 2003.

To be moved by Councillor Adam Hug and seconded by Councillor Liza Begum: 

This Council notes that the cost of the Marble Arch Mound has risen to over £6 million and that the delivery of the Mound project has brought international embarrassment to the City of Westminster. 

This Council also notes that the Marble Arch Mound is part of a wider £150m West End District project that contains significant spending including the Strand Aldwych and piazzas at Oxford Circus. 

This Council believes that both Council Members and Westminster residents were misled by the political leadership of the Council about the progress of the Marble Arch Mound project. This Council believes that the failure of the Council’s project management and the gulf between rhetoric and reality is indicative of a Conservative administration that has been in power for far too long. 

This Council further believes that the inability to charge the planned ticket fees and the failure to secure much of the projected sponsorship leaves Westminster taxpayers picking up the £6 million bill for the Mound. 

This Council resolves to appoint an independent reviewer to advise and oversee the investigation into the Council’s processes, decision making and organisational culture which resulted in this debacle. 

The Council resolves not to proceed with further major capital investments within the West End District project until all reviews of Council decision making relating to the Marble Arch Mound and associated issues are completed and have received full scrutiny by Members, and until proper public consultations on future projects have taken place with local residents. 

This Council finally resolves to take steps to dismantle and remove the Marble Arch Mound as soon as is practicable. 

11.1    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 Adam Hug and seconded by Councillor Liza Begum.

11.2    Councillor Rachael Robathan moved and it was seconded by Councillor Paul Swaddle that the notice of motion be amended, as follows:

This Council notes that the cost of the Marble Arch Mound has risen to over £6 million and that the delivery of the Mound project has brought international embarrassment to the City of Westminster. Marble Arch Mound was opened too early.

This Council also notes that the Marble Arch Mound is part of a wider £150m West End District project that contains significant spending including the Strand Aldwych and piazzas at Oxford Circus. The Council welcomes the investment into Oxford Street where footfall is down by 50% and recognises the need to support the economy of the area and to protect the one in eight London jobs that the West End delivers.

This Council believes that both Council Members and Westminster residents were misled by the political leadership of the Council about will investigate whether the progress of the Marble Arch Mound project. This Council believes that the failure of the Council’s shortfalls in project management and the gulf between rhetoric and reality is indicative of a Conservative administration that has been in power for far too long led to the issues related to the delayed opening of the mound as well as the budget overspend.

This Council further believes that the inability to charge the planned ticket fees and the failure to secure much of the projected sponsorship leaves Westminster taxpayers picking up the £6 million bill for the Mound regrets the overspend, but notes that the free entry has already allowed over 100,000 people to visit the Mound, including a significant proportion of local residents, and welcomes the roles that the additional footfall and the consumer spend of approximately £60 per visitor are playing in the economic recovery of the Oxford Street District.

This Council welcomes the appointment by the Chief Executive of a team to oversee the investigation into the issues related to the Mound and make any recommendations they deem needed.

This Council resolves to appoint an independent reviewer to advise and oversee the investigation into the Council’s processes, decision making and organisational culture which resulted in this debacle. The Council resolves not to proceed with further major capital investments within the West End District project until all reviews of Council decision making relating to the Marble Arch Mound and associated issues are completed and have received full scrutiny by Members, and until proper remains committed to ensuring good value for money for all projects delivered under the Oxford Street District scheme as well as capital projects as a whole and will ensure that meaningful consultations on future Oxford Street District projects have will taken place with local residents.

This Council finally resolves to take  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.