Apologies were received from Councillors Ahmed- Sheikh Cogan, K. Crawford, Kang, Khan, Kholi, Mahmood, Summers and Tailor.

Councillor Gordon rose to move under rule 12.8 that for item 12A rule 14.5 be suspended to allow the mover and two other speakers to talk for a maximum of 10 minutes and three others for 5 minutes.

Councillor Roz Reece seconded the motion which was agreed.

Councillor Anand – employs private leasing agent also used by Ealing Council. Councillor Bell – relative receiving Council Social Care

Councillors Dheer and Kaur- Dheer – relatives work in Ealing

Councillors, Kelly, Martin, Raza and Sumner allotment holders.

Councillor Mahfouz- relative working for Ealing Council

The Mayor announced the death of former Councillor Ron Johnson who served from 1971-1990 as Cllr for the Horsenden, Ravenor and West End Wards.

Councillor Dheer rose to say a few words in tribute.

Councillor Young then rose and said a few words

The Mayor congratulated Councillor Gulaid on the birth of grandson, born on 16^th Feb.

She also described how generous diverse faith communities had been. She had met with the Polish community a number of times and they talked about ways in which they could demonstrate their loyalty and commitment to the Borough – kind of giving something back and recognising also that homelessness is an issue affecting migrants from the A8 countries including Poland. She had attended mass on Sunday January 20^th to speak about Homeless issues

She also mentioned the huge crowds at Ealing Abbey and her visit to the Shree Jalaram Temple.

In all cases generous donations were made to the charity.

Further, over the Christmas period there were generous donations donated clothes and other goods from Council staff, University staff and students.

The Mayor reminded members that we were continuing to collect clothes and other goods for Acton homeless with a collection cage in the Town Hall’s reception for the next six weeks for donations of men’s women’s children’s and baby clothes and sleeping bags and blankets.

There is also a collection box in the staff reception of Perceval House for any unwanted gifts, Christmas and other.  The gifts collected will be used as raffle prizes at a charity event in the spring and a Bargain Bazaar in Acton Market place.

The Mayor informed Council that the Holocaust Memorial service was a moving occasion including an address by Michael Brown a survivor of the Kinder transport.

Finally the Mayor reminded members of the fund raising quiz at the Grange on 22^nd February and that on 24^th March there would be an event at Pillars and thanked all the Councillors who had accompanied her to events.

Mr Anthony Garrick of Hatfield Road W4 presented a petition with 20 signatures stating

“We the undersigned, object to the inappropriate and unsightly positioning of the bike hangar at the Hatfield Road junction with St Georges Road W4.

Residents do not feel they were adequately consulted about the introduction or indeed the positioning of a Bike Hangar. We therefore ask LBE to relocate the hangar to a more suitable location”

Councillor Mahfouz replied

The location was discussed at a Ward Forum, with Councillors and a statutory traffic order consultation was carried out.  Mr Garrick has admitted seeing the on-street notices but failed to respond.  It is acknowledged that there are normally objections to consultations carried out by the Council, but unless these bring out new technical issues which the Council was unaware of, the Council can choose to continue to implement a scheme despite these objections.  Officers are, therefore, firmly of the belief that the consultation and implementation was legal. 

Even so, the Council has reviewed its bike hangar consultation methodology as a result of Mr Garrick’s initial complaint and made improvements.  However, it is not believed that re-running the consultation under the revised methodology would bring up any new technical issues which would reverse the decision to implement.

The location was chosen based on requests from local residents and a strong preference for putting cycle hangars at the end of a row of parking bays to minimise the loss of parking.  The hangar is already over-subscribed and has a waiting list.  The hangar has reflective strips to ensure road safety at night.  On this basis, officers conclude that the location is appropriate.  A photograph of the hangar in question is attached.  Mr Garrick made a number of suggestions for alternative locations, but other than being further from Mr Garrick’s house, there was no compelling reason to move the hangar.

The Council does not agree that the bike hangar is any more unsightly than a car, which would have previously been in this location.

The provision of secure cycle parking, in the form of cycle hangars or any other method helps to fulfil the Councils policy objective of modal shift towards walking and cycling for health, air quality and traffic congestion benefits.

Question 1: 

Councillor Raza asked the Leader of the Council

“Can the portfolio holder tell us how many beds are planned to be cut at Ealing hospital under the STP plan?”

Councillor Bell replied

“On Feb 10^th, I received a very frank email from Simon Crawford, Director of Strategy and Deputy Chief Executive, London North West Healthcare. He confirmed:

• There are currently 288 beds at Ealing hospital
• There will be only be 50 beds if the STP is implemented – a cut of over 80%.
• This means that of the 500 beds due to be axed across North West London, nearly half of the cuts fall on Ealing hospital alone.

Without being flippant Madam Mayor, there will be more beds in a branch of DFS than Ealing hospital.

This is in the context of the closure of the maternity unit, the children’s ward and the A&E downgrade.

What is becoming more and more clear is that the Tory government’s STP plans will close Ealing District General Hospital only to replace it with a Day Care Clinic. It’s a disgrace and this Labour Council will fight it all the way

Councillors Raza and Joy Morrissey asked supplementary questions. 

Question 2

Councillor Theresa Mullins asked the portfolio holder for Transport, Environment & Leisure

“What percentage of streets in Ealing are getting their litter picked up every 3 weeks and their deep clean every 6 weeks as per their schedule?”

Councillor Mahfouz replied

“The contract performance target is 95%.

For the week commencing 16^th January – 95%

Week commencing 23^rd January – 98%

Week commencing 30^th January – 98.79%

Week commencing 6^th February – 98%”

Councillors Theresa Mullins and R. Wall asked supplementary questions. 

Question 3

Councillor Ball asked the portfolio holder for Transport, Environment & Leisure

“What will the minimum cleansing frequency of a residential street be following the current review of street cleansing?”

Councillor Mahfouz replied

“The aim of the street cleansing review that commenced in June 2016 was to ensure that resources would be effectively deployed, maximising productivity and cleaning only where cleaning was required rather than visiting all roads, even where there was no cleaning requirement.

The review was completed in January and the findings have been used to support the new proposed cleansing schedules. The key provisions of the new schedules are

• Every street will be visited no less than once every three weeks,
• 61% of residential streets will be increased from 3 weekly to fortnightly
• 8% of streets will be increased from 3 weekly to weekly (near town centres, secondary retail or with heavy footfall)”

Councillors Ball and Kelly asked supplementary questions. 

Question 4

Councillor G.Mann asked the portfolio holder for Prosperity, Skills, Employment & Transformation

“Can the portfolio holder update us on the future of Southall Job Centre?”

Councillor Mason replied

“Thank you Cllr Mann.

The DWP have announced as part of their nationwide programme that the job centre plus is to close and that they are going to relocate all 38 staff to Ealing and in a letter sent to us by the Minister, claimed that this was because of reducing needs. At the same time they are going to replace all of those 38 staff with a part time job coach, located in a library.

Madam Mayor, Southall faces some of the biggest challenges in terms of people seeking employment. It has some of the highest rates of unemployment in the Borough and West London. It has the biggest skills shortage and has the lowest average incomes.

This decision by government is perverse and we on this side are not surprised. We spoke at last council that the party opposite and their slavish desire to asset strip Southall, which they did. The high street shops of 8 million and the community centre of 5 million and in return, nothing was invested. And this time madam mayor they are stripping Southall residents of their future.”

Councillors G. Mann  and  Roz Reece  asked supplementary questions. 

Question 5

Councillor Conti asked the Leader of the Council

“At the "Save our Hospitals" rally at Ealing Town Hall on the 15th February, Cllr Bell told a story of a resident who was having to travel to Northwick Park for antenatal care because it was no longer available at Ealing Hospital.  Is the portfolio holder aware that women can still receive their antenatal care at Ealing Hospital if they choose too?”

Councillor Bell replied

“Thank you Madam Mayor.

I didn’t say that. I am very aware that antenatal services are still available at Ealing Hospital. The problem for this resident is the problem that all expectant mothers have, now that the maternity unit has closed - they cannot have their birth at Ealing hospital.

We said it at the time; it makes no sense to offer antenatal care when you cannot have your birth at the same hospital.

It was quite a long time since my children were born, but I do remember that you want to be familiar with the hospital, you want to be familiar with the midwives and staff at that hospital and it gives you an awful lot of reassurance and support to be familiar with where you will go and have your baby.

So, this particular resident made that choice to go to Northwick Park for exactly those reasons and unfortunately has to take three buses to get there. That’s the problem with these plans to shut the maternity unit – it means that we have our pregnant mothers travelling much further. It also means they have to travel much further to give birth and we have all of those challenges.

 I know exactly what is available at Ealing hospital and what is not. I also know you don’t like it because you know that what your Tory government has done is wrong. It is wrong to have closed our maternity unit. It increases the risk to our pregnant mothers when they have to travel much further and it reduces the reassurance they get if they go for their antenatal care at Ealing rather than at the hospital where they can actually have their babies delivered.”

Councillors Conti and Camadoo asked supplementary questions. 

Question 6

Councillor L. Wall asked the Leader of the Council

“Given the Tory government’s shameful decision to u-turn on their support for the Dubs children, will the portfolio holder reaffirm that refugees are welcome in Ealing?”

Councillor Bell replied

“I am appalled that the Tory government has backed out of its commitment to help refugee children in desperate need.

When I visited the Calais jungle camp last summer, I met children as young as nine who were alone, scared and living in terrible conditions. To turn our backs on them now after saying we would provide a safe haven makes me sick to my stomach.

Theresa May and her government have failed these children. If it had properly consulted local government and provided us with the information we needed about funding placements, I am confident we and other councils could have pledged to take more children.

We remain fully prepared to stand alongside other councils to provide help and assistance.  The government should reverse this shameful decision. Refugees remain very much welcome in Ealing.”

Councillors L. Wall and Millican asked supplementary questions. 

Question 7

Councillor Millican asked the portfolio holder for Transport, Environment & Leisure

“How did Ealing rank in 13th February ITV News “Grot Spot Britain” national poll?”

Councillor Mahfouz replied

“Cllr Millican may be unaware of the fact that Ealing has the third largest population of any borough in London; the 16^th largest local authority across the country.

So, it will come as no surprise that we came 16^th.

What the poll didn’t show is our approach to recording and dealing with fly-tipping across the borough.

Whilst this is a national epidemic, we have aimed to measure every black bag dumped as a fly-tip, whilst other local authorities don’t.  We are also leading the way in terms of tackling fly-tippers.

I am delighted to say that we have issued almost 4,000 fines for fly-tipping from August 2016 to date with four dedicated crews out on the streets – searching for evidence for us to fine those culpable.

Furthermore, since the introduction of the dedicated Fly-Tip Enforcement Crews we have seen a 46% reduction in the number of fly-tips across the borough reported weekly, showing that our stern action, is working!

Councillors Millican and Bagha asked supplementary questions. 

Councillor Johnson moved  the report.

Councillor Bell seconded the report.

Councillor G. Stafford responded

Councillor Steed responded

Councillor Bell responded.

Councillor Young responded.

Councillor Malcolm responded.

Councillor Martin responded.

Councillor Sumner responded

Councillor D. Crawford responded.

Councillor Joy Morrissey responded.

Councillor Anand responded.

Councillor A. Stafford responded.

Councillor Kaur- Dheer responded.

Councillor Millican responded.

Councillor Mason responded.

At this point the Mayor reminded Council of the time and members rose to lift the guillotine.

Councillor Proud responded.

Councillor Conti responded.

Councillor Rai responded.

Councillor Steed summed up

Councillor G. Stafford summed up.

Councillor Johnson summed up.

There was then a recorded vote

For

Councillors Ahmed, Anand, Aslam, Bagha, Bell, Blacker, Byrne, Camadoo,  Conlan, D. Crawford, Conti, Dabrowska, Dhami, Dheer,  Dhindsa, Gavan, Gordon, Gulaid, Hynes, Johnson, Jones, Kaur – Dheer Kelly,  Seema Kumar, Mahfouz, G. Mann, R. Mann, Manro, Martin, Mason, McCartan, Midha, Millican, Mohan, Joy Morrissey, Theresa Mullins Murray, Murtagh, Nagpal, Padda, Proud, Rai, Raza, Roz Reece, Rodgers, Sabiers, Sharma, Shaw, A. Stafford, G. Stafford, Sumner  L. Wall, R. Wall, Woodroofe and Young.,

Against

Councillors Ball, Busuttil, Malcolm, Steed

No Vote

Councillor Walker

After a recorded vote  Council agreed to:

1.1.1    Consider and approve the revenue budget for 2017/18 of £239.190m as summarised in Appendix 2.

1.1.2.   Consider and approve the refreshed Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2017/18 – 2020/21 (Appendix 0, para 4.9.4 and Appendix 1).

1.1.3.   Consider the  advice of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources on the levels of reserves and robustness of estimates in setting the budget as required by Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 (Appendix 0, para 5.11).

1.1.4.   Note the financial risks and pressures set out in section 4 and in particular para 4.9 at Appendix 0.

1.1.5.   Note  the  total  savings  of  £28.896m, total growth  of  £3.524m and £25.209m of additional centrally held growth items approved by  Cabinet on 15 November 2016 and 14 February 2017 through the budget review processes for the period of the refreshed MTFS, 2017/18 – 2020/21 (Appendix 0 para 5.2 and 5.4 and Appendices 3a and 3b).

1.1.6.  Approve the draft Schools budget of £314.095m and agrees that any changes to the budget reasonably required as a result of the final 2017/18 DSG settlement are delegated for decision to the Executive Director of Children, Adults & Public Health following consultation with the Executive Director of Corporate Resources (Appendix 0, para 5.8.12 and Appendix 5).

1.1.7.   Note the MTFS financial projections for 2018/19 to 2020/21 (Appendix 0, para 4.9.4 and Appendix 1).     

1.1.8.   Note that the General Fund balance is scheduled to remain the same at £15.473m for 2017/18 and notes the forecast levels of earmarked reserves (Appendix 0, para 5.13 and Appendix 6).

1.1.9.   Approve the Parking Account 2017/18 (Appendix 0, para 5.6 and Appendix 4).

1.2.      Capital Programme 2016/17 to 2020/21

1.2.1    Approve the new capital projects, totalling £30.210m (Appendix 0, para 5.17 and Appendix 7).

1.2.2.   Approve the revised capital programme of £761.206m, as set out in (Appendix 0, para 5.18 and Appendix 8).

1.2.3.   Approve the use of underspends from 2015/16 to part fund new capital schemes as set out in Appendix 0, para 5.16.2 and 5.17.

1.2.4.   Approve the revised Capital Strategy set out in Appendix 9.

1.3       Treasury Management and Pension Fund

1.3.1. Approve the Treasury Management Strategy including the associated Prudential Indicators and Annual Investment Strategy and as set out in (Appendix 0, para 5.21, Appendix 10, Annexes 3 and 5).

1.3.2.   Approve the Treasury Management Policy Statement attached to Appendix 10 as Annexe 1.

1.3.3.   Note the Director of  Finance will implement the Treasury Management Strategy under existing officer delegated powers set out in Appendix 10 as Annex 2.

1.3.4.   Approve the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy and in particular notes the revision to the policy changing the MRP Option 1 (pre 2008 debt) provision from reducing balance to straight line basis to achieve a more prudent provision for debt repayment; set out in Appendix 10 as Annex 4.

1.3.5.   Note that the Pension Fund cash (where held in house) and West London Waste Authority cash is also managed in accordance with the Treasury Management Strategy (2.9 to 2.13 of Appendix 10).

1.4.      Council Tax and Business Rates

1.4.1.   Note the GLA Band D precept of £280.02 for 2017/18, a 1.46% increase compared to the 2016/17 GLA precept (Appendix 0, para 5.9).

1.4.2.   Note  that  the  Executive  Director  of  Corporate  Resources  calculated  under  delegated authority in January 2017 the amount of 111,132.37 as the council tax base, (the number of properties in Bands A-H in the Borough, expressed as an equivalent number of Band D units for the year 2017/18) in accordance with regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of council tax base) Regulations 1992 (as amended) made under Section 33(5) and 34(4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (Appendix 0, para 5.22.1).

1.4.3.   Note the collection fund position as set out in Appendix 0, para 5.22.2.

1.4.4.   Note the council’s share of the business rates income forecast for 2017/18 at £46.910m agreed under delegated authority by the Executive Director of Corporate Resources (Appendix 0, para 5.23.4).

1.4.5.   Note the allowed increases in the social care precept and the referendum limit of the council (para 4.2 and appendix 0 para 4.2).

1.4.6.   Consider and approve:

• a council tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes of £120,148,539;
• acceptance of the social care precept 2% on council tax;
• a  basic  amount  of  council  tax  at  Band  D  for  Ealing’s  services  for  2017/18  of £1,081.13 - a 2% increase for the social care precept; and
• an overall Band D council tax of £1,361.15 including the GLA precept.

1.4.7.   Agree the calculations as set out below for 2017/18 that have been prepared in accordance with Sections 31A and 31B of the amended Local Government Finance Act (LGFA) 1992:

Table 1: Section 31A (LGFA 1992 - amended) Calculation

(A)       Is gross expenditure and transfers to reserves.

(B)       Is gross income and transfers from reserves. This includes RSG and surpluses transferred from the collection fund.

(C)       Is the council tax requirement.

1.4.8.  To agree the calculation of the basic amount of council tax required is as follows, calculated by dividing the council tax requirement by the council tax base for 2017/18 (referred to as Items R and T respectively, in Section 31B of the LGFA 1992 (amended)):

Table 2: Section 31B (LGFA 1992 - amended) Calculation

1.4.9.   To agree the calculation made in accordance with Section 36  of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the following amounts for Ealing's services in 2017/18(see Table 3). These being the amounts given by multiplying the amount shown as ‘Tax per Band D Property’ (Table 2 above) by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation Band D, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands:

Table 3: Ealing Council Tax by band of property

1.4.10. To note that for 2017/18 the GLA, the major Precepting Authority, has stated the following amounts of precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government  Finance  Act  1992,  for  each  of  the  categories  of  dwellings  shown  below:

Table 4: GLA precept by band of property

1.4.11.             Having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts in recommendations (20) and (21) above, in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, approve the following amounts to be set as the amounts of council tax for 2017/18 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

Table 5: Total Council Tax by band of property (Ealing Council Tax and GLA precept)

1.4.12. To determine that, with reference to principles approved by the Secretary of State under Section 52ZB and 52ZC of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the level of council tax for Ealing is not excessive and as such no referendum is required (Appendix 0, para 5.22).

1.4.13. To determine that, as the billing authority, the council has not been notified by the GLA that its relevant basic amount of council tax for 2017/18 is excessive and therefore the council is not required to hold a referendum in accordance with Section 52ZK of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

Councillor Gordon moved the report including an amendment that recommendations 1.1 and 1.2 take effect from the next municipal year.

Councillor Roz Reece seconded the report.

Council agreed unanimously the following changes to the constitution:

1. That the functions of Planning Committee and Regulatory Committee be amended as set out in the Appendix, to come into effect in the municipal year 2017/2018
2. That the Regulatory Committee be renamed the “General Purposes Committee”.

   Council noted:

    

3. That the operation of both Planning Committee and the new General Purposes Committee will be reviewed by Constitution Review Group in twelve months’ time, to evaluate the impact of the changes and determine whether or not further adjustments are required; and

4. That the Scheme of Members’ Allowances is proposed to be changed, in accordance with a report elsewhere on the agenda.

Councillor Gordon moved the report

Councillor Bell seconded the report

After a vote Council approved the Members’ Allowances Scheme for 2017-18, as set out in the schedule to the report.

Councillor Johnson moved the report.

Councillor G. Stafford seconded the report

After a vote Council agreed unanimously to

1. Approve the attached Pay Policy Statement (appendix “1”) and noted the supporting appendices 2, 3, 4 and 5;
2. Approve a policy, for 2017-18, to pay the London Living Wage (LLW) rate or above to direct employees (whether permanent or fixed term ) and to ensure agency workers are paid the LLW;
3. Note that decisions on proposed remuneration packages of £100,000 and above will be determined by Chief Officer Panel, in accordance with their existing terms of reference;
4. Commend to Governing Bodies of Schools that they consider paying the LLW rate to schools based employees (whether permanent or fixed term) and to agency workers working in Schools;
5. Note the proposals in the Enterprise Act 2016 to place restrictions on exit payments for public sector employments.  The anticipated introduction date is Spring 2017 – (see paragraph 3.16);
6. Note that Section 154-7 of the Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 (SBEEA) came into force 1 January 2016 allowing the government to make regulations requiring employees leaving the public sector to repay some or all of their exit payments if they return to public sector employment within 12 months of their departure.  The anticipated implementation is early 2017 – (see paragraph 3.17);  
7. Note that the Government has confirmed that it will be going ahead with its proposals for reforms to the off-payroll intermediaries legislation - (commonly known as ‘IR35’) in the public sector.  The reforms will come into effect on 6^th April 2017 – (see paragraph 3.18);
8. Note that the Government has published the Equality Act 2010 (Specific Duties and Public Authorities) Regulations 2017, which extend the duty to publish annual gender pay gap reports to public sector employers over 250 employees.  These broadly reflect the Equality Act 2010 (Gender Pay Gap Information) Regulations 2017, which apply to (most) private sector employers over 250 employees – (see paragraph 3.19);
9. Note the Government has published draft revised legislation on the tax treatment, and draft legislation to align the tax and National Insurance Contributions (NICs) treatment, of termination payments.  The changes are expected to come into force in April 2018 – see paragraph 3.20); and
10. Note the Government is going ahead with its cross-sector reforms to salary sacrifice schemes, removing the tax and National Insurance advantages of such schemes, except for those applying to childcare vouchers/workplace nursery provision, the Cycle to Work scheme, pensions (including advice) and ultra-low admission cars.  The changes will take effect from 6^th April 2017 – (see paragraph 3.21).