Councillors Anand, D. Crawford, Johnson, Jones, Martin, Murray and Sumner had sent their apologies.

The Mayor commenced by announcing that Councillor Johnson was recovering well from her knee operation and hoped to be back in action in a couple of weeks.

She then thanked all members who had supported the soiree for AHC held at Pillars restaurant which was full to capacity with 120 guests. These included guests from St George’s and Southall Barclays who kindly offered financial support.

The Mayor then informed Council that she spoke to the congregation after mass at the Abbey on March 18^th where the retiring collection was for the homeless. Further fundraising is continuing throughout Lent by means of the Lenten projects in the parish, the monastery, St Benedict’s school and St Vincent’s primary school.

She then related how she spoke at a public talk on homelessness with St Mungo’s Ealing Soup kitchen and ACH and mentioned how she was deeply moved by the selfless caring work of so many groups in our Borough. This included those who attended Cllr Tailor’s working group on loneliness at the World Café event.

The Mayor then said that in the morning she had attended an event at the House of Commons with Ealing MPs Huq and Pound and the Borough Commander commending the dedication and achievements of our Borough police in particular regarding the blaze which engulfed the Aeronaut pub in Acton on New Year’s Eve just 17 minutes into 2017. She was sure she spoke on behalf of all members in her pride in the police in our Borough.

This year the Deputy Lieutenant Richard Korniki is working with us to celebrate armed Forces Day on 24^th June, with full ceremonial and engagement from OC 562 (Southall) Transport Squadron and a range of uniformed groups. There will be a trumpet voluntary and other patriotic music during and after the raising of the flag over the Town Hall on the day itself and on Sunday 25^th there will be an event on Ealing Green.

The Mayor moved on to sombre news. She announced the death of former mayor Mr Madhav Patil who died on 29 March 2017. She recalled meeting Mr Patil’s   at a number of events in Southall and I particularly remembered a happy sunny day when she performed the opening ceremony of the children’s garden at Blair Peach School where Mr Patil was Chair of Governors.

The Mayor passed on her condolences to his family and particularly to Mrs. Ratna Patil, her three children and their spouses who were present in the chamber.

Councillor Dheer rose to pay tribute to Mr Patil and was followed by Councillor Young who spoke on behalf of his Group.

Finally the Mayor expressed how shocked and saddened she was at the recent events in Westminster.

Councillors Bell, G. Stafford and Malcolm rose in turn to express their thoughts.

Question 1: 

Councillor Seema Kumar asked the portfolio holder for Safety, Culture and Community Services.

Can the Portfolio state where Ealing ranked in the recent food hygiene survey of 360 council areas by the company Love My Vouchers and the 13^th February ITV news “Grot Spot Britain” national poll?

Councillor Dheer replied

The question is in two parts, food hygiene and fly tipping in the Borough. Let me first deal with food hygiene.

We are 83% compliant across our restaurants meaning a 3-5 rating with the Food Standards Authority across our premises.

Only 3.07% of 544 restaurants are rated zero.

Only 3.54% of takeaways and sandwich shops are rated zero.

The problem with the methodology of this study is that they look at the number of sites, but doesn’t look at broader performance. It can’t be fair because we have 3,500 outlets and somewhere like Orkney might only have 445 so the methodology is skewed and isn’t comparing like for like which is why most London Boroughs are towards the bottom of their league tables.

On fly-tipping we recognise that this is an increasing problem across London and the country, hence the media interest, but where Ealing differs is the significant prevention and enforcement action. We have issued a large number of penalty notices and we

Since August last year, there have been 4 dedicated enforcement teams in operation across the borough and action is taken where evidence of fly-tippers has been found.

They have engaged in public education and fining offenders meaning we are taking really very tough enforcement action which is why we can see the improvements on our streets which are not happening elsewhere in the country.

Councillors Seema Kumar and Kelly Councillors asked supplementary questions.

Question 2

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

“Could the portfolio holder please outline the number of missed collections of kitchen waste, reported borough-wide, since wheelie bins were introduced last year?”

Councillor Mahfouz replied

There were 8,125 missed collections of kitchen waste. This represents a 99.14% collections success rate across the Borough.

Councillors Malcolm and Ahmed-Shaikh asked supplementary questions. 

Question 3

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

“Can the portfolio holder update us on the recycling rate in the Borough?”

Councillor Mahfouz replied

“The year to date recycling rate is 50.45%, with a performance of 51.05% since June 2016. Well ahead of the target of 50% by 2018.”

Councillors Mohan and Proud asked supplementary questions. 

Question 4:

Councillor A. Stafford asked the portfolio holder for Transport, Environment & Leisure

“Can the Portfolio Holder please state how much have been raised to date in fines from the Longfield Avenue junction ban?”

Councillor Mahfouz replied

Since the commencement of enforcement of the prohibited turns at the junction of Longfield Avenue and New Broadway in April 2016 up until 4 April 2017 a total of £1,047,183.60 has been received by the council in respect to penalty charge notice payments for this location.

Councillors A. Stafford and R. Wall asked supplementary questions. 

Question 5

Councillor G. Mann asked the portfolio holder for Children and Young People

“Can the portfolio holder tell us how many children in Ealing will be pushed beneath the poverty line as a result of recent benefit changes and whether the government’s pledge of 30 hours free childcare is enough to offset the high cost of childcare in Ealing?”

Councillor Rai replied

“From 2008 to 2013 the trend in relation to Child Poverty in Ealing showed a positive 10.1% reduction for all children (aged 0-19yrs) from 29.6% to 19.5% narrowing the gap between Ealing and England, from 8.7% to 1.5%.

In 2014 both England and Ealing saw an increase in child poverty. Ealing % rose to 21.7% and England 19.9% a gap of 1.8%

This has of course been exacerbated by recent benefit changes introduced by the Tory government. The effect of which has been an overall reduction in income because of benefit cuts for people on of-of-work benefits.

There are currently 1147 households affected by this cap including 867 families and 1956 children.

Further benefit changes are imminent which will no doubt increase the numbers below the poverty line. For example from 6 April 2017 support provided through Child Tax Credits will be limited for some new births. A third child or one born on or after 6^th April will not be eligible for further support. In addition to the 2 child limit, the family element of £545 per year will be abolished. So in answer to your question, yes more children will be pushed below the poverty line as a direct consequence of this governments changes to the benefit system which will leave even more families with a financial deficit to live on.

Whilst the Government Pledge to 30 hours free childcare may benefit some families and may be an incentive for many more working families to increase their number of working hours to become eligible, there will be challenges locally in providing sufficient local places due to the limited government levels of funding allocated for childcare providers.

So in actual fact the government spin is that there will be more money for family but the reality is starkly different as more and more families are pushed further into poverty.”

Councillors G. Mann and Millican asked supplementary questions

Question 6

Councillor Dabrowska asked the Leader of the Council

 Can the Leader please list the number of ward forums held by each ward to date in this municipal year?

Councillor Bell replied

“There will have been 53 ward forum meetings by the end of this municipal year.

Following a change in structure that came into effect last year, the 3 coordinators now support a greater number of wards than previously. Two ward meetings each year are supported by the coordinators and, in addition, some wards choose to have additional, unsupported meetings with costs covered by ward forum funds.

Councillors Dabrowska and Aslam asked supplementary questions

Question 7

Councillor Manro asked the portfolio holder for Prosperity, Skills, Employment & Transformation

“Can the portfolio holder update us on the possible effects of the Tory death tax on bereaved families in Ealing, which comes into force at midnight Wednesday 5th?”

Councillor Mason replied

“Today as it stands, in the difficult circumstance that somebody faces the death of a parent of a loved one, a spouse or civil partner, families can expect three forms of benefit:

1. A payment of £2000
2. In the instance of a widowed parent’s allowance, just under £500 per calendar month until the youngest child is no longer eligible for child benefit
3. And a bereavement allowance which accounts for about £112 for the period of 52 weeks for a spouse or civic partner.

These are benefits, but they are also earned entitlements because it reflects the difficult fact that the person who would make those national insurance payments will no longer draw down from the state pension upon pensionable age.

As of one minute past midnight on Thursday that support is going to change. The figure for monthly support will be £350 per month, for those with a child and £100 per month for those without a child. This will last for only 18 months.

The Prime Minster said this was about creating fairness in the system and reflecting modern family situations. It certainly doesn’t sound fair to me. If it did meet the fairness test it would reflect that fact that half of all children are born outside marriages and civil partnerships and this change will do nothing to protect those people in future.

Councillors Manro and G. Stafford asked supplementary questions

Councillor Young moved the motion and accepted Councillor Busuttil’s amendment.

Councillor A. Stafford seconded the amended motion and responded.

Councillor Mahfouz responded

Councillor Busuttil responded

Councillor Sabiers responded

Councillor Proud responded

Councillor Blacker responded

Councillor G. Stafford responded

Councillor Ball responded

Councillor Young summed up.

After a vote the motion was lost.

Councillor Tailor moved the motion and accepted Councillor Steed’s amendment

Councillor Bell seconded the motion

Councillor Steed responded

Councillor Millican responded

Councillor Raza responded

Councillor Conti responded

The Mayor reminded members of the time.

Members rose to raise the guillotine.

Councillor Mohan responded

Councillor Roz Reece responded

Councillor Rai responded

Councillor Mason responded

Councillor Tailor summed up

After a vote the motion was agreed

The motion read

The Council notes the maternity unity at Ealing hospital was closed in July 2015.

The Council notes the children’s ward at Ealing hospital was closed in June 2016.

The Council notes that in December 2016 the NHS published a business case that sees blue-light ambulances, critical care and potentially all surgery removed from Ealing Hospital by 2022. As part of the plans the NHS aims to save more than £1billion over 10 years. 

The Council notes that there are currently 288 beds at Ealing hospital. However, if the ‘Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP)’ is implemented, there will be only be 50 beds remaining – a cut of over 80%. This means that of the 500 beds due to be removed across North West London, nearly half of the cuts fall on Ealing hospital alone.

The Council believes that a 50-bed hospital, with no surgery, no critical care, no acute beds, no blue-light ambulances, no A&E, no maternity unit and no children’s ward is not in fact a ‘hospital’ any resident of the Borough would recognise.

The Council believes these changes will result in the closure of Ealing District General Hospital and its A&E, followed by its replacement with a day-care clinic and minor injuries unit.

The Council believes that residents deserve full and easy access to health services across the Borough and that it is the role of the Council to fight to protect our NHS where it is under threat to ensure better health outcomes for all residents.

The Council resolves to resist the closure of Ealing & Charing Cross Hospitals and will support local campaigns to Save Our Hospitals across North West London.

The Council agrees that the Chief Executive of Ealing Council communicates to the Secretary of State for Health the continued opposition of Ealing Council to the plans outlined above.

a). Councillor Conti moved the motion

Councillor G. Stafford seconded the motion

After a vote the motion was agreed unanimously 

b). Councillor Rai moved the motion

Councillor Shaw seconded the motion

After a vote the motion was agreed

Councillor Bell moved the report

Councillor Young seconded the report

John Beastall, Independent Chair of the Standards committee addressed Council.

He expressed his pleasure that no full standards cases had been dealt with for three years running indicating exemplary behaviour of members.

He also thanked his fellow independent members on the Panel as well as the help and guidance he received from Helen Harris and Linda Zimmerman.

Council agreed unanimously to

1.1 Commend the work and achievements of the Standards Committee and its independent people during the past year,

1.2 Note that the Director of Legal and Democratic Services (DLDS) will with the support of a panel of Standards Committee members undertake a recruitment exercise of two Standards Committee independent people, and

1.4 Note Standards Committee has agreed that the current chair continue as independent chair of the committee