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COUNCIL

Wednesday, 19th January, 2011 at 7.00 pm

MINUTES

The Worshipful the Mayor Councillor Dr Neeraj Patil in the Chair COUNCILLORS PRESENT: Councillors ABRAMS, AMINU, ANYANWU, BARRATT, BEST, BOUCHER, BRADLEY, BRATHWAITE, BROWN, C BENNETT, C. WHELAN, CAMERON, CAMPBELL, CLYNE, COSGRAVE, DAVIE, DAVIES, DODSWORTH, EDBROOKE, FRANCIS, GARDEN, GIESS, HARRISON, HASELDEN, HEYWOOD, HOLLAND, HOPKINS, J.WHELAN, KAZANTZIS, KINGSBURY, LING, LUMSDEN, M E BENNETT, M P BENNETT, MALLEY, MARCHANT, MCGLONE, MELDRUM, MORGAN, MORRIS, NOSEGBE, O'MALLEY, OGDEN, PALMER, PARR, PECK, PICKARD, PRENTICE, ROBBINS, SABHARWAL, SMITH, TARGETT-PARKER, TRUESDALE, WALKER and WELLBELOVE APOLOGIES: Councillor Alex Bigham, Councillor Peter Bowyer,

Councillor Diana Braithwaite, Councillor Jim Dickson, Councillor Julia Memery, Councillor Steve Reed and Councillor Christiana Valcarcel

ABSENT:

1. PROCEDURAL MOTION MOVED by Councillor Jack Hopkins, SECONDED by Councillor Paul

McGlone. Voting For: 33 Against: 14 Abstentions: 2

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CARRIED RESOLVED: Timings (1) That Standing Order 2 be suspended to the extent necessary to enable

the following order and timings for the conduct of this meeting to be agreed:

Agenda item

Timings

1. Declarations of interest 2. Minutes (13.10.10) 3. Announcements

7.00-7.05pm

4. Petitions, public notice questions and deputations

7.05-7.30pm

5. Council questions

7.30-8.00pm

6. Cabinet (13.09.10)

8.00-8.30pm

7. Notices of motion

8.30-10.00pm

Filming of part of meeting (2) That Standing Order 20 (Photography and audio/visual recordings of

meetings), be suspended to the extent necessary to enable the presentation from and response to the deputation by the Friends of Vauxhall Spring Gardens to be filmed by the deputation.

Notices of motion – motions 2 and 15 - 19 (3) That Standing Orders 14.1 and 16.1 (notices of motion and amendments),

be suspended formally to the extent necessary to enable a revised motion 2 and new motions 15 – 19 to be considered.

Notices of motion – motions 1 and 2 (4) That Standing Order 1(xiii) be suspended to the extent necessary to

enable motions 1 and 2, and amendments, to both be debated for at least 45 minutes each (and for an equal amount of time).

Emergency amendments to motion 2 (5) That Standing Order 14.6 be suspended to the extent necessary to

enable emergency amendments (amendments nos. 4 and 5) to motion 2 from Councillors Jackie Meldrum and Gavin Dodsworth to be considered.

Voting on all paragraphs

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(6) That in order to allow as many speakers as possible during the debates, all

voting be held after the guillotine falls. Notes: The guillotine falls at 10:00pm. The Mayor will use his discretion over the specific timings of the meeting, in the light of any necessary advice from officers.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST Councillor Jackie Meldrum declared a personal interest in item 7 (motion 1)

as she was a member of the Lambeth Living Board. Councillor Kita Ogden declared a personal interest in item 7 (motion 9) as she was an employee of Sainsbury’s. Councillor Nigel Haselden declared an interest in item 7 (motion 12) as he was a member of the Ramblers. Councillor Sally Prentice declared an interest in item 7 (motion 12) as she was a member of the Ramblers.

3. MINUTES (13.10.10) RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2010 be approved and signed as a correct record of the proceedings.

4. ANNOUNCEMENTS Apologies

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors, Alex Bigham, Diana Braithwaite, Pete Bowyer, Jim Dickson, Julia Memery, Steve Reed and Christiana Valcarcel. Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors Donatus Anyanwu and Ishbel Brown. Executive Director of Housing, Regeneration and Environment The Mayor welcomed Sue Foster, the Executive Director of Housing, Regeneration and Environment to her first Council meeting. Former Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Service

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The Mayor announced that the previous Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Service, Phyllis Dunipace, had been awarded an OBE. Visit by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI The Mayor announced that he had received his Holiness Pope Benedict XVI at the St Peter’s Residence in Vauxhall on Saturday 18 September 2010. This had been the first papal visit to the London Borough of Lambeth. During the visit to St Peter’s Residence; a picture was taken of the Pope which would be displayed in the Mayor’s Parlour. RESOLVED: That the announcements be received.

5. PETITIONS, PUBLIC NOTICE QUESTION AND DEPUTATIONS Petitions

Petitions were submitted by: 1) Councillor Imogen Walker: over 1000 signatures requesting that the

Council urgently review the Eritrea Muslim Community Association’s lease for 283 – 291 Wandsworth Road property that it currently occupies and to give the EMCA the opportunity to buy the property first.

2) Councillor Shirley Cosgrave: 80 signatures asking for action to be taken to

improve access to Clapham Common from Clapham Common southside 3) Councillor Florence Nosegbe: 21 signatures from the residents from

Blenheim Gardens regarding improvements to the park. 4) Councillor John Kazantzis: 137 signatures seeking a government

guarantee for pathfinder funding in order to improve and enhance the Streatham Vale Park Adventure Playground and build a new children’s playground on Streatham Common.

5) Councillor Rachel Heywood: 177 signatures from residents asking why

there were no soap and shampoo dishes in the shower rooms. 6) Councillor Marcia Cameron: 73 signatures from residents requesting a

parking bay to be installed outside St Matthews Community Hall. Public Notice Questions No pubic notice questions were received. Deputations

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Deputation 1: Road safety at the Herne Hill Junction The deputation advised:

a) The acknowledgement of the receipt of the deputation had been received late and the Council would need to review this process.

b) A trip hazard in the middle of the junction at Herne Hill had been created. The junction had been designed for the partially sighted although this was the worst design for partially sighted people. The Council had a duty of care to its residents and action to remedy the situation was required.

Leader of the deputation: Irene Kimm Councillor Rachel Heywood, Cabinet Member for Communities and Community Safety, offered her sympathy for former Councillor Irene Kimm for the injuries she sustained, and advised that changes had been made to the site which would provide an increased level of safety. She also advised that the level of road traffic accidents had been reduced over recent years. Deputation 2: Immanuel & St. Andrew School: addressing the school places crisis in Streatham South The deputation advised: Immanuel and St. Andrew School had previously asked for advice on the options for providing further school places but had not received a response and was now running out of place. There was a need to move to a permanent two-form entry for the school. The shortage of school places was a general problem within the borough and this was set to continue with the birthrate increasing. Leader of the deputation: Chris Hall Councillor Pete Robbins, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, thanked the deputation for attending full Council and emphasised the known need for expansion of primary schools in the borough given the high level of demand from an increased number of young families, with pressure points particularly in Norwood and Streatham. Deputation 3: Vauxhall Spring Gardens and Asian community The deputation advised: There was a need to help progress the current framework for the regeneration of Vauxhall Spring Gardens. Donations were being made to celebrate diversity and promote community cohesion and Vauxhall had a large Indian community which would benefit from being involved. Leader of the deputation: Eamonn McMahon Councillor Florence Nosegbe, Cabinet Member for Culture, Sport and the

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2012 Olympic Games, thanked the deputation for attending full Council and requested information as to how the plans could be progressed with the benefit for all. The Mayor thanked the three deputations for attending the meeting.

6. COUNCIL QUESTIONS 1. By: Councillor Judith Best

To: Councillor Steve Reed – Leader of the Council (Councillor

Sally Prentice responded in the absence of Councillor Reed)

Streatham Ice Rink Supplementary Question

Will the council go back to Tesco and ask for something to be given back to the community in Streatham given that there would now not be continuity of ice as promised? Supplementary Answer Officers had negotiated hard with Tesco to come up with a good package and a very good set of proposals were to be agreed on 2 February 2011. The main priority was now implementation of the scheme. The Council had listened to residents of Streatham throughout the process and public transport to Brixton would enable residents to travel to the leisure facilities in Brixton.

2. By: Councillor John Whelan To: Councillor Lorna Campbell – Cabinet Member for

Environment

Anti-dog fouling signage Supplementary Question When will the anti-dog fouling signs be installed?

Supplementary Answer The signs will be installed in the next few weeks. 3. By: Councillor Matthew Bennett (submitted on 09.12.10) To: Councillor Lib Peck – Cabinet Member for Housing

Rent Supplementary Question

Will the opposition try to look after Lambeth residents and protect them by lobbying central government?

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Supplementary Answer We are alarmed by the proposals coming through from government. People also losing their jobs and the conditions being imposed on RSLs are also alarming. It would be interesting to know what that the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives think of the developments.

4. By: Councillor Roger Giess (submitted on 10.12.10) To: Councillor Pete Robbins – Cabinet Member for Children

and Young People

Durand Academy Supplementary Question

If the council welcomes to work with all sorts of solutions – then why does the Cabinet not mention the proposal in the December 2010 report?

Supplementary Answer The Cabinet report explores all options open to the Council to increase school places – free school applications are outside our control.

5. By: Councillor Shirley Cosgrave (submitted on 10.12.10) To: Councillor Pete Robbins – Cabinet Member for Children and

Young People

Schools Capital Building Projects Supplementary Question

Does the Cabinet Member not welcome the fact that the Coalition Government has made it clear that the cuts to the BSF programme will not mean the end of new school building? This has been borne out as the three sample school projects in the Borough are to go ahead. Furthermore, the Council’s hostility to Academies is depriving schools of the opportunity to increase their income and to be responsible for their own capital buildings programmes.

Supplementary Answer No further information had been provided by central government as to what would replace the BSF programme.

6. By: Councillor Edward Davie (submitted on 09.12.10) To: Councillor Lorna Campbell – Cabinet Member for

Environment

Compulsory Recycling Supplementary Question

I understand Southwark have run successful fortnightly domestic rubbish collection pilots. Would the cabinet member consider such a

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pilot in an area that also has food recycling maintained on a weekly basis? This would have the benefit of reducing the cost of weekly collections whilst removing the food waste that starts to smell and attract vermin after a week.

Supplementary Answer

As residents have indicated they were not supportive of fortnightly collections we have ensured our protection of weekly. However, as repeatedly stated, the Waste Strategy is flexible so if residents in a particular neighbourhood/Ward wanted to pilot we would consider if appropriate at the time.

7. By: Councillor Peter Truesdale (submitted on 10.12.10) To: Councillor Paul McGlone – Cabinet Member for Finance and

Resources

Labour Budget 2010

Supplementary Question Would the Cabinet Member borrow or tax more?

Supplementary Answer

Although managing the deficit is the responsibility of national government, local government will play its part. The key point is local government has been unfairly targeted by government cuts and has therefore been left with no choice but to reduce or cut services.

8. By: Councillor Julia Memery (submitted on 10.12.10) To: Councillor Florence Nosegbe – Cabinet Member for Culture,

Sport and the 2012 Games

The Big Tree Plant

In the absence of Councillor Julia Memery, the Mayor moved on to the next question.

9. By: Councillor Jane Edbrooke (submitted on 09.12.10) To: Councillor Pete Robbins – Cabinet Member for Children and

Young People

Pupil Places

No supplementary question was asked. 10. By: Councillor Christine Barratt (submitted on 10.12.10) To: Councillor Florence Nosegbe – Cabinet Member for Culture,

Sport and the 2012 Games

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Clapham Common

Supplementary Question How does the Council plan to deal with the concerns of residents? Supplementary Answer

Last year many people had attended the Country Show. Cultural services had taken a big hit in the savings proposals but there was a need for those services in the borough and more income generation would be sought in future years to replace the lost funding.

11. By: Councillor Clare Whelan (submitted on 10.12.10) To: Councillor Steve Reed – Leader of the Council (Councillor

Paul McGlone responded in the absence of Councillor Reed)

Co-operative Council and Social Care

Supplementary Question Which aspects of social care had been identified and how was Adults’ and Community Services preparing for the change?

Supplementary Answer

The capacity of the organisation had been reduced significantly and this would need to be taken into account when planning future services.

12. By: Councillor Jane Pickard (submitted on 09.12.10) To: Councillor Florence Nosegbe – Cabinet Member for Culture,

Sport and the 2012 Games

Library Services

Correction Line 1 of answer: Delete: It is all very well for Lib Dem Culture Minister Ed Vaizey Insert: It is all very well for the Conservative Culture Minister Ed Vaizey

Supplementary Question Can the Cabinet Member assure that there will be an innovative approach to budget cuts?

Supplementary Answer The Council is currently reviewing how to make savings including

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sharing arrangements with other councils, and how further work can be developed with community groups and voluntary organisations in order to continue to provide services.

13. By: Councillor Ishbel Brown (submitted on 10.12.10) To: Councillor Lib Peck – Cabinet Member for Housing

Fire Safety

Supplementary Question

Is there an estimate of the associated costs? Supplementary Answer

Exact figures will be provided outside of the meeting and health and safety issues are still a top priority for Lambeth Living and will continue to be so in the coming year.

14. By: Councillor Mike Smith (submitted on 09.12.10) To: Councillor Florence Nosegbe – Cabinet Member for Culture,

Sport and the 2012 Games

School Sports Partnerships

Supplementary Question Thanks for the comprehensive response. Are the other ways we can use the Cooperative Council model to get motivate more people into physical activity?

Supplementary Answer The Council would continue to encourage children to take part in physical activity and will ensure that we embrace the benefits of being part of the Olympics.

7. CABINET (10.01.11) REPORT 6.1 Lambeth Local Development Framework (LDF) Core Strategy –

Adoption (Report no. 198/10-11 and appendices) The Mayor invited speakers from all parties to address the Council from a list submitted by the Whips. The speakers, in order, were:

• Councillor Sally Prentice • Councillor Alex Davies • Councillor John Whelan • Councillor Diana Morris • Councillor Dave Malley • Councillor Clive Bennett (additional) • Councillor Nigel Haselden

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RESOLVED:

(1) To approve the Core Strategy attached to this report as Appendix 2 together with the changes to the proposals Map in Appendix 3 with the addition of the streets listed below to Table 7: Policy S2(e) – Streets within the borough under conversion stress (see page 207 of the appendices pack):

Santley Street Selsdon Street Shamrock Street Shandon Road Shadcroft Avenue Shrubbery Road Sibella Road

8. NOTICES OF MOTION Motion 1: ALMO

The Mayor invited speakers from all parties to address Council from a list submitted by the whips. The speakers, in order, were:

• Councillor Jeremy Clyne • Councillor Lib Peck • Councillor Kita Ogden • Councillor John Whelan • Councillor Jackie Meldrum • Councillor Mark Harrison • Councillor Clive Bennett • Councillor Imogen Walker • Councillor Christopher Wellbelove • Councillor Peter Truesdale

Voting Amendment 1: For: 38 Against: 15 Abstentions: 1 CARRIED Amendment 2: For: 14 Against: 37 Abstentions: 3

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LOST Amendment 3: For: 3 Against: 51 Abstentions: 0 LOST Substantive motion: For: 37 Against: 17 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED: Council recalls the Cabinet Report of July 2006 which agreed to set up an ALMO, to expect funding in the summer of 2008 and that decent homes would be achieved by 2010. Council recalls that the report was agreed and that a ballot was offered to Tenants who expressed support for the ALMO. Council recognises the way that the ALMO, Lambeth Living, was set up through a democratic ballot of tenants. Council notes the letter from the former Labour Minister John Healey MP that committed to deliver the promised improvements to residents’ homes. Council notes the failure of the current Government to provide any clarity (as at December 2010) on the process and allocation of Decent Homes funding to Lambeth and that the current Housing Minister has declined to meet with Councillors to discuss Lambeth’s needs. Council notes that the level of Lambeth Council properties reaching the "Decent Homes" standard will inevitably rise as residents wait for the Coalition Government to make up its mind over funding and also notes that the total pot of funding available has been cut by over 50% since May 2010. Council notes that significant time and effort was spent on setting up Lambeth Living in July 2008 as the only means available at the time of accessing Decent Homes funding and since then the council has monitored the ALMO closely to improve service standards. Council resolves to continue to hold Lambeth Living to account and to keep Labour’s election commitment of ensuring improvements are delivered and that if Lambeth Living fails to do this within 12 months of May 2010, they will have lost the right to manage the Council’s housing service. Council further resolves to include tenants and leaseholders in the new Housing Commission announced by Cabinet in December.

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Motion 2: A Coalition of Broken Promises Additional amendments: Amendment 4: Councillor Jackie Meldrum Add at end: Council is committed to being transparent and to fighting for a fairer funding deal for Lambeth and will take every opportunity to pursue this on behalf of residents. Council therefore resolves to refer the Secretary of State for Local Government, the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, to the UK Statistics Authority on the grounds that the real reduction to Lambeth’s draft formula grant settlement is closer to 11.3%, rather than the 7.7% he insists it is. Amendment 5: Councillor Gavin Dodsworth Add at end: Council notes that all parties are committed to making savings that won't affect front line services.

Council notes the emergency nature of resolving to withdraw immediately all Council posters and communications relating to the referral to the Dept of Communities and Local Government for the alleged breach of the code of practice which says that council publicity ‘should not be a prejudiced or political attack on policies’. The Mayor invited speakers from all parties to address the Council from a list submitted by the Whips. The speakers, in order, were:

• Councillor Jackie Meldrum • Councillor Alex Davies • Councillor Clare Whelan • Councillor Mike Smith • Councillor Ed Davie • Councillor Judith Best • Councillor Matthew Bennett • Councillor Mark Bennett • Councillor Gavin Dodsworth • Councillor Ashley Lumsden • Councillor Pete Robbins

Voting Amendment 1: For: 15 Against: 40 Abstentions: 0

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LOST Amendment 2: For: 16 Against: 39 Abstentions: 0 LOST Amendment 3: For: 16 Against: 39 Abstentions: 0 LOST Amendment 4 For: 37 Against: 15 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED Amendment 5 For: 17 Against: 38 Abstentions: 0 LOST Substantive motion: For: 38 Against: 17 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED: Council regrets that the Lib Dems and Conservatives secured votes in the General Election promising to do one thing but now, in coalition together, are doing the opposite. Broken promises on this scale brings politics into disrepute and means the Government does not have a mandate to carry out the savage cuts they are planning to impose on poorer boroughs like Lambeth.

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Council notes that the Prime Minister, David Cameron said in May that any cabinet minister who proposed front line cuts would “be sent straight back to their department to go away and think again”. Council further notes that during the General Election campaign the Lib Dem Leader Nick Clegg said it would be ‘dangerous’ to implement any public spending cuts during the current financial year.

Council condemns this broken promise; the Coalition Government has already announced frontline cuts including cutting 10,000 university places, cancelling the Future Jobs Fund and scrapping the Building Schools for the Future programme. As a result of the Coalition’s decision to frontload the cuts, Lambeth will have to make around £40m worth of cuts next year which will damage or destroy many vital local services. Council is committed to being transparent and to fighting for a fairer funding deal for Lambeth and will take every opportunity to pursue this on behalf of residents. Council therefore resolves to refer the Secretary of State for Local Government, the Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP, to the UK Statistics Authority on the grounds that the real reduction to Lambeth’s draft formula grant settlement is closer to 11.3%, rather than the 7.7% he insists it is. Motion 3: Housing Benefit Amendment 1: For: 14 Against: 40 Abstentions: 0 LOST Original motion: For: 37 Against: 16 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED: This Council opposes the unfair changes to the housing benefit system, in particular 10% reduction in benefit to those who are out of work for more than a year through no fault of their own, and the reduction in the benefit for those under 35 years who are living alone. Council opposes the government’s proposal to remove security of tenure for new council tenants and is concerned that this will be extended to existing tenants. We need to be promoting strong and stable communities, not terrifying people in Council-owned housing with the threat of losing their home.

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Finally, Council opposes the government’s intention to force up rent in social housing to 80% of market values which could see some social rents in Lambeth quadruple, and in association with the proposed benefits cap threatens to drive poor families out of central London to areas away from their existing family and support networks where its harder to find work and more expensive to travel in to work. Motion 4: Operation Hannah Amendment 1: For: 14 Against: 41 Abstentions: 0 LOST Amendment 2: For: 3 Against: 52 Abstentions: 0 LOST Original motion: For: 37 Against: 17 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED: Council supports the Metropolitan Police’s Operation Hannah which will see more police on the streets in Lambeth. It notes that Operation Hannah will reinforce Safer Neighbourhood Teams through a redeployment of up to 100 officers from central support teams to frontline policing. The proposals also help deliver Labour’s election manifesto commitment to deploy a uniformed anti-social behaviour team under Police command able to move into areas affected by any sudden increase in activity. Crime and the fear of crime is consistently the number one priority for Lambeth’s residents and so Council welcomes the re-organisation of our own Community Safety function to mirror the new police structure, putting the Council in the strongest position to address neighbourhood level crime issues, support the police’s work and further cement the partnership with the Met. Council notes that Lambeth Police should be held up as an example of how a neighbourhood focus can be maintained in the face of the threat from the

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Coalition Government to cut back the number of ‘boots on the street’. Despite London’s Tory Mayor removing £300m from police budgets in the last three years, a 20% cut in funding from the Tory-Lib Dem Government following the CSR, and a local Liberal Democrat party that campaigned against Lambeth’s funding of PCSOs to support neighbourhood police teams, Council welcomes the fact that this borough will increase the number of police on the street next year thanks to the close partnership between the Labour Administration and the Police. Motion 5: Tuition Fees Amendment 1: For: 14 Against: 38 Abstentions: 2 LOST Original motion: For: 37 Against: 16 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED: This Council is opposed to the coalition Government’s response to the Browne Review of higher education government, which will have a devastating impact on the progress made to widen participation in higher education and ensure fair access to university. Council particularly condemns the coalition government’s decision to:

• Treble the cap on tuition fees from just over £3,000 per year to £9,000 per year

• Open up a market in tuition fees, which will cause students to choose courses based on cost rather than the suitability of the programme

• Slash total government funding to universities by more than 80%

• Cut off government funding entirely from teaching in the arts, humanities and social sciences, which means courses and institutions are likely close as a result.

This Council believes that an increase in tuition fees will have a hugelydetrimental impact upon young people in Lambeth and should therefore be opposed.

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Motion 6: A Fair Funding Settlement for Lambeth Amendment 1: For: 17 Against: 38 Abstentions: 0 LOST Original motion: For: 38 Against: 16 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED: The Coalition Government has chosen to make hard and deep cuts in funding for public services, and has decided that local government should bear a higher percentage of cuts than national government departments. The Government has also chosen to front-load their funding cuts in ways that will make cuts in local services harsher than would otherwise be necessary, and is making poorer areas like Lambeth bear a higher proportion of the cuts than wealthier areas that receive less deprivation-based grant-funding. Council recognises that since the General Election in May many councillors have taken opportunities to lobby Government to secure fairer funding for Lambeth, including:

• petitions on Decent Homes and school building funding

• meeting with the Minister of State for Schools to lobby for schools capital funding

• appearances before the CLG Select Committee and DWP Select Committee to press Lambeth's case

• writing to the Secretary of State for Communities objecting to unfair front-loading of local government funding cuts

• writing to the Minister of State for Housing asking for clarification over Lambeth's Decent Homes funding allocation

Council calls on all members to join together to redouble efforts to secure fair funding for Lambeth's residents and calls on members to work cross-party to achieve this. Motion 7: Putting Lambeth on the Map RESOLVED:

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Council notes:

• That members of the public love to walk and cycle in Lambeth and that the borough supports these two active modes of transport for their healthy, benign and economic benefits.

• That as a result of this enthusiasm members of the public would like the

paths they use to be added to a definitive map.

• That inner London boroughs are exempt from having to keep a Definitive Map and Statement on the existence of public rights of way and that these public paths do not therefore appear on Ordnance Survey maps.

• That users of the paths are greatly disadvantaged when attempting to

identify rights of way and that definitive maps make it easier to prove the existence of a public right of way and thus help to protect paths from development or obstruction.

• The good relationship that Lambeth holds with the walkers’ organisation

The Ramblers, which has a committed network of volunteers and staff inLondon willing to map paths and process the necessary bureaucracy to develop a definitive map and that such involvement sits well in the Cooperative Council model.

Council therefore resolves:

• To work with The Ramblers to create and maintain a Definitive Map of Lambeth to show where there is a right to walk and where there is a right to cycle.

• In 2011, the Year of Walking, to inaugurate this programme by

identifying and celebrating a single right of way to start the process and to brand the borough’s commitment to establishing a network of rights of way.

• To incrementally build the network with partners, actively seeking

financial and in-kind resourcing. Council further notes:

• The contribution this initiative would make to residents’ wellbeing in making the traversing and exploring of neighbourhoods more attractive.

• The initiative’s alignment with borough, Mayoral and national policies on

health, mobility and community cohesion. • The potential linking, in ethos and geography, of the swelling numbers

of green community hubs within Lambeth. Council welcomes this proposal as an example of positive working with outside

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organisations at no cost to the Council, providing new opportunities for all residents while avoiding the need to cut services for vulnerable and needy people in the borough. Motion 8: Priorities for Lambeth 2011-2012 Budget Setting Amendment 1: For: 38 Against: 17 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED Substantive motion: For: 38 Against: 17 Abstentions: 0 RESOLVED: Council considers that one of its priorities in preparing the 2011-2012 budget to include a zero per cent council tax rise is safeguarding - protecting vulnerable adults and children - and that may result in some other services facing budget reductions. Due to unprecedented funding reductions from central government and in particular the Coalition’s decision to frontload the cuts, the challenge for the council is to look at new ways of providing many of these services with less money to go around than in previous years. Council believes that Lambeth residents are being unfairly targeted by the Tory Lib Dem Government as it is clear that some well-off councils will have smaller reductions in their spending power than Lambeth, which is the 19th most deprived area in England. Residents will not understand the need to make savings in the 2011-2012 budget at the level that is being demanded and while residents quite rightly will want as many of these savings as possible to come from improvements in efficiency, innovation, and greater collaboration with the voluntary sector, the scale of the cuts from government will mean that some frontline services will be affected. Council notes that while the opposition urges the administration to put its faith in localism and use the new general power of competency enshrined in the Localism Bill, the Tories' belief in localism is cynical and unfair when at the same time they are cutting local government by 27% on average over the next four years. Members commend the Chief Executive for his actions so far to identify administrative savings. We urge the administration to pursue talks with other London boroughs about shared services. We note that Conservative Bromley and Labour Lewisham have recently joined together across party lines in awarding a joint outsourced contract for computer and telephony services under OJEU tendering rules.

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Finally, Council urges the administration to make full use of scrutiny committees in testing and challenging the 2011-2012 budget proposals in a robust but constructive way designed to ensure fairness in the allocation of resources so that priority is given to those most in need. Motion 9: Licensing Policy for Supermarkets in Conservation Areas Amendment 1: For: 16 Against: 38 Abstentions: 0 LOST Amendment 2: For: 38 Against: 16 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED Substantive motion: For: 51 Against: 3 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED: Council is pleased to note that the authority believes in giving a say to local people in the running of their communities including their views when it comes to the granting of licences in conservation areas. Council notes that the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Bill currently before Parliament will give local authorities such as Lambeth greater powers to regulate licensing by increasing the opportunities for local residents to be involved in licensing decisions. A late night levy will be introduced to allow councils to charge for late night licences. This money will contribute towards extra policing, ensuring premises pay rather than the taxpayer. There will also be welcome new powers allowing local authorities to restrict the late night sale of alcohol and tougher penalties for premises which persistently sell to children. Council notes a cross party working group is being established to formulate a

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policy on the licensing of Sexual Entertainment Venues and also to look at Lambeth’s Statement of Licensing Policy in a wider context ahead of a full scale review. Motion 10: Cross-Party Co-Operation on Anti-Social Behaviour in West Norwood RESOLVED: Council welcomes the cross party working in support of the community expressed recently in respect of alleged anti social behaviour by customers of a licensed club in West Norwood. Labour and Conservative councillors from Thurlow Park and Knight’s Hill Wards were present at a well attended public meeting in Norwood in November and joined forces in supporting the police and local residents in seeking a review of the club’s licence. Council urges all the parties on the council to follow the example set in West Norwood in putting political differences aside to work for the good of the community. Building on the unanimous support expressed by this council for the Norwood Hall development, we call on our members from all parties to work together to secure government funding for the project. Motion 11: Council Budget Amendment 1: For: 19 Against: 36 Abstentions: 0 LOST Amendment 2: For: 17 Against: 38 Abstentions: 0 LOST Amendment 3: For: 36 Against: 17 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED

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Substantive motion: For: 40 Against: 14 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED: Council notes that the Labour administration has delivered a balanced budget since 2007/08. Council notes that as the Labour administration has managed the council’s finances properly, it is working towards building a new primary school in the borough despite the Coalition Government cancelling vast majority of the Building Schools for the Future funding promised by Labour which would have helped Lambeth deliver the extra primary school places that are desperately needed. Motion 12: Voluntary Sector In Lambeth Amendment 1: For: 37 Against: 17 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED Substantive motion: For: 36 Against: 17 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED: Council notes that the Voluntary Sector in Lambeth is a vibrant and diverse mix of people all working with the aim of improving the lives of local residents. Council congratulates all those involved in volunteering for groups in Lambeth and recognises that many groups and the whole of the public sector are under funding pressure at this time. Council also notes that public sector and third sector organisations may experience increased demand for their services as funding for national and regional organisations and charities are also under funding pressure due to the hard and fast nature of the Coalition Government’s cuts. Council therefore resolves to carefully consider how the funds that have in the past been paid from Lambeth to the London Councils Grants Scheme and that will now not be going to the scheme should be re-invested in the borough to

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ensure maximum benefit for our residents. Motion 13: Council Gritting Amendment 1: For: 17 Against:37 Abstentions: 0 LOST Amendment 2: For: 37 Against: 18 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED Substantive motion: For: 38 Against: 17 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED: Council formally expresses thanks to those Lambeth residents who have been willing to help keep the pavements near to their homes clear by spreading grit and shovelling ice and snow from footpaths. Council recognises that the Labour administration grits across the borough in a priority order, ensuring that the main aim of the winter service programme, which is to keep Lambeth moving, is achieved. Council appreciates the extra efforts of many staff during the recent cold weather. Council resolves to ensure that all grit bins are full in preparation for future cold weather. Further, council resolves to investigate the approach used by the London Borough of Sutton and other councils to work with residents to help keep pavements and roads accessible in extreme weather. Motion 14: Government Consultation on Publicity Amendment 1: For: 37 Against: 17

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Abstentions: 0 CARRIED Substantive motion: For: 37 Against: 17 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED: Council notes that on 29 September 2010 the Coalition Government published a consultation document about the Code of Recommended Practice on Local Authority Publicity. Council notes that the proposed new code would be underpinned by seven guiding principles and it would give effect to the Government's commitment to stop unfair competition by local authority newspapers by proposing specific guidance on the frequency, content and appearance of local authority newspapers or magazines. It also proposes to prohibit the use of lobbyists where the expenditure is intended to influence local people on political issues. Council welcomes and supports the seven guiding principles proposed in the consultation draft that state that publicity by local authorities should: • be lawful • be cost effective • be objective • be even-handed • be appropriate • have regard to equality and diversity • be issued with care during periods of heightened sensitivity. Consequently the council awaits the publication of the final code and will respond positively by ensuring that information that residents require is still made available to the local community. Council notes that Lambeth Life now has a lower net cost and lower unit cost than was the case under the profligate Lib Dem-Tory council that increased the frequency of the publication. Motion 15: The Broken Conservative Promise to Protect the NHS Amendment 1: For: 17 Against: 38 Abstentions: 0 LOST

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Original motion: For: 38 Against: 16 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED: Council notes that before the election David Cameron claimed, "I’ll cut the deficit, not the NHS." The Coalition agreement pledged to protect NHS funding and increase it in real terms. Council condemns this broken promise. The Government claims the Spending Review gives the NHS a 0.4% rise but this includes money for social care which is not usually counted as part of the NHS budget. The social care funding switch means a real-terms cut to the NHS of an average of 0.54% over the Spending Review period. This will affect the services that Lambeth can provide to our most vulnerable residents. The independent Nuffield Trust says that "health spending will actually fall in real terms over the spending review by around 0.5 per cent." Motion 16: The Broken Promise to Keep the Educational Maintenance Allowances Amendment 1: For: 17 Against: 38 Abstentions: 0 LOST Amendment 2: For: 17 Against: 38 Abstentions: 0 LOST Original motion: For: 38 Against: 17 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED:

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Council notes that David Cameron said "We’ve looked at Educational Maintenance Allowances and we haven’t announced any plan to get rid of them". Michael Gove said, "Ed Balls keeps saying that we are committed to scrapping the EMA. I have never said this. We won't." Even after the election, Education Minister Nick Gibb said that “The Government are committed to maintaining the education maintenance allowance”. Council condemns this broken promise. In the Spending Review, the Government announced that they are ending EMAs. Such a move will discourage the young and less well off in this borough from achieving their potential and will prove to be socially and financially more costly in the long-run. Motion 17: The Broken Promise to Keep the Future Jobs Fund: Amendment 1: For: 17 Against: 38 Abstentions: 0 LOST Original motion: For: 39 Against: 16 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED: Council notes that David Cameron praised the Future Jobs Fund as a “good scheme” and the Conservatives said they had “no plans to change existing Future Jobs Fund commitments”. The Liberal Democrats also pledged to keep the Future Jobs Fund, saying "We have no plans to change or reduce existing government commitments to the Future Jobs Fund. We believe that more help is needed for young people, not less". Council condemns this broken promise. The Coalition Government has scrapped the rollout of the Future Jobs Fund at a time when Lambeth residents need more support to find work, not less. Motion 18: The Broken Lib Dem Promise of 3000 more police officers Amendment 1:

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For: 14 Against: 38 Abstentions: 3 LOST Original motion: For: 38 Against: 17 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED: Council notes that in their manifesto the Liberal Democrats pledged to pay for an extra 3,000 police on the beat. Council condemns this broken promise. The Spending Review announced cuts of 20 per cent to central Government police funding by 2014-15, resulting in up to 12% cut to the Met and London’s Tory Mayor has already removed £300m from police budgets in the last three years. The cuts will lead to 1000 fewer police officers in the capital and will threaten the hard won successes that have been made in Lambeth in tackling crime. Motion 19: The Broken Tory Promise to preserve tax credits for middle earners Amendment 1: For: 17 Against: 38 Abstentions: 0 LOST Original motion: For: 38 Against: 17 Abstentions: 0 CARRIED RESOLVED: Council notes that the Conservative party promised that no family with an income below £40,000 will lose tax credits.

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Council condemns this broken promise. The Budget shows that from 2012, families with a joint income of just £30,000 will get no tax credits at all, and families earning £25,000 will see their tax credits cut. In addition, council notes that the Spending Review announced changes to the rules around eligibility for working tax credits which mean married couples on low incomes with children will only get the working tax credit if they work 24 hours rather than the current 16 hours a week between them.

MAYOR

Wednesday, 23rd February, 2011

Date of Despatch: Thursday, 27 January 2011 Contact for Enquiries: Tim Stephens

Tel: 020 7926 2754 Fax: (020) 7926 2361 E-mail: tstephens@lambeth.gov.uk Web: www.lambeth.gov.uk