Council - Wednesday 24 July 2024, 7:30pm - Wandsworth Council Webcasting

Council
Wednesday, 24th July 2024 at 7:30pm 

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does matter.
good evening, councillors before the commencement of business, I would like to start the Council Meeting by calling on my faith leader archdeacon, John Kidd, or to say a few words.
that's better.
but it may have thank you so much for the invitation, and it has been lovely to get to know you, and your work over the last few months is fantastic, I come here today both as a resident of the Borough and as you have the archdeacon of Wandsworth, which is a job that gives me oversight over the Anglican churches in this borough and also in Richmond and Kingston Barrass.
I think the first thing I want to say very briefly is thank you,
to all of you, as elected representatives and to the officers of this borough for all, you do to make this such a wonderful.
diverse community for your service,
for what you do to enable the health and happiness of others to give an opportunity for all for education, care and safety, not least, I think, for the most vulnerable in our community.
I understand that Councillor Jeffery is introducing hope as a theme for this year and I was reflecting a little about that hope is a very powerful word, it is transformational, and if we think about it we know how desperate it is to be without open.
in the Christian faith, much of our reflection is and hope we do not understand that to be the same as optimum, optimistic or wishful thinking.
we have a sense of hope as being rooted in our faith, and especially in our understanding of what will be.
of what should be a world of justice and of goodness of peace.
oneness with garden with one another.
I'd even as we look forward to what will be we see glimpses, we see signs of that, well, we long for and pray for the world together we seek.
those signs, those glimpses, build our hope and strengthen our determination and our commitment to work further.
and when we look, and when we look around this wonderful Barra, we've seen many signs of hope, the goodness of people, the generosity of so many we see places of transformation and acts of kindness, we see communities working together meeting together.
lives lived well lives spent for the common good
thank you for what you do.
as a Council and as individual Councillors, to inspire and build hope in other people, may that be our shared partnership across this Borough.
and now I will say a prayer.
God of Love we offer thanks for this borough for all, that is good for all, that gives joy and for every sign of hope.
God of great sweet, pray your blessing on this borough on all who contribute to its life, on all who work together for the greater good.
and all tonight who are in need.
god of wisdom, we ask your blessing on the work of this Council.
for skill in listening to one another.
for wisdom, in decisions and in everything truth and the service of all
Ahmed
thank you for the Jordan kid, or that was that was very lovely, thank you.
so apologies had been received from Councillors about-turn, Cook Davies, Govindia Humphreys, Lawless Lee locker, Paul Rigby and White, are there any other apologies?
item number 1, the minutes of the annual Meeting held on 22 May have been circulated, are there any objections or abstentions to me signing the minutes as a correct record?
thank you in the absence of any objections or abstentions I will take that as agreed, thank you, item number 2 is my announcements, so good evening, everyone and welcome again to tonight's meeting.
members may be aware, but it is my sad duty to inform you that former Councillors, Neville Daniels, Sean Creighton, Ann Louise lies, have passed away, can I ask Members to stand for a minute's silence before Councillor Cooper pays tribute to former Councillor Dad to formula Councillor Daniels Councillor Osborne paid tribute to former Councillor Creighton,
yeah and Councillor Brooks were paid tribute to former Councillor lies.
Councillor Hamilton will also read out to him tribute tributes to former Councillor Creighton on behalf of Councillor leg of India, who regrettably could not be present to do so himself.
councillors, please be seated.
can I ask Councillor Cooper to pay tribute?
thank you.
feels wrong, it away, having to pay tribute to level Daniels, but because Councillor Belston, just for once, is not here this evening, he's normally the person who pays a lot of the tributes and because he served for such a long time on this Council so he had the privilege I which I did not have actually serving with level Daniels when he was a Councillor and it was in that sort of rather fraught Council between 86 and 90
when there was a one seat difference between one side and the other, so I don't think I would just add a long list of apologies this evening, I don't think very many apologies were allowed in that period at all as far as I understand it, but I wasn't there at that time so I'm afraid it falls to me to pay tribute I stood with Neville Daniels in the Bedford Ward both of us unsuccessfully and indeed at 1.00 point it seemed as if almost everybody who was a Labour councillor in Wandsworth impossible on the conservative side as well I don't know.
had had to stand in Bedford ward before they could be elected, and I was really fortunate, there's a very long list, I'm not going to go through them, I was really fortunate to be selected and to stand with novel Daniels.
there are not many people that you meet in politics who are as nice as he was.
I'm certainly not going to point towards the House of Commons, because we shall we vote, but a long list of our Northern favourites.
what I am going introduce, I'm just going to read something there's a really lovely orders service, I did gateway at his funeral, I left one of these in the Members Room, so if you do get the chance it's full of amazing photographs but what it says in the beginning and this is all it says about his biography level Daniels was born on the 22 of December 1936, it was his nature to be a humble and wise friend to all.
he was articulate, then use these voices to benefit the community, as he lived in leaving a deep impression on many, and that was so true at the funeral he was one of six children born in Guyana and they were all boys, so we had a lot of stories about Dancing and cricket and obviously they needed to find goals. That was quite a big feature and of course the funeral was absolutely enormous because I think at not just Neville and his childhood sweetheart who, both moved here from Guyana in that generation that has given so much to so many aspects of our lives for politics onwards, the Windrush generation
and it was an amazing life that he left behind of Dancing and cricket and room enjoyment, and came here and one of many who came to rein in London and actually not being treated by very well, but he stuck at it and he became a Councillor and he also, even when he wasn't on the council, gave an awful lot to the community, he was involved in teaching cricket, he was a school governor, he did many of the things that we all do to this day, and I will just say if you haven't had a look at this, I really would recommend that you have a look and just look through. There are some amazing photographs of him in all walks of his life, he was a real friend and it was a privilege to stand with it. Thank you, Madam Mayor,
thank
thank you for that, Councillor Coupar, could I ask counts?
Councillor Osborne,
to pay tribute, thank you, thank you.
Sean Crichton was a memorable unique.
citizen community activist and Councillor.
and there was much that he did, that should be remembered.
too much for us to get through this evening, but if you were to look for a physical lasting legacy for Sean Crichton straight away, you would find a product of the housing project that he worked on called so long.
you'll find terraces of dwellings all over the borough.
which simply would not exist if it were not for Sean Crichton and his colleagues in so long where he was a leading light.
and so long.
tells you something about the unique characteristics of Sean Crichton because he had a shy quiet.
unassuming manner, but a phenomenal memory and a lightning fast mind.
which unique combination meant that he was the master of what I would call.
surreptitious lecture.
if you talk to him about so long and said to him, where did it get its name from, he would say straight away, well, it's the first two letters of South and the first three letters of London, so long south-London bat bricks, I'm sure you're also thinking of something else so long evokes.
a person obviously it evokes the great Athenian poet philosopher statesman so long.
who laid the very foundations of western democracy two and a half thousand years ago, because, Sean, in addition to everything else, he was was an excellent his story.
and having delivered the occasional surreptitious lecture Rex you realise where you're standing right now or this person did such and such, or this is the day when, and so it went on, he covered the gamut from ancient Athens through to modern Labour history in Wandsworth and in particular with modern Labour history he was quick with people like me.
to remind me of the routes and origins the Labour party by role as a Councillor on once with Council, and indeed the true path that I ought to be following
because that was the kind of friend that he was, I knew shown for about 40 years, I first met him in the two brewers across the road and like.
everybody who knew him, I shall miss him.
as well.
the labour movement in Wandsworth.
as well the Heritage community in Wandsworth because at the end of the day.
Sean Crichton was one of a cottage, thank you.
thank you, Councillor Osborne, could I ask Councillor Brooks, who will pay tribute to Councillor nice, thank you very much, Madam Mayor lowest was remarkable public servants full of determination which, and even surprises right until the end of her long life long before rejoining the Council she was involved in that Roehampton festival and wants her daughter to grown-up decided to take the plunge into local politics in 1982 she was elected in Bedford ward.
in the eulogy at a funeral that I attended with Councillor is given the and Councillor Graham, it was clear that the achievements she was most proud of was her campaign against the kerb crawlers on Bedford Hill, a place with a far more notorious reputation than today for weeks on end lowest and a group of local residents collected and reported car registration numbers to the police, while pushing the Council and the local MP to drive through legislation leading to the sexual offences Act of 1985. Unfortunately, this wasn't enough for her to retain their seats in 86, but she was soon back here in 1990 as a councillor for the wonderful timescales ward, but a huge residents who served for 12 more years and where she continued to serve as our branch presidents until 18 months ago.
lobbyists would adequately refuse to let down anyway.
should have been elected to speak for residents, to represent them and to fight their fights, she did not become a councillor for power or performance, but to be of service, although the one preferment she greatly enjoyed we're serving as Deputy Mayor in 1997 to 98 to close, I'm mentioned that she was full of surprises until the end she'd often talk to fund times in Switzerland.
but one remarkable secrets that she, but there was revealed at her funeral that surprised us all, was that in the postwar years before she married, she'd worked for MI6 based in Zurich, running agents beyond the Iron curtain should never said a word about it until very late in life when she accidently revealed to rebuild it to her daughters in critique of inaccuracies in a recent BBC spite rather.
lowest was remarkable, remarkable person from a remarkable time, and our borough was lucky to have that, thank you.
thank you, Councillor bricks, if I could ask Councillor Hamilton to read out some tributes to former Councillor Creighton, please, thank you better mayor, and I offer these tributes on behalf of Councillor give India who is unable to be here this evening Councillor givenDear wrote Shalom, I spent a brief time together on the council but because we were near neighbours we remained untouched for much longer.
our paths crossed several times again, despite its moved to Croydon children's passion for local history, was real and had a particular facet this is what got him interested in John arches contribution to the borough Sean have done extensive work on the subject, writing a biography, having been the promoter at the John Archer commemorative royal milestone and the blue heritage blue plaque.
Sean did much more to celebrate John I'd just like thereafter, and it was no surprise, with four years ago, almost to the month when I propose to the Council that we celebrate John Archers life with a suitable memorial. Sean volunteered to help Sean was passionate about the project and despite his ill health, was always willing and happy to contribute. Although the project appears to have run into the ground which disappointed shown, I will remember his commitment and enthusiasm with fondness, our politics but different, but for Shaw, no points was worth conceding. Discussions carried on and beyond the town hall and offered at the two brewers and up St Ann's Hill. Those were fun times when political difference did not mean dislike or disrespect. Sadly, we now are where we even moan apart
thank you, Councillors for your tributes.
so it is my first full council meeting being the mayor of Wandsworth and what a privilege to escape for me, especially as it is South Asian Heritage month, a time for us to celebrate the contributions of the South Asian community I am proud to be the first Pakistani Mayor of the Borough but it comes with his extra responsibilities of representing our community which is still under represented. My theme for the year is hope, hope is looking forward and it is essential it is an essential element of our existence, a reason for us to strive to be ambitious.
mine early 2 months, as mayor, has been a very different experience, like no other.
I received immense respect and love from the residents of Wandsworth, I've been complimented and appreciated for that time ever so thankful to the great people of Wandsworth, it is amazing being your mayor.
my fantastic Deputy Mayor and I have been very busy with events all around the borough, having Allard already visited for schools, being too many street parties reopen the renovated Lido, opening of the Putney library and having held interfaith cadet and refugee events in the parlour.
we have also been engaging with the youth and Deputy Mayor, who are really enjoying the experience.
I think it is important to agree on some basic housekeeping roles.
these meetings are for Council business exclusively, you have all been elected to represent residents in your ward, or trust has been put on you to make the best decisions for the residents of Wandsworth the residents, and I expect you ought to behave with integrity and honesty.
we have members of the public viewing online, let us remind them of the reason why they voted for you.
communication is very important in getting your message across but, as per my understanding, many matters have already been discussed in Ohio meetings beforehand, let us try to keep to the agenda of the meeting, we have a lot of business to cover in little time.
I make a plea to all members to maintain good order.
do not make in unnecessary disruptions, as politicians we can disagree, but it is important that we always maintain respect for each other.
after 14 years we have a new government and I wish them all the best.
I offer my congratulations to the three MPs who have been elected to represent our borough for the candidates who stood to be parliamentary candidates in Wandsworth animal unsuccessful, my commenced rations to you last week.
it was very refreshing to hear King Charles her speech and his expectations from his government, his attention to detail to problems both national and international, was it was inspiring to listen to as especially as he pledged to support countries which are going through a crisis such as Ukraine in Palestine and finding solutions to the conflicts.
let us remember the motto of our borough that we serve.
Wandsworth, council staff, councillors and MPs do a fantastic job in looking after the borrower.
and let us continue to strive for the people of Wandsworth.
I would like to make the Council aware that is now 30 years that Councillor Grimston has sat on this Council.
we thank Councillor Grimston for his long service.
I would lastly like to which the may spare up to Xhaka Daniel Rashid farewell as he leaves my team, I thank you for serving the borough and we wish you all the best in the future.
although I said finally before, but there is one more thing I need to add, so it is Councillor Austin, he will be giving his first maiden speech tonight, so we look forward to your first maiden speech and.
thank you, and let's continue with the agenda.
on tonight's agenda can members, please note that a number of Supplementary items have been circulated and these are required to be considered as a matter of urgency, the reasons are set out in full at the top of those items is that agreed?
thank you, please could all speakers keep to time and wind up your speeches when the red light comes on when the red light comes on, you will have 30 minutes from remaining to wind up 30 seconds, sorry, sorry, sorry.
this is to allow, as many Councillors do participate, this is the end of my announcements.
so on item 3, are there any Members who have any declarations of dispose disclosable pecuniary interest, other registerable interests or non registrable interests relevant to any matters to be considered at the meeting?
Councillor Cooper.
just in case anything comes up that is relevant to the Greater London Authority, including my pack tearful or the fire brigade, I would just declare it's non-pecuniary, but just for transparency purposes that I am the London Assembly member for Merton and Wandsworth, thank you.
thank you, Councillor Taylor, yes, again I am a Wandsworth council tenant.
thank you.
item number 4 relates to sealing of documents is this item received as information thank you on item 5 Members, please raise your hands to indicate if you have a petition to hand in.
OK.
Councillor Graham
sorry that Mrs Graham, thank you, Madam Mayor, on behalf of the residents of Wandsworth Common.
I am requesting wanted the Council to urgently installs CCTV cameras for the toast Rack, want us comma and the Magdalene estate to help protect our residents.
Councillor corner.
thank you, Madam Mayor, I have a petition from residents in Nine Elms urging the Council to invest and improve urgently the riverside walk in the area, to increase being capacity and pre-planting, installed signposts and renovate be not amiss pebbly, thank you, would you like to bring it down?
any other petitions, Councillor and chemistry.
Councillor deserve switching.
I have a petition on behalf of over over 500 local residents and saying no to the glass milk tower.
thank you if you could bring your petition down any other petitions.
thank you.
item number 6 is leader's questions before we became questions, may I remind all Members, at the over period for Members question to the Leader, and Cabinet Members is 45 minutes with 20 minutes for leaders question in 20 five minutes for Cabinet Members questions.
however, if the leader's questions over runs this time is taken of the Cabinet Members questions
so question.
thank you, Madam Mayor.
customer practice in our Council meetings has been that each questionnaire gets the right of reply for the first question, so, in other words, they get the first supplementary question.
and that it has always been our practice as long as anybody here could remember that the the follow up question, the second supplementary, is then passed to the other side of the Chamber to the opposition Group.
so what I'm proposing tonight is that we stick to that usual arrangement, that we stick to the way that we've done it before, and as we've had notice from the Leader of the opposition that he wants to break with this agreement in general and use both supplementary questions, which is not our normal practice and not helped people have seen us do that for that that we suspend so that under Standing order 36 race that understanding orders 30 SI there's 36 that we suspend Standing order 11 a 50 and that way we can follow our usual convention, the way that we always do it, which is Councillor Richard Jones and welcome welcome to being a new member of the opposition, I hope you learn fast
that that he can then use his first priority question as usual, and then the second will then go to our side of the Chamber and vice versa, just as out when our members ask a question that you can follow it up with another supplementary, thank you.
rudderless sorry, 86 I just got I've just got to have you got a seconder that might just cut through all this.
as Councillor apps knows, Standing order 11 paragraph a sub-paragraph 15
does give me the priority for the second supplementary.
did intend to use my second supplementary tonight, because the practice over the last two years there has been for the Leader not to ask questions that we put to him and I thought well when we have a first go at getting in answering the first supplementary, we don't get an answer, so I thought we might use the second supplementary as the rules give us the right to do. However, what I proposes before we take the quiz, destructive Stancu spending standing orders, here's my sort of solution
we can vary but no no, this is not a right to reply saying Right to Buy debate what I proposes, we sorry this is not a right for disruptions, what I propose is we see how we go with Quarry, I'm asking you for proposing if the Leader answered my question there will need to be a second supplementary. Is there a seconder?
thank you.
members, the motion before you is to suspend the operation of Standing order 11, A 15 sorry.
to comply with our convention convention to help us become more independent, mandatory question, what can you will see I am talking when was the last of standards of behaviour change, sorry, I just mentioned that we do not want unnecessary disruptions, we have got a lot of Buenos the last I'm standing orders were ever suspend at this time is being coming out of the leader's questions.
on a point of order, if you're.
so I think the motion has been made and under order 11 15 to comply with our convention to have the second, can you please stop being disruptive?
I am speaking and that's very rude.
to have the second supplementary question posed by someone other than the member who puts the question all in favour.
an account.
all against.
any abstentions.
thank you, the motion has been passed.
for 26 against 19 abstentions 0
question number one, please.
thank you by the word, because it's been some time before we last met as a full Council, I'd be grateful if I could take just a moment to acknowledge some of the things that have happened since then.
first of all, about apparent is that within your question, yes from my question, so I asked the questions here before me, so would you just like to ask the question I was just I was just asking, but as this convention, although I did this time last year when Councillor now than it was in the Chair, I just wanted to welcome you to your place, Madam Mayor.
I just say how nice it was too to see in the Mayor's Chair this evening.
it was unfortunate that Rishi Sunak announced a general election on the day of the Mayor, making that you did recover from that attempt to finish to steal your thunder and you've got a busy schedule ever since including, of course quick training to become the returning Officer in our elections, but thank you so much for the service you've performed already you've had a dizzying two months in your diary was lovely to see you with the old York Road is festival.
we know you're going to do us proud as Mayor, just as your predecessor did, thank Peter has very kindly agreed to yes, I would I would just like to on behalf of the Conservative Group, just acknowledge and congratulate sickie Astala for the historic election win to congratulate all borrowers, three MPs to congratulate Councillor the only Cooper on her re-election to the London Assembly and of course congratulate big of him on his election to election victory in West but the by election and that brings me on Madam Mayor to question the border.
Last month, Sir Keir Starmer, what a substantial general election victory for Labour.
two months ago, Labour once so, won the general, the Greater London assembly and London mayoral elections, yet on the same day, Councillor hogs, administration lost a Labour-held Councillor seeds I would have on this question in front of me up to.
and so to all other councillors and the point, how would we also have on the leaders' answers where we just have that taken as regards yes, we have the Leader's answer in front of us, as well as for that just be taken as read and we move straight to supplementaries, I don't know what you are saying.
question it could be read out by answer which can be read it, Madam Mayor, it's just that the public had horrible called follow if we don't read out the question, but the Leader Kate's has altered orally, we have done this in the past and thought I think we did this at the last Council meeting.
sorry, these questions are actually published online as well. Yes, yes, I know, but so is the leaders answer, so it wouldn't make any sense if I can't read out the question, but the Leader can then give his answer leader. Can I ask you to answer the question, please for them, but today I read somewhere, I'm sorry about the question, I can't ask the question, but the leaders allowed to give his answer, that doesn't seem fair, it might be helpful if I just read my question, please, thank you can either through to get my well. I will thank
OK.
well now read out my question.
last month, Sir Keir Starmer was a substantial general election victory for Labour two months ago, Labour also won the Greater London assembly and London mayoral elections, yet on the same day Councillor hogs, administration lost a Labour-held seat in West Putney to the ones of Conservative candidate, a dramatic bucking of current national and regional trends.
does Councillor hogs, administration's failure to listen whether all proposed Ashburton scheme deteriorating waste collections and street killing, while the rapidly rising charges for our Council, tenants and leaseholders account for his loss in the west Putney by-election?
or is there some other explanation for why Labour leaders seem to reading everywhere in the country except here in Wandsworth?
Leader. Would you like to respond to that? I thought I'd like to thank Councillor Richard Jones, who are finally getting his question, and welcome him to his new position, will say like to welcome you as well mountain met. It is an absolute pleasure to see you, and it's not whether we have you know elaborate, welcomes its whether we actually respect your ruling and we respect her office, and I apologise for the appalling disrespect so firing this meeting. It is true that Labour won a decisive victory in this month's general election across the country and here in Wandsworth. That's a mandate to deliver change to restore service and respect to politics. It's also true thanks for drawing our attention to it. The Labour saw victories in the London mayoral elections, returning local boy Sidique Khan, for a record third term in office. Discussions are, of course, already well under way to see how we can work more closely with our government, our excellent local MPs and city home to ensure the best outcomes for Wandsworth residents. This is a time of real opportunity, and I look forward to discussing it in the debate on our motion later
the administration is, of course, aware of the concerns of residents in West Putney, as demonstrated by May's by election result, and we're looking at those issues in the ward to ensure that we best address residents' priorities as we do in all wards, and I would like to say a special welcome to Councillor Austin, it's lovely to have him and his small dog.
as part of the council and I, like many, many Councillors enjoyed spending time in west Putney in the by-election, you haven't loved the neighborhoods, you have strong communities and I know you'll be a powerful voice for them in this Town Hall, this administration is proud to be leading a decade of renewal across the borough becoming an outward facing resident, focus listening council and will continue to work hard for all our residents.
seemed like the Latin band, thank you.
I thank the Leader for results, but there wasn't really very much about west Putney.
in his answer at all, and so just really at a loss as to why he thinks he did when lose that by-election, but I mean if Councillor decoded wants to heckle Wikipedia all night.
I am I mean, let's let's just trying to respect each other here, please come and later, would you like to answer them, I'm sorry, I haven't actually said last year.
thank you, Peter asked the question, I would ask the question yes.
so because because the Labour Group have actually voted to suspend standing orders and limit my supplementary this evening, I'll be very careful in choosing by one supplementary, which is this, but in the spirit of generosity I want to be fair to Councillor Hogg because people say, Councillor Hall doesn't have a sense of humour but but he does have a sense of humour.
it is also he just said, this is a listening council.
he has said this is a listening council about 20 times in the press releases, I could find it excluding Bill about five minutes, and also his developers protocol, which he launched only eight months ago, states that the Council expects all developers, and when it comes to the asked burden, of course the Council is the developer. It expects all developers to engage meaningfully with residents, Madame net worth Putney residents have just had the most meaningful engagement exercise. Madam Mayor, could we move to cost yet in Iraq within a smaller margin? So my question I mean this is really a poor start that questions are being interrupted there being
ruled out of order and it being heckled, I will ask my question down.
we've just had the most meaningful consultation exercise in west Putney ward, which was the by election in that exercise, voters rejected something really Councillor halt plans for inappropriate overdevelopment, so it's a simple, yes or no question will he now listened to us Putney residents and Council that land development,
supplementary question to the Leader. I'm sorry about this, my them and I think we might get through one question to the Leader at this rate, I think Councillor Richard Jones's, given his own vision for listening council, we just have to listen to his voice until the end of time at question 1 to the Leader. Would it go this through it? I mean I know he's new to this job and I really don't want him to get better at it, but I would gently suggest bringing a question about how bad we are winning elections when you've just had your worst result for 200 years.
it's not ideal, I mean you're asking, why does Labour seem to be winning everywhere except in Wandsworth and?
criticising Labour's record in one sort of since I've been later, it's pretty eccentric, so let's look at the record since I was first elected leader of Wandsworth labour in 2016, I remember 2016 you see you get lectures on elaborate good sense and taste and decency and the second is not hearing his own voice, he's just braying arrogantly across the Council Chamber welcomed the new leader 2016, we remember another slick Toryboy David Cameron was riding high, he was going to run the country for decades.
then in 2016 Tooting by-election, so Rosanna win for Labour 2017 General election Marshall wins Battersea, for Labour, 2019 general election flow, winds Putney for Labour, you remember that one 2016 2021 2024 Sidique and lie only when the London elections for Labour since 2016 we've won by elections in Tooting Queenstown, first-time Bedford, twice Tooting Broadway twice and does anyone remember what happened in the 2022 Borough elections in Wandsworth? That's right. After 40 years of inward-looking Tory austerity residents voted for a Labour Wandsworth, council voters have turned their backs on you, arrogant, entitled Tory boys, around the fashion, you need to go away and take a long, hard look in the mirror because the people have spoken, we've got three fantastic new MPs, we've got a Council that is fairer and more compassionate and that we are changing to be resident, focused and outward looking
we are going to get on with this new government with City Hall to benefit all residents in Wandsworth after years of chaos and prejudice and division from this Tory government, because just imagine what we can achieve with a government that's on our side, not in our way.
second supplementary
I was going to ask if.
the Leader of the opposition that actually been paying attention and had taken in the what had happened recently is that our question.
that is the question that I was going to ask, but I think Councillor has really disposed of that, so in a spirit of generosity, I'm going to offer my second supplementary back to the opposition and see if I could do any better this time.
thank you.
I'm very grateful for.
second sentences, second supplementary is this, yes or no, when you cancel the Ashperton over development, was not a mandatory question just.
I didn't get a yes or no answer at all to that, so what's the answer, just it's really not, it's really not a hard question, resonates just want today, he goes again, question, can you just get them an enormous mirror and two speakers so he could just listened to himself all evening TALK Surrey lead iconic accommodate you with that?
please would you like to answer the question.
so the reason I didn't get into it for is because he knows perfectly well. He's had an answer on this before the by-election is not a binary choice. People in different ends of the wards were talking about different issues. I think Councillor Austin, that he be able to tell you 10 different things. People said about the doorstep about different issues, you can't just respond immediately, but yes, all thousand home sites remain under constant review. You're not going to see those Ashperton sites, they haven't you know, it comes planning, yet they're not coming to planning next month we're going to look at them, we're going to consult with local people very happy to talk to local ward councillors about this and what the thing that's been very successful, that the ultimate planets, it's a whole place-making approach, you actually going into a neighbourhood, you ask people what you want and you get much more buy-in for that level of development as well, so I don't think anyone would stand here and say I received that election result. Therefore, these outputs fall up the other end,
and, as I say, I'm afraid your your slightly clinging on to West pattern is one small dangling thread, well the whole of the rest of the things on fire behind you, this is not a good time to be a Tory, thank you question number two,
thank you better than Rapha, we refuge collection arrangements continue to cause chaos across the borough, while there's two months since their introduction councillors have received large numbers of complaints from residents who have taken to social media to vent their frustrations and they seemed to themselves the mess and disruption caused by changes to the arrangements and changed collection times.
do you, food waste, caddies have lain in streets and collected in one case, I'm aware of for six weeks, with rotting contents, attracting burden and, inevitably undermining confidence in the new scheme. All the variables in the launch of this scheme are entirely within the administration's control. His administration could have introduced these changes at any time of its choosing, so there really is no excuse for not planning properly
teething problems with any new scheme is to be expected.
but this has turned into a widespread multi week, prolonged shambles, my simple question to the Leader is what his explanation for how it all go so wrong.
thank you if I could ask the Leader to give a short response, because when Andy running out of lead, it's time.
thank you, Madam Mayor. We are absolutely committed to providing brilliant basics throughout Wandsworth residents. That's why we guarantee your weekly rubbish collection without adding a penny on to your Council Tax. We've recently delivered this manifesto pledge to roll out food waste and small electrical collections to allow residents the option to live greener and more environmentally friendly lives. This is all part, as you know, if I greener Borough Plan and residents are embracing the change. In the first six weeks we have recycled over 300 tonnes of food waste. We should be turned into fertiliser and energy for the grid that saved the Council 50,000 pounds already and we're collecting, on average, an extra 11 tonnes of recycling every day. However, we do recognise that there have been teething issues and I do apologise to that for that. We've missed collections and there's been variable times for you know, the recycling and refuse collection, and there have been issues with wheelie bins as well. But we are working hard with our colleagues in the waste department to resolve this. We've introduced more collection rounds, we've hired more staff, and you know to deal with the added pressure on the service, were hiring project officers to help oversee our plan and we purchasing an additional food waste vehicle to cope with demand and thank you obviously to all the Councillors then how many of you are actually getting involved in food waste which is excellent so at this stage missed collections and not where we would like them to be? But over recent weeks they have been trending down thanks to the steps we've taken and I promise we will keep working hard until the service's top class, which is exactly where residents rightly expect it to be.
thank you, I appreciate your response.
supplementary question.
Councillor Richard Jones, thank you put, and I am grateful to the Leader for his answer.
the Leader will have see, like we all have, the absolute despair and frustration on social media from residents about this, and whilst I'm encouraged that there seems to be some sort of plan now in place.
does the Leader regrets that it wasn't the plan from the outset to deal with thieving problems, does he regret the fact that those changes that were planted to collection times we never communicated to residents, the plan to fix it is not communicated to residents, and finally, does he share my regret that because the rollout for the last two months has been so botched, many residents have actually given up on food waste collection, which means that no matter if we fix the problems now, some people have just lost faith in the system and they will never recycle their food waste under the new regime.
Lead ABG likewise.
yeah, absolutely, I thank Councillor Richard Jones's supplementary, I mean that that's not the evidence on food waste, we're seeing increases week on week and obviously, as we roll it out to high-rise blocks and extra blocks around the borough by the end of the year, I think you'll see us hitting really quite ambitious titles.
I mean, I just find some of this a little rich that some of these decisions were in our gift, but I'm afraid some of them will your responsibility. It was in your control to invest in a deteriorating fleet of vehicles, but you didn't it was in your control to negotiate a waste contract that had the best interests, the ones with residents at Hoe, but you didn't we inherited one of London's worst recycling rates and a fleet of vehicles that were ready for the been, but once with residents have voted for change and we are delivering on that mandate. We're investing in more environmentally friendly waste vehicles, whichever 90% lower carbon emissions and we're helping residents take control and be greener and tackle climate change. I mean, let's just look at the basic service, we've rolled out food waste and we'd guarantee a weekly bin collections, so residents can put out their waste, their recycling and if they choose their food waste and their garden waste, at no extra cost, and that gets collected every single week. The majority of councils have moved away from that. We guarantee will continue, so we're taking no lectures and the party opposite about how we should run our services when your government has staff local councils of resources. Thank you. Second, supplementary question, Councillor crimson, thank you, Madam Mayor,
consequently, the while I agree with him, but are many streets where this is working well, in these days of WhatsApp groups in many streets that I'm finding in West Hill-Wood and I suspect fault colleagues may be finding elsewhere that there are some specific streets where the word has got round through the the WhatsApp group that it doesn't work, and so while it's not a general problem there is going to need to be, does he agree with me? There is going to need to be a very targeted approach to win back the confidence of those that those streets and, secondly, can I just ask him why he refers to food waste which, under the Tories would have been sent to landfill
as far as not huge landfill for many, many years, as far as I'm aware, can I ask why that commenters there was at his comment was one of his advisers, comments was at 1.00 of the officers comments because it's slightly worrying if we still fit if the administration thinks we still use landfill when it's been so many years which we stop to it.
thank you can ask the Leader to answer the question, please, I thank Councillor Grimston for the question and congratulate him on his three decades of service. I wasn't aware it's that long, he's quite right about what's that groups, which I think something all policymakers need to come to grips with. You know we hopefully everyone has their new bright side coming through the door and the cost that needs to be the primary way we communicate. You don't have to tell me you know what the street WhatsApp group is like. If the recycling is not taken a know you know, food waste is not done right with very aware of this. We're investing in our communications function so we can actually get into those
Facebook groups for your building or the WhatsApp group for your street, I know a lot of these grew up during COVID, but you're right once something hasn't landed properly and there's teething problems with it, which there has been when this has been introduced across London and many other authorities will now be required to do it, you have to catch up and we're aware if that we've invested a huge remain, I think there's an attractive
designed some of the communications but will redouble our efforts and in terms of landfill year, that's just than ever, I'm sorry about that, it's it's burned, I mean, I suppose, may be years and years ago it may have been yeah I'm apologise for the error.
thank you the time for leaders, questions has now finished.
madam Mayor, pursuant to Standing order 28 May, I propose that the Council will now adjourn for one minute to draw attention to this Council's welcome the autumn renewal.
do you have a seconder?
Councillor Balfour Lodge are locked, you've said one minute, please speak to introduce your motion.
thank you, Madam Mayor, the primary purpose of council estates is to provide Council homes.
this seems like a statement of the obvious, but in recent years many councils have reacted with hostility and denial when Council tenants who have said such things, instead they have.
pursued regeneration projects which are more for the benefit of incoming private buyers.
sadly, the previous ones with administration was one of those councils and left us with an autumn master plan that would cram over 1,000 homes into a small space, with over three quarters of those being for a developer to sell on the market.
as a lifelong resident at the autumn estates, but this is what drove me to become politically active, I think it is fair to say that the party opposite has not always been happy with my interventions, whether as tenant or as a Councillor.
the irony is that if the original master plan had been more like the renewal proposal that has just passed the Housing Committee, I won't be in this Chamber today.
if they don't like me being here, they've got only themselves to blame.
we have put forward a plan that is over 40% of council housing and totals nearly 60% affordable housing, instead of demolishing an architectural icon or Brook House, we propose a medical scheme renovation, the same goes for the two residential blocks on the south side of things we Avenue local shops will be provided with new premises, local residents will be given priority when it comes to allocating the new council houses.
all this is the extensive resident, consultation and involvement and subject to a ballot at the end of the year next year.
what is more, a community minibus will link up parts are very Hampton that the DFL services do not when the Roehampton University bus returns in September, residents will be able to use it for free and we will continue to press DFL for improvements in their bus services as tenants Champion, I am proud of the huge amount of work that I and my colleagues have put into this.
I see my role as helping not just existing tenants, but also potential tenants who are homeless or struggling with irresponsible extortionate private landlords as Councillors we get far too many cases like this, the renewable will provide a net increase of at least 130 council homes.
in combination with the homes for Wandsworth programme, this will finally make a difference.
I appreciate the support that the Conservative councillors gave to the renewal paper at the housing committee last week and I urge all Councillors all members to get their full backing for the autumn renewal.
thank you, Madam Mayor,
thank you, would the Leader wish to respond, and I think I'm going to respond on this one.
I'll try and keep it brief, but I think one of the greatest scandals of the last 14 years is that we every year we lose more social homes than we build.
so during a period of worst increase in homelessness, in temporary accommodation used in overcrowding in our growing waiting lists were losing council homes each year, and that is, I think, one of the things that has to have the biggest impact on the life outcomes, mental health, wellbeing, physical health and overall,
kind of suffering that we experience as day to day Councillors, I think even the opposition side will see the casework that comes in, I was often forwarded onto me of some of the most appalling conditions of overcrowding of people who are currently in in a in the private rented sector are being bounced around and desperate for a social home.
the Olton
the the autumn is, it has always been a really difficult.
I really kind of a challenge for housebuilding, because it's about improving the existing residents, life experiences and improving a neighborhood that has, for years and decades of underinvestment, was also trying to de additionally build Council housing, and that's why we moved away from the real estate speculative joint venture which was to, as my colleague said, deliver.
basically, minus 1 council home again, be part of that tradition of losing council homes in regenerations that were spending millions of pounds of public money and actually just delivering homes for sale often brought up by landlords and adding to the problem that we have. So it's been an absolute joy, working with Matthew and someone who lives on the Alton estate, who grew up on the ultimate state, who loves the orphan estate. It's been an absolute joy, working with ward councillors with local community champions like Angus from Alton action, like Reverend Joshua, like residents who I know who have come to these meetings and watched, you know the autumn renewal plan, it's a bit of everything that everyone wanted and it's not everything that everyone wanted, but it's something that we can really be proud of. 60% of that scheme will be affordable housing. I don't know if any other regeneration limits can achieve that.
and on this question of housing.
one of the things we did when we took over the Council was we inherited your thousand homes programme, which you know to give you, credit, was going to deliver 400 council homes out of the thousand and we wanted all thousand on that public lands to be council housing and so are only change in policy was to flip those units to council housing and you are now often campaigning against the schemes that we had inherited from you.
to again stop that change in direction whereby we lose more council homes than we build and given the state of the crisis, given the fact that we have the highest record of people in separate accommodation than we have ever had in this country ever, I just don't think that that is a sustainable or realistic, it might be politically worthwhile in the short term you might get a by election, but I think it is morally wrong and I think what we're seeing from the current Labour government is taking difficult decisions that are in the best interests of this country.
about delivering for those people who might not have a voice who are writing to us from bedsits were writing to us, with seven kids in a two-bedroom apartment, that's filled with mould, that is what we have to think about, not just political point-scoring, so thank you very much for this agenda and I hope the ultimate can be a pioneer over the next decade of what regeneration should look like.
thank you, Councillor, deny he is satisfied with the explanation provided, and would you like to which will be a motion, or would you like the motion put to the vote I'd like the motion but to the right place.
councillors, the motion before you is that the Council do now adjourn for one minute to draw attention to this Council's welcome of the Oaten renew.
all those in favour.
the Council is now urgent for one minute.
would you like to take your seats again?
do you like to take your seats, everyone?
so the whips have agreed that item 16, the motion on the declining competence of Wandsworth Council under Labour will be taken next, can I ask Councillor Richard Jones to move and Councillor Birch, or to second the motion in their names, proud to resolution?
Councillor bedroom, at second, it thank you.
painted, Mr Peter Graham, would you like to and take the mic for?
thank you Gothenburg, it's been an interesting few weeks in Wandsworth and in general I spent the election day Peter Brook, where outside the odds, but certainly not our opponent from we finished 118 votes short, I can say now with some experience there's nothing quite like a Friday morning, train back to London posts recount having lost and on no sleep but that feeling was capped when I got home by a pungent odour wafting across the forecourt of my building and on tracking it down, I found that my blocks bins haven't been collected for over a fortnight so for me the reality of Labour in power hits rather sooner than expected.
then came my male full of plans to rig the council's constitution against the opposition and bypass and the scrutiny of future changes, and then the extraordinary events of last week, not only had 6,500 and 58 votes, gone missing from the election results that you read out, Madam Mayor for Putney, but the official declaration had simply been changed on the Council's website without any notice or statement or publicity there has still a week on been no press release from the Council.
instead, we have the absurd spectacle of the Electoral Commission responding to people on social media, because this Council, what quoting a statement that's buried deep on Wandsworth website and then only went up at all because we protested about his absence. It's worth noting and contrasting precedent when e-mails to voters went missing in March 2022, the the Council then issued a press release and a Q and A the same day it put out reassurance on social media. It puts an apology on the front page of the Council's website and e-mailed, not just those affected but everyone signed up to the Council's new services. Now we have nothing and what's changed control pass from us to you
ironically, it was the diligence of a member of the Putney Labour party that exposed the election mistake only for this Wandsworth Labour administration to forgo any credit whatsoever by trying to kill the story, and when you refuse to tell people they draw their own conclusions.
the Lib Dem candidate was among those left speculating, and this is his view on why the council refused to give a clear version of events or publicise what happened this as his words, the simple answer is pride.
the proper answer is a lack of accountability, something that has, unfortunately only grown with the influx of new Labour councillors, he goes on the Labour chair of refused to allow the issue even to be discussed at the most recent Council meeting in much the same way it is limited discussion of its housing plans and finance plans and pretty much every topic where it could be embarrassed.
it's not just us said your authoritarianism and your failure to submit the scrutiny is getting noticed outside of this bid, building by other parties and by residents, the Executive wasn't in charge of the election count, but it is in charge of publicity.
the mistake wasn't the result of a political decision, but the ongoing publicity blackout is you had a choice you could have insisted on a press, release insisted on reassuring people on social media, insisted on contacting the voters directly affected, as we did in the equivalent circumstances you could have insisted on transparency instead you chose sons,
and to residents that smells as badly as the petrified stench emanating from that uncollected bins, it smells as badly as rigging the constitution and suspending the Standing orders of this Council as badly as ignoring the Ashburton officer, their cast their votes by the hundred it stinks.
this is an administration.
in deny
and you're not just damaging your own reputation, which is, after all, yours, to lose its rather worse than that on an issue as fundamental as our election process, York silence, is damaging trust in our democracy itself.
thank you.
Councillor C asthma.
good evening, and thank you.
obviously going to speak about the way services as that's my area of responsibility.
and the first thing is to say sorry, sorry to the 10 people that you quote the social media, sorry to you, Councillor Graham, that if it didn't get picked up but please tell us, and it could have e-mailed me, could have phoned me so sort this out and it would have sorted it out. Let's say that to the 10 people at the social media contact me get in touch with my e-mail address is on the website contact me and we sort it out to all the Councillors in this room on a slate we all desperate to make this work just let me know, and the officers and Serco will sort it out
but it's interesting that you make in such a sort of fuss about this in this motion tonight because you're not met the sending him loads of extra members and enquiries so Chair, obviously I'm looking at this all the time this really matters to me in the six weeks running up to the change of service you sent in 66 members' enquiries under the old contract your contract in the six weeks following the introduction you've sent in 78 members' enquiries so that's 12 more in six weeks in that's not smelling of a big problem to me or it so it's the either does not that big a problem.
or maybe you're not doing quite enough work for your evidence, if you're seeing problems on social media e-mail me, let me know let the officers know, you're not sending out e-mails into the officers either they said that I'm a couple you know we all want to sort this out, it's no good having it on social media, can we can't monitor everybody, social media, everybody's WhatsApp groups, let us know and we will sort it out.
and actually went for Venus inquiries. You can get system most Members enquiries, of course, Councillor Grimston, because he puts us all to shame. It has certainly members' enquiries and I have reached out to Councillor Grimston. There is a particular problem we are going to address certain in terms of communication that you mentioned absolutely, we're doing targeted communication, we've got officers going out and some of the problem round our officers going out with circa literally knocking on doors saying we're doing this, we're doing that, we're going to be doing more of that, we're gonna be doing targeted door knocking, Keep Britain, Tidy, is going to go out wherever there's a problem said. We are aware that people are not quite aware of all the changes, and it was a shame because we had a very extensive communications campaign planned with me, fronting it up, obviously, and then Ritchie called an election, you know who knew that was going to happen
but actually few people didn't I didn't make as they placing bets, but.
but so we had to regroup really quickly with the columns and maybe it hasn't been sharing just as well, but we did send teaser leaflet to everybody that was going to get the collection, everybody that got the brown box with a silver pin inside they got a leaflet instruction of exactly how it was going to change, it seems they're not everybody about that leaflet we've done as much as we can. I haven't quite worked, we're gonna be doing absolutely target communications we are introducing extra round. As Councillor Hobbs said, we've got extra food RAG, waste round each show next of recycling round each day, extra vehicle, extra staff were doing everything we can to make this happen, and actually you know it's going really well. So far we've collected all this waste food waste at over 320 tonne so far, if that carries on throughout the year that will save us and our taxpayers 300,000 pounds this year
on the recycling. We've collect, reflecting 11 times more each day of recycling which we didn't expect, and that's part of the problem is with this would be more successful than we thought, so we've had to put on more services that could end up saving us another 400,000 a year, so this new service actually is delivering on all levels is doing what I cannot of our residents asked us to do. They wanted food waste, they wanted improve recycling, it's delivers on the environmental front, this is what we have to do is the right thing to do in government regulations, ask you to do it and it's saving our taxpayers' money, so it's a win all round
so I just have to ask residents to be patient a little bit longer with us. We think we're going to get this right, we're sure gonna get this right, our contractors as committed as we are to put this right, we're working every day we made every day we wake with as a problem will look at how we're going to solve it. After 12 weeks we go into a period where we can now start penalising them. We've got a very strict regime of key performance indicators and we will find them if things go wrong, which is not something that you guys ever did, but I don't think we're going to be finding very much because we are absolutely committed to sorting this out
so I'll just say, bear with us, let us know when there's a problem, you can e-mail me direct and I will pass it on and we will sort out the problems would have the excellent service that all our residents deserve, thank you.
thank you.
Councillor Bradshaw,
thank you very much, mountain man at the waste collection service is the is the one service that most of our residents.
engage with, and it probably is the only service that a lot of them engage with, so it is important that we get this right.
I have always been an enthusiastic recycler, so I'm glad to see this extending.
30 years ago I had to take my newspaper and glass down to the station where the large recycling bins were located, we progressed onto home collection for paper and glass, the glass having to be split by colour and into colour co-ordinated sacks not so efficient especially with one jar of Marmite a month then along came the bags for all recycling including pack plastics much easier and more efficient.
also the public tip, but smugglers' waves opened and once worth refuge services were running well, Odia, we have a new super-duper system.
in June, the chatter on Tutu WhatsApp group was all about how excited they were about the start of the food waste collection, what's that excitement shared with my colleagues here?
good.
well, the word on the street now is that one the once the tour appreciating at most other rats.
within a fortnight I was spotting bins with rat size holds.
the excited residents of Tooting and now complaining of missed collections at least one road has not had food waste collections for several weeks in a row, yet they report it.
another reported that Tooting Bec is now one of the biggest rubbish dumps, the residents in Elsfield told me that her food waste and rubbish was not collected, while the recycling had been her neighbour was the other way round, the recycling team are leaving cardboard boxes which have been put out to be collected but not in a plastic bag.
and there being left walking down one road, I sort the recycling of being put out onto the pavement by one of the teams and then left the 5 days despite having been reported in other roads, piles of bags are just left obstructing the pavement for days.
it is obvious that the service is not up to par and that the missed collections a random in nature and only randomly sorted.
I appreciate that some problems might get sorted, but will residents who have seen evidence of rats tubing their bins or residence content contending with maggots and festive bins continue to use them, I don't think so.
which brings me to another issue raised by the residents, the fact that we now have three lorries going to each house instead of 1 3 Lloris versus one lorry three times more traffic, three times more congestion, we were told that the accounts by the Council's propaganda that these lorries are powered by cooking oil form of biodiesel which admits 90% or up to 90% less carbon,
well, that could be possible in the case when they are free wheeling down the true Trinity Road underpass passing and abandon Christmas tree, but that's another matter I have been trying to understand these claims and doing so I've been talking to scientists and reading scientific reports.
what I have learned is that, just because by bio fuel is renewable does not mean it's someone to fuel the benefits of varied and debatable depending on the fuel mix, the way to the vehicle, the speed which it and also they affected the temperature has on the fields combustion, it is also to be a greater or lesser degree less efficient, therefore consumption will be higher.
I have learnt that, according to the government Department of energy, that 100% biofuel can be up to 74% lower than petroleum diesel in carbon emissions, but the greenhouse gases CEO to is higher and also quite alarmingly knocks another pollution pollutant that between 30 and 100% higher,
if you then multiply by three these emissions.
for the three vehicles that you can now see, that will be an increase in sorry, Councillor, bad solution and would afternoon, and therefore.
OK.
but it's smoke and mirrors cannot hide the fact that the news ways new waste contract is not as green as Wandsworth Council would like to believe.
thank you, Councillor Battle, could I ask Councillor Osborne?
thank you, Madam Mayor, but look when I first looked at this resolution, I thought how it appears a bit of inter-party knockabout, I'll come up with some Labour party attacks on them, and let's have a good a good session in the Council Chamber but talking about their inability to accept change and so on but actually the more I thought about it more I came to the view that,
what we are being goodness me, I'm not really on a red light already, and I spoke much.
yes.
nearby, I'm sorry, I know yes, Councillor Graham, I know you're from the land that time forgot.
but I'm pretty sure, I'm pretty sure I have got a bit more time left yeah, OK I go on.
I had not meant to be ageist and if it was aged, I apologised straight away.
that you were really being me.
so the that's not the spirit of the democracy review and it's not what the constitutional changes are about, and it's not what we are trying to achieve. There are too many assertions in the resolution. I don't have time to deal with, but let me pick a few. There is the suggestion that what we're trying to do is to reduce the number of occasions when we vote on topical issues. That is most certainly not the case. We may be trying to move towards a situation where there are discussions on topical and local issues and try and combine the two and that
that we move in that direction, that is certainly the intention, secondly, be quiet, Councillor Graham, secondly, they there's a point here about the way in which executive members and Cabinet members are expected to answer questions, I've watched that process in this Council Chamber on and off since 2006 and Cabinet Members executive members.
by and large, actually, even with short notice, they give pretty good answers to to to what goes on from both sides, but who is this helping? Who is this process for, is it for the public who are watching, is it for the people are looking at the minutes of these meetings, is it for the council, is here, or do we really want to know what's going on? Do we want considered answers, or what are we trying to catch people out in some sort of knock about school kind of public debate, or are we actually seeking seeking to know what's going on?
and what we're trying to do in the constitutional changes that were we're setting forth is to setting forward putting forward, is to try and increase the amount of information that people are getting as a result of the process and on the matter of the boats in Putney on July the fourth I take many of the points that have been made over the weeks since then.
and I understand that there's a difference between a political decision and a technical decision of the administration, but I believe that the line between the two is more blurred than we would like, and I believe that we need a proper investigation of what happened both on July, the fourth and in the weeks after and I am doing everything I possibly can to make sure that a proper investigation of that kind takes place which first of all has,
all party involvement in it.
secondly, involved outsiders in the investigation, because I believe there may be national implications that may need to be addressed and brought out in the discussion and the investigation. Thirdly, to make sure that there is a proper written report which everyone can see and discuss in a formal meeting in this Council. It is not a knock about subject for this Council in a resolution tonight. I'm appalled that it's in this resolution tonight, in the form that it's in. I think the minority party really ought to be ashamed, given that they know what I'm trying to achieve on this, that they've put it in, and I am therefore I am therefore saying to people, we must throw this resolution out because it should not be something which the Councillors have their hands up. It is vitally important that politicians keep out of this and stand back and have a hands off approach to it. Thank you very much, Madam Mayor,
thank you, Councillor Osborne, can I ask invite Councillor Richard Jones?
thank you, thank you for the the speech we've had so far, I've got to say I've spent a lot of very good and very low and productive hours with Councillor I was born in Committee and in this Council I've never done accountants last Board not to be appalled by something and got a nice to be reminded the outrage this this evening.
the resolution tonight that we put forward as a Conservative Group, it talks about incompetence, but it also talks about secrecy.
an increasing secrecy we see in this Council, and I want to be clear upfront that mistakes are going to happen, there is no Council that doesn't make mistakes, particularly doing new things, there will be teething problems,
certainly we make mistakes and we were in administration, and the issue isn't about the mistakes as such, although we are seeing they were increasing frequency, it's the reaction of the administration when mistakes happen, which veers between either.
a thin-skinned denial, personal attacks or cover up, or sometimes you get a very odd form of gaslighting, and that's really not helpful.
and it's not been how this authority, its administration, is going to serve the residents of our borough.
now tonight.
the administration is doubling down on the approach we have seen over the last two years and they are bringing forward under item 9, sweeping constitutional changes, which are just battening down the hatches trying to avoid scrutiny, trying to avoid answering questions so that essentially these mistakes can't be discussed out in the open but instead they are buried further and further.
I note that the sad thing is, I know that this is not in the best tradition of Wandsworth labour, I know that because my favourite member of want to play, but sadly, is not here this evening, that's Councillor belter.
and I was, I mean, I was sort of charmed by Councillor Cooper's remarks at the start of this meeting where she talked about it, the Councils of old the one in 1986.
can imagine it was like because we're treated to Councillor balance contributions in this Chamber, but, Councillor Felton, there's a passionate.
full, throated, doubled paraffin.
advocate for all the politics that I think it completely wrong, but he does so passionately, he does so openly and gosh, he loves the debate, the contrast with this administration, but doesn't like to mate, that seeks to shut down any discussion at any policy is really quite market.
I regret the fact that Councillor Belfast's in here tonight, I cannot believe he supports a word of these changes that were ran through the called the General purposes Committee last week. Indeed, my assumption is that is why you took him of that Committee because there is no way he would support these changes. There was not time to detail all of them and just how it breached they are, but I can pick up a selection. The first is that essentially the administration is abolishing a German debates.
adjournment debates in this Chamber are pretty much the only occasion where a Cabinet Member is called on to give an answer to something they haven't had notice of and therefore called pre script carefully. They're ulcer. It's one of the few mechanisms that we have in this Chamber to make sure the Cabinet Members are on top of their brief, that they can respond to questions sometimes at urgent. Sometimes don't materialise until the day of the council meeting itself, but also, frankly, give their honest answers, not their scripted, sanitised answers. They will naturally give, and at a strange new motions on notice arrangement. It's not being that there's now replacing the Adjournment debates
secondly, in the strange new matters of local interest which are replacing agenda debate which are now on motion anyway, they can't actually be raised by ordinary members of the Council, they can only now be raised through the Group whips.
so what that means is the right of any member of this Chamber at the moment to raise any issue under enjoyment debate to any Cabinet Member has now been taken away, and that's in the hands of the whips.
it hadn't escaped my attention to that gags Labour Councillors as well so for Labour Councillor is concerned with refuge, collection and waterways and German debate to Councillor got so they no longer cat because Councillor apps won't let them do so the other change is abolishing the ability of one of the parties to raise a requisition. Requisition is a special meeting that previously a quorum of councillors could raise if there is a specific issue of concern that haven't been ventilated properly in an odyssey.
we exercise this right once in two years, we did it once in two years, because the agenda on finance committee was soulful, even the Labour chair of that committee admitted that the agenda was full and actually thought we requisition was quite timely. I'll finish there because not enough time to wrap and through it all, but just to say that this is the most thin-skinned Scrutiny avoidant administration and this Council has ever seen all these changes that are being washed away tonight the previous Conservative administration had them for 44 years we relish the debate and the challenge. This administration is scared and heights challenge and will change the rules to avoid challenge.
thank you.
so let's move on to the vote, all those in favour of the motion, please raise your hands.
and those against.
any abstentions.
so the results saw for 19 against 25 and 0 abstentions motion has been lost.
we are going to move on to question to the Cabinet and Cabinet Members.
so question number 12, question number 12.
thank you, Madam Mayor, question 12 on women's safety to the Cabinet Member for Health, please, thank you.
I think.
it's also to sue current age anyway, thank Councillor hedge this question clause I'm taking it is written in the spirit of collaboration and updating the case unprepared work with any political party mainstream political party, the possible exception of form. Sorry, sorry, Councillor Henderson, can I ask you to speak more into your mike, please, thank you sorry, I have difficulty legs between them.
fairly narrow space and, as I say, I'm very prepared, work, is all political parties in the interests of English residents, until it believed that forced to be a party political issue, unfortunately, reform and arguments.
approach is endorsed and all of Andrew
Tate has tried to bring it.
executive 8 situation considerably and clearly tries attempts to try to empower young men who he perceives as having Illamasqua, it is only going to make the issue as I'm sorry, I'm actually eating procedure on my right, but this is also an extremely opportunities in the question.
I am sure Councillor will be appalled at.
as a report from the National police Chiefs' Council, we estimate estimate at 2 million women.
of victims of Ireland's perpetrated I made each year and I am going to read through the statistics because they are very or quite stark, one in six homicides are linked to domestic abuse, 20% of all police recorded crimes more than an Indian offences each year recorded case is the for increased by 37% between 2018 and 2023 our I mean at 3,000 at any
child sex
exploitation has increased on all that 400% between 2.
tooth ache England as an 17 I am very plays in New Labour government, has actually committed to Hove in instant.
of islands towards women with a decade.
instead, councils but work on fog over the past two years, suddenly reinforces that we have more than doubled in the resource?
interval, true Amy took over office and the launch of our strategy.
I think 8, which I am certain, that everyone is actually sets out a very clear path in terms of how we propose to attack or for the future, thank you.
thank you sack a supplementary can't tomorrow, sorry, I'll supplementary that Americans, and I just like to thank the Cabinet Member for Health for his response and also to highly commend Councillor de bras for all of her hard work on tackling violence against women and girls over the past few years I've spoken to many women in Balham kept himself and indeed across the borough about safety concerns. There are far too many examples which go under the radar women feel unsafe commuting to and from work, including walking through the poorly lit areas but Wandsworth Clapham and Tooting Commons
increasing anti-social behaviour on Balham High Road attempted robberies in Tooting where women have been threatened with knives, the attacks on Wandsworth park, the serial attacks and rapes on Wandsworth Common and the domes domestic abuse some women suffer every day. Given my experience working with the women's charities, I would very much welcome the opportunity to meet with the Cabinet Member Councillor dobbers, Caroline Councillor Della sushi, all and work cross-party on this very important issue. Thank you.
and
Dawn French accounts edges, so it's a more equal and open happy to meet with you and fellow Councillors, in fact, yes, there was a meeting of the Community Safety Partnership Board, which we received a very comprehensive report on everything I have been on the ballot asked specifically the question extent which local councillors election sold online I was total,
happy, but the intention was to actually give them a formal presentation, so I'm certainly very, very happy to take it up on that offer the fact important we want to actually reduce its arguments in swimming.
we know that there is a problem that is quite curious, serious national, which the National police Chiefs' actually destroy as an emergency. We need to do whatever we can within the tackled
something we're not immune to what happens in society as a whole or happens within an ancient as how, but nonetheless arms, only convicted owing as much as it can just only reduced incidence of.
in bonds.
expected.
second, supplementary Councillor arm, thank you, Mayor, the Cabinet Member for Health has reference ones with new vogue stretchy in his answers, for those that have actually not really stretched even looked at it, how will the new strategy has set up by this administration actually improved support for survivors of domestic views are met, domestic violence and domestic abuse.
Councillor and
sorry, Councillor Lowe or of his question.
the strategy is really encompassing, I think, the most important part of it is, it is a partnerships.
it engage a wide range of different stakeholders and the fact she is very much based upon the experience of some oil as on domestic abuse, and that I think is very, very important indeed, there has been a local focus on this and the strategy was informed by a comprehensive needs assessment which is actually contained at the back of the strategy and recommend people looking after, but it also goes a third, a tackle them in approve of things which haven't been covered in the rich was scratched eat particularly in or recognition or people with output is onto. It is also clearly recognised
in the midst, abuse, etc is actually associates too wide at crimes.
also, the report puts a very considerable emphasis upon the safety of places, particularly in respect of women and girls, but upside young people who are now suffering quite disproportionate increase in violence towards them, so it is very much consistent with policy for its own ace until I climbed strategy, and or wide in terms of the place the strategy in suddenly bias these type of means, through an ageing, look into engaging stakeholders or we can actually tackled, is it's been since rule we can't do it by ourselves, councillor Councillors or the Council comma 8.
wave, a magic wand but are working with a community is working with the police, but stakeholders, I genuinely believe in routes into what it is as complete age.
thank you, Councillor.
understanding would say I'm even agenda at the Council meeting for 30 seconds to acknowledge the appalling effects of the closure.
sorry, I'm Councillor Cathy, the hours not up yet.
and question number 13.
thank you, thank you, Madam Mayor, question number 13 on the new Sport and Leisure Strategy to the Cabinet Member for the Environment.
thank you, Councillor grit showed I've just for people that haven't read the questions that it asks about our new strategy. We're calling it once was moves together and it's are overarching strategies to get everybody more active in Wandsworth Seb using sport eating physical exercise using could be gardening could be Woking, could be, cycling could be tenants could be at a sort of physical activity. We know how beneficial that is for people, particularly people suffering any kind of ill health, physical health, bill, health, mental ill health. We know how much activity can contribute to their wellbeing and when this time of health inequalities that were also aware of this strategy very much speaks to that, because certain activities will be targeted at certain target groups. Question asked what benefits we hope to see, while I hope to see many, many, many more people taking part in our sports activities. We have a very active population already because amid all young people in the borough, but there are some people that are not accessing our services for whatever reason as a range of reasons, and we've done a lot of research, we've listened to a lot of people and we are addressing as many as those region reasons as we possibly can, and one major barrier to people joining in our activities is funding which they don't have enough money in the pockets. So we have introduced a very, very generous concession scheme, any person on universal credit or any other kind of main tested benefit. Any child on free school meals is entitled to are very generous offer, which is free activities during off peak times half price during peak times and we have 250 free tickets to that I do every day, so that's just the start and which is aiming to get many more people.
moving active and more healthy,
thank you very much, Councillor, guess that's so, thank you for your reply, I just wondered if you'd like to elaborate more on the groups of people who need special encouragement to become more active and how the strategy is going to support this.
yes, thank you for that, so one particular target group, actually as women and girls, because we see there's many more men active than women.
women. Young girls lose interest if that's the right word in sport in about teenagers, and there's lots of reasons for that, and quite often it is to do with having the boys around and often with women it can be to do. We have a men around, so we are going to be promoting women only sessions, girls-only sessions, we have our partner enable do the girls only session recently was very, very successful and there are girls that want to do sports, but they want to do it in a in a single-sex environment, so we providing those sorts of activities is gonna be halted, working group that would be looking into how we encourage women and girls more and anybody here that would like to be involved with that. You'd be very welcome
so there's other, obviously older people with very important they stay active people with disabilities, we've got to make sure that our activities are accessible for them. There are certain demographic groups that we know are more prone to certain illnesses, so it's about encouraging them to get active, may be encouraging them with a healthy diet. There are people for whom transport is a problem and we're looking at could be provide, likes what we're talking about Roehampton there's not a swimming pool near Roehampton, but if we're providing transport which we are downhill to Putney, let's take people to the swimming pool is I'd like to go and we know that some people would like that and then they could enjoy the free activities there
so if childcare is an issue for some people were looking at how we can provide childcare, so it's basically listening to residents, what is it that's stopping you engaging, and what can we do to help you get over those barriers and get you moving? Thank you, Councillor Desmond, second supplementary, thank you Madam Mayor admin over the most recent winters, thousands of are ones with children have been unable to pay football rugby and other sports with our schools and our local clubs, sometimes for weeks at a time. Yes in Lambeth the pictures always seem available do they have less rain in numbers, did they have less rain a number of this in last year and are we expecting our children to be able to pay clubs support this winter? Thank you. Thank you. It's really strange Christian, because it was your administration that didn't invest in the pictures for all those years, so
we've inherited these terrible pictures in a terrible state that we are investing and you will see loss last sort of springtime it was, they were doing, there was tractors going out and they put sand and literate that tries to draw out the fields, but it is a huge problem because they haven't been maintained for years and years and we do have a real deficit of playing pitches in this borough which were working towards trying to get some more we're working with the Football Foundation, we're working with other partners trying to get some more into service, but it's very
very odd question coming from you, because we're trying to clear up the mess you left,
thank you, Councillor 14.
sorry, sorry, sorry, question number 14.
four counts from Councillor Brooks, question number 14 to coming from both, thank you.
yeah, thank you very much, Councillor books, for the question regarding the 85 bus, I regularly engage with Transport for London on the issue.
I have written to them numerous times I'm a councillor for Roehampton, so I couldn't be more aware of the issues regarding the performance of the age of five bus and the issues at that causes for residents, in fact last night was chairing the Western Area Housing Panel and residents raised with me their concerns about the 85 bus and I wrote again today to TfN.
through to for all of us who have been in contact with London, United, which is the operator of the service, now tearfully responded to say that the route 85
regularly gets caught up in congestion on route from Putney Bridge station
and they undertook a detailed analysis that indicated that the service would actually be more reliable if the timetable was adjusted to slightly reduce the frequency, so that's why they put that measure in place to increase the reliability, they are monitoring the situation closely and I'm in touch with them about that our officers has also done a very detailed analysis of the issues with the buses in the Roehampton area and have made some
excellent suggestions, two-tier filed regarding how they could it be improved, which would involve some minor root changes, and we're in discussion with to fails to up all about those we've also introduced a northbound bus lane on Putney Bridge and we're working with TfN on a major upgrade to the junction at the south of Putney Bridge which should help to,
improve the traffic flows as well as making it safer for pedestrians and cyclists. So please rest assured this is an issue at the top of my agenda,
supplementary, thank you for the answer very thorough, a lots of the extra congestion importantly is caused by Hammersmith and Fulham council closing roads to non-residents in as part of their clean scheme, it's causing havoc in ones with
we asked before, but will the Labour administration and call upon their colleagues to end that scheme because of the impact it's having in ones with
yeah, thank you for that supplementary, yes, aspects that before.
we are, we have been in touch with Hammersmith and Fulham regarding that scheme, I think that you know the scheme as clearly had benefits in terms of reducing congestion on the side roads and we, but we continue to.
to
being dialogue with them, thank you
second, supplementary from Councillor Fraser, thanks for Edinburgh and second supplementary them we heard earlier from.
about the ultimate renewal plan helping one of our most deprived areas of the borough, could the Cabinet Member tell us a little bit more about the transport plans which will accompany this these plans? Thank you.
and thank you, Councillor Fraser, yes, we were delighted as Councillor Fuller has said, to introduce, are Ultan renewable plan, been burying closely involved in the development of that and discussing it with residents, and we did put a major focus on how we can improve transport in the area when we did the consultation last year residents fed back that improving transport in Roehampton is a major concern for them, so we're absolutely delighted that we're partnering with the University of Roehampton to enable the public to use for free the University bus, which will be a real benefit because it goes up to Putney Bridge station and then down to Wimbledon, whilst introducing a free minibus service which will be operated by wants with community transport. These are just some of the things we're doing to improve transport across the borough
I'm really delighted that we are doubling our investment in road and pavement repairs, our roads and pavements are in a shocking state, with 36% of our roads needing resurfacing and 30% of our pavements due to years of neglect under your administration, so we are doubling our investment there and we're working on the final designs for our major cycle schemes on Queenstown Road and Burton Wood Lane.
with shortly starting a consultation on a network of quite cycle ways across the borough, so just some of the things we're doing to improve transport and active travel across Wandsworth, thank you.
thank you, question number 15, question number 15 to the Cabinet Member for Finance, about her, the Audit Committee and her well-run our finances are.
thank you very much for that question.
I was very pleased to hear this. It's the ringing endorsement of our first year of administration. Our external auditors presented their interim value for money report for 22 23 to the Audit Committee and gave us a clear, clean bill of health across all three areas of reporting financial sustainability, governance and improving economy, efficiency and effectiveness. We've achieved a lot in the for our first couple of years, investing where we need to in order to deliver our priorities whilst driving efficiencies and protecting frontline services. This has been done in a planned and measured way. So there are no surprises will continue to use our resources to the best effect and to deliver our ambition to be a fairer, greener, more compassionate Council were delighted to be delivering for our residents, where it matters most some of the things we're doing include we've set Britain's lowest council tax and will launch a decade of investment in our public infrastructure, paid for by property developers
we've doubled investment in our roads and pavements were building 1,000 affordable council homes for local people. We will launch access for all Britain's most generous concessions offer, so no one in ones with needs to miss out. We will host the London Borough of culture in 2025, inviting all residents to participate in celebrations, we've invested 80 million pounds in green energy transition funds and we will be a carbon neutral Council by 2030. We are open to the world as a Borough of sanctuary.
for refugees and support our residents, with London's largest cost-of-living support package, we will continue to fight to save children's cancer Chair.
cancer care at St George's, invest in new community facilities at Springfield hospital and new GP facilities such as in Nine Elms
we organise once was first citizen Assembly on air quality and now implementing and are now implementing the recommendations we, you've heard we've doubled funding on domestic abuse services installed more CCTV and will hire extra law enforcement officers,
we remain the safest in a London borough, this administration is proud to lead a decorative re a decade over renewal across the borough becoming an outward facing resident focus listening Council, we will continue to work hard for all our residents, I would just like to thank the officers for all their hard work throughout the year and in completing the accounts in particular Mrs Murray, who was sitting over there miss Baston, Ms Wilson, Mr Julio T, Mr O'Sullivan and or their colleagues your hard work and commitment.
commitment is very much appreciated. Thank you.
supplementary supplement camp like it can't harm. The Cabinet Member was rightly noted that the auditors financial order says have responsibility for governance and somewhat unhappy arrangement following the removal of District Auditor's. How long does she think it will be before the administration's refusal to answer basic questions like, for example, her own answer in the following question on the debt profile becomes a governance issue theses areas where we have asked factual questions where we know the officers have the facts and yet she has blocked and denied an answer, referring it back to committee, where these figures are not provided, how is unacceptable in governance terms and why won't you answer questions?
thank you for your question, I don't actually think that's correct.
well, if you ask questions 16, I might give you an answer, but obviously the auditors don't agree with you, thank you.
to finish.
question 16, not it was actually question 15, but as the time is up, so I think we should move move on from from this part of the meeting. If I could invite Councillor Cathy to bring a motion, please site. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Apologies from my earlier AV eagerness under Standing order 28 I'm even a general of the council meeting for 30 seconds to acknowledge the appalling effect that the closure of Hammersmith Bridge is having on the day-to-day lives of ones with residents, to condemn the inaction of Hammersmith council and the mayor of London on this critical issue and to call for immediate action by the new government to agree to a suitable solution to get the bridge open
preferably transferring the ownership and responsibility for the bridge to tearful.
do you have a seconder?
Councillor groups, and how long do you wish the Council to adjourn for 32nd? Thank you, please speak to introduce your motion. Thank you, Madam Mayor. Anyone who attended any of the hustings in Putney will know what an important issue this is for residents. It came up time and time again with supporters of all political parties being rightly frustrated and enraged that their day-to-day lives continue to be disrupted and their area blighted by the closure of this strategically important Bridge.
the bridge has been closed for five years, extending journey times, increasing traffic and pollution and causing stress and inconvenience to thousands
the fact is that Hammersmith council has utterly failed to look after their strategic asset and has failed to get the bridge open my view and one shared by many residents that I've spoken to is that the sensible, pragmatic solution lies with the Mayor of London CFL have an overarching responsibility for transport facilities within London, they control already six strategic crossings from Tower Bridge to Lambeth Bridge,
and have historically paid 85% of the cost of bridge repairs owned by councils.
they've got plenty of money for other strategic projects as an example that funding of 1.2 billion tenants tunnel in east London why not invest here to get this area moving again.
but of course the reality is that residents don't really care who pays for it, they just want someone to take responsibility for it and get on with doing it, I put the blame at the door of Hammersmith, council and TFM both of whom have been playing the politically cynical game of asking the Conservative government to pay up despite responsibility for this bridge being devolved will now the games have to end and we have to have a way forward. The Labour MP flair Anderson has been calling for the Conservative government to fund the bridge repairs. Perhaps she can now persuade this Labour government to do so.
although I do note that they didn't have it in their manifesto,
in any event, I think that this Council needs to speak up for its residents, who was so badly affected by this and use all of its influence to unanimously say that this shambles has to end the Labour councillor in Hammersmith, the Labour mayor and the Labour government now have no political fig leaf to hide behind,
one of them needs to pay up, so who is it going to be?
Councillor Yeates, would you like to respond to that, yes, thank you, madam Mayor, and thank you Councillor caddy.
yeah. So, as I've already noted, I'm Roehampton, Councillor, and I regularly talk to residents about the problems that the closure of Hammersmith Bridge courses in Roehampton and Putney. Clearly it's a crucial transport link and reopening it to vehicles, and particularly buses. It would be very important for reducing congestion and improving the bus services that we've just been talking about now. It was closed in 2020 due to micro fractures and therefore public safety concerns. It was built in 1,057 and it's one of the world's oldest suspension bridges, and it's great to start listed building
now this makes it extremely expensive and difficult to repair. Last year, I attended a fascinating presentation by engineers working for Hammersmith and Fulham council, who've come up with a plan for how best to prepare the page, which involves lowering onto a barge taking away and repairing it off-site as the most efficient means of repairing it, clearly not an easy job, and these things don't come cheap, so it's now estimated to cost around to 150 million pounds now in 2021, the government suddenly told Hammersmith and Fulham council that they would need to pay an unprecedented 33% of that 250 million pounds which is clearly impossible for Hammersmith and Fulham council. Now I find it really extraordinary Council Academy that you raise this issue, because this issue is at your door in case you don't remember, your government was in power for the five years that this bridge has been closed and you did nothing about it. You just let the costs skyrocket, the MP for that area, Andy Slaughter asked for a meeting every month with the transport ministers in your government, and he never met with them. This is all part of the appalling neglect of public infrastructure across the UK by the failed Tory government, which was rightly voted out by the electorate so recently, so we see the sewage in our rivers and our potholes in our roads. So as the Labour administration in charge of Wandsworth council, we've been working with Hammersmith and Fulham on their efforts to reopen the bridge, and we are very glad to support the fantastic campaign by our brilliant MP for Putney, Fleur Anderson to reopen the bridge, will go on working with Blair Anderson and we look forward to working with a New Labour government on this issue. We know we will see a new positive attitude to supporting our fantastic capital city from the New Labour government that's committing to working closely with the Mayor and London Councils on the many challenges London faces, including infrastructure.
thank you.
Councillor Academy, are you satisfied with the explanation provided, met or not, Madonna, and would you like to withdraw your motion or would you like the motion put to the vote, I would not like to withdraw information, I'd like it voted upon please.
councillors, the motion before you is that the Councillor Jones, the Council meeting for 30 seconds, to acknowledge that appalling effect of the closure of Hammersmith Bridge is having on the day to day lives of ones with residents, to can condemned the inaction of Hammersmith council and the mayor of London on his critical issue and on this critical issue.
and to call for immediate action by the new government to agree to a suitable solution to get the bridge open, preferably transferring the ownership and responsibility for this strategically important bridge to Transport for London
all those in favour.
all those against.
any abstentions.
so the results are 19 for 25 against and 0 abstentions.
the German motion is lost.
we now turn to report number 1 items for decision.
I'm review presumption, I move reception of that report and will ask the Council whether they approved the recommendations in paragraph 1 proposed changes to the constitution paper number 24 2 1 dash 1 9 4 is the recommendation approved?
all those in favour.
against.
any abstentions.
thank you, so we've had 25 4 19 against them.
the motion is carried forward paragraph number 2, Housing annual resources, paper number 24 2 1 7 1
is recommended.
sub-paragraph
recommendation, A in that in that report approved.
let's got we're going for the vote.
all those in favour.
although as against.
any abstentions.
thank you
so we have 25 for 18 against and.
1 abstention, the motion will be carried carried forward.
we, we have been advised that the opposition Group would like a separate vote on recommend of we've tested on that, sorry.
on the same paper or recommendations, be to I approved.
agreed.
thank you
the whips have agreed the item 17 will be taken next, item 17 is the motion on Wandsworth contribution to the new mission driven government, can I ask Councillor Hall to move and Councillor aka no doubt to second the motion in their names as moved?
seconded.
an amendment to the motion has also been circulated male Councillors, Richard Jones and Hamilton to move, and second, the amendment.
I move the amendment that's they're gonna bebop, thank you.
a second amendment to the motion has also been re received and circulated, may I ask Councillor Peter Graham and Councillor caddy to move and second the amendment.
seconded.
can I ask Councillor ambush to speak?
thank you, Madam Mayor likely to stay first, congratulations to you, Madam Mayor, taking the Chair of the Council, I'm sure all members wish you well for the year and we will actively support you and your charities.
I'd also like to welcome to the Council Councillor Austin, I look forward to working with you in West partner Councillor Austin, and look forward to hearing your maiden speech.
I would also like to thank our retiring chief executive, Mike Jackson, for its diligent and dedicated service to the Council and wish him and his family well for the future now, turning to the motion, I am delighted to support it is great that the council agenda is in sync with the Labour manifesto for London and indeed for the whole country are Wandsworth values are in line with the Government's values.
government should be about surveys we sat here from Keir Starmer, this is in tune with Wandsworth motto on our press we serve.
the government believes in devolution.
this, I think, means that they believe in local government.
decisions are best taken locally, and local decision makers know best in preparing this speech I reread the Labour Council manifesto for 22, ambitious for all the section on security for all, had an uncanny resemblance to the current Labour manifesto for governments take back our streets, I wonder Decker stomach copy how Wandsworth manifesto we are proud to have the lowest crime level in inner London and of course we want our streets to be even safer.
the government promises action, nonviolent crime and on knife crime
Tipperary be reduced by half over the next decade. This are willing, go for closer working between local place and our youth offenders team,
the government promises to tackle violence against women and girls. The police recently identified this as a national emergency with an epidemic of 2 million women affected each year, and I'm glad there's cross party support on this issue from the question from Councillor hedges earlier, we've already doubled our response to domestic violence in line with the violence against women and girls Strategy, and our strategy was developed by women who have lived experience of domestic violence. We've increased our investment in more CCTV, both cameras and monitoring personnel this helps prevent crime as well as catching criminals the government promises to develop youth hubs offering mental health support mentoring, careers advice targeted at young people at risk, this compliments some of the excellent interagency in partnership work provided by our youth bus and family hubs.
these youth hubs will go some way to replace the swingeing cuts in the youth services over the last 14 years.
the government promises to increase neighborhood policing, and particularly safer high streets are a priority for the government, we have a strong foundation here in Wandsworth council of working together with our neighbourhood police teams in our ward panels, this is effective work with the police and helps prevent climb and prevent anti-social behavior.
we have a huge opportunity to work with the government to work with the Mayor of London, has we are aligned to deliver benefits for the whole community, please vote for the motion as it is unamended, thank you.
thank you, Councillor Amash, can I invite Councillor corner to give his speech.
thank you, Madam Mayor, and I join Councillor ambush in welcoming you to your role and wish you well for the year ahead.
now, when I was reading this motion, it did.
firstly, I must point out that some of the many of the measures that are listed in the left are actually made sure that we support so, for example, being the safest in a London borough, that's not something that's new that was happening under the previous Conservative administration. We voted for the access for All programme at Committee and but when you also look at these, many of these are actually quintessentially conservative achievements and priorities, and it perhaps reflects the fact that the Labour party has made so far to the right in recent years that this administration is now back from them and we welcome the continued commitment to low council tax, even though they did say they would cut it. So we do need to see how that plays out in future years carbon neutrality again with something that we committed to in the Wandsworth environmental and sustainability strategy back in the previous administration
but it does require a lot of government support to make work, so now that we have a Labour Council claiming that there will be able to work effectively with the Labour government, let's see them put pressure on my colleagues in Whitehall and Westminster to give them the support that we need to deliver that.
and finally, on supporting the improvement of community facilities, while we had an incredible plans to regenerate the Winstanley estate, the Alton estate and of course specific the Nine Elms regeneration.
these are conservative achievements and we've seen a bit of backsliding or me from the console from the Labour administration in the last two years, so I don't think that their actions have necessarily match the words in this motion.
but for the them, with regard to this motion today, I do think that I do recall Councillor ambassador comments about being ambitious fraud.
they've set out a load of things that were happening anyway, many of which were conservative initiatives have actually they've missed a load of opportunity to align further with the government's ambitions to rebuild Britain, and I wanted to give them some ideas for what they could pursue in the next couple of years of their administration.
so, for example, on our opportunities and breaking down the barriers to those, I think we would all agree that early years at the most important, so why nursery funding and staffing in places nursery researched in Eastwood and in Balham have had staffing reductions, and I refer them to the question that my colleague Councillor Jeffreys was put to them today in the pack.
I'm only a free school breakfast which we have supported locally, we do need to see more, I think, from this Council, to support schools to develop the infrastructure that they will need to deliver that and to support staff as well to deliver the breakfast clubs effectively, especially if we know that teacher workload and indeed recruitment and retention is such a major issue at the moment.
and I haven't heard anything substantial from this administration about supporting sixth form education and young people who are post GCSE and moving on to looking at post 18 opportunities such as university, need to see much more from them on that if we are to break down the barriers to opportunity from cradle to adulthood, finally, on streets start next up on street knife-crime, he's actually opting mornings where by 63% last year so we need to see a huge amount more from this administration to deliver on their pledge to cut crime using property developer levels.
and again on youth workers, the headcount for those has actually gone down in the last two years since they took over, despite them pledging to recruit more so if we got some warm words about promises to deliver more, let's see it puts into action.
finally to kickstart economic growth. Well, this administration doesn't have a good record on that at all, they need to do much more, the first thing they could do, and I speak up Councillor Yeats is left the left her place, it just get work with Labour colleagues to reopen Hammersmith Bridge, bring back the Northcote Road pedestrianisation which we supported by ceremony businesses in the area and thousands of residents from the petition and give certainty to businesses. You want to invest them and build in Nine Elms and contribute to that regeneration with projects that rather than taking away funding that was previously committed to that area
we need to see much more from this administration to truly aligned to the missions, but the government has set out rather than just the warm words on this motion
thank you, Councillor O'Connor, can I invite Councillor first tranche.
thank you, Madam map as hostility, violence and discrimination, Sally spreads around the world here in ones where we have shown that we are a place of welcome and love, inclusive of all, irrespective of belief, ethnicity, disability and background when this Labour administration came into power in May 2022 we made a commitment to becoming a bar of sanctuary and two years later I stand before you with a great sense of pride to say that once work has been accredited by the City of Sanctuary as a bar of sanctuary,
this award is a recognition of the work we have done as a Council and future plans to come this accreditation wouldn't have been possible without Ofsted, fast refugee, voluntary and community sector organisations here in Wandsworth.
we listened to those who have lived, experiences of being refugees and asylum seekers and developed our sanctuary strategy. I am pleased this New Labour government will scrap the previous governments verandas scheme, which has already cost taxpayers 700 million pounds and waste at the time of 1,000 civil servants. I am proud this Labour government and the inhumane housing of asylum seekers and barges and that the baby Stockholm will no longer be used as Mikron accommodation by the Home Office when the contract comes to an end.
haven Wandsworth, we will continue to break down barriers and ensure opportunities for all of our residents, we develop services that address barriers to employment, training, childcare and transport, we've targeted support for vulnerable groups, including refugees, asylum seekers, care experienced young people and those on benefits.
this Council has the largest cost of living Fund in London, 15 million pounds we are living wage employer of a free school, uniform and breakfast clubs collaborate with partners from for free events for our residents and at 1.00.7 5 million borrow sanctuary fund
however, we haven't stopped that, as we know, there are families of Wandsworth who are still at a disadvantage. We want to create a borough where every resident has opportunities to thrive, and so we have put forward our new plan access for all. We are committed to creating Britain's best concessionary offer to help tackle disparities in access to sports and leisure and make Wandsworth a Farrow Bopha all without adding a penny to residents council tax once we've spawned the powertrains trophy at the London Youth Games beating the other 33 boroughs in London, we invested in our children with disabilities and breakdown access barriers to sports sports should be a fundamental right for all to thrive, grow and stay healthy and fit.
the brilliant bunch of recreation centre is offering a generous free gym and sports programme with a thousand package bookings made today, we understand, in order for our residents to make full use of our access for all residents needs to be in good health and our children need to be looked after with the best care.
one of the worst illnesses battle is cancer, cancer is ambitious and deadly disease that can destroy families, now picture a child with cancer, and, as a parent, you are being told your child has to go to central London miles away from your home here for pediatric cancer care. You can't take your child on public transport as a minor surprise, and you don't have a car. How was your child supposed to get the cancer treatment they need? Families battling this disease are already undergoing the most stressful period of their lives, never mind the difficulty of driving and parking in central London. St George's Hospital has 25 years of experience delivering Paediatric cancer care, which can't be replicated at the Evelina. This is by Wandsworth. Is it is leading a joint campaign with seven other powers to prevent the closure of the paediatric cancer Cabret St George's as a Council. We recognise the importance of investing in our community health facilities, especially to tackle the Conservative created crisis in the NHS and Adult social Care. We are pleased to announce our plans for the spring Food Village, which will have 56 units of modern supported housing for residents with social care needs, such as learning, disabilities, mental healthcare needs and care leavers. The NHS is at the heart of this country, and it's time we build an NHS fit for the future. This Labour administration in Wandsworth has been delivering change for our residents for two years and now we look forward to change across our great nation with a Labour government and a Labour London mayor, thank you
so.
sorry, madam Mayor, can I please take this opportunity to thank our amazing refugees VCFS, groups on behalf of this Council and I'm so proud that once with welcome to refugees, capital a and minds, while cacao or here in the gutter with us today and they've stayed this late, so can we please just get the roundtable case,
thank you.
thank you, could I invite count Councillor Austin to give his first speech.
thank you very much wrote. This is exciting. I do hope all members are going to be able to keep up this level of energy for the next two years mountain that can. I start start by paying my respects to you as I'm there, I'm sure that you would do so proud over the next 12 months. I know you already working hard to represent our borough and I look forward to seeing you want to visit to put West Putney very soon. There is little perhaps that we will agree on tonight, especially in the wake of Labour's triumph in the general election. The drawing of partisanship is even in this Chamber is strong and I hope I can at least resists the tribal age at times as the new Councillor. One thing that I've not been short of his advice, but perhaps the best tip I've been given so far as to reach out to my labour ward colleague, I'm very grateful for Councillor roundabouts for meeting me earlier this week. Yes, there is much that we will disagree on, and I'm sure we will be campaigning against each other very said, but I do. I have no doubt for a second that he worked hard to represent and serve our residents.
having been Mayor himself, he would, I'm sure, agree the Mayor is the embodiment of the concept of service to our wonderful borough, it is there on our coat of arms on our very motto we serve like everyone else in this room I have been active in local politics for a number of years and I did hope in due course to get the chance to serve alongside my wonderful colleague, Councillor sources
but for me that chance probably came a couple of years earlier than I expected. I'm thinking in thinking about what I wanted to say this evening, it forced me to reflect on just why I am here. My policy is if we are honest in the doldrums and it has been there for some time, the Mayor of London and indeed Councillor Coupar, one by ward on the same day I did
I did say because I think I have a key skill, this Council badly lacks something that is ultimately going to be the undoing and Councillor Hulk and his rather expensive leadership category.
it makes I make a good living because, unlike the Labour administration, I am a good listener.
I'm a good listener, I can sell a big house a bad listener, well they are stuck in someone else's spare room,
tonight's Labour motion is focused on the sense of mission led government. Yes, the mission we may have changed over the years, firstly, there was little reference to housing now. Housing and planning is a key pillar of the aim to get more growth. I've nearly 20 years property, industry experience and I want to build more homes. Building is a good thing. We all want growth, even comrade diktat and once growth I'm sure he was delighted by the election result. Like me, he was thrilled by the stunning victory we saw on the 4th of July, especially in Islington north.
nice to see that is not suddenly those were the red princes and princesses, although is backed by the Tony Blair Institute, getting on sociability, social mobility in action, it is not the King's speech and the announcement from the chancellor about speeding up planning our words and this Council should take seriously. Fortunately, the Labour government understands this and is about to send Councillor Bolton, extra resource in the shape of you, guessed it 1 whole planning officer, because that is what the national policy means for the individual local authority level transformational. It is not, as for growth, well, for one. I am grateful to the Cabinet Member and the Leader for the way that they have helped me grow my vote, Councillor Belton does need help, neither he nor this Councillor as quite as quick on their feet, as they once were, in all serious. Now, the seriousness day, waiting away and three aspects in applications were submitted on the 30th of January 5th February 2024 respectively. We are now looking at what, in some cases, a small applications 7 units on court is the largest 43 units and even after 200 days of deliver and delay my residents will, I don't know what the count systems as well what they're going today, if he doesn't kind of September, it would be over 250 days. This is not in the hands of external large corporate residents. On Hayward Gardens in his gardens and elsewhere have been waiting too long for the outcome of an application going from one place to the Council to the next
now I know that it has been a nuisance for the Cabinet Member for Housing. His proposals are not liked in Putney and he believes that these sort of dense Councillor states he's familiar with in nor back to Sierra appropriate just a few yards from Putney Heath but it just goes to show he and his colleagues do not understand my residents more and more broadly the omission is cabinet member and his Leader seem to be on his want to ruin various bits of pottery you can develop successfully without listening to people you can't develop successfully without listening to people who live there and bring them in support with you. It's counselled is showing no intervention, meaningful engagement with the people who live here and whose lives will be irreversibly harmed by the slave of development Councillor Dickens in his alumni
of the Tony Blair Institute might have more in common than we think both want to press ahead with no regard for the community. Imagine Matt, I do listen, and that is why I am here. That is why I beat the odds and even on the day when we Conservatives lost badly, as for agents, Hulk indicated, keep going with your mission, because for us on this side we will be eternally grateful in 2026. Thank you.
thank you, Councillor Austin, for your first speech.
I am a bit disappointed about their remark about Councillor Barton, and I hope I hope that you do, you can reflect on it and I will leave it to Councillor belt into respond if he wishes to that's just my own autumn, sorry, why sorry about point of order 1 point of orders'?
what point of order from Mark about sorry, Councillor, all format, a very similar remark, why is he taking those two remarks and perhaps Councillor Osborne apologised to Councillor Mrs Graham?
I'm sorry, but I mean the person is not here, you knew that mountain Mohamed Mahmoud reason hurry, this is not then put the reason behind this is not open for discussion, thank him do I don't want to discuss so the reason I had my hand up is because if I have caused any offence Councillor belts and I apologise sincerely, that was not my intention at all, he's not here, so I'm sorry he is not yet monetising to me, so let's move on
Councillor Eileen place.
thank you, Madam Mayor, for the first time since May 1977, almost half a century ago, Labour is in power in Wandsworth in London and nationally.
a lot has happened in the 14 years since Labour was last in government, these have been years of loss and waste, austerity was a political choice and its effects have been devastating, particularly for residents who rely on public services, including the NHS which had their funding and investment slashed between 2010 and 2020 central government funding for local authorities fell by 40%, but for many the country has yet to recover from the financial crisis that began in 2008, the average worker is now 14,000 pounds worse off per year than if earnings continue to rise at their pre-crisis rates, it is the worst period for rate wage growth since the Napoleonic wars.
the the one clear objective of austerity was to reduce public debt. In 2010 public debt was approximately 65% of GDP, but by 2024 it declined to 2.5 trillion pounds 100% of GDP. This is what failure looks like low paid, precarious jobs and chronic underinvestment. The trains are late, the housing market is broken, the sea and rivers that contaminated with sewage, and you can't even be sure if it is safe to drink tap water.
life expectancy has fallen and shamefully, rickets is back. Nearly a quarter of the UK population live in poverty, including more than 4 million children. Having to rely on charity to be able to eat or stay warm has become shockingly commonplace. Food bank use and the number of families living in temporary accommodation or are at record highs. In 2010 there were 35 food banks in the UK in 2024. There are nearly 1,700. It doesn't have to be this way in ones where we are leading the way to kickstart economic growth. Following Liz Truss's disastrous budget, which crashed our economy once with residents were faced with the cost of living crisis. We froze council tax, resulting in our residents paying the lowest council tax in the country
by placing more money directly into the pockets of our residents, the local economy can directly benefit. We welcome the Labour government's pledge to devolve power across England, giving local authorities more influence on how and where we invest, and enabling us to target issues which matter most to our residents. We have already begun the decade of investment in public infrastructure by doubling investment in roads and pavements in streets and on our estates.
and carrying out essential maintenance across the Borough, as seen on Wandsworth Bridge, while work was completed on time, with minimal disruption to residents, we are rebalancing provision of affordable and social housing. In the past year we open to new libraries and we will keep all of our library is open because we believe that they are vital community assets. Last week, the Finance Committee approved a new initiative.
to create one borough wide investment plot, pot collecting money from developers to be distributed across the borough developer funding from Nine Elms will help to improve transport infrastructure in Roehampton and in the wider area. This is the first step in rebalancing investment and maximise the benefits for all residents across one Wandsworth, regardless of where they live or work. As part of a decade of renewal we've invested 80 million pounds in green energy transition funds and will be a carbon neutral Council by 2030 we hosted a net 0 summit with partners from the Borough to support our ambition to become a net 0 borough by 2043 decarbonisation projects delivered at multiple
Councillor locations such as the family hub Yvonne car, where heat pumps PV and the Leeds achieved a 50% reduction in energy consumption. We are internationally recognised for the work we are doing to decarbonise our buildings and fleets of vehicles and we are one of 120 locations worldwide to achieve a carbon disclosure disclosure Project. A rating as a listening council we organise once was first distance Assembly on air quality, launched our air quality action plan and we are implementing the recommendations now. While the party opposite supported a decade of and of austerity and underfunding in local services once with Labour is proud to meet the ambitions of its communities by investing in our public infrastructure and in our residents. We welcome the Labour government and the opportunity to shape our country's future and we believe that by working in partnership with the Labour government we can be integral to its success. Thank you very much
madam Mayor.
thank you so much for a very successful first meeting, I think you've done a grand job for every councillor here.
considering the lateness of the hour, I would like to propose to complete the remaining business, as specified in Standing order 32.
thank you very much.
do you have a seconder second mood?
as the Council has sacked for more than two and a half hours, it has been moved and seconded that the remaining items of business on tonight's agenda be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of Standing order number 32, which means that the necessary motions to deal with reports for decision shall be formally formally moved and seconded and immediately voted on without debate.
is the motion to deal with the remaining business in this way agreed?
do we need a perpetrator, those in favour?
against.
abstentions now thank you, so 25 or 19 against and 0 abstentions.
the motion has been carried
so we're gonna go back to the original motion, which was the magic number which was moved by Councillor Richard Jones and seconded by Councillor Hamilton, all those in favour of the first amendment, all those in favour.
those against.
abstentions 1
so for 18 against 25 1 abstention, the amendment is not carried.
so moving on to the second amendment, which was from Councillor Peter Graham and seconded by Councillor caddy all those in favour.
those against.
any abstentions.
so for 19 against 25 0 abstentions.
amendment is not carried.
OK.
so the substantial a substantive motion to the vote.
all those in favour.
against.
abstentions upside to to give them.
so we have 25 for 18 against and 0 abstentions.
the motion is carried,
sorry, I'm going to correct that there was 25 for 18 against and 1 abstention, the motion is carried forward.
moving on to mention three, the whips have agreed that Item 17 will be taken next item 17 is a motion on the proposed Ashburton and with no way development can I.
all in favour.
could I request a named vote, please shop?
is that what they've more than five people?
good evening, Councillors, if you could please, what I call your name, indicate whether you wish to vote for or against or abstained, and can I just remind you to use your microphone, so those watching online can hear you.
Councillor Akinola against Councillor Ambac, against Councillor Anan, has left the meeting Councillor acts against Councillor Austin for Councillor as OK, Councillor Belton is absent, Councillor Birchall
virtual for Councillor Boswell, against Councillor Brooks for Councillor caddy,
4
Councillor Coakley against Councillor Cook is absent, Councillor Cooper.
against Councillor corner for Councillor Pritchard against Councillor cleverly for
Councillor Davies,
absent Councillor jealous issue.
doubtful.
sorry for thank you
Councillor dictum,
against Councillor Douglas against Councillor branch against Councillor Frazer, against Councillor gaps', gain Councillor Hussain for Councillor Gavin here is absent Councillor Mrs Graham for Councillor, Mr Graham for Councillor Grimston against Councillor Hamilton for Councillor Hedges for Councillor Henderson,
Councillor Hulk, yet Councillor Humphreys absent Councillor island.
Councillor Jeffreys, for Councillor Justin
his absence.
Councillor Lawless also absent, Councillor Leigh is also absent, Councillor locker is also absent, Councillor Marshall against Councillor meerkats,
against Councillor MacLeod.
against Councillor Osborne against Councillor Owens, for I suppose, absent Councillor prism
4 Councillor Richard Jones for Councillor Rigby's absent Councillor stock against Councillor, such as for
Councillor suite,
4 Councillor Taylor against Councillor brethren,
against so why is absent, Councillor world against Councillor Yates?
against thank you.
so we have 18 for 26 against and 0 abstentions, the motion is not carried, we now turn to Executive report number 2.
if the whips agreed beforehand that the report can be taken as a whole for information.
thank you, I move reception of reception of the report, can paragraphs 1 to 6 be received for it?
sorry, I will ask Councillor Addicott them to deal with paragraphs 1 to 6 from the report relating to the housing overview and scrutiny committee.
yeah moved.
that all agreed.
finance, Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor island.
as
thank you.
so item number 12 is the Planning applications Committee report number number 3, Councillor is
6, for information to thank you.
sorry.
moving on to item number 12 is from the planning applications Councillor is we'll move perception of report number three is that paragraphs 1 2 8 from page 7 offer information is I agreed, agreed item 13 is from the Richmond and Wandsworth joint staffing committee report number 4, Councillor Hulk,
paragraph point 1 on page 11 is for information is that agreed, thank you, item 14 is the report of the Chief Executive and representatives on outside bodies, paper number 24 to
dash 1 98 are these recommendations agreed?
ITEM 15 as the supplementary item extended leave of absence paper number 24.
dash 2 0 207 is a recommendation approved
ITEM 16 is the proposed amendments to committee membership paper number 24 to dash 213 is a recommendation approved.
thank you, Councillors, that concludes the business of the meeting for this business have a good night.