Agenda and minutes

Democracy Commission - Wednesday 7 December 2011 7.00 pm

Venue: Ground Floor Meeting Room G02B - 160 Tooley Street, London SE1 2QH. View directions

Contact: Tim Murtagh  E-mail:  tim.murtagh@southwark.gov.uk Tel: 020 7525 7187

Items
No. Item

1.

Introduction and welcome by the Chair

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    Minutes:

    Councillor Abdul Mohamed welcomed councillors, officers and residents to the meeting.

2.

Apologies

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    Minutes:

    Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Michael Mitchell. There were apologies for lateness from Councillors Mark Glover and Cleo Soanes.

     

    The chair explained that Councillors Paul Noblet and Columba Blango would not be attending as they had withdrawn from the Democracy Commission. He added that no recommendations had been submitted on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group.

3.

Items of Business the Chair Deems Urgent

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    The chair to advise whether they have agreed to any items of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

    Minutes:

    There were none.

4.

Minutes

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    To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2011.

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    RESOLVED:

     

    That the minutes of the meeting held on 14 November 2011 be agreed as a correct record of the meeting, and signed by the chair subject to the following amendment:

     

    That the last paragraph of item 6, should state that members were to put forward options on behalf of their political groups.

5.

Shaping the Recommendations

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    Reports to follow

    Supporting documents:

    Minutes:

    Stephen Douglass introduced the report and the various options set out.

     

    The chair asked if there would be any constitutional hindrance to the recommendations. Ian Millichap said there would be none.

     

    Stephen Douglass introduced the submission on the future of community councils that Councillor Michael Mitchell had emailed. The submission recommended a reduction to seven community council areas, each holding four main meetings per year. More than half of the required savings would come from the community engagement budget.

     

    Members noted Councillor Michael Mitchell’s submission but disagreed with the retention of the Governor appointments function and said that the planning function should be changed. It was highlighted that 76% of planning applications between June 2010 – 2011 were heard after the expiry date, which meant that appeals could be launched for non-determination before the applications were considered by the community councils.

     

    Members thanked Councillor Michael Mitchell for his contribution to the overall process and for putting forward options for the commission to consider.

     

    Councillor Helen Morrissey introduced the Labour Group’s submission which proposed a saving of £344,170 to the community council budget by:

    • removing school governor appointments from community councils making a saving of £10,895
    • making general savings of £70,632 as previously identified by the commission
    • introducing a planning sub-committee model with two sub-committees making a saving of £92,238
    • changing community council boundaries to create 5 community council areas and reducing main meeting to 5 per year making a saving of £86,405
    • and reducing the neighbourhoods support making a saving of £85,000

     

    Cllr Morrissey also highlighted the recent budget commitment of £10,000 Cleaner Greener Safer revenue funding to be allocated to each community council area. Cllr Morrissey explained some of the key thoughts behind the proposal. In terms of introducing a planning sub-committee model she highlighted some of the difficulties for councillors in terms of deciding whether to take part in decisions at community council level or represent the interests of local residents and that decisions at this level can sometimes prevent councillors from getting involved in local campaigns on planning applications. It was expected that a sub-committee model would be introduced to consider minor planning applications which would retain some planning decisions at member level. Cllr Morrissey highlighted previous discussion of the commission which recognised the need to adjust the threshold of decisions taken by councillors so that the £92,238 saving could be achieved. Cllr Morrissey also indicated that the proportionality of planning sub-committees be explored so that all political groups are represented in some way. Officers advised that these issues would be picked up in a report to the constitutional steering panel.

     

    Cllr Morrissey explained that the Labour Group proposed that the community council areas be reduced from 8 to 5 with the following boundaries:

    • Merge Bermondsey and Rotherhithe
    • Merge Peckham and Nunhead and Peckham Rye
    • Retain Dulwich
    • Retain Camberwell and
    • Merge Borough and Bankside and Walworth

     

    It was proposed that the community councils meet 5 times a year. It was acknowledged that the community councils are a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Public Comments

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    Opportunity for residents in attendance to comment on any matters raised during the meeting.

    Minutes:

    There were none.