Members of the Council are invited to identify any disclosable pecuniary other pecuniary or non pecuniary interests relevant to items on the agenda.
Minutes:
The Mayor invited John Austin (Assistant Director – Governance Projects) to make a short statement relating to the declaration of interests in respect of Agenda Item 7 (Budget 2015/16 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2015/16 to 2018/19 – General Fund) and Agenda Item 8: (Housing Revenue Account Estimates 2015/16 and Rent Setting – HRA & Temporary Accomodation).
Council noted:
1. Under guidance issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government members would not be required to declare a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest (DPA) in relation to the budget or setting of the Council Tax. This was on the basis that Council Tax liability would apply to the borough’s population as a whole, with councillors not having any unique position in that regard. The requirements within Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 would, however, still apply, which required any Member who was two or more months in arrears on their Council Tax to declare their position and not vote on any issue that could affect the calculation of the budget or Council Tax.
2. The Councillor Conduct Committee (May 2013) had also granted a dispensation for all members in terms of the declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests relating to the setting of housing rents
Subject to the requirements within Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, this would allow all members to participate in the debate and vote on decisions relating to the setting of the Council Tax and Housing Rents.
Having noted the advice provided, the following declaration of interests were made at the meeting:
Agenda Item 10: Review & Adoption of Statutory Pay Policy Statement – the following members declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest:
· Councillor Maguire as a full time employee of UNISON.
· Councillor Stewart given the interest declared by Councillor Maguire as a close family member.
· Councillor Lemonides as his spouse was a full time employee of the Local Authority.
· Councillor Orhan as a relative was an employee of the Council.
Agenda Item 11: Exercising Discretion under the Local Government Pension Scheme
(a) the following members declared a Discolsable Pecuniary Interest:
· Councillor Maguire as a full time employee of UNISON.
· Councillor Stewart given the interest declared by Councillor Maguire as a “close family member.
· Councillor Lemonides as his spouse was a full time employee of the Local Authority.
· Councillor Orhan as a relative was an employee of the Council.
(b) As a result of clarification provided at the meeting regarding the scope of the report, the following members declared Non-Pecuniary Interests:
· Councillor Achilleas Georgiou – as a member (not within Enfield) of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
· Councillor Anderson – as a member of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
Agenda Item 13: The Care Act 2014 – having noted that the item had only been submitted for information, Councillor Oykener declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest given his role in an organisation operating within the domiciliary care sector.
Agenda Item 15.6: Motion in the name of Councillor Taylor on Free School provision – Councillor Laban declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest given that a close family member was employed as a headteacher at a Free School operating within the Borough.