Members are asked to identify any disclosable pecuniary interests, other pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests relevant to items on the agenda.
Minutes:
Before inviting members to declare any interests, the Mayor asked Asmat Hussain, as Monitoring Officer to make a short statement regarding the declaration of interests’ requirements in relation to items 7, 12 and 15.2 on the agenda.
Item 7 – Opposition Business
The Monitoring Officer advised that members who were school governors, in the interests of openness and transparency, to declare this under “non-pecuniary interests”. Members who declared a non-pecuniary interest would be able to stay in the meeting and vote.
Item 12 - Members Allowances Scheme
Councillors had a standard exemption in the Constitution relating to members allowances, so no declaration of interests were required for this item. Members would be able to remain in the meeting and vote on the issue.
Item 15.2 – Motion on the Housing and Planning Bill
The Monitoring Officer reported that she had agreed to a dispensation for 26 Labour Councillors who felt that they might have disclosable pecuniary interests as they; their family; friends and close associates were tenants or landlords impacted by this bill. The dispensation was granted for this meeting only, on the grounds that it would impede the transaction of the business and/or affect the political balance of the council. These members were:
Councillor Abdul Abdullahi
Councillor Ali Bakir
Councillor Dinah Barry
Councillor Chris Bond
Councillor Alev Cazimoglu
Councillor Nesil Cazimoglu
Councillor Bambos Charalambous
Councillor Katherine Chibah
Councillor Guney Dogan
Councillor Christiana During
Councillor Christine Hamilton
Councillor Ahmet Hassan
Councillor Achilleas Georgiou
Councillor Doris Jiagge
Councillor Nneka Keazor
Councillor Adeline Kepez
Councillor Bernadette Lappage
Councillor Dino Lemonides
Councillor Mary Maguire
Councillor Ayfer Orhan
Councillor Ahmet Oykener
Councillor Vicki Pite
Councillor George Savva
Councillor Andrew Stafford
Councillor Claire Stewart
Councillor Doug Taylor
The Councillor Conduct Committee on 21 March 2016 had agreed a dispensation to Councillor Celebi, again for this meeting only, in relation to a disclosable pecuniary interest. Councillor Celebi is a landlord and represents other landlords in the borough. The dispensation will enable her to represent her constituent landlords, tenants and residents.
Having noted the advice provided the following interests were also declared at the meeting:
Agenda Item 7 Opposition Business
· Councillor Bambos Charalambous declared a disclosable pecuniary interest due to a family member having an interest in an academy trust.
· Councillor Toby Simon declared a non-pecuniary interest as the Chair of an Edmonton Primary School Governing Body.
· Councillor Abdullahi declared a non-pecuniary interest as a school governor.
· Councillor Savva declared a non-pecuniary interest as a school governor.
· Councillor Fonyonga declared a non-pecuniary interest as a school governor.
· Councillor Bond declared a non-pecuniary interest as a school governor.
· Councillor Achilleas Georgiou declared a non-pecuniary interest as a school governor.
· Councillor Jason Charalambous declared a non-pecuniary interest as a school governor.
· Councillor Doris Jiagge declared a non-pecuniary interest as a school governor
· Councillor Edward Smith declared a non-pecuniary interest as a school governor
· Councillor Peter Fallart declared a non-pecuniary interest as a school governor.
· Councillor Mike Rye declared a non-pecuniary interest as a school governor.
· Councillor Vince declared a non-pecuniary interest as a school governor.
· Councillor Elaine Hayward declared a non-pecuniary interest as a school governor
· Councillor Hurer declared a non-pecuniary interest as a school governor.
Agenda Item 15.2 Motion on Housing and Planning Bill
· Councillor Jason Charalambous declared a disclosable pecuniary interest. He left the meeting when the item was discussed and did not take part in the vote.
· Councillor McGowan declared a disclosable pecuniary interest. He left the meeting when the item was discussed and did not take part in the vote
· Councillor Alessandro Georgiou declared a disclosable pecuniary interest as a close family member was a council house tenant. He left the meeting when the item was discussed and did not take part in the vote.
· Councillor Nesimi Erbil declared a disclosable pecuniary interest as a landlord. She left the meeting when the item was discussed and did not take part in the vote.
The Monitoring Officer finally reminded members that the Council was in the purdah period for the forthcoming GLA and Mayoral elections. Members were therefore asked to exercise caution and refrain from making statements at this meeting that might show support for individual members or groups of members directly involved in the elections.