Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Mayor declared a prejudicial interest as a former Director of the Surrey

Canal Sports Foundation and withdrew from the meeting while the agenda

was considered.

The Mayor declared a prejudicial interest as a former Director of the Surrey

Canal Sports Foundation and withdrew from the meeting while the agenda

was considered.

Having considered an earlier debate at Council, and a formal presentation by

the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Alan Smith, the Cabinet agreed that:

(1) an independent Inquiry be established to investigate matters related to the

Council’s proposed compulsory purchase order of land at New

Bermondsey/Surrey Canal;

(2) the terms of reference for the Inquiry as set out in paragraph 5 be

approved;

(3) the Chair of the Bar Council be approached to appoint a QC who meets

the criteria set out in paragraph 6 to conduct the Inquiry and, if he is unable

to make such an appointment, to nominate an alternative intermediary with an

equal level of probity and independence;

(4) expenditure of up to £500,000 be approved for the conduct of this Inquiry;

(5) the Executive Director for Children and Young People be the Council’s

officer lead in relation to the establishment and conduct of the Inquiry;

(6) a cross party New Bermondsey/Surrey Canal Inquiry Committee be

established comprising four majority group members and the minority party

member to receive the report of the Inquiry, to receive periodic reports on

progress, expenditure incurred and to make recommendations to full Council

and Mayor and Cabinet for any action arising from the Inquiry; and

(7) if, in the course of the investigation, the person conducting the Inquiry is of

the view that there are any other matters which ought to be explored in the

context of the Inquiry, they should investigate those matters and report on

them to the Council.

In the absence of the Mayor, the meeting was chaired by Councillor Alan

Smith.

Where a report is received less than 5 clear days before the date of the

meeting at which the matter is being considered, then under the Local

Government Act 1972 Section 100(b)(4) the Chair of the Committee can take

the matter as a matter of urgency if he is satisfied that there are special

circumstances requiring it to be treated as a matter of urgency.  These special

circumstances were stated to be as follows:

This report was not available for the original dispatch because was drafted in

part in relation to continuing allegations appearing in the press. The report

was urgent and could not wait until the next meeting of Mayor & Cabinet and

Council because there was an urgent need for the Council to consider

whether to establish an Inquiry to inspire public confidence as soon as

possible.

Having considered an earlier debate at Council, and a formal presentation by

the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Alan Smith, the Cabinet:

RESOLVED that:

(1) an independent Inquiry be established to investigate matters related to the

Council’s proposed compulsory purchase order of land at New

Bermondsey/Surrey Canal;

(2) the terms of reference for the Inquiry as set out in paragraph 5 be

approved;

(3) the Chair of the Bar Council be approached to appoint a QC who meets

the criteria set out in paragraph 6 to conduct the Inquiry and, if he is unable

to make such an appointment, to nominate an alternative intermediary with an

equal level of probity and independence;

(4) expenditure of up to £500,000 be approved for the conduct of this Inquiry;

(5) the Executive Director for Children and Young People be the Council’s

officer lead in relation to the establishment and conduct of the Inquiry;

(6) a cross party New Bermondsey/Surrey Canal Inquiry Committee be

established comprising four majority group members and the minority party

member to receive the report of the Inquiry, to receive periodic reports on

progress, expenditure incurred and to make recommendations to full Council

and Mayor and Cabinet for any action arising from the Inquiry; and

(7) if, in the course of the investigation, the person conducting the Inquiry is of

the view that there are any other matters which ought to be explored in the

context of the Inquiry, they should investigate those matters and report on

them to the Council.

The meeting closed at 9.18pm