Agenda and minutes

To elect a Chair for the duration of the meeting.

RESOLVED –

THAT Councillor Jenny Headlam-Wells be elected as the Chair for this meeting.

To agree the procedures for the operation of hybrid meetings.

RESOLVED –

THAT the guidance on hybrid meetings be noted.   

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Olad and apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Revah.

There were no declarations.

Requests to speak at the Committee on a matter within its terms of reference must be made in writing to the clerk named on the front of this agenda by 5pm two working days before the meeting.

There were no deputations.

Broadcast of the meeting

The Chair to announce the following: ‘In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to having your contributions recorded and broadcast, including video when switched on, and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.’

Any other announcements

The Chair announced,

 ‘In addition to the rights by law that the public and press have to record this meeting, I would like to remind everyone that this meeting is being broadcast live by the Council to the Internet and can be viewed on our website for twelve months after the meeting. After that time, webcasts are archived and can be made available upon request.

If you have asked to address the meeting, you are deemed to be consenting to having your contributions recorded and broadcast, including video when switched on, and to the use of those sound recordings and images for webcasting and/or training purposes.’

There was no urgent business.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th October 2022.

RESOLVED -

THAT the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th October 2022 be agreed as an accurate record.

Report of the Leader of the Council.

To consider the Annual Statement of the Leader of the Council.

Consideration was given to the Leader of the Council’s Annual Statement.  

Councillor Georgia Gould, Leader of the Council introduced her report, that began with the challenges that had been faced in recent times. How the borough had come together and the well of resilience and compassion amongst Camden’s communities, Council officers, neighbours and friends to meet those challenges. She spoke of how the borough had adapted the way vital services were delivered, had ensured that everybody had access to food, could stay safe in their homes, that children had access to digital devices to learn on, and had provided financial support and advice to local businesses. In working together, there had been a realisation of the difference that could be made by bringing a collective creativity to tackling new challenges.

The learning from these experiences had stood the Council in good stead for a year that had tested the borough further. Whilst building back after the pandemic, Camden’s communities had been faced with a deepening Cost of Living Crisis, which meant that it had been difficult for residents to meet basic living costs this winter. It had forced many to make incredibly difficult choices about whether to heat their homes or put food on the table. Yet again, this crisis was not one that affected everyone equally and had further widened the inequality that existed in the borough, with inflation significantly higher for the lowest income households and disproportionately affecting women, Black, Asian and other minority communities.

As a Council, Camden had pledged to work with the voluntary sector, residents and across services to make sure nobody went cold and hungry this winter and Camden had stepped in with a package of support to help those in financial crisis.

Councillor Gould was proud of the way that the Council had once again stepped in to support Camden’s communities and paid tribute to her Cabinet colleagues, dedicated Council officers and community partners, without whom those in most need would not have been reached. 

Councillor Georgia Gould and Councillor Pat Callaghan, Deputy Leader of the Council, were thanked for the report and then provided the following responses to questions and points made by the scrutiny committee Chairs:

The Cost of Living Crisis had affected residents facing rent increases who were not eligible for benefits. How were they being supported and what enhanced services were there for disabled residents?  

·       The Cost of Living Crisis had seen people who had previously donated to food banks having to use them. The Council had provided an information booklet on the Cost of Living to all residents to make sure that everyone was aware of the services that were available. The universal provision of Free School Meals at primary schools in the borough would help to support families. Other support from the Council included Breakfast Clubs, community spaces where people were welcomed and able to keep warm. Assistance was being provided to help set up food cooperatives to bulk buy food to help save money. Help was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

There was no such business.