“This Council recognising the importance of volunteers in supporting local people and organisations calls on the Administration to evaluate its arrangements and policies supporting the Havering Volunteer Centre…” Havering Volunteer Centre1
The principal purpose of council meetings is debating motions. The council allocates 75 minutes for debate. Any councillor can contribute.
The opportunity to hold the Administration to account escaped the cold dead hands of opposition councillors at this meeting.
One Motion Only
Allocated Time ~ 75 minutes: Time used in debate ~ 26 minutes
Jane Keane (1 hour 10)2 began the debate with a thorough analysis of the role of volunteers. She highlighted the necessity of the Havering Volunteer Centre. This is a council owned property and rent could triple to £36,000 p.a. Jane emphasised the Centre’s location on Romford high street. The building is shared with three other volunteer groups.
David Taylor (1:15) discussed the added value of the voluntary sector, which is calculated at £20bn nationally. Viddy Persaud (1:18) said the Havering sector is valued at £1.2m. The human importance was movingly spoken of by Tim Ryan (1:28). Tim described the support his family received for his very ill father. Joshua Chapman (1:19) spoke of “social infrastructure” and its incalculable value.
Matt Stanton (1:26) named names. He described the work of one volunteer. By drilling down into specifics he made the debate concrete just like Tim.
Gillian Ford (1:20) discussed the alternative accommodation which had been offered but had been deemed unsuitable by the Volunteer Centre. Keith Prince (1:24) paraphrased Oscar Wilde3 by saying the Administration knew the cost of everything but the value of nothing.
Ray Morgon (1:31) supported the motion. Unfortunately, he also employed the term ‘reckless’ three times, alongside “have to evaluate”, “funding streams” and “fear-mongering”. Presumably this means ‘hard choices’ will be made.
Council Meeting
Allocated Time ~ Two hours 45 minutes: Time Used ~ One hour 36 minutes
Addendum: Questions and Debate Topics
As councillors are struggling to find questions and debate topics perhaps they should ask their constituents?
Notes
2 Annotator Player All times relate to the webcast
Politics in Havering 