Questions from councillors are here - apparently it would cost £10k to migrate old council docs onto the new council website (why does the press office never say this kind of thing when asked?) #greenwich committees.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/Document.ashx?…
oh-ho, it's @Billo20Four7 with a public question on the willow trees on the Thames Path (fromthemurkydepths.co.uk/2020/01/11/gre…) - he wants a protection order put on the trees. Sizwe James says he will write to site owners #greenwich
@Billo20Four7 Now here's @Billo20Four7 again asking about the lack of enforcement of pavement parking. "Pavement parking should be enforced and if you have any examples then please write to me," says Jackie Smith, enforcement cabinet member. Her email box is about to explode #greenwich
@Billo20Four7 Troy Court - Sizwe James says the council needs to make money from housing to be able to build new leisure centre. (Thought: Surely the sale of the Waterfront's prime riverside side would cover this?) #greenwich 853.london/2020/01/24/cou…
@Billo20Four7 Sizwe James seems to be as caught unawares by the Troy Court demolition issue as the residents of Troy Court. #greenwich
@Billo20Four7 questions from councillors! Matt Hartley reiterates the good news about Christine Grice "those of us who have worked with her over the years, we are astounded about what she has achieved in the face of those challenges" #greenwich
@Billo20Four7 On the missing council papers on website, Matt Hartley suggests a middle way of publishing an index of what reports are available so people know what they have the right to ask for #Greenwich
@Billo20Four7 "This is all a little bit of a storm in a teacup," says Danny Thorpe (tick!) and he says he will take Matt Hartley's suggestion of an index of documents away with him #greenwich
Nigel Fletcher responds: "I think this answer is a public service for it reveals much about the culture of this borough" #greenwich
Danny Thorpe says: "I suppose someone had to lower the tone" - he then mocks Fletcher's role as a lecturer and says "some of us prefer real-world roles". "I know that every single Labour councillor in this chamber has been flat out engaging people" #greenwich
Tory Geoff Brighty suggests the Blackheath tea hut could move into the old toilets opposite, and asks about plans to bring the old building back into use. Sizwe James says it depends on talking to Crown Estates who are "incredibly slow" #greenwich
Always a relief that #Greenwich councillors and officers read the news and know where their boundary is 
Tory cllr Pat Greenwell speaks passionately about TfL's planned cancellation of its Safe Drive scheme for young people, a story that's gone a little under the radar. Denise Scott-McDonald is disappointed TfL wants to axe it and understands decision is being reviewed. #greenwich
Greenwich *could* follow Lewisham in banning idling on the roads, but Denise Scott-McDonald doesn't want to give a commitment #greenwich
What conversations have Greenwich had with Lewisham about controversial road closure schemes in Lee, asks Tory Charlie Davis. Denise Scott-McDonald says the situation is "delicate" and both officers and cllrs are discussing issue with Lewisham counterparts #greenwich
Bizarre row between Charlie Davis and Danny Thorpe over the Hervey Road playing field and Blackheath rugby club, not helped by the mayor losing control of what is going on. Whatever point anyone is making, it's been lost #greenwich
After the mess over the Hervey Road questions Tory cllr Spencer Drury opts not to ask any questions to save time, ending the tradition of about 3 years of council meetings with a question about Eltham police station #greenwich
One of Greenwich Labour's biggest problems is its habit of treating the mayoralty as a long-service award - many of the recipients simply can't chair meetings and it doesn't reflect well on the place #greenwich
Mehboob Khan raises the recent antisemitic attacks and how the council is helping EU and other residents in the lead-up to 31 Jan. Danny Thorpe says "the amazing thing has been the response" and pays tribute to the packed town hall for Holocaust Memorial Day event #greenwich
Thorpe: "Whatever side you were on [in the referendum] the values we held 75 years ago are the values we hold today." He calls for residents to call police first if they see evidence of other attacks #greenwich
Nigel Fletcher refers to his policymaking question - how do residents influence what the council does? Thorpe says "we engage with our communities at every level who influence and shape those polices" and cites climate emergency policy #greenwich
In a rare outbreak of common sense, the council meeting are going to deal with the motion on antisemitism before the barney about flytipping which we might not hang around for #greenwich
Now here's plans to take the poorest residents out of council tax. Finance cabinet member Christine Grice says she has been out with bailiffs and says she can appreciate how some people simply could't afford to pay even their reduced council tax #greenwich
Tory Matt Hartley says he is pleased to support this move and says it will cut the council's use of bailiffs by 10% "which is very welcome" - he has been on about this issue for some time, especially the council's use of bailiffs. He pays warm tribute to Grice #greenwich
Tory Matt Hartley says #Greenwich will be "one of the most progressive councils in the country" by scrapping council tax for its poorest residents. Christine Grice says 15,000 people will benefit
Now the council tax base (a technical motion ahead of setting council tax) and the always interesting sight of loads of Labour cllrs having to leave the meeting because they own second homes in #greenwich borough
Now the Carbon Neutral Evidence plan (item 14 here committees.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/CalendarofMeet…) which Denise Scott-McDonald says is an example of how the council listens to people. She talks up other councils declaring climate emergencies (a year ago she wasn't so sure, of course...) #greenwich
"This document is about us doing more," DSM says, as she declares ambition to reach net zero by 2030. She says on current trajectory, emissions will only go down by 27% by 2030. #greenwich
Danny Thorpe says "the climate challenge we face is unprecedented" and refers to Australia fires. Says council buildings and vehicles contribute to 5% of emissions, council housing 20%, so is vital to engage with business and communities #greenwich
"Covering the whole of Blackheath in trees would only be the equivalent of taking 150 cars off the road," Thorpe says - challenges would include replacing every gas boiler in borough, this are the issues that need to be discussed, he adds #greenwich
"Comforts that we have got used to like cheap and easy parking cannot continue," if we are to meet climate emergency, Thorpe says. #greenwich
Thorpe wants to begin "a wider community conversation" about the climate emergency over the coming months. (Not easy when the Silvertown Tunnel - which the council aided - hangs over the borough...) #greenwich
Tory Matt Clare says #Greenwich should 1) prioritise reducing its own emissions 2) get private sector to contribute 3) protect most vulnerable 4) seize all outside funding it can, build up cross-party group 5) work with other boroughs
Interestingly, Matt Clare says the Tories would support emissions-based parking charges just as Lewisham recently approved #greenwich 853.london/2020/01/16/pol…
Matt Hartley supports the plan and says it is important for councils to work together - points out Bromley has set out a 2029 target for net zero, and mentions that councils will need to collaborate as costs are "eyewateringly large" #greenwich
Hartley warns that some of the decisions needed to meet net zero will be "deeply unpopular" and calls on Danny Thorpe to work across party divide to achieve target #greenwich
Charlie Davis points out that even though the council voted to ban single-use plastics in the town hall, there are still plastic cups in the council chamber #greenwich
Deputy leader David Gardner says this is a "hugely ambitious" plan and says there are "severe challenges" including bringing the public with them, the council's capacity to do it, and says it needs govt leadership and funding too #greenwich
David Gardner talks up Waltham Forest's "mini-Holland" around Walthamstow, which would have seemed dangerously communist in this place a couple of years ago #greenwich
Once again, we are discussing the climate and no councillor has mentioned the Silvertown Tunnel. #greenwich
Woolwich Dockyard cllr Dominic Mbang is urging more use of solar energy to meet climate crisis #greenwich
It's not often Dominic Mbang speaks in a council meeting, which is giving us all the opportunity to admire his superbly tailored suit. Seriously, it's a lovely whistle. And with that, the evidence base is approved. #greenwich
Now a cross-party motion on standing together against antisemitism and racism. Danny Thorpe: "When something horrible happens in your place, you feel it." committees.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/Document.ashx?… #greenwich
Tory leader Matt Hartley: "Everyone is welcome here, regardless of race, religion, background and circumstances. The only people not welcome are the violent racists behind the antisemitic graffiti we saw at the weekend... they should feel our condemnation and pity" #greenwich
"All attempts to divide this borough are doomed to fail," Matt Hartley says, "we will do everything in our power as a united council to pull this up by the roots so this never happens again" #greenwich
After a speech in support from Peninsula cllr Chris Lloyd, the motion against antisemitism and racism is voted through.
We are now in the final motion, about flytipping and litter. Mayor Mick Hayes sounds bored and ticks Tory cllr Pat Greenwell off for talking for six minutes rather than five. #greenwich
David Gardner praises the work of the council's street sweeping staff, and says what a good job they do in Eltham High Street. "We want all councillors to be involved in clean-ups" in spring clean week at the end of March #greenwich
Mayor Mick Hayes commits himself to go on a Pat Greenwell litter pick and an amended motion passes. After five and a half hours, going for a lie down. Hope tweets have been useful. Night night. #greenwich
