in the council chamber of Hafnarborg
All the main town councillors were present. The Mayor of the Town Council, Kristinn Andersen, opened the meeting and chaired it. The agenda was then proceeded with.
All the main town councillors were present. The Mayor of the Town Council, Kristinn Andersen, opened the meeting and chaired it. The agenda was then proceeded with.
Election of a deputy to the Board of the Capital Region Fire and Rescue Service Ltd. (SHS).
In accordance with item 12 of section A of Article 39 of the Municipal Regulations for the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður, the Mayor is automatically elected as a main member to the board of SHS, while the Municipal Council shall elect one deputy for a one-year term.
New chairman elected for the Blue Mountain Committee/Capital Region Ski Area.
The town council unanimously agrees that Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson, of Brekkuás 5, will be the substitute member on the SHS board.
It was also unanimously agreed that Kristín María Thoroddsen, of Burknabergi 4, will be the main member on the board of the Co-operation Committee for the Operation of the Capital Region's Ski Areas, and Valdimar Víðisson, of Brekkuás 7, as her substitute.
It was also unanimously agreed that Einar Baldvin Brimar Þórðarson, of Lækjarbergi 34, will join the board of the Marketing Bureau of Hafnarfjörður, replacing Jóhanna Erla Guðjónsdóttir, who is stepping down from the board.
Item 1 from the minutes of the Town Council meeting of 30 August.
Rósa Steingrímsdóttir, Director of the Finance Department, attends the meeting.
A loan agreement was presented in accordance with the 2018 budget.
Proposal for a resolution:
Decision to take out a loan from the Municipal Loan Fund, secured by a charge on the municipality's revenues:
The Town Board proposes to the Town Council: „The Town Council of Hafnarfjörður hereby approves the Housing Office of Hafnarfjörður taking out a loan from the Municipal Loan Fund in the amount of 406,063.898, in accordance with the approved terms of the loan, which are before the meeting.
The municipality's revenues shall secure the loans, pursuant to the authority in subsection 2 of section 68 of the Municipalities Act No. 138/2011.
Furthermore, Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, personal tax number 291165.3899, Mayor on behalf of Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, personal number 291165.3899, Mayor on behalf of the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður, is hereby granted full and unlimited authority to sign a loan agreement with the Municipal Loan Fund in accordance with the foregoing, as well as to receive, sign and issue, and hand over any and all documents, instructions and notices relating to this loan.“
Decision to take out a loan from the Municipal Loan Fund, secured by a charge on the municipality's revenues:
The Town Board proposes to the Town Council: „The Town Council of Hafnarfjörður hereby approves the Housing Office of Hafnarfjörður taking out a loan from the Municipal Loan Fund in the amount of 406,063.898, in accordance with the approved terms of the loan, which are before the meeting.
The municipality's revenues shall secure the loans, pursuant to the authority in subsection 2 of section 68 of the Municipalities Act No. 138/2011.
Furthermore, Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, personal tax number 291165.3899, Mayor on behalf of Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, personal tax number 291165.3899, Mayor on behalf of the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður, is hereby granted full and unlimited authority to sign a loan agreement with the Municipal Loan Fund in accordance with the foregoing, as well as to receive, sign and issue, and deliver any and all documents, instructions and notices relating to this loan.
Mayor Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir speaks.
The Hafnarfjörður Town Council unanimously approves the Hafnarfjörður Housing Office taking out a loan from the Municipal Loan Fund in the amount of 406,063.898, in accordance with the approved terms of the loan agreement, which is before the meeting.
The municipality's revenues shall secure the loans, pursuant to the authority in subsection 2 of section 68 of the Municipalities Act No. 138/2011.
Furthermore, Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, personal number 291165-3899, Mayor on behalf of Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, personal tax number 291165-3899, Mayor on behalf of the Municipality of Hafnarfjörður, is hereby granted full and unlimited authority to sign a loan agreement with the Municipal Loan Fund in accordance with the foregoing, and also to receive, sign and issue, and deliver any and all documents, instructions and notices relating to this loan.
Item 9 from the minutes of the Town Council meeting of 30 August.
A plot application has been submitted for the plot at Glimmerskarð 3. The applicants are Sigurjón Atli Benediktsson, VAT no. 070481-5619, and Jóna Draumey Hilmarsdóttir, VAT no. 240183-3909.
The Town Council agrees to allocate the plot at Glimmerskarð 3 in accordance with the application on file and refers the matter to the Borough Council for final approval.
The town council unanimously agrees to allocate the plot of land at Glimmerskarð 3 in accordance with the decision of the town board.
A response to the questions has been submitted.
Item 1 from the minutes of the town council meeting of 15 August.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir speaks. The mayor, Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, also speaks. Jón Ingi Hákonarson makes a point of order and Rósa responds to it. Guðlaug Svala Steinunnar Kristjánsdóttir also makes a point of order, and then Adda María does so.
Next, Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir takes the floor. For the second time, Adda María Jóhannsdóttir takes the floor and puts forward the following question:
Sections 62 and 63 of the Municipal Government Act No. 138/2011 deal with financial statements and the binding effect of the decisions set out therein. Article 63, paragraph 1, states, inter alia: „A decision taken by the municipal council pursuant to paragraph 1 of Article 62 on the financial plan for the coming year is a binding rule on all financial measures by the municipality.“ Furthermore, paragraph 2 of the same article states, "It is prohibited to deviate from the budget in accordance with paragraph 1 unless the municipal council has previously approved an amendment to the budget. This applies to any decisions, contracts or other financial measures that entail changes to revenues, expenditures, liabilities or transfers between items in the budget within an already adopted budget. An amendment is not valid unless it also includes a detailed provision for how the resulting reduction in expenditure or increase in revenue will be met. This also applies even if the total expenditure or total revenue does not change as a result of its adoption.
In reference to the aforementioned provisions of the Municipal Act, we, the undersigned minority councillors of the town council, request an answer as to whether, and if so how, a change to the plan for the construction of a football hall at Kaplakriki complies with the provisions of the Act.
Responses are requested by the next council meeting at the latest.
This is requested in light of the fact that an agenda for tomorrow's council meeting on 16 August has already been circulated, which includes a proposal to make an amendment and establish a working group on the implementation.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir
Bjarney Grendal Jóhannesdóttir
Guðlaug Svala Steinunnar Kristjánsdóttir
Jón Ingi Hákonarson
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir speaks for the second time and makes the following statement:
The undersigned draws attention to the fact that the budget still provides for the construction of a football hall by the town. No one has proposed any changes to that plan, except for the majority, who did so only last week.
No evidence has been presented by the majority regarding the valuation, ownership or condition of the three properties in question, namely the sports hall, Risa and Dverg. No evidence was presented at last week's council meeting as to why this matter had to be dealt with in the haste that it was, and requests from minority party representatives for time to gather evidence were not acceded to. It was also denied that this was a matter of a budget amendment, but a meeting notice for the town council tomorrow, 16th August, has now been issued, which includes the aforementioned addendum.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir takes the floor. Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson makes a point of order, and Guðlaug responds to it. Ágúst Bjarni then makes a second point of order, to which Guðlaug also responds for a second time.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir speaks. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir rises to make a point of order. Adda María replies. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir rises to make a point of order a second time. Adda María replies a second time. Also, Ingi Tómason interjects during Adda María's speech. Adda María replies to the interjection. Ingi interjects a second time. Adda María replies to the interjection. Then, Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson interjects during Adda María's speech. Adda María replies to the interjection.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir speaks a second time.
Meeting adjourned at 18:02.
The meeting resumed at 18:11.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir makes the following reservation:
Councillors for the Civic List, the Social Democratic Alliance and Renewal make an observation regarding the submitted responses, which cite Article 75 of the Municipal Government Act and its accompanying regulations.
The regulation states, in Annex III, p. 59: “Authorisation for transfers within functional areas in accordance with paragraph 1 is conditional on the local authority having previously approved specific procedures for carrying out such transfers, which must clearly state, among other things, which of the authority's employees are authorised to do so."
These procedures have been requested, but it emerged during the mayor's address today that the rules do not exist. Confirmation of this is requested. If they do not exist, we reiterate our question as to how this amendment to the budget can comply with the provisions of the Local Government Act, as per the original enquiry.
A response to the questions has been submitted.
Item 2 from the minutes of the town council meeting of 15 August.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir speaks. Also speaking is Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson. Adda María Jóhannsdóttir replies.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir takes the floor and the Mayor, Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, responds. Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir replies to the response. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir responds for a second time and Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir replies to the response for a second time. Also replying is Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson. Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir replies.
Councillor Bjarney Grendal Jóhannesdóttir speaks and puts forward the following question:
At a meeting of the Hafnarfjörður Town Council on 10 May 2017, it was agreed that upon the review of the partnership agreement with ÍBH, the town's 100% share in sports facilities built with the participation of the municipality would be the basis for the future.
Based on that resolution and following a decision taken in the town council regarding a change of policy concerning the development of a sports hall in Kaplakriki, the undersigned town councillors request information about the current majority's policy regarding the construction of sports facilities and whether there are plans to aftrecall the Town Council's resolution from 10 May 2017.
Responses are requested by the next council meeting at the latest.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir
Bjarney Grendal Jóhannesdóttir
Guðlaug Svala Steinunnar Kristjánsdóttir
Jón Ingi Hákonarson
Sigrún Sverrisdóttir
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir speaks again and makes the following motion:
The mayor stated that councillors should have familiarised themselves with the property division agreements concerning the area at Kaplakriki. The undersigned points out that the property partition agreements have not been available in the documents until the run-up to today's meeting, and then only following requests from the minority party's representatives, neither the current agreement nor the draft for the amended property partition.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir speaks. Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson replies. Adda María responds to the reply. Ágúst Bjarni replies a second time and Adda María responds to the second reply.
Sigurður Þ. Ragnarsson speaks.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir also speaks.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir makes the following statement on behalf of the minority:
Representatives of the Social Democrats, the Civic List, the Centre Party and Viðreisn have noted the poor responses to the question before them. The question concerned the current majority's policy on the construction of sports facilities. The answers are vague, and it is therefore not answered whether the cross-party consensus that existed in the Hafnarfjörður town council when the decision was made on the 10th. May 2017 to assume a 100% share in sports facilities built with the participation of the municipality.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir
Friðþjófur Helgi Karlsson
Guðlaug Svala Steinunnar Kristjánsdóttir
Jón Ingi Hákonarson
Sigurður Þ. Ragnarsson
A response to the questions has been submitted.
Item 3 from the municipal council's minutes of 15 August.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir speaks. Also speaking is Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir. Mayor Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir replies. Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir replies to the reply. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir replies a second time, and Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir replies to the second reply.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir speaks a second time. Mayor Rósa Gubjartsdóttir replies. Adda María Jóhannsdóttir replies to the response.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir takes the floor and puts forward the following questions:
The Municipal Government Act provides, among other things, for the responsible management of the municipality's funds by councillors, and section 65 of the Municipal Government Act No. 138/2011 states, in part, the following: „The local council shall exercise responsibility in the management of the municipality's finances and safeguard them in a responsible manner…“
One of the buildings in Kaplakriki, the sports hall, which is now planned to be purchased, is believed to have been gifted to FH by the town council in 1989. According to the agreement made at the time, various conditions were to be fulfilled from 2005 onwards, which then appears not to have been done. The actual gift deed has therefore not been completed, and the property is still recorded as an asset of the municipal fund in the council's books, at 80%. It is clear from this that the alleged gift has not been expensed in the council's accounts. Should the town now purchase the property outright, the gift transaction will, among other things, need to be charged to the accounts.
Should the majority's plan in this matter be carried out, the undersigned minority councillors request an answer as to how the expenditure of hundreds of millions of kroner for this alleged gift transaction is intended to be met in the municipality's 2018 annual accounts, so that there will be no deficit in the operatingtri A of the municipal budget. Furthermore, we request an answer as to how these proposed purchases of our own property are considered to be in accordance with Article 65 of the Municipal Act on the prudent management of the municipality's finances.
A reply is requested no later than before the next council meeting.
According to information from the former mayor, an external lawyer was working on a memorandum regarding the aforementioned agreement with FH at the end of the last term of office for the municipality.
The undersigned minority councillors of the town council request that this memorandum be presented, no later than the next meeting of the town council.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir
Bjarney Grendal Jóhannesdóttir
Guðlaug Svala Steinunnar Kristjánsdóttir
Jón Ingi Hákonarson
Sigrún Sverrisdóttir
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir takes the floor.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir also speaks. Ingi Tómason rises in reply to Guðlaug's speech. Guðlaug replies to the reply. Ingi rises for a second time in reply. Guðlaug replies for a second time. Ingi rises for a short remark.
Adda María makes the following reservation:
Representatives of the Social Democratic Party, the Civic List and Viðreisn take issue with the response to the submitted question, which states that the transaction has no impact on cash flow. The question concerned the operation of the municipal treasury's general fund, as the reversed value of the City of Hafnarfjörður's 80% share must appear somewhere in the municipality's accounts. Likewise, this must then have an effect on the year's operating result. We therefore reiterate our question regarding the effect that the accounting transaction of fulfilling the gift deed for the city's share in the sports hall at Kaplakriki has on the operations of the A-section municipal fund.
A response to the questions has been submitted.
Item 4 from the minutes of the town council meeting of 15 August.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir speaks. Mayor Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir replies. Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir replies to the response.
Jón Ingi Hákonarson speaks and puts forward the following questions:
As far as can be ascertained, the assumptions underlying the calculation of the rent paid by the town to FH for the hire of time slots in Risan, the sports hall, at the time, it was assumed that the rent would be sufficient to cover the operating costs of the sports hall and the repayments and interest on loans taken out for its construction, over the agreed lease term.
In light of this, it is requested that the town's auditor be asked to verify this information. If it proves to be correct, the undersigned minority councillors request a response from the majority on whether they consider it justifiable and whether it is in accordance with Art. 65 of the Municipal Act on the responsible management of finances, to pay FH the full price for Risann now and thereby effectively finance the building for a second time.
It is requested that a response to the query be provided no later than the next council meeting.
Pursuant to section 65 of the Local Government Act, the undersigned minority councillors of the town council request that the town's auditor be commissioned to analyse how rent payments from the council for the Risan have been accounted for since the beginning of the lease term. In this regard, a detailed analysis of the operating accounts of FH-knatthúsa ehf. from the outset will be carried out.
It is requested that the analysis be available no later than before the next town council meeting.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir
Bjarney Grendal Jóhannesdóttir
Guðlaug Svala Steinunnar Kristjánsdóttir
Jón Ingi Hákonarson
Sigrún Sverrisdóttir
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir speaks a second time and puts forward the following questions:
In discussions held with the management of FH during the last term regarding the sports halls, it emerged that significant debts are attached to the sports halls which are now to be purchased and paid for in full.
With reference to this, the undersigned minority councillors of the town council request detailed information on the total amount of these debts and how FH intends to meet the repayment of principal and interest. Furthermore, we request an answer as to whether the council is expected to hire time from FH in the new building. If so, what is the anticipated cost for this time?
It is requested that the information be presented no later than before the next council meeting.
In recent years, FH has undertaken various works at the FH facilities on behalf of the municipality. These include, for example, a fast-track works contract, a payment last year for the extraction of material from the site of a proposed sports hall, and so on. The municipality has paid FH in full for these works. It is important that before any further agreements are entered into with FH, it is established whether the club has fully settled its accounts with the contractors who have worked on the aforementioned projects.
In light of this, the undersigned minority councillors of the town council request that the town auditor be engaged to verify that there are no debts outstanding in respect of these works.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir
Bjarney Grendal Jóhannesdóttir
Guðlaug Svala Steinunnar Kristjánsdóttir
Jón Ingi Hákonarson
Sigrún Sverrisdóttir
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir speaks. Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson replies. Guðlaug responds to the reply. Ingi Tómason then replies to Guðlaug's speech, to which she in turn responds.
Adda María takes the floor next. Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson replies. Adda María responds to the reply. Ágúst Bjarni replies a second time. Adda María replies to the intervention a second time. Ingi Tómason also rises in intervention to Adda María's speech, and Adda María replies to the intervention. Ingi Tómason rises in intervention a second time. Adda María replies to the intervention a second time. Ingi then makes a short statement, followed by a short statement from Adda María.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir speaks a second time. Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson replies. Guðlaug replies to the reply. Ágúst Bjarni replies a second time.
Adda María makes the following statement on behalf of the Social Democratic Alliance, the Renewal Party and the Civic List:
In response to the first part of the question, regarding the operating figures for the FH football halls, the last two years, 2016 and 2017, are missing. The question is hereby reiterated with regard to these two years, and it is requested that an audit be carried out for these years by an auditor, in the same manner as for the years 2008-15. Regarding the second part of the question, it is not answered how FH intends to settle its outstanding debts, which amount to a total of around 330 million. It is suggested that payments will be based on rent payments from the council for the new building. Confirmation is requested as to whether this is the case and what the necessary annual rent will be, i.e. what the council's future cost will be in respect of these debts. In the third point, it was requested that the town's auditor be asked to verify that there are no debts relating to these works. This refers to the date of the query regarding this payment status, i.e., what the position was on 15 August 2018. It is reiterated that this request will be answered.
A response to the questions has been submitted.
Appointment to a working group.
Item 5 from the municipal council's minutes of 15 August.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir speaks. Also speaking is Sigrún Sverrisdóttir, who puts forward the following question:
As no documents were available for the town council meeting on 8 August. As no information was presented at the council's meeting on 8 August, where a decision was taken to change the plans for the construction of a football hall in Kaplakriki, the undersigned minority councillors request a valuation and an assessment of the condition of the sports facilities in Kaplakriki referred to in the framework agreement, which the council intends to purchase.
The answers to the query must be provided no later than before the next town council meeting.
At the town council meeting on 8th August, where a decision was made on revised plans for the construction of a sports hall in Kaplakriki, it was stated that the outcome of the tender for the project had been appealed and that an appeal process is underway. The undersigned minority councillors request information on the council's position and the works at Kaplakriki in relation to this appeal, and whether it is permissible to proceed with procurement for the sports hall before the appeal is resolved.
Responses are requested by the next council meeting at the latest.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir
Bjarney Grendal Jóhannesdóttir
Guðlaug Svala Steinunnar Kristjánsdóttir
Jón Ingi Hákonarson
Sigrún Sverrisdóttir
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir speaks and submits the following motion:
The undersigned takes serious exception to the fact that councillors and the town council were not informed of a complaint that has been received regarding the tendering process for the proposed works at Kaplakriki. The complaint was raised at the council's meeting last week, and the council's legal counsel informed the meeting that it was being addressed. I express my surprise at the practice of not informing elected representatives about a complaint against the municipality at the earliest possible opportunity, as the complaint was received in June. Especially when it concerns a matter that is ongoing and given that discussions between elected representatives regarding cost estimates and tender prices are obviously sensitive in light of this complaint process.
Break in the meeting: 10:59.
The meeting resumed at 11:09.
Mayor Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir speaks and puts forward a motion regarding the decision of the town council, acting on behalf of the town board, from 8th August. that the decision of the Town Board, acting on behalf of the Town Council, of 8 August last regarding the framework agreement between the Borough of Hafnarfjörður and the Hafnarfjörður Gymnastics Society on an exchange of property and the construction of a new sports hall at Kaplakriki is hereby confirmed.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir rises to make a motion to the agenda that this item be taken up after item 6 has been discussed. The motion reads as follows:
„I move that the agenda be amended to defer the conclusion of item 5 and consider item 6 before proceeding with the Mayor's proposal. I propose this because under item 6, the minority will present documents and information that are likely to influence the vote on the motion from last week's council meeting regarding the framework agreement. When item 6 is concluded, item 5 will be proceeded with and a vote will be taken on the mayor's motion.“
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir speaks under the rules of procedure. Also Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir. Adda María speaks a second time on the rules of procedure. Also, Ólafur Ingi Tómasson speaks on the rules of procedure. Then Adda María speaks a third time on the rules of procedure, followed by Ólafur Ingi for a second time and then Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir.
Break in the meeting at 11:31.
The meeting resumed at 11:41.
The President puts the motion by Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir, that this item be taken up after item 6, to the vote. The motion is defeated by 6 votes to 5.
Break at 11:45.
The meeting resumed at 12:12.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir speaks and submits the following motion regarding a motion that has been dealt with:
The undersigned councillors express their surprise that the majority councillors refuse to allow a discussion on item 6 of the agenda to take place before the mayor's proposed framework agreement is dealt with, not least in light of the fact that minority councillors have stated that item 6 will contain information which has a direct bearing on the councillors' ability to make an informed decision. This is therefore an impediment to councillors making an informed decision. It is recalled that councillors are bound only by their own conviction, which they are entitled to form on the basis of information.
It seems the majority are approaching the discussion at this meeting as a token gesture, just like the framework agreement that was pushed through in the town council last week. If there is no willingness to listen to the arguments in the matter through to the end, there cannot be much seriousness behind the majority's participation in this conversation.
Guðlaug also puts forward the following proposal for the meeting:
„Article 65 of the Municipal Government Act states that the municipal council shall exercise due care in the management of the municipality's finances. At today's council meeting, it has been repeatedly asked and requested for information as to whether the proposal for a framework agreement, which was approved by the council's executive committee last week, complies with the Local Government Act, particularly section 65. Responses to these questions have been requested for the next council meeting, which is scheduled for in a week's time. As these are fundamental questions in this matter, it is demanded that no decisions be taken on it until all the answers are available. Therefore, the minority group proposes that item 5 be postponed until the next council meeting.“
The Chair puts the motion to postpone the matter, which is defeated by a vote of 6 to 5.
The chairman then puts forward the proposal made by the mayor, regarding the decision of the town council, acting on behalf of the town board, of 8th August. that the decision of the Town Council, acting on behalf of the Town Board, of 8th August last regarding the framework agreement between the Borough of Hafnarfjörður and the Hafnarfjörður Gymnastics Society on an exchange of property and the construction of a new sports hall at Kaplakriki is hereby confirmed. The proposal is approved with 6 votes in favour from the majority and 5 votes against from the minority.
Oskar Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir requests a roll call:
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir Yes
August Bjarni Garðarsson Yes
Bjarney Grendal Jóhannesdóttir No
Godbjörg Oddný Yes
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir No
Jón Ingi Hákonarson No
Kristín María Thoroddsen Yes
Ólafur Ingi Tómsson Yes
Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir No
Sigrún Sverrisdóttir No
Kristinn Andersen Yes
Adda María explains her vote. Also Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir, Jón Ingi Hákonarson, Sigrun Sverrisdóttir and Bjarney Grendal Jóhannesdóttir.
Adda María submits the following motion:
The undersigned representatives of the minority on the town council question whether this decision by the majority complies with Article 65 of the Local Government Act. Article of the Municipal Act on the responsible management of municipal finances, and we will refer today's decision by the council majority to the Ministry of Transport and Municipal Affairs for a ruling.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir
Bjarney Grendal Jóhannesdóttir
Guðlaug Svala Steinunnar Kristjánsdóttir
Jón Ingi Hákonarson
Sigrún Sverrisdóttir
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir speaks. Ágúst Bjarni Garðasson rises to reply. Adda María replies to the reply. Ágúst Bjarni rises to reply a second time.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir speaks. Ingi Tómasson replies. Guðlaug responds to the reply. Ingi replies a second time. Guðlaug responds to the reply a second time.
Speaker: Kristín María Thoroddsen. Intervening: Guðlaug Krisjánsdóttir. Also intervening: Adda María Jóhannsdóttir and Sigurður Þ. Ragnarsson. Kristín Thoroddsen replies to the interventions. Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson also intervenes in response to Kristín's speech.
Adda María speaks under the rules of procedure.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir puts forward the following proposal:
I propose that in light of the information that has emerged today, in the answers to questions from the minority regarding matters concerning the works at Kaplakriki on the basis of the newly agreed framework agreement, that all decisions in this matter be postponed until these details, the financial assumptions and all these communications have been reviewed. Furthermore, further questions have been raised in the matter which provide cause to await further developments and decisions based on the framework agreement until they have been answered.
Meeting adjourned at 21:04.
The meeting resumed at 21:15.
The President puts the motion to the vote and a roll-call vote is requested.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir No
August Bjarni Garðarsson No
Friðþjófur Helgi Karlsson Yes
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir Yes
Helga Ingólfsdóttir sits on
Jón Ingi Hákonarson Yes
Kristín María Thoroddsen No
Ólafur Ingi Tómsson No
Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir Yes
Sigurður Þ Ragnarsson is sitting with
Kristinn Andersen No
The proposal is defeated by 5 votes to 4. Two councillors abstain from the vote.
Adda María explains her vote. Also Friðþjófur Helgi Karlsson, Jón Ingi Hákonarson. Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir makes the following statement.
Postponing the implementation of the framework agreement does not amount to cancelling the construction of the sports hall, but rather that it will be built by the council on the basis of a tender, as was approved in the 2018 budget.
Sigurður Þ Ragnarsson also explains his vote.
A response to the questions has been submitted.
Item 6 from the minutes of the town council meeting of 15 August.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir speaks. Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson replies. Adda María replies to the reply.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir speaks. Mayor Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir responds.
Jón Ingi Hákonarson speaks. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir replies. Jón Ingi replies to the reply.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir speaks for the second time.
Adda María speaks for the second time and puts forward the following questions:
Following the mayor's statements in Morgunblaðið on Saturday, 11th August, the undersigned minority councillors of the town council request an explanation for the mayor's comments, in which she states that it was a coincidence that this matter was taken up at the council's meeting on 8th August. when it was specifically called for at the meeting.
It is requested that the answers to the query be available no later than the next council meeting.
In light of how suddenly the council committee meeting was called on 8th August last. with the minimum legal notice, on the basis that the matter needed to be expedited, the undersigned minority councillors request documents that can shed light on the unexpected development in the matter which necessitated such urgent handling that it was not possible to wait to convene the town council.
It is requested that the data be available no later than the next council meeting.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir
Bjarney Grendal Jóhannesdóttir
Guðlaug Svala Steinunnar Kristjánsdóttir
Jón Ingi Hákonarson
Sigrún Sverrisdóttir
Adda María also submits the following reservation:
A decision to change the plans for the construction of a sports hall was taken at an emergency meeting of the town council held on 8 August, where only 3 of the 11 councillors approved a change of direction regarding the development of sports facilities. Councillors were given extremely short notice of the matter and there was a significant lack of data and information regarding its rationale.
Representatives of the parties in the minority on the town council question the legality of the decision and have sought an opinion from the lawyers of the Association of Icelandic Local Authorities on the matter. The opinion confirms our understanding that the decision does not comply with the Municipal Act and should therefore be annulled. The opinion (which is attached to the case) states, among other things, that the right of the town council to make a final decision only applies when significant financial interests are not at stake and the decision falls within the budget. The opinion emphasises that it is not permissible to deviate from the formal requirement set out in the first sentence of the fifth paragraph of Article 35, „that there must be no disagreement within the council regarding the decision,“ The opinion also refers to a judgment delivered by the Vesturland District Court on 21 March 2007, where a decision by the Snæfellsbær town council was deemed unlawful because there was no unanimity on the decision within the council.
Based on this opinion, the undersigned representatives of the municipal council minority request that the aforementioned decision of the municipal council's executive board from 8th August be declared null and void and revoked due to procedural flaws, and that no further action be taken in the matter until the questions raised at the meeting have been answered. Subsequently, the matter can be dealt with in accordance with the municipal regulations and the provisions of the Municipal Act.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir
Bjarney Grendal Jóhannesdóttir
Guðlaug Svala Steinunnar Kristjánsdóttir
Jón Ingi Hákonarson
Sigrún Sverrisdóttir
Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson interjects in response.
Meeting recess at 13:08.
The meeting resumed at 13:16.
Ágúst Bjarni takes the floor and makes the following statement:
The Chairman of the Municipal Council requests that it be recorded that the Municipal Solicitor will be instructed to seek an opinion from the Association of Icelandic Municipalities, which the minority representatives have cited here at the Municipal Council meeting.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir speaks. Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson replies. Adda María replies to the reply.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir speaks.
Ingi Tómasson also speaks and puts forward the following motion: „That the town council approve that, from now on, its meetings shall commence at 14:00“.
Helga Ingólfsdóttir speaks.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir also speaks. Ingi Tómasson rises to reply. Adda María replies to the reply. Ingi rises to reply a second time. Adda María makes a second response and moves that the presiding committee be tasked with reviewing the council's meeting times and making a proposal on the matter. Ágúst Bjarni Garðarsson rises to reply.
The Mayor puts forward the proposal that the Mayor's Committee meet during a council meeting to consider the matter and make a proposal on it, and it is unanimously approved.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir makes the following statement, which applies to the first part of the debate under this agenda item:
Representatives of the Social Democratic Alliance, the Civic List and Viðreisn have serious reservations about the answers given to our questions under this item. It was no coincidence that the matter was raised during the summer holidays, necessitating a special meeting of the town council on the shortest legally permissible notice. It was clear to everyone that the meeting was called specifically for this matter.
We also reiterate our requests for documents that could shed light on the developments that necessitated such urgency in the case. Those documents are not available, and the response presented here today offers no explanation as to why the matter was rushed through with such haste.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir
Friðþjófur Helgi Karlsson
Guðlaug Svala Steinunnar Kristjánsdóttir
Jón Ingi Hákonarson
Flat for disabled people
A proposal from the representatives of the Social Democratic Party
The Law on the Affairs of Disabled Persons provides for the right of disabled people to housing solutions in accordance with their needs and wishes, as far as possible. In light of the long waiting lists and lengthy waiting times for suitable housing for disabled people, the town council instructs the Family Council to immediately begin an investigation into how the acute crisis in this area can be overcome. The review must be completed by the end of October so that funding for the project can be included in next year's budget.
Explanatory note:
Everyone has the right to a roof over their head, and disabled people have the right to housing solutions in accordance with their needs and wishes, as far as possible, as set out in the Law on the Affairs of Disabled People. It is the responsibility of the municipal council to address the housing needs of those who require assistance with securing accommodation. The municipal council should also take the initiative to resolve the housing difficulties of this group. According to the Family Services Department's response to an inquiry from a Social Democratic Party representative on the Family Council, 56 individuals are on the waiting list for disability housing in Hafnarfjörður. Of these 56, 28 individuals are in urgent need and could move into a new flat today. The same response from the Family Department also states that most of the individuals on the waiting list applied for a flat over 5 years ago and that the average waiting time for a flat is 6 years. This situation is unacceptable and it is long overdue for the town council to address the problem. It is important that this work begins as soon as possible and is completed in time for the preparation of next year's budget, so that the solutions proposed by the Family Council can be funded immediately next year.
Fridthjof Helgi Karlsson speaks. Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir replies. Fridthjof Helgi replies to the reply.
Also speaking is Sigurður Þ. Ragnarsson.
Then Helga Ingólfsdóttir takes the floor.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir responds to Helga's speech.
Jón Ingi Hákonarson speaks.
Guðlaug Kristjánsdóttir also speaks.
The chair puts the motion before the meeting to the Social Democratic Party representatives, and it is unanimously approved with 11 votes.
Helga Ingólfsdóttir makes the following statement on behalf of the majority:
Councillors for the Independence Party and for Progress and Independents concur with the Family Council's minutes of 31 August 2018 and emphasise that a plan to increase the number of flats for disabled people be presented at the council's next meeting, both specialised residential solutions and general flats in the social housing scheme.
Sigurður Þ. Ragnarsson also submits the following reservation:
A booking from the councillor of the Centre Party:
The town representative for the Centre Party expresses grave concern over the serious housing crisis facing disabled people. Nearly 30 people are in urgent need, and these individuals may have to wait an average of six years for their situation to be resolved.
Furthermore, around 40 residents are now homeless, and this is completely unacceptable.
These matters must be given absolute priority, for example by establishing a working group tasked with finding a solution to the most urgent problem. A legal obligation rests on the shoulders of the local authority to find solutions in this regard, even if only on a temporary basis.
Minutes of the Family Council from 31 August.
Minutes of the Town Council from 30 August.
a. Minutes of the Harbour Board meeting of 22 August.
b. Minutes of the Health Committee of the Hafnarfjörður and Kópavogur area from 27 August.
c. Minutes of the Culture and Tourism Committee from 21 August.
d. Minutes of the SSH board meeting of 13 August.
Minutes of the SORPU bs. board meeting of 17 August.
Minutes of the Strætó bs. board meeting of 17 August.
Minutes of the Environment and Operations Committee from 29 August.
a. Minutes of the SORPU bs. board meeting of 17 August.
b. Minutes of the Strætó bs. board meeting of 17 August.
Minutes of the Planning and Building Committee from 28th August.
Minutes of the Education Committee from 29th August.
Minutes of the Presidential Commission from 3 September.
Helga Ingólfsdóttir speaks under item 5 on the Family Council's agenda from 31 August. Adda María responds.
Friðþjófur Helgi Karlsson speaks under item 6 on the agenda of the Family Council from 31 August.
Adda María Jóhannsdóttir speaks under item 10 of the minutes of the Environment and Operations Committee of 29 August and item 11 of the minutes of the Education Committee of 29 August. Kristín Thoroddsen rises to make a point of order, and Adda María replies.
Friðþjófur Helgi speaks a second time, now under item 10 of the minutes of the Environment and Operations Committee of 29 August and item 11 of the minutes of the Education Committee of 29 August.
