Following debate, amendment on behalf of the Conservative and East Havering Residents’ Groups jointly NOT CARRIED by 29 votes to 19 with 1 abstention.

Report of Cabinet and deemed motion on behalf of Administration AGREED by 27 votes to 20 with 2 abstentions.

Council had before it a series of reports covering the Council’s Budget, Capital Programme and Treasury Management Strategy Statement. Reports also covered the Housing Revenue Account and Bridge Close Regeneration LLP business plans.

Deemed Motion on behalf of the Administration

That the reports be adopted and their recommendations carried into effect.

Amendment of behalf of the Conservative Group and the East Havering Residents’ Group

As appended to these minutes.

Following debate, the amendment on behalf of the Conservative and East Havering Residents’ Groups jointly was NOT CARRIED by 29 votes to 19 with 1 abstention (see division 1).

The reports of Cabinet and the deemed motion on behalf of the Administration were AGREED by 27 votes to 20 with 2 abstentions.

RESOLVED:

1.             That Council agrees and endorses the recommendations in the report to Cabinet of 7 February 2024 titled Bridge Close Regeneration LLP Business Plan Refresh 2024-25.

2.             That Council approves the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Major Works Capital Programme, detailed in Appendix 1a of the HRA Budget for 2024/2025 and HRA Major Works Capital Programme 2024/25 – 2028/29 report to Cabinet of 7 February 2024.

3.             That Council approves the HRA Capital expenditure and financing for the 12 Sites Joint Venture, detailed in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.26 and Appendix 1b of the of the HRA Budget for 2024/2025 and HRA Major Works Capital Programme 2024/25 – 2028/29 report to Cabinet of 7 February 2024.

4.             That Council approves the Capital Strategy and Programme for 2024/25 as shown in the separate report to Cabinet of 7 February 2024.

5.             That Council approves the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Prudential Indicators, and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement for 2024/25 as shown in the separate report to Cabinet of 7 February 2024.

6.             That the following as submitted in the report to Cabinet of 7 February 2024 are approved:

·        The General Fund budget for 2024/25

·        The Council Tax for Band D properties and for other Bands of properties, all as set out in Appendix E of the Cabinet report.

·        The Delegated Schools’ Budget for 2024/25, as set out in section 6 of the Cabinet report.

·        The Capital Programme for 2024/25 as set out in the Capital Strategy and Programme Report reported to Cabinet on 7 February 2024.

7.             The Council delegates authority to the Chief Financial Officer to adjust the Corporate Risk Budget to account for any further variations that may arise.

8.             That, in accepting recommendation 1, Council is mindful of the advice of the Chief Finance Officer as set out in Appendix H of the report to Cabinet.

9.             That it be noted that under delegated powers the Chief Finance Officer has calculated the amount of 91000 (called T in the Act and Regulations) as its Council Tax base for the year 2024/25 in accordance with regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended) made under Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended.

10.          That the amount of £158,023,000 be now calculated as the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2024/25, with £23,233,000 of that amount being ringfenced for Adult Social Care.

11.      That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2024/25 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended:

12.     That the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the amounts shown in the table below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2024/25 for each of the categories of dwellings.

13.      That it be noted for the year 2024/25 the major precepting authority (the GLA) has stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below as proposed by the Mayor.

14.      That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 7 and 8 above, the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2024/25 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

15.     That Council having considered the principles approved under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government concludes that the Council’s basic relevant amount of Council Tax for 2024/25 is not excessive.

16.          That any Council Tax payer who is liable to pay an amount of Council Tax to the Authority in respect to the year ending on 31 March 2024, who is served with a demand notice under Regulation 20(2) of the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 as amended and who makes payment to the Authority of the full balance of the estimated amount shown on that demand by 1 April 2024, may deduct a sum equivalent to 1.5% of and from the estimated amount and such reduced amount shall be accepted in full settlement of that estimated amount.

17.          That Council approves that the Council Tax Support Scheme 2024/25 is adopted for 2024/25 as set out in Section 10 of the Cabinet report of 7 February 2024.