A.    To consider the report of Cabinet dated 5 February 2025.

B.    To note the decision of the Greater London Authority on its budget and precept for 2025/26 and the effect thereof on the Council’s budget.

C.   To agree a budget for 2025/26 and then:

D.   To set the Council Tax for 2025/26.

NOTE: ALL RELEVANT REPORTS FROM THE CABINET MEETING OF 5 FEBRUARY 2025 ARE ATTACHED.

Amendments by Residents’ Association Independent Group and Conservative Group (attached, at end of budget papers).

Following debate, amendment on behalf of the Residents’ Association Independent Group NOT CARRIED by 30 votes to 18 with 0 abstentions.

Amendment on behalf of Conservative Group NOT CARRIED by 30 votes to 18 with 0 abstentions.

Amendment on behalf of Labour Group NOT CARRIED by 25 votes to 24 with 0 abstentions on casting vote of Mayor.

Report of Cabinet and deemed motion on behalf of Administration AGREED by 25 votes to 24 with 0 abstentions on casting vote of Mayor.

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

Deemed Motion on behalf of the Administration

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

Amendments on behalf of the Residents’ Association Independent Group, Conservative Group and Labour Group

As appended to these minutes.

Following debate, the amendment on behalf of the Residents’ Association Independent Group was NOT CARRIED by 30 votes to 18 with 0 abstentions (see division 1).

The amendment on behalf of the Conservative Group was NOT CARRIED by 30 votes to 18 with 0 abstentions (see division 2).

The amendment on behalf of the Labour Group was NOT CARRIED by 25 votes to 24 with 0 abstentions on the casting vote of Mayor (see division 3).

The report of Cabinet and deemed motion on behalf of the Administration were AGREED by 25 votes to 24 with 0 abstentions on casting vote of Mayor (see division 4).

RESOLVED:

1.             That Council agree and endorse the recommendations in the report to Cabinet of 5 February 2025 titled Bridge Close Regeneration LLP Business Plan Refresh 2025-2026.

2.             That Council agree and endorse the recommendations in the report to Cabinet of 5 February 2025 titled Havering and Wates LLP Business Plan and Budget Update 2024/2025.

3.             That Council agree and endorse the recommendations in the report to Cabinet of 5 February 2025 titled Mercury Land Holdings Business Plan and Budget Update 2025/26.

4.             That Council approves the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan update, Budget for 2025/26 & Capital Programme for 2025/26-2029/30 and all recommendations, as set out in the report to Cabinet of 5th February 2025.  

5.             That Council approves the Capital Strategy and Programme for 2025/26 as shown in the separate report to Cabinet of 5 February 2025.

6.             That Council approves the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Prudential Indicators, and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement for 2025/26 as shown in the separate report to Cabinet of 5 February 2025.

7.             That the following as submitted in the report to Cabinet of 5 February 2025 be approved:

·        The General Fund budget for 2025/26

·        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 2025/26, as set out in section 6 of the Cabinet report.

·        The Capital Programme for 2025/26 as set out in the Capital Strategy and Programme Report reported to Cabinet on 5 February 2025.

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

9.             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.

10.          That it be noted that under  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69