To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies have been received from Councillor Dilip Patel.

Received from Councillors Dilip Patel, Robert Benham, Christine Vickery, Viddy Persaud, Carol Smith and Joshua Chapman.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dilip Patel, Robert Benham, Patricia Brown, Christine Vickery, Viddy Persaud, Carol Smith and Joshua Chapman.

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 18 January 2023 (attached).

Minutes of the meeting held on 18 January 2023 approved, without division.

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 18 January 2023 were agreed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of Council held on 18 January 2023 be agreed as a correct record.

Members are invited to disclose any interest in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting.  

Members may still disclose any interest in an item at any time prior to the consideration of the matter.

Note: Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 imposes restriction on voting in respect of any Member by whom any Council Tax has remained unpaid for at least two months.

Any Member in doubt as to the position may seek advice before the meeting from the Monitoring Officer.

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Barry Mugglestone, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Brian Eagling, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Bryan Vincent, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Christine Smith, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Christopher Wilkins, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Damian White, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Darren Wise, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor David Godwin, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor David Taylor, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Frankie Walker, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Gerry O'Sullivan, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Gillian Ford, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Graham Williamson, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Jacqueline McArdle, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor James Glass, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Jane Keane, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Jason Frost, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor John Crowder, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor John Tyler, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor John Wood, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Judith Holt, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Julie Wilkes, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Katharine Tumilty, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Keith Darvill, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2023/24.

Councillor Keith Prince, Pecuniary, Member is occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

To receive announcements (if any).

The Mayor gave details of a forthcoming charity event – a civic dinner in Upminster on 31 March. The Mayor further wished to clarify that tonight’s meeting was purely a budget setting meeting and not a ULEZ meeting.

The Leader explained that the guidance around Queen Elizabeth’s portrait was to display it until which time a portrait of King Charles was available. The King’s portrait would likely be available after the Coronation. The Leader also offered his condolences to Anthony Clements and family on the loss of his father.

To consider any procedural motion in relation to the conduct of business for this meeting.

Mayoral decision that agenda items 7 and 8 be dealt with via a single combined debate.

The Mayor advised that agenda items 7 and 8 would be dealt with as a single combined debate.

A    To consider the report of Cabinet on 8 February 2023 (attached)

B    To note the decision of the Greater London Authority on its budget and precept for 2023/24 and the effect thereof on the Council’s budget

C    To agree a budget for 2023/24 and then

D    To set the Council Tax for 2023/24

NOTE: ALL RELEVANT REPORTS FROM THE CABINET MEETING OF 8 FEBRUARY 2023 ARE ATTACHED.

Amendment by Conservative Group (attached).

Deemed motion by the Administration:

That the report be adopted and its recommendations carried into effect.

Note: Both the amendment and deemed motion also relate to the Members Allowances report at agenda item 9.

Following debate the following was voted and carried/not carried as set out below:

The amendment to the Budget and Council Tax report proposed by the Conservative Group. NOT CARRIED by 33 votes to 14 with 1 abstentions.

The Administration’s proposals for the Budget and Council Tax. CARRIED by 31 votes to 16 with 1 abstentions.

Council had before it a report of Cabinet incorporating the budget proposals for 2023/24. This referred to report presented to Cabinet at its meeting on the 8 February 2023 which was also included in the agenda papers for the Council meeting.

Deemed motion on behalf of the Administration

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

Amendment by the Conservative Group

There was an amendment proposed by the Conservative Group. It stated alternative budget proposals (as attached to the meetings as an appendix).

Following debate, the amendments were NOT CARRIED by 33 votes to 14 with 1 abstention (See division 3).

The report and its recommendations were AGREED by 31 votes to 16 with 1 abstention (See division 4).

RESOLVED:

1.    That the following as submitted in the report to Cabinet of 8 February 2023 be approved:

·         The General Fund budget for 2023/24

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

·         The Delegated Schools’ Budget for 2023/24, as set out in section 5.9 of the Cabinet report.

·         The Capital Programme for 2023/24 as set out in the Capital Strategy and Programme Report reported to Cabinet on 8 February 2023.

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

3.    That, in accepting recommendation 1, Council is mindful of the advice of the Chief Finance Officer as set out in section 13 of the report to Cabinet.

4.    That it be noted that under delegated powers the Chief Finance Officer has calculated the amount of 90,128 (called T in the Act and Regulations) as its Council Tax base for the year 2023/24 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.

5.    That the amount of £149,070,811 be now calculated as the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2023/24, with £20,029,146 of that amount being ringfenced for Adult Social Care.

6.    That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2023/24 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended:

Report attached.

Amendment by the Conservative Group (attached).

Deemed motion by the Administration:

That the report be adopted and its recommendations carried into effect.

Following debate the following was voted and carried/not carried as set out below:

The amendment on behalf first vote on the amendment to the Members’ Allowances Scheme proposed by the Conservative Group. NOT CARRIED by 35 votes to 10 with 3 abstentions.

The deemed motion by the Administration that the report on Members Allowances be adopted and its recommendations carried into effect. CARRIED by 31 votes to 14 with 3 abstentions.

A report of the Chief Executive proposed the Member’ Allowances Scheme 2023/24.

Deemed motion on behalf of the Administration

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

Amendment by the Conservative Group:

There was an amendment proposed by the Conservative Group within their budget amendment that stated the following:

Following debate, the amendment was NOT CARRIED by 35 votes to 10 with 3 abstentions (See division 1). Following debate the report and its recommendations were AGREED by 31 votes to 14 with 3 abstentions (See division 2).

RESOLVED:

That the proposed amended Members’ Allowances scheme, attached at Appendix A, becomes effective from 1 April 2023.

The record of voting decisions is attached as appendix 3 to these minutes.