Apologies for absence have been received from Councillors Mandy Anderson, Ray Best and Katharine Tumility.

To receive any other apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Mandy Anderson, Ray Best, Joshua Chapman, Sue Ospreay, Viddy Persaud, Katharine Tumilty and Damian White.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mandy Anderson, Ray Best, Joshua Chapman, Sue Ospreay (Deputy Mayor) Viddy Persaud, Katharine Tumilty and Damian White.

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 15 January 2025 (attached).

Minutes of meeting held on 15 January 2025, agreed without division.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 January 2025 were agreed without division.

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.

All Members present disclosed a pecuniary interest in agenda item 7 – the Council’s budget 2025/26 as they were occupiers of land with a liability for Council Tax.

Legal dispensation to allow all Members to take part in the meeting and vote in such instances – AGREED without division.

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Barry Mugglestone, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Brian Eagling, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Bryan Vincent, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Carol Smith, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Christine Smith, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Christine Vickery, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Christopher Wilkins, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Darren Wise, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor David Godwin, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor David Taylor, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Dilip Patel, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Frankie Walker, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Gillian Ford, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Jacqueline McArdle, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Jacqueline Williams, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor James Glass, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Jane Keane, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Jason Frost, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor John Crowder, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor John Tyler, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor John Wood, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Judith Holt, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Julie Wilkes, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Katharine Tumilty, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Keith Darvill, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Keith Prince, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2025/26.

Councillor Laurance Garrard, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 66.

To receive announcements (if any).

The Mayor recorded his thanks for the support given to his Civic Dinner which had been attended by 104 people and raised in excess of £5,000 for the Mayor’s charity. A recent VIP night at the Queen’s Theatre had raised more than £500.

The Chief Executive confirmed that the Council’s request for exceptional financial support had been agreed in principle by Central Government. This meant that the Council was able to legally set a balanced budget.

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

There were no procedural motions proposed.

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.

The record of voting decisions is attached to these minutes.