Agenda and minutes

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 1 February 2012

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 1 February 2012 be signed as a true record.

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

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

Note – please also refer to note (2) on the final page of the agenda.

All Members present declared a personal interest as recipients of Members’ Allowances (agenda items 6 and 7/minutes 79 and 80).

To receive announcements (if any)

The Mayor’s Announcements are attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes.

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

A procedural motion that agenda items 6 and 7 (minutes 79 and 80) be debated together was agreed without division.

A         To consider the report of the Cabinet of 8 February 2012

Amendment on behalf of the Residents’ Group

That the adjustments set out in the accompanying table be made in the budget.

Note:  In accordance with Council Procedure Rules, the Chief Finance Officer will advise on the robustness of the proposed amendments. That advice will be circulated before the meeting.

B         To note the decision of the Greater London Authority on its budget and precept for 2012/13, and the effect thereof on the Council’s budget (to be tabled at the meeting)

C         To agree a budget for 2012/13; and then

D         To set the Council Tax for 2012/13.

MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO RETAIN THE

REPORT TO CABINET ON 8 FEBRUARY

FOR REFERENCE AT THIS MEETING

Council had before it a report of the Cabinet (incorporating the budget proposals for 2012/13).

Amendment to budget proposals by the Residents’ Group

That the adjustments set out in the accompanying table* be made in the budget.

[* see Appendix 2 to these minutes]

Following debate, the Residents’ Group amendment was LOST by 19 votes to 31 (see voting division 1). The recommendations of Cabinet were ADOPTED by 34 votes to 6 (see division 2) and it was RESOLVED:

[NOTE: The full text of the resolution is set out in the attached document, Budget and Council Tax Resolution    ]

To consider the scheme for the coming year

Council received the report of the Chief Executive.

Amendment by the Residents’ Group

That the table of SRAs in paragraph 1.3 of the report (and Schedule 1 of the draft scheme), be deleted and that the following be inserted in its place:

Amendment by the Labour Group

That the adjustments set out in the table below be made in the allowances specified (all others remaining as in the proposed Scheme):

Following debate, the Residents’ Group amendment was LOST by 15 votes to 31 (see division 3) and the Labour Group amendment was LOST by 14 votes to 31 (see division 4). The recommendations in the report were ADOPTED by 31 votes to 8 (see voting division 5) and it was RESOLVED:

1          That Council notes this is the fifth successive year where there has been no increase in Special Responsibility Allowances.

2          That Council notes the Administration’s intention not to increase allowances for the following two financial years.

3          That the Members’ Allowances scheme (as set out in Appendix 3 to these minutes) becomes effective from 1^st April 2012 and the existing scheme be revoked with effect from the same date.

4          That the total number of Special Responsibility Allowances may exceed the recommended 50%. In the event of this occurring, Council endorse the justification set out in the report.

The record of voting divisions is attached as Appendix 4 to these minutes.