To receive apologies for absence (if any).

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mandy Anderson, Sarah Edwards and Katharine Tumilty.

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 21 January 2026 (attached).

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 21 January 2026 were agreed as a correct record, 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.

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

Councillor Graham Williamson, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

Councillor Joshua Chapman, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a liability for Council Tax..

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2026/27.

Councillor Laurance Garrard, Pecuniary, Occupier of land with a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40.

To receive announcements (if any).

The Mayor advised that the recent Prince and Princess Ball at the Town Hall had been very successful with in excess of 90 children and parents attending.

The Mayor also reminded Members of the forthcoming Civic Awards Ceremony on 6 March and Civic Dinner on 21 March.

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 18 February 2026 (attached)

B.   To note the decision of the Greater London Authority on its budget and precept for 2026/27 to the effect thereof on the Council’s budget.

C.   To agree a budget for 2026/27 and then:

D.   To set the Council Tax for 2026/27.

NOTE: ALL RELEVANT REPORTS FROM THE CABINET MEETING OF 18 FEBRUARY 2026 ARE ATTACHED.

Amendment by Labour Group (attached, at end of budget papers).

Deemed motion by the Administration:

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

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 business plans for Bridge Close, Havering & Wates, Rainham & Beam Park and the Housing Revenue Account.

Deemed motion on behalf of the Administration

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

Amendment on behalf of the Labour Group

As appended to these minutes.

Following debate, the amendment by the Labour Group was NOT CARRIED by 17 votes to 9 with 23 abstentions (see division 1).

The reports of Cabinet and deemed motion on behalf of the Administration were CARRIED by 31 votes to 4 with abstentions (see division 2).

RESOLVED:

1.         That Council agree and endorse the recommendations in the report to Cabinet of 28 January 2026 titled Rainham and Beam Park LLP Business Plan Update.

2.         That Council agree and endorse the recommendations in the report to Cabinet of 28 January titled Havering and Wates LLP Business Plan and Budget Update 2026/2027.

3.         That Council agree and endorse the recommendations in the report to Cabinet of 28 January 2026 titled Bridge Close Regeneration LLP Business Plan and Budget Update 2026/2027.

4.         That Council agree and endorse the recommendations in the report to Cabinet of 28 January 2026 titled Mercury Land Holdings Business Plan and Budget Update 2026/27.

5.         That Council approves the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan update, Budget for 2026/27 & Capital Programme for 2026/27-2030/31 and all recommendations, as set out in the report to Cabinet of 28 January 2026.

6.         That Council approves the Capital Strategy and Programme for 2026/27 as shown in the separate report to Cabinet of 18 February 2026.

7.         That Council approves the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Prudential Indicators, and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement for 2026/27 as shown in the separate report to Cabinet of 18 February 2026.

8.         That the following as submitted in the report to Cabinet of 18 February 2026 be approved:

•           The General Fund budget for 2026/27

•           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 2026/27, as set out in section 6 of the Cabinet report.

•           The Capital Programme for 2026/267 as set out in the Capital Strategy and Programme Report reported to Cabinet on 5 February 2026.

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

10.       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.

11.       That it be noted that under delegated powers the Chief Finance Officer has calculated the amount of 91,122 (called T in the Act and Regulations) as its Council Tax base for the year 2026/27 in accordance with regulation 3 of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

The record of voting decisions is appended to these minutes.