Apologies for absence have been received from Councillor Osman Dervish.

To receive any other apologies for absence.

Received from Councillors Joshua Chapman, Osman Dervish, Oscar Ford, Jacqueline McArdle, Matt Stanton and Damian White.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Joshua Chapman, Osman Dervish, Oscar Ford, Jacqueline McArdle, Matt Stanton and Damian White.

To sign as a true record the minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 17 January 2024 (attached).

Minutes of meeting held on 17 January 2024, agreed without division.

The minutes of the meeting of Council held on 17 January 2024 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 2024/25 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.

The following disclosures of interest were recorded.

Agenda item 7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.

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

7. THE COUNCIL'S BUDGET 2024/25.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58.

To receive announcements (if any).

The Mayor passed on her condolences and sympathy following the recent murder in Harold Wood.

The Mayor reminded of her forthcoming event at the Queen’s Theatre on 19 March and her Civic Dinner on 22 April and wished Havering luck for its application to be London Borough of Culture, the results of which would be announced on 11 March.

Congratulations were passed on to all involved with the Havering float at the New Year’s Day Parade which had celebrated the history of Hornchurch Airfield as well as the borough’s recent success in the London Bloom awards.

The Mayor also welcomed back to the Chamber Councillor Michael White and the Strategic Director of Finance – Kathy Freeman following recent health issues.

The Chief Executive confirmed that the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities had confirmed that it was minded to approve the Council’s request for a Capitalisation Directive. A further Council meeting on 6 March would not therefore be required. This would allow a balanced budget to be presented for debate at the 28 February meeting.

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

There were no procedural motions proposed.

Following debate, amendment on behalf of the Conservative and East Havering Residents’ Groups jointly NOT CARRIED by 29 votes to 19 with 1 abstention.

Report of Cabinet and deemed motion on behalf of Administration AGREED by 27 votes to 20 with 2 abstentions.

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 Bridge Close Regeneration LLP business plans.

Deemed Motion on behalf of the Administration

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

Amendment of behalf of the Conservative Group and the East Havering Residents’ Group

As appended to these minutes.

Following debate, the amendment on behalf of the Conservative and East Havering Residents’ Groups jointly was NOT CARRIED by 29 votes to 19 with 1 abstention (see division 1).

The reports of Cabinet and the deemed motion on behalf of the Administration were AGREED by 27 votes to 20 with 2 abstentions.

RESOLVED:

1.             That Council agrees and endorses the recommendations in the report to Cabinet of 7 February 2024 titled Bridge Close Regeneration LLP Business Plan Refresh 2024-25.

2.             That Council approves the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Major Works Capital Programme, detailed in Appendix 1a of the HRA Budget for 2024/2025 and HRA Major Works Capital Programme 2024/25 – 2028/29 report to Cabinet of 7 February 2024.

3.             That Council approves the HRA Capital expenditure and financing for the 12 Sites Joint Venture, detailed in paragraphs 4.1 to 4.26 and Appendix 1b of the of the HRA Budget for 2024/2025 and HRA Major Works Capital Programme 2024/25 – 2028/29 report to Cabinet of 7 February 2024.

4.             That Council approves the Capital Strategy and Programme for 2024/25 as shown in the separate report to Cabinet of 7 February 2024.

5.             That Council approves the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Prudential Indicators, and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement for 2024/25 as shown in the separate report to Cabinet of 7 February 2024.

6.             That the following as submitted in the report to Cabinet of 7 February 2024 are approved:

·        The General Fund budget for 2024/25

·        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 2024/25, as set out in section 6 of the Cabinet report.

·        The Capital Programme for 2024/25 as set out in the Capital Strategy and Programme Report reported to Cabinet on 7 February 2024.

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

8.             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.

9.             That it be noted that under delegated powers the Chief Finance Officer has calculated the amount of 91000 (called T in the Act and Regulations) as its Council Tax base for the year 2024/25 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.

10.          That the amount of £158,023,000  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61.

The record of voting decisions is attached as appendix 2 to these minutes.