Agenda item

A.   To consider the report of Cabinet of 12 February 2020 (attached).

B.   To note the decision of the Greater London Authority on the budget and precept for 2020/21 and the effect thereof on the Council’s budget.

C.   To agree a budget for 2020/21 and then

D.   To set the Council Tax for 2020/21.

NOTE: ALL RELEVANT REPORTS FROM THE CABINET MEETING OF 12 FEBRUARY 2020 ARE ATTACHED FOR MEMBERS’ INFORMATION.

Following debate, amendment on behalf of Independent Residents’ Residents’ and Upminster and Cranham Residents’ Associations’ Groups NOT AGREED by 29 votes to 23; deemed motion that the report of Cabinet be adopted, its recommendations carried into effect and the Council Tax be set AGREED by 29 votes to 23.

Council Tax set at £1,795.84 for a band D property.

Council had before it a report of the Cabinet incorporating the budget proposals for 2020/21. This referred to reports presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 12 February 2020 which were also included in the agenda papers for the council meeting.

Deemed motion on behalf of the Administration

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

Amendment by the Independent Residents’ Group, residents’ Group and the Upminster and Cranham Residents’ Associations Groups

As shown in appendix 3 to these minutes.

Following debate, the amendment on behalf of Independent Residents’ Residents’ and Upminster and Cranham Residents’ Associations’ Groups was NOT AGREED by 29 votes to 23 (see division 4) and the deemed motion that the report of Cabinet be adopted, its recommendations carried into effect and the Council Tax be set was AGREED by 29 votes to 23 (see division 5).

RESOLVED:

1.            That the following as submitted in the report to Cabinet of 12 February 2020 be approved:

·           The General Fund budget for 2020/21

·           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 2020/21, as set out in section 2.3 of the Cabinet report.

·           The Capital Programme for 2020/21 as set out in the Capital Strategy and Programme Report reported to Cabinet on 12 February 2020.

·           That a resolution be passed as set out in section 5.3 of the Cabinet report to enable Council Tax discounts to be given at the 2020/21 level.

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 10 of the report to Cabinet.

4.            That it be noted that under delegated powers the Chief Finance Officer has calculated the amount of 88,883 (called T in the Act and Regulations) as its Council Tax base for the year 2020/21 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 £130,104,269 be now calculated as the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2020/21, with £11,689,003 of that amount being ringfenced for Adult Social Care.

6.         That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2020/21 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended:

7.         That the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the amounts shown in the table below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2020/21 for each of the categories of dwellings.

8          That it be noted for the year 2020/21 the major precepting authority (the GLA) has stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown below as proposed by the Mayor.

9.         That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 7 and 8 above, the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2020/21 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

10.      That Council having considered the principles approved under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government concludes that the Council’s basic relevant amount of Council Tax for 2020/21 is not excessive.

11.         That any Council Tax payer who is liable to pay an amount of Council Tax to the Authority in respect to the year ending on 31 March 2021, who is served with a demand notice under Regulation 20(2) of the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 as amended and who makes payment to the Authority of the full balance of the estimated amount shown on that demand by 1 April 2020, may deduct a sum equivalent to 1.5% of and from the estimated amount and such reduced amount shall be accepted in full settlement of that estimated amount.

12.         That Council approves that Havering joins the 67% London Business Rate Pool for 2020/21 and agrees the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as set out in paragraph 3.3.5 and Appendix L of the Cabinet Report of 12 February 2020 despite it representing an estimated reduction in revenue of £1.5m compared to the previous 75% pool.

13.         That Council approves that the Council Tax Support Scheme 2019/20 is adopted for 2020/21 as set out in Section 12 of the Cabinet report of 12 February 2020.

14.         That the Council approves that the financial procedures for virements are updated as set out in paragraph 7.4 and Appendix M of the Cabinet report of 12 February 2020.

15.         That Council approves the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Major Works Capital Programme, detailed in Appendix 1a of the HRA Budget for 2020/2021 and HRA Major Works Capital Programme 2020/21 – 2024/25 report to Cabinet of 12 February 2020.

16.         That Council approves the HRA Capital expenditure and financing for the 12 Sites Joint Venture, detailed in paragraphs 3.5.1 to 3.5.21 and Appendix 1b of the of the HRA Budget for 2020/2021 and HRA Major Works Capital Programme 2020/21 – 2024/25 report to Cabinet of 12 February 2020.

17.         That Council approves the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Prudential Indicators, and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement for 2020/21 as shown in the separate report to Cabinet of 12 February 2020.

18.         That Council approves the Capital Strategy and Programme for 2020/21 as shown in the separate report to Cabinet of 12 February 2020.