Agenda item

A         To consider the report of the Cabinet of 12 February 2014 (attached);

B         To note the decision of the Greater London Authority on its budget and precept for 2014/15, and the effect thereof on the Council’s budget;

C         To agree the General Fund budget, delegated schools budget and the Capital Programme for 2014/15; and then

D         To set the Council Tax for 2014/15.         

NOTE: MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO RETAIN THE REPORT TO CABINET ON 12 FEBRUARY FOR REFERENCE AT THIS MEETING.

7A       Amendment by the Residents’ Group

            See attached paper.

7B       Amendment by the Labour Group

            See attached paper.

after debate, Residents’ Group amendment LOST by 15 votes to 27; Labour Group amendment LOST by 6 votes to 29; recommendations of Cabinet AGREED by 38 votes to 4.

Council Tax for 2014/15 set at £1,494.18 for a Band D property

Council had before it a report of the Cabinet (incorporating the budget proposals for 2013/14).

            Amendment to budget proposals by the Residents’ Group

            That the adjustments set out in the accompanying table 7A* be made in the budget.

            [*See Appendix 1 to these minutes]

            Amendment to budget proposals by the Labour Group

            Members Special Responsibility Allowances

Reduction to allowances for Cabinet and Overview & Scrutiny positions by reviewing structure and streamlining the number of positions through the reduction in the number of Cabinet posts, Overview  &  Scrutiny Committees and other Committees.

Saving - £150,000.00 on the budget for 2013/14.

The saving to remain in the contingency reserve.

            Following debate, the Residents’ Group amendment was LOST by 16 votes to 27 (see voting division 1) and the Labour Group amendment was LOST by 6 votes to 29 (see division 2). The recommendations of Cabinet were ADOPTED by 39 votes to 4 (see division 3) and it was RESOLVED:

1.         That the following as submitted in the report to Cabinet be approved:

a)         The General Fund revenue budget for 2014/15, as set out in the revised Appendix E attached to this report.

b)        The delegated schools’ budget for 2014/15, as set out in Appendix E of the report to Cabinet.

c)         The Capital Programme for 2014/15, as set out in Annexes 2, 3 and 4 of Appendix I of the report to Cabinet.

2.         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.

3.         That it be noted that under delegated powers the Chief Finance Officer has calculated the amount of 80,183 (called T in the Act and Regulations) as its Council Tax base for the year 2014/15 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.

4.         That the amount of £95,833,118be now calculated as the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2014/15.

5.         That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2014/15 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended:

6.         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 2014/15 for each of the categories of dwellings.

7.         That it be noted for the year 2014/15 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 and as due to be considered by the London Assembly at its meeting on 14^th February 2014.

8.         That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 6 and 7 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 2014/15 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

9.         That Council having considered the principles approved under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 by the Secretary of State concludes that the Council’s basic relevant amount of Council Tax for 2014/15 is not excessive.

10.         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^st March 2015, 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^st April 2014, 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.

11.         That Council agrees that the Capital Programme be expanded for schemes during the year which are funded via additional external funding under the authority of the Cabinet Member Value and the relevant service area Cabinet Members.

12.         That Council approves the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Prudential Indicators, and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement for 2014/15.