Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Allam, G Cooper, Gardner and Harmsworth.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2012

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2012 be agreed as a correct record.

To note any declarations of interest in any matter before the Council

Councillor D Mills declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 7 – Council General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2012/13, as being personally affected by the proposed High Speed 2 rail route, and stayed in the room during the consideration thereof.

Councillor R Mills declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 7 – Council General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2012/13, as a beneficiary of a trust relating to a property in the proximity of the proposed HS2 route, and remained in the room during the consideration thereof.

Councillor Ghei declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 7 – Council General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2012/13, as his wife worked for the Council, and left the room during the consideration thereof. 

The Mayor welcomed all those present, particularly the journalism students from Brunel University. 

The Council was advised that, since the beginning of her Mayoralty, the number of events that had been attended by the Mayor and her representatives totalled 713.  The Mayor had attended 608 of these events herself.

A fun day was being held at Manor Farm on Saturday 14 April 2012 to raise money for the Mayor’s charities.  Members were encouraged to gain sponsorships to attend the event and either walk or run as far as they could to help raise funds during the day. 

Councillor Puddifoot moved the recommendations as set out on the Order of Business.  The motion was seconded by Councillor Simmonds and it was:

RESOLVED:  That:

i)              the Urgency decisions detailed in the report be noted;

ii)            the current Members’ Allowances Scheme be revoked as of 31 March 2012 and the new Scheme for 2012/13 be approved as shown in Appendix A of the report for implementation from 1 April 2012; and

iii)          the amendments to the Constitution, as set out in the report, be agreed.

To consider the level of rents for 2012/13

Councillor Corthorne moved the recommendations as set out on the Order of Business.  The motion was seconded by Councillor Bianco and it was:

RESOLVED:  That:

a)     formula rents under the DCLG rent restructure policy be used to calculate HRA dwelling rents for 2012/2013.

b)     the average HRA rents, charges and allowances for 2012/13 be approved as set out in Tables A to D of the report.

c)     the HRA Budget for 2012/13 be approved as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

d)     the proposed programme for works to the existing stock in 2012/13 – plus any additional budget from self financing be approved – as set out in Appendix 4 of the report.

Budget papers as issued to Cabinet for the meeting on 16 February are attached.

Following the Cabinet meeting, the formal Council Tax Resolution 2012/13 with the Cabinet’s proposals will be submitted to Council along with any other budget paperwork.

Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 will apply to the recommendations of this item. Any Member who is more than two months in arrears with their Council Tax or has arrears of Council Tax must declare that fact and must not vote on this item.

Budget Conflict Resolution Procedures – Council is asked to consider the Cabinet’s proposals. It may adopt the proposals, submit objections to Cabinet or invite the Cabinet to make amendments specified by Council. If Council votes to object to the Cabinet proposals or to invite Cabinet to make amendments then the Conflict Resolution Procedure will come into operation.

The Council meeting will be adjourned while a special meeting of the Cabinet is held, after which the Council will resume and consider any revised proposals submitted by the Cabinet or the reasons why the Cabinet disagrees with Council’s objections or proposed amendments. The budget would then be open for debate and amendment until a final decision is made.

Councillor White moved and Councillor Retter seconded the suspension of Council procedure rule 14.4 to allow 15 minutes of speaking time each for the mover of the motion, the seconder, the principal speaker from the Labour Group and the seconder of the amendment (if required) to speak on the budget report.

RESOLVED:  That the mover and seconder of the budget motion and the principal speaker from the Labour Group and the seconder of the amendment (if required) be allowed to speak for 15 minutes each on this item.

Councillor Bianco moved, and Councillor Puddifoot seconded, the budget recommendations, as set out in the Order of Business.  

Councillor Khursheed moved, and Councillor Major seconded, the following amendment:

1.             That the Cabinet be invited to consider the Labour Group’s amendments to the Cabinet’s proposals set out in the Council Tax report and report back to Council. These amendments would result in a council tax requirement for 2012/13 of £111,555,651.

2.             The proposals are based on the Cabinet’s budget proposals as approved by Cabinet on 16 February 2012, subject to the following amendments:

Following debate (Councillors Barnes, Bianco, Corthorne, MacDonald and Puddifoot), the amendment was put to the vote and lost.

Following further debate (Councillors Barnes, Burrows, Corthorne, Curling, Gilham, Higgins, Lavery, D Mills, Retter, Seaman Digby and Simmonds), the original motion was put to the vote and:

RESOLVED:  That:

1.            the General Fund revenue budget proposals made by Cabinet be approved, resulting in a council tax requirement for 2012/13 of £111,555,651.

2.            Council note that at its meeting on 12 January 2012 the Council calculated the amount of 100,236 as its Council Tax Base for the year 2012/13. This was calculated in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992, as its Council Tax Base for the year (Item T in the formula in Section 31B (3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992).

3.            Hillingdon’s own Council Tax be set at £1,112.93 for a Band D property. Taking into account the precept levied by the Greater London Authority, this results in an overall Band D Council Tax of £1,419.65 for the borough.

4.            the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2012/13, in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (the Act):

5.            Council note that for the year 2012/13 the Greater London Authority and its functional bodies have stated the following amounts in precepts. These have been issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Act, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

6.            the Council has calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 4(e) and 5 above. The Council in accordance with Section 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 hereby sets the Council Tax for the year 2012/13 for each category of dwelling below:

7.            the proposals for fees and charges set out in Appendix 7 of the report to Cabinet on 16 February 2012 are approved.

8.            the Capital Programme be agreed as set out in Appendix 8 of the report.

9.            the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Statement for 2012/13 to 2014/15 be agreed as set out in Appendix 10 of the report.

10.       the London Borough of Hillingdon Pay Policy Statement for 2012/13 be agreed as set out in Appendix 11 of the report.

11.       the Council Tax Discount for Older People be retained at 4.87% of Hillingdon’s element of the Council Tax.

12.       Council note the Chief Finance Officers’ comments regarding his responsibilities under the Local Government Act 2003.

13.       Council authorises its Chief Finance Officer to approve all virements after 31 March 2012 relating to the 2011/12 financial year of any value beyond the levels currently delegated to Corporate Directors necessary to the closure of accounts, within the deadline set for the 2011/12 financial year.

14.       Council (as set out in Schedule C of the Constitution - Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules) resolves that Cabinet may utilise the general reserves or balances during the MTFF financial years 2012/13 to 2014/15 in respect of those functions which have been reserved to the Cabinet in Article 7 of the Constitution.

15.       Council confirm that the Council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2012/13 is not excessive in accordance with principles approved under Section 52ZB Local Government Finance Act 1992 and therefore a referendum will not be triggered.

16.       Council note the decision by the GLA to grant London Borough of Hillingdon £2,735,731 funding from the Mayor’s regeneration fund budgets during financial years 2012/13 and 2013/14 to carry out improvements to Ruislip Manor and Northwood Hills town centres. This decision was announced after publication of the Budget report to Cabinet on 16 February 2012.

RESOLVED:  That the Council meeting scheduled for 1 March 2012 be cancelled.