Agenda and minutes

The Head of Democratic Services advised that the meeting would be broadcast on the Council's YouTube site for the first time. 

 

Councillor Bianco noted that, at the last Council meeting, he had referred to a member of the public present in the gallery, Mr Campbell, as a 'Labour party stooge'.  Although Mr Campbell had stood as a Labour party candidate, he did not work on their behalf.  Councillor Bianco apologised to Mr Campbell for any offence that he may have caused and advised that he would be making a suitable donation to the Mayor's Charity in line with the Conservative group's charitable fine system. 

 

The Mayor welcomed Councillor Khursheed back to the Chamber.  Councillor Khursheed thanked those officers and Members that had sent their best wishes during his absence. 

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Chapman and Riley. 

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 14 January 2016

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting on 14 January 2016 be agreed as a correct record. 

The Mayor set out a number of events that he and the Mayoress had attended since the last Council meeting.  These included Chinese New Year celebrations, a concert at Winston Churchill Hall, a visit to the Old Bailey and visits to a range of schools. 

 

The Mayor congratulated and thanked Councillor Singh on recently completing four consecutive marathons in Milton Keynes to raise money for the Mayor's charity.  Councillor Singh and his wife would be taking part in the Hillingdon Half Marathon to raise further funds for the Mayor's Charity. 

 

The Mayor's Charity was now fully operational and would soon be able to accept online donations. 

i)       Urgent Implementation of Decisions

 

Councillor Puddifoot moved, and Councillor Simmonds seconded, the recommendation as set out on the Order of Business

 

RESOLVED:  The Urgency decisions detailed in the report be noted.

 

ii)     Programme of Meetings 2016/2017

 

Councillor Puddifoot moved the recommendation as set out on the Order of Business, subject to changing the Cabinet meeting from 9 February 2017 to 16 February 2017.  The motion was seconded by Councillor Simmonds and it was:

 

RESOLVED:  That, subject to the amendment above, the timetable of meetings for 2016/17 be approved and the Head of Democratic Services, in consultation with the Chief Whip of the Majority Party, be authorised to make any amendments that may be required throughout the course of the year.

 

iii)    a) Members' Allowances 2016/17

 

Councillor Puddifoot moved, and Councillor Simmonds seconded, the recommendation as set out on the Order of Business. 

 

Councillor Eginton moved that the level of Basic and Special Responsibility Allowances not be increased in line with any annual pay award to staff but that any increase should be gifted to the Mayor's Charity.  This was seconded by Councillor Dhillon.  Following debate (Councillor Puddifoot), the amendment was put to a recorded vote:

 

Those voting for: Councillors Allen, Birah, Burles, Curling, Dheer, Dhillon, Dhot, Duncan, East, Eginton, Gardner, Garg, Jarjussey, Khatra, Khursheed, Lakhmana, Money, Morse, Nelson, Oswell, Sansarpuri, Singh and Sweeting.

 

Those voting against: Councillors Ahmad-Wallana, Barnes, Bianco, Bridges, Burrows, Chamdal, J Cooper, Corthorne, Crowe, Dann, Davis, Denys, Duducu, Edwards, Flynn, Fyfe, Gilham, Graham, Haggar, Higgins, Jackson, Kauffman, Kelly, Lavery, Lewis, Markham, Melvin, D Mills, R Mills, Morgan, O’Brien, Palmer, Puddifoot, Seaman-Digby, Simmonds, Stead, White and Yarrow.

 

Those abstaining: The Mayor (Councillor G Cooper) and the Deputy Mayor (Councillor Hensley).

 

The motion was lost. 

 

The original motion was put to the vote and it was:

 

RESOLVED:  That the current Members’ Allowances Scheme be revoked as of 31 March 2016 and the new Scheme for 2016/17 be approved for implementation from 1 April 2016 including, for 2016/17 a Basic Allowance of £10,819.25 to be payable to all Councillors.

 

The Basic Allowance and any Special Responsibility Allowances (SRAs) agreed under recommendations b) & c) below, will be increased each subsequent year in line with the annual Local Government Pay Settlement and will be paid in equal monthly instalments.  The Basic Allowance includes intra borough travel and subsistence costs.

 

iii)    b) Members' Allowances 2016/17

 

Councillor Puddifoot moved the recommendation as set out on the Order of Business.  The motion was seconded by Councillor Simmonds. 

 

Councillor Eginton moved, and Councillor Dhillon seconded, that the SRAs recommended be approved subject to the following amendments:

 

3.            Leader of the Council                          £43,063

4.            Deputy Leader of the Council            £36,275

6.            Cabinet Member                                  £30,336

 

Following debate (Councillors Curling, D Mills and Puddifoot), the amendment was put to the vote and lost. 

 

The original motion was put to the vote and it was:

 

RESOLVED:  That Special Responsibility Allowances (SRA) of the following amounts be paid in equal monthly instalments to Councillors holding the following responsibilities.  The SRAs will be increased each subsequent year in line with the annual Local Government Pay Settlement and will be paid in equal monthly instalments:

		(£)
1.	Mayor	21,756.36
2.	Deputy Mayor	8,484.84
3.	Leader of the Council	53,828.88
4.	Deputy Leader of the Council	45,344.04
5.	Chief Whip of Largest Party	21,756.36
6.	Cabinet Member	37,919.88
7.	Chairman of Scrutiny and Policy Overview Committee	21,756.36
8.	Chairman of Planning Committee	21,756.36
9.	Chairman of Licensing Committee	9,198.00
10.	Vice Chairman of Licensing Committee	6,132.00
11.	Chairman of Standards Committee	3,066.00
12.	Standards Committee Independent Person	1,533.00
13.	Chairman of Audit Committee*	2,916.86
14.	Champion	5,594.76
15.	Council rep' on Adoption and Permanency Panel	12,264.00
16.	Cabinet Assistant	8,484.84

* Where a non-Councillor is Chairman or Vice Chairman a co-optees’ allowance is payable as set out in the Scheme under section 9.

 

iii)    c) Members' Allowances 2016/17

 

Councillor Puddifoot moved the recommendation as set out on the Order of Business.  The motion was seconded by Councillor Simmonds and put to a recorded vote: 

 

Those voting for: Councillors Allen, Birah, Burles, Curling, Dheer, Dhillon, Dhot, Duncan, East, Eginton, Gardner, Garg, Jarjussey, Khatra, Khursheed, Lakhmana, Money, Morse, Nelson, Oswell, Sansarpuri, Singh and Sweeting.

 

Those voting against: none. 

 

Those abstaining: The Mayor (Councillor G Cooper), the Deputy Mayor (Councillor Hensley), Councillors Ahmad-Wallana, Barnes, Bianco, Bridges, Burrows, Chamdal, J Cooper, Corthorne, Crowe, Dann, Davis, Denys, Duducu, Edwards, Flynn, Fyfe, Gilham, Graham, Haggar, Higgins, Jackson, Kauffman, Kelly, Lavery, Lewis, Markham, Melvin, D Mills, R Mills, Morgan, O’Brien, Palmer, Puddifoot, Seaman-Digby, Simmonds, Stead, White and Yarrow.

 

The motion was carried and it was:

 

RESOLVED:  That SRAs of the following amounts be paid in equal monthly instalments to Councillors holding the following responsibilities:

		(£)
17.	Leader of 2nd Party	21,756.36
18.	Deputy Leader of 2nd Party	5,594.76
19.	Chief Whip of 2nd Party	5,594.76
20.	2nd Party Lead on Scrutiny and Policy Overview Committee	5,594.76
21.	Party Lead on Planning Committee	5,594.76

 

To consider whether to participate in the establishment of the London CIV.

Councillor Corthorne moved, and Councillor Simmonds seconded, the motion as set out on the Order of Business.  It was:

 

RESOLVED:  That Council:

1.     Join the London Councils’ Pensions CIV Sectoral Joint Committee, established under Regulation 11 of the Local Authorities (Arrangement for the Discharge of Functions) (England) Regulations 2012 (pursuant to the existing London Councils Governing Agreement dated 13 December 2001 (as amended)) to act as a representative body for those local authorities that resolve to participate in these arrangements (or in the alternative, should all 33 London authorities resolve to participate, that London Councils’ Leaders’ Committee exercise these functions and the Governing Agreement be varied accordingly);

2.     Delegate to the Joint Committee those functions necessary for the proper functioning of the Company, including the effective oversight of the ACS Operator;

3.     Appoint Councillor Corthorne to the Joint Committee who will also have power to act for the Council in exercising its rights as a shareholder at any General Meetings of the Company;

4.     Subscribe to one, £1.00 ordinary A share in the capital of the Company, having the rights set out in the Articles of Association and Shareholders Agreement;

5.     Contribute to the Company’s Regulatory Capital requirements by way of a subscription to 150,000 £1 non-voting B shares in the capital of the Company, having the rights set out in the Articles of Association and Shareholders Agreement; and

6.     Contribute £75,000 to the start-up and early operating costs.

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.

 

Members are asked to note that, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, recorded votes will be taken at the annual budget setting meeting on any motion, amendment to motion or substantive motion regarding the General Fund Revenue Budget, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Programme.

Councillor O’Brien moved, and Councillor White seconded, the suspension of Council procedure rules 14.4 to allow unlimited speaking time for the mover and seconder of the motion and the principal speaker / mover of the amendment and seconder of the amendment from the Labour Group. 

 

RESOLVED: That the mover and seconder of the budget motion and the principal speaker / mover and seconder of the principal amendment from the Labour Group be allowed unlimited speaking time on this item.

 

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

 

Councillor Eginton moved, and Councillor Oswell seconded, the following

amendment:

 

1          That the Cabinet be invited to consider the Labour Group’s amendments to the Cabinet’s proposals of 18 February 2016 set out in the Council Tax report and report to Council. These amendments would result in a Council Tax requirement for 2016/17 of £106,585,306.

 

Firstly, in relation to the General Fund revenue budget:

 

Labour Group Proposed Amendments	Budget 2016/17 (£000s)
Council Tax Requirement based on Cabinet Proposals	106,585
Calculated from the Budget Requirement based on Cabinet proposals	196,293
Budget Increases:
Reverse proposed reduction described as Zero Based Budget Review of Children Centre Expenditure	200
Reverse proposed reduction described as Review of Children Centre Delivery Model	215
Total Increases	415
Budget Reductions:
Reduce the budget for Hillingdon People and produce four times per year rather than six	(35)
Reduce unallocated priority growth	(380)
Total Reductions	(415)
Net Revenue Budget Changes	0
Labour Group Budget Requirement	196,293
Labour Group Council Tax Requirement to Council	106,585

 

Secondly, in relation to the Housing Revenue Account Budget:

 

·                Amend the proposed capital programme to include £95,200k for the delivery of 400 new general needs homes, including provision for purchase of land, funded from £9,520k of HRA balances. £28,560k of Right to Buy receipts and £57,120k of Prudential Borrowing as detailed below.

 

	2016/17	2017/18	2018/19	2019/20	2020/21	Total
	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
Capital Cost	0	0	30,940	30,940	33,320	95,200
Use of Balances	0	0	3,094	3,094	3,332	9,520
Right to Buy Receipts	0	0	9,282	9,282	9,996	28,560
Prudential Borrowing	0	0	18,564	18,564	19,992	57,120
Homes Delivered	0	0	130	130	140	400

 

·                The on-going revenue costs associated with servicing and repaying this borrowing over a thirty year period would be financed from the additional rental income secured from these 400 units on the basis of charging affordable rents. The use of reserves to supplement this borrowing is required to avoid on-going borrowing costs exceeding future rental yield. Capital Receipts included in this proposal relate to the proceeds of an element of the expected 500 Right to Buy Sales over the period 2016/17 to 2020/21, which have not been earmarked for a specific purpose within Cabinet's budget proposals.

 

·                The following table sets out the impact upon HRA revenue budgets recommended by Cabinet and the associated impact on sums held within the HRA General Balances and Major Repairs Reserve.

 

 

These proposed amendments do not amend rents payable by individual tenants.

 

Following debate (Councillors Corthorne, Curling, Puddifoot, Sansarpuri, Simmonds and Sweeting), the amendment was put to a recorded vote:

 

Those voting for: Councillors Allen, Birah, Burles, Curling, Dheer, Dhillon, Dhot, Duncan, East, Eginton, Garg, Jarjussey, Khatra, Khursheed, Lakhmana, Money, Morse, Nelson, Oswell, Sansarpuri, Singh and Sweeting.

 

Those voting against: The Mayor (Councillor G Cooper), the Deputy Mayor (Councillor Hensley), Councillors Ahmad-Wallana, Barnes, Bianco, Bridges, Burrows, Chamdal, J Cooper, Corthorne, Crowe, Dann, Davis, Denys, Duducu, Edwards, Flynn, Fyfe, Gilham, Graham, Haggar, Higgins, Jackson, Kauffman, Kelly, Lavery, Lewis, Markham, Melvin, D Mills, R Mills, Morgan, O’Brien, Palmer, Puddifoot, Seaman-Digby, Simmonds, Stead, White and Yarrow.

 

The motion was lost. 

 

Following further debate (Councillors Burrows, Corthorne, Denys, Duducu, Gilham, Lavery, D Mills, Seaman-Digby and Simmonds), the original motion was put to a recorded vote: 

 

Those voting for: The Mayor (Councillor G Cooper), the Deputy Mayor (Councillor Hensley), Councillors Ahmad-Wallana, Allen, Barnes, Bianco, Birah, Bridges, Burles, Burrows, Chamdal, J Cooper, Corthorne, Crowe, Curling, Dann, Davis, Denys, Dheer, Dhillon, Dhot, Duducu, Duncan, East, Edwards, Eginton, Flynn, Fyfe, Garg, Gilham, Graham, Haggar, Higgins, Jackson, Jarjussey, Kauffman, Kelly, Khatra, Khursheed, Lakhmana, Lavery, Lewis, Markham, Melvin, D Mills, R Mills, Money, Morgan, Morse, Nelson, O’Brien, Oswell, Palmer, Puddifoot, Sansarpuri, Seaman-Digby, Simmonds, Singh Stead, Sweeting, White and Yarrow.

 

The original motion was unanimously carried and it was:

 

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet budget recommendations as set out below, be approved.

 

1.      The General Fund revenue budget proposals made by Cabinet be approved, resulting in a Council Tax requirement for 2016/17 of £106,585,306;

 

2.      Council note that at its meeting on 14 January 2016 the Council calculated the amount of 95,770 as its Council Tax Base for the year 2016/17. This was calculated in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, 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 £1,388.93 for the borough;

 

4.      The following amounts have been calculated by the Council for the year 2016/17, in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (the Act):

 

a)     £425,635,706    being the aggregate of the amounts that the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (2) (a) to (f) of the Act. (Gross Expenditure including the amount required for additions to working balances)

 

b)     £319,050,400    being the aggregate of the amounts that the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (3) (a) to (d) of the Act. (Gross Income including reserves to be used to meet Gross Expenditure)

 

c)     £106,585,306    being the amount by which the aggregate at 4 (a) above exceeds the aggregate at 4 (b) above.  This is calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A (4) of the Act, as its council tax requirement for the year. (Item R under Section 31B of the Act)

 

d) £1,112.93             being the amount at 4 (c) above divided by Item T (2 above). This is, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year. (Council Tax at Band D for the Council)

 

e)     

 

being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at 4 (d) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5 (1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation Band D. This is calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 36 (1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands;

 

5.      Council note that for the year 2016/17 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:

 

The Greater London Authority Precept
Band A	Band B	Band C	Band D
£184.00	£214.67	£245.33	£276.00
Band E	Band F	Band G	Band H
£337.33	£398.67	£460.00	£552.00

 

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 2016/17 for each category of dwelling below:

 

Total Council Tax 2015/16
Band A	Band B	Band C	Band D
£925.95	£1,080.28	£1,234.60	£1,388.93
Band E	Band F	Band G	Band H
£1,697.58	£2,006.24	£2,314.88	£2,777.86

 

7.         The Housing Revenue Account budget proposals made by Cabinet be approved;

 

8.         The Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 6 of the attached report to Cabinet be approved;

 

9.         The Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Statement for 2016/17 to 2020/21 as set out in Appendix 9 of the attached report to Cabinet be approved;

 

10.      The Efficiency Strategy for the 2016/17 year as detailed in Appendix 10 of the attached report to Cabinet be approved;

 

11.      The London Borough of Hillingdon Pay Policy Statement for 2016/17 as set out in Appendix 11 of the attached report to Cabinet be approved;

 

12.      The proposals for Fees and Charges and housing rents for both the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account set out in Appendix 12 of the attached report to Cabinet be approved;

 

13.      The Council Tax Discount for Older People be retained at 4.88% of Hillingdon’s element of the Council Tax;

 

14.      Council note the Corporate Director of Finance’s comments regarding his responsibilities under the Local Government Act 2003;

 

15.      Council authorises the Corporate Director of Finance to approve all virements after 31 March 2016 relating to the 2015/16 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 2015/16 financial year;

 

16.      Council (as set out in Schedule G of the Constitution - Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules) resolves that Cabinet may utilise the general reserves or balances or approve virements between the General Fund budget, Housing Revenue Account budget or Capital budgets during the MTFF financial years 2016/17 to 2020/21 in respect of those functions which have been reserved to the Cabinet in Article 7 of the Constitution; and

 

17.      Council confirm that the Council’s relevant basic amount of Council Tax for 2016/17 is not excessive in accordance with principles approved under Section 52ZB Local Government Finance Act 1992 and therefore a referendum will not be triggered.