Agenda and minutes

Budget Setting, Council - Thursday, 23rd February, 2017 7.30 pm

Venue: Council Chamber - Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge UB8 1UW. View directions

Contact: Lloyd White, Head of Democratic Services 

Link: Watch a LIVE or archived broadcast of this meeting here

Items
No. Item

42.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Jarjussey, Lakhmana and Morse.

43.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 192 KB

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2017 (attached)

Minutes:

Councillor Duncan highlighted that an amendment to minute 40 was required, to confirm that the Member's Enquiry regarding Austin Road had been submitted by Councillor Curling.

 

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting on 19 January 2017 be agreed as a correct record subject to the above amendment.

44.

Declarations of Interest

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

Minutes:

None.

45.

Mayor's Announcements

Minutes:

The Mayor welcomed a number of journalism students from Brunel University to the meeting.

 

The Mayor conveyed his best wishes to Councillor Jarjussey for a speedy recovery from his recent operation.

 

The Mayor congratulated Councillor Singh on recently completing seven consecutive marathons in seven days, across seven continents.

46.

Report of the Head of Democratic Services pdf icon PDF 121 KB

Minutes:

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)     a) Members' Allowances 2017/18

 

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

 

The motion was put to the vote and it was:

 

RESOLVED:  That the current Members’ Allowances Scheme be revoked as of 31 March 2017 and the new Scheme for 2017/18 be approved, as shown in Appendix A,  for implementation from 1 April 2017 including, for 2017/18 a Basic Allowance of £11,036.71 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.

 

ii)            b) Members' Allowances 2017/18

 

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

 

The 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

22,193.66

2.

Deputy Mayor

8,655.39

3.

Leader of the Council

54,910.84

4.

Deputy Leader of the Council

46,255.45

5.

Chief Whip of Largest Party

22,193.66

6.

Cabinet Member

38,682.07

7.

Chairman of Scrutiny and Policy Overview Committee

22,193.66

8.

Chairman of Planning Committee

22,193.66

9.

Chairman of Licensing Committee

9,474.86

10.

Vice Chairman of Licensing Committee

6,255.25

11.

Chairman of Standards Committee

3,127.63

12.

Standards Committee Independent Person

1,563.81

13.

Chairman of Audit Committee*

2,975.49

14.

Champion

5,707.22

15.

Council rep' on Adoption and Permanency Panel

12,510.51

16.

Cabinet Assistant

8,655.39

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

 

ii)     c) Members' Allowances 2017/18

 

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, Khatra, Khursheed, Money, Nelson, Oswell, Sansarpuri, Singh and Sweeting.

 

Those voting against: none. 

 

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

22,193.66

18.

Deputy Leader of 2nd Party

5,707.22

19.

Chief Whip of 2nd Party

5,707.22

20.

2nd Party Lead on Scrutiny and Policy Overview Committee

5,707.22

21.

Party Lead on Planning Committee

5,707.22

 

 

iii)           Programme of Meetings 2017/18

 

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

 

RESOLVED:  That, the timetable of meetings for 2017/18, as set out in Appendix A, 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.

47.

General Fund Revenue Budget, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Programme 2017 / 2018 pdf icon PDF 48 KB

To consider the recommendations of Cabinet which will be published, once agreed. In the meantime the report to Cabinet is available in the Group Offices, on request to the Head of Democratic Services or online at:

 

http://modgov.hillingdon.gov.uk/ieIssueDetails.aspx?IId=23185&PlanId=0&Opt=3#AI27880

 

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.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Councillor O’Brien moved, and Councillor Morgan 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. 

 

During the debate, the Mayor adjourned the meeting for a period of ten minutes in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 24.5.

 

Councillor Dhillon moved, and Councillor Khursheed 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 to Council. These amendments would result in a Council Tax requirement for 2017/18 of £106,199,055

 

2      Firstly, in relation to the General Fund revenue budget, the proposals are based on the budget proposals as approved by Cabinet on 16 February 2017, subject to the following amendments:

 

Labour Group Proposed Amendments

Budget

2017/18

(£000s)

Council Tax Requirement based on Cabinet Proposals

108,199

Calculated from the Budget Requirement based on Cabinet proposals

220,695

Budget Increases:

 

Removal of Children's Centre Savings Proposal from the 2017/18 budget Planning & Anti Social Behaviour Investigations Team (ASBIT)

Enforcement Officers (2x Full Time POA Posts)

Abolish child Burial Charges for Residents

 

 

189

 

98

15

Total Increases

302

Budget Reductions:

 

Reduction of General Contingency to £500k

Reduction in Unallocated Priority Growth

 

 

(250)

(52)

Total Reductions

(302)

Council Tax Requirement based on Labour Group proposals

108,199

Calculated from the Budget Requirement based on Labour Group proposals

220,695

 

Information:

 

3          Further explanation of the proposed amendments is provided below. The £320k resulting increase in expenditure budgets being funded through the reduction of General Contingency by £250k to £500k and release £52k from the Unallocated Priority Growth, which would leave £202k growth available of support new initiatives during 2017/18.

 

4          Removal of Children's Centre Savings Proposals from 2017/18:  In order to provide time from broader consultation and further consideration of options, it is proposed to remove the £198k Review of Children's Centre Delivery Model from the 2017/18 budget.

 

5          Planning and ASBIT Enforcement Officers (2x Full Time POA Posts):  In order to build capacity for the Council to respond to alleged breaches of planning control and Anti-Social behaviour in a more timely manner, growth of £95k is proposed to finance two additional posts.

 

6          Abolish Child Burial Charges for Residents:  While cremations are provided free of charge for resident infants and children, the Council currently charges for infant and child burials, with the Cabinet's draft budget proposals including increases to these charges. It is proposed that those charges relating solely to the interment of an infant of child are abolished for residents, which is expected to reduce income by £15k per annum.

 

 

Following debate (Councillors Allen, Bianco, Dhillon, Dhot, Duncan, East, Khatra, D Mills, Oswell, 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, Gardner, Garg, Khatra, Khursheed, Money, Nelson, Oswell, Sansarpuri, Singh and Sweeting.

 

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

 

The motion was lost. 

 

Following further debate (Councillors Allen, Bianco, Corthorne, Curling, Barnes, Burrows, Eginton, Markham, D Mills, R Mills, Lewis, Puddifoot, Simmonds, Sweeting), the original motion was put to a recorded vote: 

 

Those voting for: The Mayor (Councillor Hensley), the Deputy Mayor (Councillor Melvin), Councillors Ahmad-Wallana, Allen, Barnes, Bianco, Birah, Bridges, Burles, Burrows, Chamdal, Chapman, G Cooper, J Cooper, Corthorne, Crowe, Curling, Dann, Davis, Denys, Dheer, Dhillon, Dhot, Duducu, Duncan, East, Edwards, Eginton, Flynn, Fyfe, Gardner, Garg, Gilham, Graham, Haggar, Higgins, Jackson, Kauffman, Kelly, Khatra, Khursheed, Lavery, Lewis, Markham, D Mills, R Mills, Money, Morgan, Nelson, O’Brien, Oswell, Palmer, Puddifoot, Riley, 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 2017/18 of £108,199,055;

 

2.      Council note that at its meeting on 19 January 2017 the Council calculated the amount of 97,220 as its Council Tax Base for the year 2017/18. 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.      The Hillingdon element of 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 £1,392.95 for the borough;

 

4.      The following amounts have been calculated by the Council for the year 2017/18, in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (the Act):

 

a)     £422,948,055    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)     £314,749,000    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)     £108,199,055    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)     

The London Borough of Hillingdon Council Tax

Band A

Band B

Band C

Band D

£741.95

£865.61

£989.27

£1,112.93

Band E

Band F

Band G

Band H

£1,360.25

£1,607.57

£1,854.88

£2,225.86

 

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 2017/18 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

£186.68

£217.79

£248.91

£280.02

Band E

Band F

Band G

Band H

£342.25

£404.47

£466.70

£560.04

 

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 2017/18 for each category of dwelling below:

 

Total Council Tax 2015/16

Band A

Band B

Band C

Band D

£928.63

£1,083.40

£1,238.18

£1,392.95

Band E

Band F

Band G

Band H

£1,702.50

£2,012.04

£2,321.58

£2,785.90

 

7.         The Council Tax Discount for Older people be retained at 4.88% of Hillingdon's element of the Council Tax;

 

8.         The Capital Programme for 2017/18 to 2021/22 as set out in Appendix 6 of the report to Cabinet, be approved;

 

9.         The Housing Revenue Account budget proposals and housing rents set out in Appendix 7 of the report to Cabinet, be approved;

 

10.      The proposed  amendments to Fees and Charges set out in Appendix 8 of the report to Cabinet, be approved;

 

11.      The Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Statement for 2017/18 to 2020/21 as set out in Appendix 10 of the report to Cabinet, be approved;

 

12.      The London Borough of Hillingdon Pay Policy Statement for 2017/18 as set out in Appendix 11 of the report to Cabinet, be approved;

 

13.      The Housing Revenue Account Rent Policy as set out in Appendix 12 to the report to Cabinet, be approved and the Leader of the Council and relevant Cabinet portfolio Member be authorised to agree affordable rent levels on a scheme by scheme basis for newly acquired or built properties during the financial year;

 

14.      Council formally opt in to the national scheme for appointing local authority auditors, as detailed in Appendix 13 of the report to Cabinet;

 

15.      The Corporate Director of Finance’s comments regarding his responsibilities under the Local Government Act 2003, be noted;

 

16.      As set out in Schedule G of the Constitution - Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules, 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 2017/18 to 2021/22 in respect of those functions which have been reserved to Cabinet in Article 7 of the Constitution;

 

17.      Council confirm that the Council’s relevant basic amount of Council Tax for 2017/18 is not excessive in accordance with principles approved under Section 52ZB Local Government Finance Act 1992 and 'therefore' a referendum will not be triggered.

Annex A - Members Allowance Scheme 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 95 KB

Annex B - Programme of Meetings 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 66 KB