Agenda and minutes

Prayers were said by Reverend Adrian Guthrie.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Crowe, Curling, Lewis and Seaman-Digby.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2011

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2011 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 8 – Council General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2011/12, as he was a School Governor at Ruislip High School, had a family connection with the Willow Tree Centre and his house was in the proximity of the proposed HS2 route, and remained in the room during the consideration thereof. 

Councillor Bianco declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8 – Council General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2011/12, as he had a family connection with the Willow Tree Centre, and remained in the room during the consideration thereof. 

Councillor R Mills declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8 – Council General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2011/12, as he had a family connection with the Willow Tree Centre and as a beneficiary of a trust relating to a property in the proximity of the proposed HS2 route. He remained in the room during the consideration thereof.

Councillor Lavery declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8 – Council General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2011/12, as he was a School Governor at Ruislip High School, and remained in the room during the consideration thereof. 

Councillor Yarrow declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8 – Council General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2011/12, as he was a School Governor at Ruislip High School, and remained in the room during the consideration thereof. 

Councillor MacDonald declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Agenda Item 5iii – Appointment of Champion & Establishment of Working Group to Review Support for Music Tuition and Agenda Item 8 – Council General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2011/12, due to her involvement with the Hillingdon Music Service, and left the room during the consideration thereof. 

Councillor O’Brien declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 8 – Council General Fund Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2011/12, as a user of the Willow Tree Centre, and remained in the room during the consideration thereof.

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

The Mayor advised Members that ex-Councillor David Hartnett had passed away on 27 December 2010.  All present stood for a minute’s silence in his memory.

(i)         PROGRAMME OF MEETINGS 2011/12

Councillor G Cooper moved the recommendation as set out on the Order of Business.  This was seconded by Councillor Markham. 

RESOLVED: That the timetable of meetings for 2011/12 in Appendix A of the report 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.

(ii)        MEMBERS’ ALLOWANCES 2011/12

a)     Councillor Puddifoot moved, Councillor Simmonds seconded and it was:

RESOLVED: That, for 2011/12, a Basic Allowance of £10,481.53 be paid to all Councillors.

b)     Councillor Puddifoot moved, Councillor Simmonds seconded and it was:

RESOLVED: That, for 2011/12, Special responsibility allowances of the following amounts shall be paid in equal monthly instalments to Councillors holding the following responsibilities:

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

c)      Councillor Khursheed moved, Councillor Harmsworth seconded and it was:

RESOLVED: That, for 2011/12 Special responsibility allowances of the following amounts shall be paid in equal monthly instalments to Councillors holding the following responsibilities:

d)     Councillor Puddifoot moved, Councillor Simmonds seconded and it was:

RESOLVED: That the current Members’ Allowances Scheme be revoked as of 31 March 2011 and the new Scheme for 2011/12 be approved for implementation from 1 April 2011.

(iii)       APPOINTMENT OF CHAMPION & ESTABLISHMENT OF WORKING GROUP TO REVIEW SUPPORT FOR MUSIC TUITION

Councillor Puddifoot moved the recommendation as set out on the Order of Business.  This was seconded by Councillor Simmonds.  Following debate (Councillor Major), the motion was put to the vote and agreed.

RESOLVED: That:

1. Councillor Kelly be appointed Council Champion for the Arts;
2. a Working Group be established, to be chaired by the Champion for the Arts, to review support for music tuition and report its findings to Cabinet; and
3. authority be delegated to the Head of Democratic Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Champion for the Arts, to agree the Working Group's membership, terms of reference and operation.

(iv)      URGENT IMPLEMENTATION OF DECISIONS

Councillor G Cooper moved the recommendation as set out on the Order of Business.  This was seconded by Councillor Markham. 

RESOLVED:  That the Urgency decisions detailed in the report be noted with the addition of the following:

• Decisions by the Cabinet in relation to the Primary School and School Capital Programmes and Parking Charges – call-in waived on 20th January 2011.

To consider proposed changes to the Council Constitution

Councillor Puddifoot moved the motion which was seconded by Councillor Simmonds.  Following debate (Councillor Major), the motion was put to the vote and agreed.

RESOLVED: 

a)     That, following consideration by Cabinet on 17 February of proposals to change the first tier management structure of the Council, amendments to Part 2, Article 12, ‘Officers’, Part 3, ‘Scheme of Delegation to Officers’ and Part 7, ‘Management Structure’ of the Constitution as shown in Appendices 1-3 of these minutes be approved; and

b)     That Part 4, Schedule E ‘Policy Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules’ – waiving of call-in be amended to read as follows:

‘The Chairman of the Executive Scrutiny Committee (or Vice-Chairman in their absence) must be informed that the decision will be implemented immediately upon him/her agreeing that the decision is reasonable and to it being treated as a matter of urgency. In the absence of the Chairman or Vice-Chairman then the Mayor (or Deputy Mayor if required) can take this decision. Decisions taken as a matter of urgency must be reported to the next available meeting of Council, together with the reasons for urgency.’

To consider the level of rents for 2011/12

Councillor Corthorne moved the motion which was seconded by Councillor Simmonds. 

RESOLVED:  That the:

1. formula rents under the DCLG rent restructure policy be used to calculate HRA dwelling rents for 2011/2012.
2. average HRA rents, charges and allowances for 2011/12 be approved as set out in Tables A to D of the report.
3. HRA Budget for 2011/12 be approved as set out in Appendix 1 of the report.

Budget papers as issued to Cabinet for the meeting on 17 February are attached as a separate appendix.

Following the Cabinet meeting, the formal Council Tax Resolution 2011/12 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 G Cooper moved and Councillor Markham seconded the suspension of Council procedure rule 14.4 to allow unlimited time for the mover and seconder of the recommendations and the principal speaker from the Labour Group (Councillor Harmsworth) to speak on the budget report. 

RESOLVED:  That the mover and seconder of the budget motion and the principal speaker from the Labour Group (Councillor Harmsworth) be allowed to speak for an unlimited period on this item.

Councillor Bianco moved, and Councillor Puddifoot seconded, the following:

1. the General Fund revenue budget proposals made by Cabinet be approved, resulting in a net budget requirement for 2011/12 of £194,745,700.

2. It be noted that, at the meeting on 13 January 2011 the Council calculated the amount of 99,118 as its Council Tax Base for the year 2011/12. This was in accordance with the Regulations made under Sections 33 (5) and 34 (4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, being the amount calculated in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003, as its Council Tax Base for the year (Item T under Section 33 (1) 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 £1,422.75 for the borough.

4. the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2011/12, in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (the Act):

5. It be noted that for the year 2011/12 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(f) and 5 above. The Council in accordance with Section 30 (2) of the Act hereby sets the Council Tax for the year 2011/12 for each category of dwelling below:

7. the proposals for fees and charges set out in Appendix 8 of the report to Cabinet on 17 February 2011 be approved.

8. the Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 9 of the report be agreed.

9. the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Statement for 2011/12 to 2013/14 be agreed as set out in Appendix 11 of the report.

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

11. the Corporate Director of Finance & Business Services’ comments regarding his responsibilities under the Local Government Act 2003 be noted.

12. the Chief Finance Officer be authorised to approve all virements after 31 March 2011 relating to the 2010/11 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 2010/11 financial year.

13. (as set out in Schedule C of the Constitution - Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules) Cabinet may utilise the general reserves or balances during the MTFF financial years 2011/12 to 2014/15 in respect of those functions which have been reserved to the Cabinet in Article 7 of the Constitution.

Councillor Harmsworth moved, and Councillor Khursheed seconded, an amendment which, following debate (Councillors Corthorne, Duncan, Jarjussey, MacDonald, Major, D Mills, Puddifoot and Simmonds), was put to the vote and lost.

Following debate (Councillors Burrows, Corthorne, Gilham, Higgins, Major, D Mills, R Mills, O’Brien 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 net budget requirement for 2011/12 of £194,745,700.

2.            It be noted that, at the meeting on 13 January 2011 the Council calculated the amount of 99,118 as its Council Tax Base for the year 2011/12. This was in accordance with the Regulations made under Sections 33 (5) and 34 (4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, being the amount calculated in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003, as its Council Tax Base for the year (Item T under Section 33 (1) 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 £1,422.75 for the borough.

4.            the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2011/12, in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (the Act):

5.            It be noted that for the year 2011/12 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(f) and 5 above. The Council in accordance with Section 30 (2) of the Act hereby sets the Council Tax for the year 2011/12 for each category of dwelling below:

7.            the proposals for fees and charges set out in Appendix 8 of the report to Cabinet on 17 February 2011 be approved.

8.            the Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 9 of the report be agreed.

9.            the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Annual Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Statement for 2011/12 to 2013/14 be agreed as set out in Appendix 11 of the report.

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

11.       the Corporate Director of Finance & Business Services’ comments regarding his responsibilities under the Local Government Act 2003 be noted.

12.       the Chief Finance Officer be authorised to approve all virements after 31 March 2011 relating to the 2010/11 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 2010/11 financial year.

13.       (as set out in Schedule C of the Constitution - Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules) Cabinet may utilise the general reserves or balances during the MTFF financial years 2011/12 to 2014/15 in respect of those functions which have been reserved to the Cabinet in Article 7 of the Constitution.

RESOLVED: That the Council meeting scheduled for 3 March 2011 be cancelled.

The Mayor thanked the Hillingdon Music Service for performing outside the Civic Centre and making a collection for the Mayor’s charities.