Issue - meetings

Councillor Ward moved the recommendations in the report. Councillor Comer-Schwartz seconded. Councillor Russell moved the amendment. Councillor Hamdache seconded.

Councillors Hayes, McHugh, Ibrahim, Jegorovas-Armstrong and Convery contributed to the discussion.

Councillor Russell exercised her right to reply on the amendment. Councillor Ward exercised his right to reply on the budget report.

The amendment was put to the vote. Voting was recorded as follows:

For: Councillor Russell, Hamdache, Jegorovas-Armstrong

Against: Councillors Bell-Bradford, Bossman-Quarshie, Burgess, Champion, Chapman, Chowdhury, Cinko-Oner, Clarke, Comer-Schwartz, Convery, Craig, Croft, Gallagher, Gilgunn, Gill, Hayes, Heather, Hyde, Ibrahim, Jackson, Jeapes, Kay, Khurana, Klute, Mackmurdie, McHugh, Ngongo, North, O’Halloran, O’Sullivan, Ogunro, Pandor, Poyser, Shaikh, Spall, Staff, Turan, Ward, Wayne, Weekes, Williamson, Woolf, Zammit

The amendment was LOST.

The recommendations in the report were put to the vote. Voting was recorded as follows:

For: Councillors Bell-Bradford, Bossman-Quarshie, Burgess, Champion, Chapman, Chowdhury, Cinko-Oner, Clarke, Comer-Schwartz, Convery, Craig, Croft, Gallagher, Gilgunn, Gill, Hayes, Heather, Hyde, Ibrahim, Jackson, Jeapes, Kay, Khurana, Klute, Mackmurdie, McHugh, Ngongo, North, O’Halloran, O’Sullivan, Ogunro, Pandor, Poyser, Shaikh, Spall, Staff, Turan, Ward, Wayne, Weekes, Williamson, Woolf, Zammit

Against: Councillors Russell, Hamdache, Jegorovas-Armstrong

The recommendations in the report were CARRIED.

RESOLVED:

The General Fund Budget 2023/24 and MTFS (Section 3 of the report)

(i)    That the MTFS and balanced 2023/24 budget, including the underlying MTFS principles, in-year monitoring position (to date) and the  budget assumptions. (Paragraphs 3.1-3.46, Table 1, and Appendix A of the report), be agreed as recommended by the Executive.

(ii)   That the proposed 2023/24 net budgets by directorate (Paragraph 3.3, Table 2, and Appendix A of the report) be agreed as recommended by the Executive. 

(iii)That centrally held demographic growth be allocated to service budgets in-year once a more evidenced assessment is available and has been approved by the Section 151 Officer (Paragraph 3.18 of the report) be agreed as recommended by the Executive.

(iv)That the 2023/24 budget incorporates budget provision for manifesto commitments and provides additional support to residents in the current cost-of-living crisis (Paragraph 3.26-3.36 of the report) be noted.

(v)   That a one-off £1m Hardship Fund to support residents focussing on working households, with low incomes, who are facing large rent rises, for launch in advance of the 2023/24 financial year (Paragraph 3.28-3.32 of the report) be agreed as recommended by the Executive.

(vi)That the annual budget for the London Councils Grants Committee, following consideration by the London Councils Leaders’ Committee on 13 December 2022, be agreed as recommended by the Executive, and that this will be reported to the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Committee on 20 March 2023 for noting (Paragraph 3.39-3.40 of the report) be noted.

(vii)                    That the 2023/24 savings be agreed as recommended by the Executive, and it be noted that individual savings may be subject to individual consultation before they can be implemented. Further, that the draft savings proposals for 2024/25 and 2025/26 (Paragraphs 3.42-3.46, Table 4, and Appendix B of the report) be noted.

(viii)                  That the funding assumptions following the announcement of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 231

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reasons for the decision – as detailed in the report

Other options considered – none

Conflicts of interest / dispensations granted – none

RESOLVED:

The General Fund Budget 2023/24 and MTFS

(a) That Council be recommended to agree the latest assumed MTFS and balanced 2023/24 budget, including the underlying MTFS principles, in-year monitoring position (to date) and the budget assumptions, as detailed in the report of the Executive Member for Finance, Planning and Performance.

(b) That Council be recommended to approve the proposed 2023/24 net budgets by directorate.

(c) That Council be recommended to agree that centrally held demographic growth be allocated to service budgets once a more evidenced assessment was available and had been approved by the Section 151 Officer.

(d) That it be noted that the 2023/24 budget incorporated budget provision for manifesto commitments and provided additional support to residents in the current cost-of-living crisis.

(e) That a one-off £1m be approved for a Hardship Fund to support residents, focussing on working households, with low incomes, who faced large rent rises, for launch in advance of the 2023/24 financial year.

(f) That the annual budget for the London Councils’ Grants Committee, following consideration by London Councils’ Leaders’ Committee on 13 December 2022, be approved and that it be noted that this would be reported to the Voluntary and Community Sector Committee.

(g) That Council be recommended to approve the 2023/24 savings and note that individual savings may be subject to individual consultation before they can be implemented and that the draft savings proposals for 2024/25 and 2025/26 be noted.

(h) That the funding assumptions following the announcement of the Provisional Local Government Settlement on 19 December 2022 be noted.

(i)  That it be noted that the fees and charges policy and the General Fund fees and charges for 2023/24 had been agreed by Executive on 24 November 2022.

(j) That Council be recommended to approve the policy on General Fund contingency and reserves and agree the movements to/from earmarked reserves assumed as part of the 2023/24 revenue budget.

(k) That Council be recommended to agree that the Section 151 Officer be delegated responsibility for any technical adjustments required for the 2023/24 budget (in line with the Council’s financial regulations).

The HRA Budget and MTFS

(l) That Council be recommended to approve the balanced HRA 2023/24 budget and note the latest estimates over the 3-year MTFS period.

(m) That Council be recommended to approve the 2023/24 savings and note that individual savings may be subject to individual consultation before they can be implemented.

(n) That the HRA rents and other HRA fees and charges for 2023/24 be approved.

(o) That it be noted that the HRA 30-year business plan was currently being updated

to reflect latest government policy.

Capital Investment and Treasury and Investment Management

(p) That Council be recommended to approve the proposed 2023/24 to 2025/26 capital programme and note the latest indicative capital programme for 2026/27 to 2032/33.

(q) That the estimated funding of the 2023/24 to 2025/26 capital programme be noted and the Section 151 Officer be authorised, where necessary, to apply capital resources to fund the capital programme  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62