Agenda item

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none

Link to report

RESOLVED:

The General Fund Budget 2019-20 and MTFS (Section 3)

2.1         That the 2019-20 net Council cash limits as set out in Table 1 (Paragraph 3.7) of the report and the MTFS at Appendix A of the report, which include the 2019-22 revenue savings at Appendix B of the report, and the 2019-20 revenue growth proposal at paragraph 3.6 of the report be agreed.

2.2         That the Council should strongly oppose Government proposals in the ‘Review of Local Authorities’ Relative Needs and Resources Consultation’ to remove deprivation indicators from the baseline grant formula, which would significantly disadvantage high-need boroughs such as Islington, and the other key elements of the Council’s response as set out in paragraphs 3.9-3.10 of the report, be agreed.

2.3         That the fees and charges policy be noted and the 2019-20 fees and charges, paragraphs 3.12-3.13 and Appendices C1-C3 of the report, be agreed.

2.4         That the estimated use of the Council’s earmarked budget reserves (including the creation of a new Transformation Reserve), the Council’s policy on the level of General Fund balances, with an increase in General Fund balances of £2m in 2019-20, and an increase in the ongoing contingency budget of £3m in 2019-20, paragraphs 3.14-3.17 and Table 2 of the report, be agreed.

The HRA Budget and MTFS (Section 4)

2.5         That the balanced HRA 2019-20 budget, including savings and growth proposals, within the HRA MTFS at Tables 4-5 and Appendix D1 of the report be agreed.

2.6         That the 2019-20 HRA rents, fees and charges, agreed by Executive on 17 January 2019, tables 6-9 and Appendix D2, of the report, be noted.

The Capital Programme 2019-22 (Section 5)

2.7         That the 2019-20 capital programme and note the provisional programme for 2020-22, paragraph 5.1, Table 10 and Appendix E1 of the report, be agreed.

2.8         That the Capital Strategy 2019-22, which includes affordability prudential indicators and the minimum revenue provision (MRP) policy, paragraph 5.2 and Appendix E1 of the report, be agreed.

2.9         That the Treasury Management and Investment Strategy 2019-20 (including external debt and treasury management Prudential Indicators), as considered by Audit Committee on 31 January 2019, paragraph 5.2 and Appendix E2 of the report, be agreed.

2.10      That the Strategy for Other Investments (including Commercial Investments) 2019-20, paragraph 5.3 and Appendix E3 of the report, be agreed.

Council Tax and Retained Business Rates (Section 6)

2.11      That the calculations required for the determination of the 2019-20 council tax requirement and the level of council tax as detailed in Section 6 of the report and summarised below, be agreed.

1)     The 2019-20 council tax requirement of £92,993,961.91, paragraph 6.2 of the report.

2)     The relevant basic amount of Islington Band D council tax of £1,169.38, a 2.99% increase compared to 2018-19, and to determine that this is not ‘excessive’, paragraphs 6.3 and 6.4 of the report.

3)     The basic amount of Islington Band D council tax for dwellings to which no special item relates (i.e. outside of the Lloyd Square Garden Committee area) of £1,169.16 and total Band D council tax (including the GLA precept) of £1,489.67, paragraphs 6.5 and 6.9 of the report.

4)     The amount of 2019-20 council tax (excluding the GLA precept) for each valuation band over each of the Council’s areas, paragraph 6.7 of the report.

5) The total amount of 2019-20 council tax (including the GLA precept) for each valuation band over each of the Council’s areas, paragraph 6.9 of the report.

2.12      That in relation to the Council’s proposed participation in the London Business Rates Pilot Pool, paragraphs 6.11 to 6.15 of the report, the following be agreed:

2.12.1That the designation by the Secretary of State as an authority within the London Business Rates Pilot Pool pursuant to 34(7) (1) of Schedule 7B Local Government Finance Act 1988, be accepted and approved.

2.12.2That participation in the London Business Rates Pilot Pool with effect from 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 be agreed.

2.12.3   That the authority's administrative functions as a billing authority pursuant to the Non-Domestic Rating (Rates Retention) Regulations 2013 be delegated to the City of London Corporation acting as the Lead Authority, be agreed.

2.12.4That the Lead Authority be authorised to sub-contract certain ancillary administrative functions regarding the financial transactions (payment of tariffs and top-ups) within the Pool to the GLA as it considers expedient be agreed.

2.12.5That authority be delegated to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance, Performance and Community Safety, to agree the operational details of the pooling arrangements with the participating authorities, be agreed.

2.12.6That authority be delegated to the Section 151 Officer to make any amendments to the Memorandum of Understanding, attached at Appendix F to the report, as may be required by the Secretary of State, and to enter into the final Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the authority, be agreed.

2.12.7That the Leader of the Council be authorised to represent the authority in relation to consultations regarding the London Business Rates Pilot Pool as may be undertaken by the Lead Authority pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding, be agreed.

2.12.8That authority be delegated to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Executive Member for Finance, Performance and Community Safety, to consider such consultative reports as the Lead Authority may circulate and to respond on behalf of the authority with regard to any recommendations and, in particular, proposals for projects to be approved for funding from the Strategic Investment Pot, be agreed.

2.12.9That the Lead Authority be delegated the functions of assessment, due consultation and approval of projects eligible for funding from the Pool's Strategic Investment Pot following consultation with the participating authorities (provided that at least two thirds of such participating London Boroughs are (including the City of London Corporation) in favour of the relevant recommendation as well as the Mayor of London, and that no entire sub-region is in disagreement with the decision) on such terms and conditions as shall ensure value for money and compliance with the law, be agreed.

Matters to Consider in Setting the Budget (Section 7)

2.13      That the Section 151 Officer’s and the Monitoring Officer’s comments in their determination of the revenue and capital budgets for 2019-20 and the basis for the level of council tax, including the Section 151 Officer’s report in relation to his responsibilities under Section 25 (2) of the Local Government Act 2003, be noted.

2.14      That the Resident Impact Assessment (RIA) on the 2019-22 budget proposals, Appendix G of the report, be noted.

2.15      That the Annual Pay Policy Statement for 2019-20, for onward agreement by Council, Appendix H of the report, be noted.

Reason for decision – to allow elected members to set the budget.

Other options considered – none other than as specified in the report.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.