Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Trey Campbell-Simon, Ann Rosenberg, and David Morton.

If a Councillor has a disclosable pecuniary interest in a particular item, whether or not it is entered in the Authority’s register of interests, or any other significant interest which they consider should be declared in the public interest, they should declare the existence and, unless it is a sensitive interest as defined in the Member Code of Conduct, the nature of the interest at the commencement of the consideration of that item or as soon as it becomes apparent.

At meetings where members of the public are allowed to be in attendance and speak, any Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest or other significant interest may also make representations, give evidence or answer questions about the matter.  The Councillor must then withdraw immediately from the meeting before the matter is discussed and any vote taken.

Where Members of the public are not allowed to be in attendance and speak, then the Councillor with a disclosable pecuniary interest should withdraw from the meeting whilst the matter is under consideration. Councillors who have declared other significant interests should also withdraw from the meeting if they consider their continued participation in the matter would not be reasonable in the circumstances and may give rise to a perception of a conflict of interest.

Councillors are not obliged to withdraw from the meeting where a dispensation to that effect has been obtained from the Standards Committee.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2024.

7.04pm – RESOLVED

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2024 were agreed as an accurate record.

Anniversary of the War in Ukraine

The Mayor noted that Saturday the 24^th of February marked the two-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan, and the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler made speeches.

Death of Former Councillor Peter DeGory

With great sadness, the Mayor informed the Council of the death of Peter DeGory on the 2^nd of February 2024. Peter DeGory was a Councillor for St Stephen’s ward from 1971 to 1986 and during that time he held a number of positions, including Chair of the Planning Committee and Chair of the Leisure and Recreation Committee.

Councillors Stephen Cowan and Alex Karmel made speeches of remembrance. The Council then observed a minute of silence in his memory.

The Leader/relevant Cabinet Member to reply to questions submitted by members of the public.

The Mayor thanked the residents who submitted questions. Questions 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 were addressed in the meeting. The Mayor explained that any questions not addressed in the meeting would receive written responses. All questions and responses can be found in Appendix 1.

Under Standing Order 15(e)12, Councillor Alex Karmel called for an extension of the time limit for public questions. The motion was then put to the vote:

FOR                        10

AGAINST               36

NOT VOTING         1

The motion was declared LOST.

This item presents the Council’s 2024/25 Revenue Budget and Council Tax Levels for approval.

7.43pm – The report and recommendations were moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

In accordance with Council convention, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan, and the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler, were given unlimited time to speak on the Budget report.

Speeches on the report were also made by Councillors Alex Sanderson, Bora Kwon, and Rowan Ree (for the Administration) – and Councillors Adronie Alford, Adrian Pascu-Tulbure, and Amanda Lloyd-Harris (for the Opposition).

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan, then made a speech winding up the debate.

The report and recommendations were put to the vote and a roll call was undertaken, in accordance with Council convention when voting on the budget:

FOR                        36

AGAINST                10

NOT VOTING         1

The recommendations were declared CARRIED.

9.39pm – RESOLVED:

That Full Council agree for the reasons set out in the report and appendices:

1.    To increase the Hammersmith & Fulham element of Council Tax by 2.99% as modelled by the government in its spending power calculations for local government.

2.    To apply the Adult Social Care precept levy of 2% as modelled bythe government in its spending power calculations for local government.

3.    To approve a balanced budget for 2024/25 as set out in the report, including the underlying principles and assumptions.

4.    To approve £10.7m of new investment on key services for residents.

5.    To approve fees and charges, as set out in Appendix E, including freezing charges in adult social care, children’s services, and General Fund housing.

6.    To approve the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and to note the budget projections to 2027/28 made by the Strategic Director of Finance in consultation with the Strategic Leadership Team (Appendix B).

7.    To note the statement of the Strategic Director of Finance, under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, regarding the adequacy of reserves and robustness of estimates (paragraph 56).

8.    To approve the reserves strategy and forecast as set out in Appendix H.

9.    To require all Directors to report on their projected financial position compared to their revenue estimates in accordance with the Corporate Revenue Monitoring Report timetable.

10.To authorise Directors to implement their service spending plans for 2024/25 in accordance with the recommendations within this report, the council’s Standing Orders, Financial Regulations, relevant Schemes of Delegation and undertake any further consultation required regarding the Equalities Impact Assessment.

11.Set the council’s element of Council Tax for 2024/25 for each category of dwelling, as outlined in the table below and in full in Appendix A and calculated in accordance with Sections 31A to 49B of the Localism Act 2011.

This report presents the Council’s Capital Strategy 2024/25 and four-year Capital Programme for the period 2024 to 2028.

9.40pm – The report and recommendations were moved for adoption by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, Councillor Rowan Ree.

Speeches on the report were made by Councillors Frances Umeh, Andrew Jones, Florian Chevoppe-Verdier, and Emma Apthorp (for the Administration).

Under Standing Order 15(e)12, Councillor Max Schmid called for the guillotine to be extended by 15 minutes. The motion was then put to the vote:

FOR                        36

AGAINST                10

NOT VOTING         1

The motion was declared CARRIED.

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                        36

AGAINST                10

NOT VOTING         1

The recommendations were declared CARRIED.

9.57pm – RESOLVED:

That Full Council agreed:

1. To approve the four-year General Fund Capital Programme budget at £143.6m for the period 2024/25-2027/28 (presented in Table 2 and Appendix 1 of the report).

2.    To approve the continuation of rolling programmes for 2024/25 funded from the Council’s mainstream resources. For financial modelling purposes, these programmes are assumed to continue at the same level until 2027/28:

3. To delegate approval of the detailed programmes for use of the rolling programmes, in recommendation 2, to the relevant SLT Director in consultation with the Strategic Director of Finance and relevant Lead Cabinet Member.

4. To approve the four-year Housing (HRA) Capital Programme at £432.9m for the period 2024/25-2027/28 as set out in Table 6 and Appendix 1 (of the report).

5. To delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Finance in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform to approve the potential use of up to £3.6m of capital receipts under the Government’s Flexible Use of Capital Receipts provisions for funding of Invest to Save schemes in 2024/25 (as identified in Appendix 2 of the report) and potential match-funding opportunities.

6. To approve the Capital Strategy 2024/25, as set out in the report.

7. To approve the annual Minimum Revenue Provision policy statement for 2024/25, as set out in Appendix 3 (of the report).

This report sets out the Council’s proposed Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2024/25 and seeks authority for the Strategic Director of Finance to deliver the treasury management activities as set out in the report.

9.57pm – The report and recommendations were moved for adoption by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, Councillor Rowan Ree.

Councillor Ross Melton made a speech on the report (for the Administration).

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                        36

AGAINST                10

NOT VOTING         1

The recommendations were declared CARRIED.

10.07pm – RESOLVED:

1. That approval be given to the future borrowing and investment strategies as outlined in this report.

2. That the Strategic Director of Finance, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, be delegated authority to manage the Council’s cash flow, borrowing and investments in 2024/25 in line with this report.

3. In relation to the Council’s overall borrowing for the financial year, that Full Council approve the Prudential Indicators as set out in this report and the revised Annual Investment Strategy set out in Appendix E (of the report).

This report presents the Council’s 2024/25 pay policy statement for approval.

10.07pm – The report and recommendations were moved for adoption by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, Councillor Rowan Ree.

Speeches on the report were made by Councillors Stala Antonaides and Emma Apthorp (for the Administration).

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                        36

AGAINST                10

NOT VOTING         1

The recommendations were declared CARRIED.

10.16pm – RESOLVED:

1. That Full Council approve the pay policy statement for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix 1 (of the report).

2. That Full Council note the benchmarking of the Council’s median pay multiple against the average of other Inner London Boroughs contained in paragraph 11 (of the report).

This report seeks approval of a special dispensation to be granted to Councillor Ann Rosenberg for non-attendance at meetings of the authority due to ill health.

10.16pm – The report and recommendations were moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The recommendations were declared CARRIED.

10.16pm – RESOLVED:

1. That a special dispensation be granted to Councillor Ann Rosenberg for non-attendance at meetings of the authority due to ill health pursuant to Section 85(1) of the Local Government Act 1972.

This report presents updates to the Council's Constitution for approval.

10.16pm – The report and recommendations were moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The recommendations were declared CARRIED.

10.16pm – RESOLVED:

1.    That Full Council approve the amendment to the terms of reference for the Wormwood Scrubs Charitable Trust Committee detailed in paragraph 5 (of the report).

2.    That Full Council approve the amendments to Contract Standing Orders detailed in Paragraphs 6, 7, and Appendix 1 (of the report).

3.    That Full Council approve the appointment of Deputy Electoral Registration Officers detailed in paragraphs 8 and 9 (of the report).