Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign as an accurate record the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 27 January 2016.

Councillor Mark Loveday moved a procedural motion under Standing Order 15(ii) challenging the accuracy of the minutes. He gave a speech noting that the response to the public question included at Appendix 1 of the minutes was different to the verbal response given in the meeting.

The minutes were then put to the vote:

FOR                            24

AGAINST                   19

NOT VOTING            1

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the Council Meeting held on 27 January 2016 were confirmed and signed as an accurate record.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Hannah Barlow and Nick Botterill.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors Adronie Alford, Joe Carlebach, and Harry Phibbs.

The Mayor announced with great sadness the recent death of Lynne Horn from the Public Health Department. Lynne was best known to many through her management of the transition of Public Health from the NHS to Local Authorities and lately through the management of the flagship Childhood Obesity Programme spanning the three boroughs.

The Mayor also noted the death of Mrs Diana Penelope Ann Chiesman, a former Councillor, on Wednesday 27 January 2016 following a short illness. Mrs Chiesman was first elected to the Council in 1978 representing Walham Ward.

The Council observed a minute of silence in remembrance.

No public questions were received.

There were no public questions submitted.

The 2016/17 revenue budget proposals are set out in this report, including; council tax levels; savings and growth proposals; changes to fees and charges; budget risks, reserves and balances; and equalities impact assessments.

7.17pm - In accordance with Council convention, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan, and the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Greg Smith, were given unlimited time to speak on the Budget report.

Speeches on the report were also made by Councillors Max Schmid, Sue Macmillan and PJ Murphy (for the Administration).

Councillor Stephen Cowan (for the Administration) 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                            24

AGAINST                   19

NOT VOTING            1

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

9:03pm – RESOLVED

2.1A freeze in the Hammersmith & Fulham element of the council tax charge

2.2Not apply the “social care precept” levy. This means H&F residents will pay council tax at 3.3% below the level modelled (2% social care precept and 1.3% for council tax) by the Government for the coming year.

2.3Council tax be set for 2016/17 for each category of dwelling, as calculated in accordance with Sections 31A to 49B of the Localism Act 2011, as outlined below and in full in Appendix A:

(a)      The element of council tax charged for Hammersmith & Fulham Council will be £727.81 per Band D property in 2016/17.

(b)      The element of council tax charged by the Greater London Authority will be £276.00 per Band D property in 2016/17

(c)      Social Care Precept set at nil.

(d)      The overall Council Tax to be set at £1,003.81 per Band D property in 2016/17.

2.4The Council’s own total net expenditure budget for 2016/17 is set at £153.507m.

2.5Fees and charges are approved as set out in paragraph 6.1.

2.6The budget projections, made by the Strategic Finance Director to 2019/20, be noted.

2.6       The statement made by the Strategic Finance Director under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 regarding the adequacy of reserves and robustness of estimates be noted (section 14).

2.7       The Strategic Finance Director be authorised to collect and recover National Non-Domestic Rate and Council Tax in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (as amended), the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and the Council Schemes of Delegation.

2.8       That all Directors be required to report on their projected financial position compared to their revenue estimates in accordance with the Corporate Revenue Monitoring  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.1

This report presents the Council’s four-year Capital Programme for the period 2016-20.

9.04pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Max Schmid.

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                            UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                   0

NOT VOTING            0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

9.05pm - RESOLVED

1.1.        To approve the General Fund Capital Programme budget at £43.5m for 2016/17 (paragraph 5.1, Table 2 and Appendix 1).

1.2.        To approve the continuation of the Council’s rolling programmes and the continued use of internal funding for 2016/17 General Fund ‘Mainstream’ Programme as set out in Table 3 (paragraph 5.2) and specifically as follows:

1.3.         

·         Capital receipts amounting to £5.48m to fund the Council’s rolling programmes as follows:

·         Contributions from revenue amounting to £0.544m to fund the Council’s rolling programmes as follows:

1.4.        To note existing capital receipts funded schemes previously approved, but now scheduled for 2016/17 (paragraph 5.2, Table 3):

·         Schools’ Organisation Strategy - £2.73m

·         Carnwath Road - £ 3.07m

1.5.        To approve the Housing Programme at £69.1m for 2016/17 as set out in Table 5 (paragraph 7.2) and Appendix 1.

1.6.        To approve the annual Minimum Revenue Provision policy statement for 2016/17 in Appendix 4.

1.7.        To approve the Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy (CIPFA) Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix 5 to the report.

This report sets out the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for 2016/17.

9.05pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Max Schmid.

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                        UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

9.05pm – RESOLVED

1.1       That approval is given to the future borrowing and investment strategies as outlined in this report and that the Strategic Finance Director be authorised to arrange the Council’s cash flow, borrowing and investments in 2016/17.

1.2       In relation to the Council’s overall borrowing for the financial year, to note the comments and the Prudential Indicators as set out in this report and the four year capital programme 2016/17 to 2019/20.

1.3       That approval is given to pay the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) investment income on unapplied HRA receipts and other HRA cash balances calculated at the average rate of interest (approximately 0.60% p.a.) earned on temporary investments throughout the year with effect from 1 April 2015.

The Council is required to prepare a pay policy statement for each financial year. This report seeks approval of the pay policy statement and pay schemes.

9.05pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

A speech was made by Councillor Sue Fennimore for the Administration.

The report and recommendations were then put to the vote:

FOR                         UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

9.12pm - RESOLVED

1.1       That Council is recommended to approve the pay policy statement for 2016/17 as set out in the attached document.

1.2       That Council endorses the pay schemes attached as Appendices 1, 2 and 3 of the pay policy.

This report performs the statutory annual review of Members’ allowances for the 2016/17 financial year. The annual review takes into account the recommendations made in the Independent Remuneration report to London Councils (June 2014).

9.12pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan.

Speeches on the report were made by Councillors Ben Coleman, PJ Murphy, and Larry Culhane (for the Administration) and Councillors Mark Loveday and Joe Carlebach (for the Opposition) before being put to the vote:

FOR                            UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                   0

NOT VOTING            0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

9.29pm - RESOLVED

That the Members’ Allowances Scheme 2016/17 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be adopted.

This report seeks approval to temporarily move the polling station for ASA polling district from St. Saviour’s Church, Cobbold Road, to Wendell Park School, Cobbold Road.

9.29pm - The report and recommendations were formally moved for adoption by Councillor Colin Aherne.

The report and recommendations were put to the vote:

FOR                         UNANIMOUS

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         0

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

9.29pm – RESOLVED

That the polling place for ASA polling district be temporarily moved from St Saviour’s Church, Cobbold Road to Wendell Park School, Cobbold Road.

This report seeks approval to move the Full Council meeting originally scheduled for 26 October 2016 to 19 October 2016.

9.29pm - The report and recommendations were formally 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 report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

9.29pm – RESOLVED

That the meetings published in the Council calendar be held on the following new dates:

·         Cabinet – Monday 10 October 2016

·         Conservative Group – Wednesday 12 October 2016

·         Labour Group – Monday 17 October 2016

·         Full Council – Wednesday 19 October 2016

There are no information reports to note.

There were no information reports to consider.