Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillors Natalia Perez (who entered the room at 7.05pm) and Nikos Souslous (who entered at 7.07pm).

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.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as an accurate record and note any outstanding actions.

The Board agreed the minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2024 as an accurate record.

This report provides an update on the overall preparation and proposals for the 2025/26 revenue budget, risks, financial resilience, and the impact of those proposals. The report also sets out the budget proposals for the services covered by the Policy and Oversight Board, and the Board is invited to comment on the budget proposals set out in detail in the appendices.

Presentation and questions on the Corporate Budget

Councillor Rowan Ree (Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform) addressed the Board and gave a presentation on the proposals for the 2025/26 revenue budget, risks, financial resilience, and the impact of those proposals.

Councillor Ree thanked his Cabinet colleagues and officers for their hard work putting together the budget. He gave particular thanks to the Finance team, including Andre Mark, Alex Pygram, James Newman and Sukvinder Kalsi.

Councillor Ree started by setting the context for the budget noting that funding from central government had reduced by 54% in real terms from 2010. In addition to funding reductions there was a challenging economic environment, changing demographics, and increased demand for council services. The Government’s budget in October included new spending items for local government including an extension to the household support fund, £1.8m to spend on support to the most vulnerable, the Extended Producer Responsibility (that ensured companies producing packaging waste paid for some of cost of cleaning it up), and the Homelessness Prevention Grant.

The Council’s priorities were keeping residents safe, protect statutory services and additional services like free Home Care and free breakfasts for primary school children, the Law Enforcement Team, and the council tax support scheme which supported 4 in 10 households. He said the Council wanted to run efficiently and effectively to deliver these priorities while preserving low council tax.

Looking ahead to 2026/27, he said the Council planned to boost economic growth, deliver transformation programmes to modernise service delivery, generate further CIL/Section 106 funds, and secure additional grants through national programmes like green funding. Councillor Ree explained that, following the Policy and Accountability Committees and the Policy and Oversight Board, the budget would go to Cabinet, then on to Full Council on the 26^th of February for final approval.

Councillor Victoria Brocklebank-Fowler asked why the Council was moving funding for the Law Enforcement Team (LET) from CIL to the general fund. Councillor Ree said it secured the future of LET team. Councillor Brocklebank-Fowler asked what the money being proposed for the LET would have been spent on otherwise. Councillor Ree said the LET was a priority for the Council, so it was being invested in.

The Chair added that the reason the LET was a priority for the Council was due to concerns that the police were not as responsive as residents wanted, due to changes in their command structure. She noted that in her ward, Conningham, there had been 49 occasions where local officers had been pulled away to protests and events in central London, showing the necessity for support from the LET. Councillor Ree said feedback to the LET was very positive. They were visible and approachable and could solve issues directly for residents.

Councillor Rory Vaughan welcomed the budget. He noted that the £3.4m from the CIL fund previously spent on the LET would now be available for other priorities. He commended the Cabinet Members and officers for ensuring the Council had the funds for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

For the Board to discuss items for inclusion in the work programme.

The Board’s draft work programme was presented for discussion and noting.

RESOLVED

1. The Board noted the draft work programme.

To note the following dates of future meetings:

·       6 May 2025

·       17 September 2025

·       24 November 2025

·       4 February 2026

·       29 April 2026

The following dates of future meetings were noted:

• 6 May 2025
• 17 September 2025
• 24 November 2025
• 4 February 2026
• 29 April 2026