Agenda item

The report sets out the Council’s 2014/15 revenue budget proposals which includes Council Tax levels, savings and growth proposals, changes to fees and charges, an update on budget risks, Equalities Impact Assessments and implementing the retail business rates relief scheme as proposed by the Government.

7.35pm - The report and recommendations were moved for adoption by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Nicholas Botterill.

In accordance with Council convention, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Nicholas Botterill, and the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Stephen Cowan, were given unlimited time to speak on the Budget report.  Speeches on the report were also made by Councillors Helen Binmore, Marcus Ginn and Greg Smith (for the Administration) and Councillors Andrew Jones, Max Schmid and Lisa Homan (for the Opposition).

Councillor Nicholas Botterill (for the Administration) made a speech winding up the debate.  The report and recommendations were put to the vote and a roll-call was requested:

FOR                                                   NOT VOTING

FOR                         27

AGAINST                0

NOT VOTING         13

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

9.19pm RESOLVED:

(1)      That approval be given to a 3% 2014/15 council tax reduction for the Hammersmith & Fulham element. 

(2)      That the council tax be set for 2014/15 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 £735.16 per Band D property in 2014/15.

(b)       The element of council tax charged by the Greater London Authority will be £299.00 per Band D property in 2014/15.

(c)       The overall Council Tax to be set at £1,034.16  per Band D property in 2014/15.

(3)      That the Council’s own total net expenditure budget for 2014/15  is set at £172.033m.

(4)      That fees and charges are approved as set out in paragraph 6.1 of the report.

(5)      That the budget projections made by the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Governance to 2016/17 be noted.

(6)      That the statement made by the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Governance under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 regarding the adequacy of reserves and robustness of estimates be noted (section 14 of the report).

(7)      That the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Governance 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.

(8)      That all Executive Directors be required to report monthly on their projected financial position compared to their revenue estimates (as part of the Corporate Monitoring Report).

(9)      That all Executive Directors  be authorised to implement their service spending plans for 2014/15 in accordance with the recommendations within the report and the Council's Standing Orders, Financial Regulations and relevant Schemes of Delegation.

(10)   Members’ attention is drawn to S106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 which requires any Member, who is two months or more in arrears on their Council Tax, to declare their position and not to vote on any issue that could affect the calculation of the budget or Council Tax.

(11)   That the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Governance be authorised to implement the business rates retail relief scheme as proposed by the Government.