Agenda item

The 2015/16 revenue budget proposals are set out regarding:

·         Council tax levels

·         Savings and growth proposals

·         Changes to fees and charges

·         Budget risks, reserves and balances

·         Equalities Impact Assessments

·         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 Stephen Cowan.

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 Sue Fennimore, Max Schmid and Andrew Jones (for the Administration) and Councillors Lucy Ivimy and Marcus Ginn (for the Opposition).

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 done, in accordance to voting on the budget:

FOR                                       AGAINST                             NOT VOTING

FOR                            25

AGAINST                   17

NOT VOTING            1

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

9.03pm RESOLVED:

(1)    A 1% cut in the Hammersmith & Fulham element of the council tax charge is approved. 

(2)    Council tax be set for 2015/16 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 of the report:

(a)       The element of council tax charged for Hammersmith & Fulham Council will be £727.81 per Band D property in 2015/16.

(b)       The element of council tax charged by the Greater London Authority will be £295.00 per Band D property in 2015/16

(c)       The overall Council Tax to be set at £1,022.81 per Band D property in 2015/16.

(3)    The Council’s own total net expenditure budget for 2015/16  is set at £158.428m.

(4)    Fees and charges are approved as set out in paragraph 6.1.

(5)    The budget projections, made by the Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Governance to 2018/19, be noted.

(6)    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).

(7)    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 on their projected financial position compared to their revenue estimates in accordance with the Corporate Revenue Monitoring Report timetable.

(9)    Executive Directors  be authorised to implement their service spending plans for 2015/16 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)The Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Governance be authorised to implement the business rates retail relief scheme as proposed by the Government.