Agenda item

The 2020/21 revenue budget proposals are set out regarding:

·         Council tax levels

·         Investment and savings proposals

·         Changes to fees and charges

·         Budget risks, reserves and balances

·         Equalities Impact Assessments

7.14pm – In accordance with Council convention, the Leader of the Council, Councillor Stephen Cowan, and the Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Andrew Brown, were given unlimited time to speak on the Budget report.

Speeches on the report were also made by Councillors Christabel Cooper, Andrew Jones and Max Schmid (for the Administration).

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                            33

AGAINST                   9

NOT VOTING            1

The report and the recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.29pm – RESOLVED

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

1.            To increase the Hammersmith & Fulham element of council tax by 1.99% for 2020/21.

2.            To apply central government’s modelled “adult social care precept” levy of 2% for 2020/21.

3.            To set council tax for 2020/21 for each category of dwelling, as calculated in accordance with Sections 31A to 49B of the Localism Act 2011, as outlined in the table below and in full in Appendix A:

(a)       The element of council tax charged for Hammersmith & Fulham Council will be £792.42 per Band D property in 2020/21.

(b)      The overall Council Tax to be set at £1,124.49 per Band D property in 2020/21 as follows.

4.            To note the element of council tax charged by the Greater London Authority in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 will be £332.07 per Band D property in 2020/21.

5.            To set the Council’s own total net expenditure budget for 2020/21 at £121.003m.

6.            To approve £8.3m of new investment on key services for residents.

7.            To approve fees and charges as set out in paragraph 3.1 below including freezing charges in adult social care, children’s services and housing.

8.            To note the budget projections to 2023/24 made by the Strategic Director, Finance and Governance in consultation with the Strategic Leadership Team.

9.            To note the statement of the Strategic Director, Finance and Governance, under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, regarding the adequacy of reserves and robustness of estimates (section 10).

10.         To approve the reserves strategy and realignment of reserves as set out in Appendix J and Appendix K.

11.         To authorise the Strategic Director, Finance and Governance 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’s Scheme of Delegation.

12.         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.

13.         To authorise Directors to implement their service spending plans for 2020/21 in accordance with the recommendations within this report and the Council's Standing Orders, Financial Regulations, relevant Schemes of Delegation and undertake any further consultation required regarding the Equalities Impact Assessment.