Agenda item

The Council is obliged to set a balanced budget and council tax charge in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

The 2021/22 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

6.57pm – 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 Andrew Brown, were given unlimited time to speak on the Budget report.

Speeches on the report were also made by Councillors Rowan Ree, Helen Rowbottom, and Max Schmid (for the Administration) – and Councillor Frances Stainton (for the Opposition).

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:               11

NOT VOTING:        1

The report and recommendations were declared CARRIED.

8.42pm – RESOLVED

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

1.             To increase the Hammersmith & Fulham element of council tax by 1.99% for 2021/22, as modelled by the government in their spending power calculations for local government.

2.             To apply the “adult social care precept” levy of 3% for 2021/22, as modelled by the government in their spending power calculations for local government.

3.             To set the Council’s own total net expenditure budget for 2021/22 at £124.458m.

4.             To approve £7.885m of new investment on key services for residents.

5.             To approve fees and charges as set out in paragraph 12 below including freezing charges in adult social care, children’s services and general fund housing.

6.             To note the budget projections to 2024/25 made by the Director of Finance in consultation with the Strategic Leadership Team.

7.             To note the statement of the Director of Finance, under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, regarding the adequacy of reserves and robustness of estimates (paragraph 48).

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

9.             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.

10.          To authorise Directors to implement their service spending plans for 2021/22 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.

11.          Set the Council’s element of council tax for 2021/22 for each category of dwelling, as outlined in the table below and in full in Appendix A and calculated in accordance with Sections 31A to 49B of the Localism Act 2011.

12.          To note the element of council tax to be charged by the Greater London Authority in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each of the categories of dwellings as shown in the table below.

13.          That the overall Council Tax to be set at £1,195.62 per Band D property as follows.

14.          To authorise the Director of Finance 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.