Agenda and minutes

Members of Council stood and observed one minute silence for former Mayor and Councillor John Nickolay who had passed away in January.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 30 November 2023 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on be 30 November 2023 as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from all Members of the Council.

The following interests were declared:

Item 8 – Corporate Plan 2023-26:Review of first year and Flagship Actions 2024/25

Councillor Janet Mote declared a non-pecuniary interest in that she was a Carers’ Champion and was a member of Headstone Manor Museum and Park.  She would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Item 19 – Motion: NHS Waiting Times

Councillor Peymana Assad declared a non-pecuniary interest in that members of her family worked for the NHS.  She would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Councillor Simon Brown declared a non-pecuniary interest in that one of his daughter’s worked for Central North West London NHS Trust.  He would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

Councillor Janet Mote declared a non-pecuniary interest in that her daughter was a nurse at Northwick Park Hospital.  She would remain in the room whilst the matter was considered and voted upon.

To receive and consider any procedural motions by Members of the Council in relation to the conduct of this Meeting.  Notice of such procedural motions, received after the issuing of this Summons, will be tabled.

The Mayor drew Council’s attention to the Procedural Motion set out in the Tabled Documents.  The procedural motion under Rule 26.1 was agreed so that, in line with previous years and for the purposes of the debate on the Revenue Budget 2024/25 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2026/27, the rules of debate be varied, as set out in the Tabled Documents, and that the procedure therein also be applied to the reports on the Corporate Plan 2023-2026:Review of first year and Flagship Actions 2024/25, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget 2024/25 and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2025/26 to 2026/27, Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme 2024/25 to 2028/29 and 30 year HRA Business Plan, the Treasury Management Strategy Statement including Annual Investment Strategy for 2024/25 and Capital Strategy for 2024/25, the Capital Programme 2024/25 to 2026/27, in so far as the recommendations be debated jointly.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the partial suspension under Rule 26.1, regarding the moving of recommendations from Cabinet and the rules of debate (including extended time for opening speeches by the political groups), as set out in the Supplemental Summons be approved for the purposes of the debate upon

(2)            the Procedural Motion be agreed.

To receive any petitions to be presented:

(i)            by a representative of the petitioners;

(ii)          by a Councillor, on behalf of petitioners;

(iii)         by the Mayor, on behalf of petitioners.

In accordance with Rule 10, the following petitions were received:

(i)             Petition submitted by Councillor Matthew Goodwin-Freeman containing containing 185 signatures in relation to the condition of the roads and pavements surrounding Ufford Road, Hatch End.

A period of up to 15 minutes is allowed for members of the public to ask questions of members of the Executive, Portfolio Holders and Chairs of Committees, of which notice has been received no later than 3.00 pm two clear working days prior to the day of this Meeting.  Any such questions received will be tabled.

There were no public questions.

To receive a presentation from the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holders on business since the last ordinary meeting, followed by a question and answer session.  The item is allotted 20 minutes.

(i)              The Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Osborn, introduced the item highlighting the Administration’s achievements, challenges and plans since the last ordinary meeting.

(ii)             Other Members spoke and asked questions of the Leader of the Council which were duly responded to.

Report of the Interim Director of Finance and Assurance

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the current Members’ Allowances Scheme be amended to reflect the proposed changes set out on pages 37 – 46 of the supplemental summons and  be backdated to 1 January 2024;

(2)            the Members’ Allowances Scheme 2024/25, as set out on pages 37 – 46 of the supplemental summons, be approved.

RESOLVED:  That the Corporate Plan and new Flagship Actions for 2024/25 be approved.

Upon the meeting moving to the vote on the substantive Recommendation it was carried.  The voting was as follows:

In Favour of the Recommendation:  His Worshipful the Mayor Councillor Ramji Chauhan, David Ashton, Marilyn Ashton, Christopher Baxter, June Baxter, Benjamin, Bharadia, Blackman, Chowdhury, Goodwin-Freeman, Greek, Halai, Hirani, Idaikkadar, Jogia, Karia, Kumaran, Lammiman, Mithani, Moshenson, Mote, Osborn, Mina Parmar, Anjana Patel, Pritesh Patel, Rabadia, Sumaria, Teli and Wagman.

Against the Recommendation:  Councillors Ali, Anderson, Assad, Brown, Dolor, Gilligan, Graham Henson, Maxine Henson, Hickman, Hussain, Kalu, Kulig, Miles, O’Dell, Parekh, Varsha Parmar, Perry, Proctor, Shah-Levy, Krishna Suresh, Sasi Suresh and Weiss.

Absent:  Councillors Shahania Choudhury, Susan Hall, Rekha Shah and Norman Stevenson.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            being mindful of the consultation responses and the tabled comments from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee,the 2024/25 budget be approved to enable the Council Tax for 2024/25 to be set;

(2)            the Model Council Tax Resolution 2024/25, as set out in Appendix 11 of the officer report, be approved;

(3)            in accordance with Section 38 (2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Managing Director be instructed to place a notice in the local press of the amounts set under recommendation 2 above within a period of 21 days following the Council’s decision;

(4)            the new council tax premium for empty furnished properties (under section 11C of the Local Government Finance Act 1992) at a premium of 100% from 1 April 2025 (Paragraphs 1.21-1.24 of the officer report) be applied;

(5)            the Medium-Term Financial Strategy, as set out in Appendix 2 of the officer report, be approved;

(6)            the 2024/25 Annual Pay Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix 12 of the officer report, be approved;

(7)            the Capital Receipts Flexibility Strategy, as set out in Appendix 13 of the officer report, be approved.

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budgets for 2024-25, as set out in Appendix 1 to the officer report, be approved;

(2)            the HRA Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix 6(a) to the officer report, be approved.

RESOLVED:   That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2024/25 be approved, including:

(1)            Prudential Indicators for the period 2024/25 to 2026/27

(2)            Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2024/25, (see paragraph 2.20 and Appendix C of the officer report)

(3)            Annual Investment Strategy for 2024/25 (Appendix F of the officer report)

(4)            Annual Capital Strategy (Appendix G of the officer report).

RESOLVED:  That the Capital Programme, as detailed within Appendix 1 to the officer report, be approved.

RESOLVED:  That, having considered whether to review the local Council Tax Support scheme, the continuation of the existing Council Tax Support Scheme, as previously adopted by Full Council, for the 2024/25 financial year be approved.

Report of the Managing Director

RESOLVED:  That

(1)            the fees and charges for the financial year 2024/25 listed in Appendix 1 to the officer report be approved and set;

(2)            the Director of Finance be authorised to amend fees and charges in year and agree new fees and charges, following consultation with the Corporate Director of Place and the relevant Portfolio Holder.

Report of the Interim Director of Legal and Governance

RESOLVED:  That the Calendar of Meetings for the Municipal Year 2024/25 be approved.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

A period of up to 15 minutes is allowed for asking written questions by Members of Council of a member of the Executive or the Chair of any Committee:-

(i)            of which notice has been received at least two clear working days prior to the day of this Meeting; or

(ii)          which relate to urgent matters, and the consent of the Executive Member or Committee Chair to whom the question is to be put has been obtained and the content has been advised to the Director of Legal and Governance Services by 12 noon on the day of the Council Meeting.

Any such questions received will be tabled.

There were no Questions with Notice.

The following Motions have been notified in accordance with the requirements of Council Procedure Rule 15, to be moved and seconded by the Members indicated:

Motion – NHS Waiting Times

Motion in the names of Councillor David Perry and Councillor Natasha Proctor.

Having been moved, seconded and put to the vote the Motion was lost.