Decision details

(See pages 1 – 93 of the main agenda)

There were eleven questions on the report the responses to which were circulated on lilac paper at the meeting.  Nine supplemental questions were asked of the cabinet member for finance, resources and community safety. All questions and written responses are attached as Appendix 1 to the minutes. 

The Mayor reminded everyone that the meeting had earlier agreed that there would be a single debate on the report and Amendments A, B and C.

In accordance with council assembly procedure rule 1.14 (9), Councillor Richard Livingstone, cabinet member for finance, resources and community safety, moved the report.

In accordance with council assembly procedure rule 1.14 (9), Councillor Anood Al-Samerai, leader of the majority opposition and shadow cabinet member for finance, responded to the cabinet member’s statement.

Councillor Michael Mitchell, seconded by Councillor Lewis Robinson, moved Amendment A.

Councillor Neil Coyle, seconded by Councillor Claire Hickson, moved Amendment B.

Councillor Tim McNally, seconded by Councillor Adele Morris, moved Amendment C.

Following debate (Councillors Mark Williams, Peter John (point of personal explanation by Councillor Anood Al-Samerai), Stephen Govier, Helen Hayes, Michael Bukola, Nick Dolezal (point of personal explanation by Councillor Stephen Govier), Catherine Bowman, Gavin Edwards, Poddy Clark, Fiona Colley, Lisa Rajan (point of personal explanation by Helen Hayes), Ian Wingfield, Jeff Hook (point of personal explanation by Councillor Richard Livingstone), Andy Simmons, David Noakes, Victoria Mills, Graham Neale, Dora Dixon-Fyle, Paul Noblet, Mark Glover, Rosie Shimell, Veronica Ward, Jonathan Mitchell (point of personal explanation by Councillor Peter John), Barry Hargrove (point of personal explanation by Councillor Graham Neale), Geoffrey Thornton and Cleo Soanes; Councillor Dan Garfield, seconded by Michael Situ moved that the question be put.

The procedural motion was put to the vote and was declared to be carried.

Amendment A was put to the vote and declared to be lost.

Amendment B was put to the vote and declared to be carried.

Amendment C was put to the vote and declared to be lost.

At this juncture the clerk explained that the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which had come into force on 25 February 2014, required a recorded vote on key budget decisions by local authorities. The regulations required a recorded vote on decisions only.  The meeting had earlier agreed to take a roll call recorded vote on the substantive motion on item 2.1 Policy and Resources Strategy 2014/15 -2016/17.

The bell was rung for one minute after which time the doors to the room were closed.  The Mayor stated that in accordance with council assembly procedure rule 1.16(4), a roll call recorded vote would be taken on the substantive motion, the result of which were as follows:

In favour of the substantive motion (33):

Councillors Kevin Ahern, Chris Brown, Sunil Chopra, Fiona Colley, Neil Coyle, Rowenna Davis, Patrick Diamond, Dora Dixon-Fyle, Nick Dolezal, Gavin Edwards, Dan Garfield, Norma Gibbs, Mark Glover, Renata Hamvas, Barrie Hargrove, Helen Hayes, Claire Hickson, Peter John, Lorraine Lauder, Richard Livingstone, Rebecca Lury, Catherine McDonald, Darren Merrill, Victoria Mills, Adbul Mohamed, The Right Rev Emmanuel Oyewole, Martin Seaton, Andy Simmons, Michael Situ, Cleo Soanes, Veronica Ward, Mark Williams and Ian Wingfeid.

Against the substantive motion (23):

Councillors Anood Al-Samerai, James Barber, Columba Blango, Catherine Bowman, Michael Bukola, Poddy Clark, Mark Gettleson, Jeff Hook, David Hubber, Paul Kyriacou, Eliza Mann, Tim McNally, Jonathan Mitchell, Michael Mitchell, Adele Morris, Graham Neale, Wilma Nelson, David Noakes, Paul Noblet, Lisa Rajan, Lewis Robinson, Rosie Shimell, Nick Stanton and Geoffrey Thornton.

In abstention (2):

Councillors Stephen Govier and Althea Smith.

Absent (4)

Councillors Denise Capstick, Robin Crookshank Hilton, Toby Eckersley and Linda Manchester.

The Mayor declared that the substantive motion was carried.

The cabinet recommendation had been amended, therefore in accordance with the budget and policy framework procedure rule 2 (g), the leader gave his consent to the amendment and the decision can be implemented with immediate effect.

RESOLVED:

That council assembly:

1.  Noted that the final settlement was announced on 5 February 2014 (subject to approval by Parliament) with no significant change to Southwark’s figures.

2.  Noted the Greater London Authority (GLA) precept included in the report is the Mayor’s proposed precept, as agreed at the London Assembly plenary meeting on 14 February 2014.

3.  Agreed the recommendations of the cabinet on 28 January 2014 for a general fund budget for 2014/15 of £314.4m and a nil council tax increase for 2014/15, attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

4.  Agreed the 2014/15 – 2016/17 medium term resources strategy, included as Appendix F of the 28 January cabinet report.

Rotherhithe Festival

5.  That council assembly is shocked that after seven years of funding for the Rotherhithe festival, Liberal Democrat ward councillors have decided not to include funding for the Rotherhithe festival in the community council fund proposals to the Bermondsey and Rotherhite Community Council.

6.  That council assembly noted the Liberal Democrats’ failure to use these funds in the best way for the community flies in the face of what they have previously said about local decision making.

7.  That council assembly noted that the final government settlement includes an additional £30,000 not included in the provisional settlement.

8.  That council assembly agrees that if the Liberal Democrats refuse to fund important community events like the Rotherhithe festival, then Labour councillors will, and therefore it be agreed to provide £1,000 funding from this amount to save the Rotherhithe festival.