Agenda item

Policy and Resources Strategy 2019-20 - revenue budget

Council assembly to debate the recommendations from cabinet for a general fund budget for 2019/20.

Minutes:

(See pages 22 - 142 of the main agenda)

 

There were seven questions on the report, the written responses to which were circulated on blue paper at the meeting.  There were seven supplemental questions.

 

There were three amendments to this report.

 

In accordance with council assembly procedure rule 1.14.9, Councillor Vicky Mills, cabinet member for finance, performance and Brexit, moved the report.

 

In accordance with council assembly procedure rule 1.14.9, Councillor Jane Salmon responded to the cabinet member’s statement.

 

Councillor William Houngbo, seconded by Councillor David Noakes, moved Amendment A.

 

Councillor Victor Chamberlain, seconded by Councillor Hamish McCallum, moved Amendment B.

 

Councillor Andy Simmons, seconded by Councillor Kath Whittam, moved Amendment C.

 

Following debate (Councillors Maggie Browning, Leo Pollak, Dan Whitehead, Jasmine Ali, Eliza Mann, Kieron Williams, Peter John, Graham Neale, Richard Livingstone, Johnson Situ, Maria Linforth-Hall, Rebecca Lury, Jack Buck, Damian O’Brien, Stephanie Cryan, Evelyn Akoto, Humaira Ali, Sunny Lambe, Gavin Edwards, (Graham Neale made a point of personal explanation), Adele Morris, Charlie Smith, Paul Fleming, Nick Johnson, Anood Al-Samerai), Councillor Vicky Mills exercised her right of reply.

 

Amendment A – Lost

 

Amendment B – Lost

 

Amendment C – Carried

 

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.  Therefore in accordance with council assembly procedure rule 1.16(4) (a roll call recorded vote), the bell was rung at the beginning and end of one minute, after which the doors to the room were closed.

 

The substantive motion was put to the vote, and the votes having been recorded, the Mayor declared the result as follows:

 

In favour of the substantive motion (48):

 

Councillors Evelyn Akoto, Jasmine Ali, Peter Babudu, Maggie Browning, Jack Buck, Radha Burgess, Sunil Chopra, James Coldwell, Stephanie Cryan, Helen Dennis, Dora Dixon-Fyle, Nick Dolezal, Karl Eastham, Gavin Edwards, Paul Fleming, Tom Flynn, Renata Hamvas, Barrie Hargrove, Jon Hartley, Sirajul Islam, Peter John, Eleanor Kerslake, Sarah King, Sunny Lambe, Lorraine Lauder, Richard Leeming, Richard Livingstone, Rebecca Lury, Alice Macdonald, James McAsh, Darren Merrill, Vicky Mills, Margy Newens, Jason Ochere, Victoria Olisa, Leo Pollak, Sandra Rhule, Catherine Rose, Martin Seaton, Andy Simmons, Johnson Situ, Michael Situ, Charlie Smith, Cleo Soanes, Leanne Werner, Kath Whittam, Kieron Williams and Ian Wingfield.

 

Abstained (14):

 

Councillors Humaira Ali, Anood Al-Samerai, Victor Chamberlain, William Houngbo, Nick Johnson, Maria Linforth-Hall, Eliza Mann, Hamish McCallum, Adele Morris, Graham Neale, David Noakes, Damian O'Brien, Jane Salmon and Dan Whitehead.

 

Absent (1)

 

Councillor Bill Williams

 

The Mayor declared that the substantive motion was carried.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That council assembly:

 

1.  Agrees to increase the Southwark element of the council tax for 2019-20 by 2.99%.

 

2.  Agrees the recommendations of the 5 February 2019 cabinet for a general fund budget requirement (after specific grants and use of reserves) for 2019-20 of £290.424m.

 

Police and the Night Time Economy

 

3.  Council assembly notes the crucial role that police officers across the borough play in preventing, detecting and responding to crime.

 

4.  Council assembly notes the Night Time Economy team’s contribution to this work, and the benefits for local residents of having police officers visibly patrolling, supporting council enforcement, assisting local businesses with issues including rough sleeping and illegal trading, and providing counter terrorism advice.

 

5.  Council assembly notes the Night Time Economy team is currently made up of one Sergeant and five PCs, and that at present this team is part funded by the council, part funded by the police through the Met Patrol Plus scheme and part funded by the Team London Bridge Business Improvement District (BID).

 

6.  Council assembly notes that the Met Patrol Plus scheme will not be continuing in its present form, and is likely to cease altogether. Without the contribution of the Met Patrol Plus scheme, there is a funding shortfall of £205,000 in the Night Time Economy team.

 

7.  Council assembly believes that if the number of police officers working in the Night Time Economy team were to decrease this would have a significant negative impact on local residents and businesses.

 

8.  Council assembly therefore resolves to commit £205,000 to the Night Time Economy team in order to maintain the current levels of policing.

 

Local intelligence analyst

 

9.  Council assembly notes that despite the work of the council, the police and local organisations and communities, crime and youth violence continue to be serious issues in Southwark.

 

10.  Council assembly notes that these issues are not unique to Southwark and that youth violence and crime are issues across the whole of London.

 

11.  Council assembly believes that a local intelligence analyst would add to the council's and police's work to tackle crime and youth violence. A local intelligence analyst would add vital capacity to the identification of trends and key areas of concern, look at comparisons with other similar areas and neighbouring boroughs, and provide victim and suspect profiles to identify both those who may be at risk of being a victim of crime and those who may be at risk of being drawn into criminal activities.

 

12.  Council assembly therefore resolves to invest £55,000 in a local intelligence analyst to support the work of the council in preventing and tackling crime.

 

Fees and Charges

 

13.  Council assembly notes that updated fees and charges schedules for 2019-20 were agreed by cabinet on 5 February 2019, bringing Southwark’s fees and charges in line with London averages.

 

14.  Council assembly resolves to make rigorous efforts to collect fees and charges notices in full, to make a saving of £260,000.

 

15.  Council assembly therefore amends the budget as follows:

 

Implications for the 2019/20 budget

 

Item

Budget Impact (£)

Police officers

205,000

Local intelligence analyst

55,000

Fees and charges collection

-260,000

Balance

0

 

Supporting documents: