Agenda item

(See pages 47 - 172 of the main agenda and pages 3 - 4 of the supplemental agenda)

There were seven question from members, the answers to which had been circulated on lilac paper at the meeting.  Seven supplemental questions were asked of the cabinet member for finance, resources and corporate strategy.  The questions and written responses are attached as appendix 2 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 B, C and D.

In accordance with council assembly procedure rule 1.14 (9), Councillor Fiona Colley, cabinet member for finance, strategy and performance, 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 Neil Coyle, seconded by Councillor Helen Hayes, moved Amendment B.

Councillor Michael Mitchell seconded by Councillor Jane Lyons, moved Amendment C.

Councillor Adele Morris, seconded by Councillor David Hubber, moved Amendment D.

Following debate (Councillors Bill Williams, Tom Flyn, Lisa Rajan, Paul Fleming, Jasmine Ali, Richard Livingstone, Rosie Shimell, Rebecca Lury, Victoria Mills, Damian O’Brien, Stephanie Cryan, Johnson Situ, Darren Merrill, James Okosun, Evelyn Akoto, Kieron Williams, Mark Williams, James Barber, Masie Anderson, Lucas Green, Ian Wingfield and Jon Hartley), Councillor Fiona Colley exercised her right of reply.

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

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

Amendment D 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.  Therefore in accordance with council assembly procedure rule 1.16(4) (a roll call recorded vote), the bell was rung for one minute after which time 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, Maisie Anderson, Radha Burgess, Sunil Chopra, Fiona Colley, Neil Coyle, Stephanie Cryan, Catherine Dale, Dora Dixon-Fyle, Nick Dolezal, Karl Eastham, Gavin Edwards, Paul Fleming, Tom Flynn, Dan Garfield, Chris Gonde, Lucas Green, Renata Hamvas, Barrie Hargrove, Jon Hartley, Helen Hayes, Peter John, Eleanor Kerslake, Sarah King, Anne Kirby, Sunny Lambe, Lorraine Lauder, Richard Livingstone, Rebecca Lury, Vijay Luthra, Claire Maugham, Darren Merrill, Victoria Mills, Jamille Mohammed, Leo Pollak, Sandra Rhule, Martin Seaton, Andy Simmons, Johnson Situ, Michael Situ, Charlie Smith Cleo Soanes, Kath Whittam, Bill Williams, Kieron Williams, Mark Williams, Ian Wingfield.

Against the substantive motion (15):

Councillors Anood Al-Samerai, James Barber, David Hubber, Ben Johnson, Maria Linforth-Hall, Jane Lyons, Eliza Mann, Hamish McCallum, Michael Mitchell, Adele Morris, David Noakes, Damian O’Brien, James Okosun, Lisa Rajan and Rosie Shimell.

Absent (Nil)

The Mayor declared that the substantive motion was carried.

RESOLVED:

1.  That 10 February 2015 cabinet recommendations for a general fund budget requirement (after use of reserves) for 2015/16 of £282.3m and a nil council tax increase for 2015/16, attached as Appendix 1 of the report, be agreed.

2.  That it be noted that the Mayor’s 2015-16 final draft budget was approved unamended by the London Assembly on 23 February 2015. The Mayor’s band D precept is therefore confirmed as £295.00 for the 32 boroughs.

3.  That the 2015/16 – 2017/18 Medium Term Resources Strategy, included as Appendix L of 10 February 2015 cabinet report, be agreed.

4.  That council assembly notes the reduction in government funding to local authorities for Discretionary Housing Payments of £40 million in 2015/16 and expresses concern that in Southwark the cut of 20% could risk more people becoming homeless. Council assembly notes that the council is already facing significant pressure on temporary accommodation.

5.  That council assembly notes the continuing pressure on residents resulting from central government’s welfare reforms and notes that in Southwark, discretionary housing payments have been used to provide short-term assistance to people affected by the bedroom tax, the benefit cap and other welfare changes.

6.  That council assembly therefore calls on the cabinet to review the criteria of the council’s Welfare Hardship Fund to include homelessness prevention, in order to mitigate the government cuts to Discretionary Housing Payments and to support our most vulnerable residents facing the threat of homelessness.

7.  That council assembly also notes the popularity of the new Neighbourhoods Fund providing a flexible opportunity for truly local decision making by ward councillors and community councils.

8.  That the Neighbourhood Fund be increased from £542,000 to £630,000 (total £30,000 per ward) and council assembly instructs the strategic director of finance and corporate strategy to make appropriate allocations to fund this from reserves in 2015/16 (£88,000) and to ensure that provision is made in the General Fund budget in future years.

Note:  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 was implementable with immediate effect.