Agenda item

Council assembly to debate the recommendations of the cabinet held on 7 February 2017 for a general fund budget for 2017/18.

(See pages 16 - 150 of the main agenda)

The Mayor informed the meeting that the Greater London Authority (GLA) had met earlier in the week and agreed the precept for Southwark, therefore the proposed GLA precept outlined in the report was correct.

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

In accordance with council assembly procedure rule 1.14.9, Councillor Fiona Colley, cabinet member for finance, modernisation and performance, moved the report.

In accordance with council assembly procedure rule 1.14.9, Councillor Hamish McCallum, the shadow cabinet member for finance, responded to the cabinet member’s statement.

Councillor Catherine Rose, seconded by Councillor Evelyn Akoto, moved Amendment A.

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

Councillor Rosie Shimell, seconded by Councillor Ben Johnson, moved Amendment C.

Councillor Anood Al-Samerai, seconded by Councillor James Okosun, moved Amendment D.

Following debate (Councillors Mark Williams, Richard Livingstone, Vicky Mills, Damian O'Brien, Johnson Situ, Karl Eastham, Dan Whitehead, Kieron Williams, Gavin Edwards, Maria Linforth-Hall, Ian Wingfield, Bill Williams, David Noakes, Jasmine Ali, Andy Simmons, Adele Morris, Barrie Hargrove, Eleanor Kerslake, Peter John, Rebecca Lury, Paul Fleming, David Hubber, Stephanie Cryan, Sunny Lambe, James Hartley, Nick Dolezal, Tom Flynn, Charlie Smith), Councillor Fiona Colley exercised her right of reply.

Amendment A was put to the vote and declared to be carried

Amendment B was put to the vote and declared to be lost

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 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 (45):

Councillors Evelyn Akoto, Jasmine Ali, Radha Burgess, Sunil Chopra, James Coldwell, Fiona Colley, Stephanie Cryan, Catherine Dale, Dora Dixon-Fyle, Nick Dolezal, Karl Eastham, Gavin Edwards, Paul Fleming, Tom Flynn, Renata Hamvas, Barrie Hargrove, Jon Hartley, Peter John, Samantha Jury-Dada, Eleanor Kerslake, Sarah King, Anne Kirby, Octavia Lamb, Sunny Lambe, Lorraine Lauder, Richard Livingstone, Rebecca Lury, Vijay Luthra, Darren Merrill, Victoria Mills, Jamille Mohammed, Leo Pollak, Sandra Rhule, Catherine Rose, Martin Seaton, Andy Simmons, Johnson Situ, Michael Situ, Charlie Smith, Cleo Soanes, Kath Whittam, Bill Williams, Kieron Williams, Mark Williams and Ian Wingfield.

Against the substantive motion (14):

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

Absent (4)

Councillors Maisie Anderson, Helen Dennis, Lucas Green and Eliza Mann.

The Mayor declared that the substantive motion was carried.

RESOLVED:

That council assembly:

1.  Agreed to increase the Southwark element of the council tax for 2017-18 by 1.99%.

2.  Agreed to use the flexibility offered by the government to support Adult Social Care through a precept equivalent to 3% of council tax on the basis that these additional funds will be used exclusively for adult social care.

3.  Agreed the recommendations of the 7 February 2017 cabinet for a general fund budget requirement (after specific grants and use of reserves) for 2017-18 of £274.3m.

School funding

4.  Council assembly welcomed the contribution from Schools Forum from the Dedicated Schools Grant to fund the shortfall in Education Support Grant (ESG) services in 2017/18, but notes its concern about the ending of ESG, which funds the important work that the council’s school improvement team undertakes working with local schools.

5.  Council assembly noted that this change comes alongside a proposed new national funding formula, which will have a damaging and disproportionate impact on schools in Southwark by reducing funding by 2.7%, alongside existing additional budget pressures.

6.  Council assembly believed that at a time when some schools in Southwark could be losing £1,000 per pupil in funding, it is more important than ever that the council is able to continue supporting schools to improve opportunities for Southwark children.

7.  Council assembly called on the cabinet to work with schools in Southwark to protect school improvement, continue to encourage school-to-school support and increase collaboration within the Southwark family of schools.

8.  Council assembly also called on councillors to support the Southwark campaign for fair funding, and to work with schools, parents and other London boroughs to campaign against cuts to funding for London schools.

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.