Agenda item

(See pages 178-190 of the main agenda)

At this juncture the clerk explained that council assembly had agreed the level of council tax for 2017-18, as set out in the cabinet’s recommendation as amended by Amendment B and as agreed in the resolution in item 2.1.  As the GLA had not yet set out its precept, council assembly was asked to form a council tax setting committee to formally set the council tax, to meet at 10am on Friday 23 February 2018.

The clerk then reminded the meeting 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 (44):

Councillors Jasmine Ali, Maisie Anderson, 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, Octavia Lamb, Sunny Lambe, Lorraine Lauder, Richard Livingstone, Rebecca Lury, 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 (11):

Councillors Anood Al-Samerai, James Barber, David Hubber, Jane Lyons, Eliza Mann, Hamish McCallum, Michael Mitchell, Adele Morris, David Noakes, Damian O’Brien and Rosie Shimell.

Absent (8)

Councillors Evelyn Akoto, Lucas Green, Ben Johnson, Anne Kirby, Maria Linforth-Hall, Vijay Luthra, James Okosun and Dan Whitehead.

The Mayor declared that the substantive motion was carried.

RESOLVED:

1.  That the 2018-19 Southwark element of the council tax for band D properties in Southwark, including an increase of 2.99% and the adult social care precept of 3%, be set at £1,035.31.

2.  That the formal resolution for Southwark council taxes in 2018-19 (shown in Appendix B of the report) be approved.

3.  That no discount be applied to properties in the former parish of St Mary Newington for 2018-19.

4.  That no discount be applied to properties in the former parish of St Saviours for 2018-19.

5.  That council assembly noted the Greater London Authority (GLA) proposal to set a precept level of £294.23 at Band D, which the GLA will consider on 22 February 2018.

6.  That the existing local war disability and war widow/ers’ schemes for housing benefit be continued in 2018-19.

7.  That council assembly established a council tax setting committee, to set the council tax for the year 2018-19, in accordance with section 67(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, and agrees the role and functions, matters reserved and political composition as set out in Appendix A.

8.  That council assembly appointed Councillors Fiona Colley, Barrie Hargrove, Richard Livingstone, Hamish McCallum, Rosie Shimell, Johnson Situ and Ian Wingfield to serve on the council tax setting committee.

9.  That council assembly appointed Councillor Fiona Colley as chair and Councillor Rosie Shimell as vice-chair of the council tax setting committee.

10.  That council assembly noted that the special council tax setting committee will meet on Friday 23 February 2018. This will allow council tax notices to be issued in line with the normal statutory timetable.