Agenda item

Policy and Resources Strategy 2020-21 - revenue budget

To follow

Minutes:

(See pages 1 - 69 of supplemental agenda no. 1)

 

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

 

There were four 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 Maggie Browning, seconded by Councillor Jason Ochere, moved Amendment A.

 

Councillor Graham Neale, seconded by Councillor Adele Morris, moved Amendment B.

 

Councillor Hamish McCallum, seconded by Councillor David Noakes, moved Amendment C.

 

Councillor Humaira Ali, seconded by Councillor William Houngbo, moved Amendment D.

 

Following debate (Councillors Livingstone, Lambe, Chamberlain, Kerslake, Jasmine Ali, O’Brien, Cryan, Johnson Situ, Linforth-Hall, Macdonald, Kieron Williams, Mann, Edwards, Bill Williams, Johnson, Dixon-Fyle, Al-Samerai, Fleming, and McAsh; Councillor Neale made a point of personal explanation) Councillor Vicky Mills exercised her right of reply.

 

Amendment A – Carried

 

Amendment B – Lost

 

Amendment C – Lost

 

Amendment D – 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 (46):

 

Councillors Jasmine Ali, Peter Babudu, Maggie Browning, Jack Buck, Radha Burgess, Sunil Chopra, James Coldwell, Stephanie Cryan, 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, 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, Bill Williams, Kieron Williams and Ian Wingfield.

 

Abstained (13):

 

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 and Jane Salmon.

 

Absent (4):

 

Councillors Evelyn Akoto, Helen Dennis, Margy Newens and Dan Whitehead.

 

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 2020-21 by 1.99%.

 

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

 

3.  Agreed the recommendations of the 4 February 2020 cabinet for a general fund budget requirement (after specific grants) for 2020-21 of £294.292m.

 

Southwark Scholars

 

4.  Council assembly noted:

a.  That since the Southwark Scholars scheme was established in 2011 more than 88 young people from Southwark have had their university tuition fees paid.

b.  That these Southwark Scholars have come from lower income backgrounds and have been chosen for their academic achievement and their record of community service.

c.  That these Southwark Scholars are ambassadors for Southwark.

d.  That following the UK’s exit from the EU, there is uncertainty about the future of the Erasmus scheme.

 

5.  Council assembly further noted:

a.  That latest capital programme spend forecasts indicate that some borrowing may be deferred, marginally reducing debt financing costs in 2020-21.

 

6.  Council assembly believed:

a.  That the Southwark Scholars scheme is transforming lives of Southwark’s young people, and that this should be celebrated.

b.  That the funding for the Southwark Scholars scheme should be made secure on a long term basis so this scheme can continue with 10 scholarships awarded each year.

c.  That our young people should be inspired to look outward and embrace opportunities not just on our doorstep but further afield too.

d.  That at least two Southwark scholarships per year should be reserved for students studying modern European languages, studying a course with a year abroad at an EU institution, or studying their entire course at an EU institution.

 

7.  Council assembly resolved:

a.  To commit £50,000 from reduced debt financing costs to ensure the continuation of the Southwark Scholars scheme, with a minimum of two scholarships to be for students studying modern European languages, studying a course with a year abroad at an EU institution, or studying their entire course at an EU institution.

 

Southwark Renters Union

 

8.  Council assembly noted:

a.  That around a third of all homes in the borough are for private rental.

b.  That as a result of the national housing crisis and the failure of this Conservative Government to properly regulate the private rental sector, too many of Southwark’s residents live in in insecure private rental accommodation.

c.  The Council Plan commitment to set up a union for private sector renters to help empower tenants.

 

9.  Council assembly resolved:

a.  To commit £100,000 from the London Devolution Fund to finance the initial costs of setting up and running a renters union.

b.  That the costs of the renters union from 2021 onwards be included in the 2021-22 base budget estimates, to be funded by the renewal of the council’s mandatory and additional licencing schemes and planned expansion of the council’s selective licencing scheme.

 

Black Cultural Centre Feasibility Study 

 

10.  Council assembly noted:

a.  That Southwark is a diverse borough – as of 2015, 48% of Southwark’s population identified as Black, Asian, or from another ethnic minority.

b.  That Southwark council has consistently celebrated this diversity, and condemned the actions of this Conservative and previous Conservative/Liberal Democrat coalition governments in creating racist and discriminatory policies like the “Hostile Environment” which have led to appalling treatment of the Windrush generation and others who identify as Black or from another other ethnic minority.

c.  Previous Council Assembly motions on making Southwark a Borough of Sanctuary, Solidarity with the Windrush Generation, and Promoting Equality and Valuing Diversity.

 

11.  Council assembly believed:

a.  That Southwark Council should carry out a feasibility study into developing a Black Cultural Centre in the borough, which would celebrate black heritage as well as providing space for a range of cultural and community organisations to use for meetings and events.

b.  That this study should consider the scope for a centre, site options, and how it could become self funded and managed on a long term basis.

 

12.  Council assembly resolved:

a.  To commit £100,000 from the London Devolution Fund to fund a feasibility study into establishing and developing a Black Cultural Centre.

 

13.  Council assembly resolved to amend the budget as follows:

 

Item

Budget Impact (£)

Southwark Scholars

50,000

Reduced debt financing costs

-50,000

Southwark Renters Union

100,000

Black Cultural Centre Feasibility Study

100,000

London Devolution Fund Reserve

-200,000

Balance

0

 

Chief Finance Officer assurance on robustness of budget estimates

 

14.  The strategic director of finance and governance, as the statutory section 151 officer, has confirmed that these proposals are legal, implementable and overall do not impact on the total budget requirement for 2020/21.

Supporting documents: