Agenda item

There were 16 questions on the report, the written responses to which were circulated at the meeting.  There were six supplemental questions.

There were two amendments to this report.

In accordance with council assembly procedure rule 1.14.9, Councillor Stephanie Cryan, cabinet member for equalities, democracy and finance, moved the report.

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

Councillor Victor Chamberlain, seconded by Rachel Bentley, moved Amendment A. 

Councillor James McAsh, seconded by Councillor Reginald Popoola, moved Amendment B.

Following debate (Councillors Margy Newens, Portia Mwangangye, Cassandra Brown, Emily Tester, Helen Dennis, Richard Leeming, Graham Neale, Sam Foster, Victoria Mills, Ian Wingfield, Richard Livingstone, Jane Salmon, Kath Whittam, John Batteson, Jasmine Ali, Natasha Ennin, Gavin Edwards, Evelyn Akoto, David Parton, Cleo Soanes, Jon Hartley, Charlie Smith, Catherine Rose), Councillor Stephanie Cryan exercised her right of reply.

Amendment A – Lost

Amendment B – 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), an announcement was made at the beginning and end of one minute, after which the vote was taken.

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 (43):

Councillors Suzanne Abachor, Evelyn Akoto, Jasmine Ali, John Batteson, Cassandra Brown, Maggie Browning, Sunil Chopra, Stephanie Cryan, Ellie Cumbo, Sam Dalton, Mohamed Deen, Helen Dennis, Dora Dixon-Fyle, Esme Dobson, Gavin Edwards, Sabina Emmanuel, Natasha Ennin, Renata Hamvas, Barrie Hargrove, Jon Hartley, Youcef Hassaine, Esme Hicks, Emily Nickson, Sarah King, Sunny Lambe, Richard Leeming, Richard Livingstone, Darren Merrill, Victoria Mills, Portia Mwangangye, Margy Newens, David Parton, Leo Pollak, Sandra Rhule, Bethan Roberts, Caterine Rose, Martin Seaton, Andy Simmons, Michael Situ, Charlie Smith, Cleo Soanes, Kieron Williams, Ian Wingfield

Against (0)

Abstained (14):

Councillors Rachel Bentley, Victor Chamberlain, Sam Foster, Ketzia Harper, Laura Johnson, Nick Johnson, James McAsh, Graham Neale, Reginald Popoola, Jane Salmon, Emily Tester, Irina von Wiese, David Watson, Kath Whittam

Absent (6):

Councillors Naima Ali, Adam Hood, Maria Linforth-Hall, Hamish McCallum (disclosable pecuniary interest), Jason Ochere, Joseph Vambe

The Mayor declared that the motion was carried.

RESOLVED:

That Council Assembly approved:

1.  The allocation of the £2.6m additional funding from the Final Local Government Finance Settlement, as outlined in paragraphs 8 -14 and Table 1 of the report, to increase the budget for Temporary Accommodation.  

2.  The final balanced budget as detailed in Table 2 of the report.

That Council Assembly noted:

3.  The 2 February 2026 cabinet report at Appendix 1 of the report, which sets out the draft budget following the provisional settlement.

4.  The council will set the council tax on 27 February 2026 via the Council Tax Setting Committee, following confirmation of the final GLA precept on 26 February 2026 (agenda item 2.2). 

5.  An increase in Southwark’s local Council Tax for 2026-27 of 4.99% (agenda item 2.2).

6.  Paragraphs 17-33 of the report confirming the Strategic Director of Resources ‘Section 25’ statement as published in the 2 February 2026 Cabinet Report.