Agenda item

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 (48):

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, Sam Foster, Renata Hamvas, Barrie Hargrove, Ketzia Harper, Jon Hartley, Youcef Hassaine, Esme Hicks, Emily Hickson, Laura Johnson, Sarah King, Sunny Lambe, Richard Leeming, Richard Livingstone, James McAsh, Darren Merrill, Victoria Mills, Portia Mwangangye, Margy Newens, David Parton, Leo Pollak, Reginald Popoola, Sandra Rhule, Bethan Roberts, Caterine Rose, Martin Seaton, Andy Simmons, Michael Situ, Charlie Smith, Cleo Soanes, Kath Whittam, Kieron Williams, Ian Wingfield

Against (0)

Abstained (8):

Councillors Rachel Bentley, Victor Chamberlain, Nick Johnson, Graham Neale, Jane Salmon, Emily Tester, Irina von Wiese, David Watson

Absent (7):

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

RESOLVED:

1.  That Council Assembly:

a)  Approved the 2026-27 Southwark element of the council tax for band D properties in Southwark, including an increase of 2.99% for the council and 2.00% for the adult social care (ASC) precept, be set at £1,456.75 (Appendix B of the report).

b)  Approved the existing local war disability and widow/widowers’ schemes for housing benefit (paragraphs 16 to 18 of the report).

c)  Approved that no discount be applied to properties in the former parish of St Mary Newington for 2026-27.

d)  Established a Council Tax Setting committee to set the Council Tax for the year 2026-27 and agrees the role and functions, matters reserved and political composition (Appendix D)

e)  Devolved the appointment of a chair and vice chair of the Council Tax Setting committee to the council tax setting committee, and agreed the below councillors to serve on the committee.

2.  That Council Assembly noted

a)  the Greater London Authority (GLA) proposal to set a precept of £510.51 for band D, which will be considered on Thursday 26 February 2026 (Paragraph 4 and Appendix C of the report). The Greater London Authority (Consolidated Council Tax Requirement Procedure) Regulations 2025.

b)  the formal resolution for Southwark council taxes in 2026-27 (Appendix A) which will be approved by the Council Tax Setting committee on 27 February 2026.

c)  that the special Council Tax Setting committee will meet on Friday 27 February 2026. This will allow council tax notices to be issued in line with the normal statutory timetable.