Agenda item

Having declared a pecuniary interest, Councillor Whysall left the Chamber.

Councillor Jajeh left the Council Chamber.

The Worshipful the Mayor moved suspension of the Council Procedure Rules under Article 1, section 1.8 to allow the initial speeches on the Budget to be up to the following lengths:

10 minutes for the Leader, 8 minutes for the Leader of the Opposition and 5 minutes for the right to reply.

Councillor Rawlings, Chair of Cabinet moved the reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report. Councillor Thomas moved the Conservative Group alternative budget. Debate ensued.

Councillor Mire left the Council Chamber.

The Head of Governance informed Council that the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 and Council Procedure Rule 18.4.1 requires that voting decisions relating to the budget and Council Tax be recorded.

On the Conservative Group amendment being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

RESOLVED that the Conservative Group amendment in the name of Councillor Thomas is therefore LOST.

On the Labour Group proposal being put to the vote the votes were recorded as follows:

RESOLVED that Council:

In respect of the Budget and Council Tax for 2024/25 and the MTFS 2024-30 taking into account the equality impact assessment and consultation findings:

1.    Approve the MTFS, attached as Appendix A, and the detailed revenue budgets in Appendix C, including the proposed savings and funding for pressures in 2024/25;

2.    Approve that the budget 2024/25 is prepared on the basis of a 2.98% increase for the general element of Council Tax in 2024/25 as discussed in paragraph 3.16 to 3.20;

3.    Approve that the budget for 2024/25 is prepared on the basis of an increase of 2% for the Social Care Precept, to help fund social care as detailed in paragraph 3.16 to 3.20;

4.    Approve the resolutions relating to Council Tax contained within Appendix B;

5.    Approve the application of the Council Tax Premiums (under Section 11C of the Local Government Finance Act 1992) with effect 1st of April 2025 (as set out in paragraph 3.23).

6.    Agree not to amend the Barnet Council Tax Support Scheme as set out in paragraph 3.25.

7.    Approve, on the advice of the Chief Finance Officer, that it determines that the council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2024/25 as set out in Council Tax resolution Appendix B, 2(iv) is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved under section 52ZB and 52ZC of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, set out in the Referendums relating to Council Tax increases (Principles)(England) Report 2024/25;

8.    Approve that in accordance with Section 38(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 the Chief Executive be instructed to place a notice in the local press of the amounts set under recommendation 7 above within a period of 21 days following the Council’s decision; and

9.    Consider the issues that have emerged from the consultation discussed in Appendix G when making their decisions. That Council make the decisions outlined in this report being mindful of the consultation responses and equalities impact assessments including the cumulative equalities impact assessments; and

10. Note and have due regard to the opinion of the Chief Finance Officer as set out in section 5 of this report.

In respect of Capital Strategy and the proposed capital programme:

11. Approve the Capital Strategy as set out in Appendix I1; and

12. Approve the Capital Programme as set out in Appendix I2 and set out in Section 7;

In respect of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS):

13. Approve the TMSS for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix J.

14.Note, when approving the TMSS, that to allow the council to better manage interest rate risk around the proposed third party loan relating to the regeneration of Brent Cross, the upper limit for principal sums invested for longer than 365 days (as set out under Section 4.4 of the council’s TMSS) is increased from £25m to £50m.

In respect of Housing Revenue Account (HRA):

15. Approve the HRA Business Plan (at Appendix K).

In respect of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG):

16. Note the Gross Schools Budget of £458.615m for 2024/25 as agreed by Cabinet in January 2024.

In respect of the Annual Review of Rents and Service Charges and Temporary Accommodation Rents for 2024/25:

17. Note the changes to rent for social rented homes, affordable rented homes, and temporary accommodation rents as well as changes to service charges as agreed by Cabinet in January 2024.

Councillor Whysall re-entered the Council Chamber.