Issue - meetings

6.1     Budget & Council Tax 2024-25

This report sets out the Council’s budget proposals for 2024 - 25. It also details the results of the consultation, scrutiny and equalities considerations in relation to the budget proposals. The report also sets out the overall financial position facing the Council for the medium term and highlights the significant risks, issues and uncertainties.

Members are asked to note that the recommendations in the report were approved by Cabinet on 5 February 2024 for reference on to Council.

6.2   Conservative Group amendments to the Budget & Council Tax proposals 2024 - 25

To consider the proposed amendments submitted by the Conservative Group in relation to the Council’s budget proposals for 2024 - 25.

(Agenda republished to include the Conservative amendments to the budget proposals on 28 February 2024)

6.3   Liberal Democrats Group amendments to the Budget & Council Tax proposals 2024 - 25

To consider the proposed amendments submitted by the Liberal Democrats Group in relation to the Council’s budget proposals for 2024 – 25.

(Agenda republished to include and updated version of Liberal Democrats amendments to the budget proposals on 29 February 2024)

Council RESOLVED:

(1)    To agree an overall 4.99% increase in the Council’s element of Council Tax for 2024/25, with 2% as a precept for Adult Social Care and a 2.99% general increase.

(2)    To agree the General Fund revenue budget for 2024/25, as summarised in Appendices A and B of the report.

(3)    To agree the savings proposals for 2024/25 and 2025/26, as set out in Appendices C (i) and C (ii) of the report.

(4)    To note the Equalities Impact Assessments on the budget proposals, as set out in Appendices C (iii) and C (iv) of the report.

(5)    To note the report from the Budget Scrutiny Task Group in Appendix D of the report.

(6)    To note and agree inclusion of the HRA budget and business plan in the overall Council budget for 2024/25 as set out in section eight and appendix Q of the report.

(7)    To agree the Dedicated Schools Grant, as set out in section nine of the report.

(8)    To agree the changes to the existing Capital Programme in relation to additions of new schemes and reprofiling, as set out in section 11 and Appendix E of the report and note the Capital Pipeline Schemes in Appendix F of the report.

(9)    To agree the Capital Strategy, the Investment Strategy, the Treasury Management Strategy and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement as set out in Appendices G, H, I and J of the report.

(10)  To agree for a new loan and equity facility of up to £40m to be made available to i4B Holdings Ltd for the provision of PRS accommodation in line with the Temporary Reform Accommodation plan as set out in section 11.40 of the report.

(11)  To agree the Reserves Strategy and schedule of reserves, as set out in Appendices K (i) and K (ii) of the report.

(12)  To note the action plan to implement CIPFA’s Financial Management Code and conduct a Financial Resilience Assessment, as set out in Appendix L of the report.

(13)  To agree the schedule of fees and charges, as set out in Appendix M of the report.

(14)  To note the results of the budget consultation, as set out in section seven and detailed in Appendices N (i) and N(ii) of the report.

(15)  To note the legal advice from the Corporate Director of Governance, as set out in Appendix O of the report.

(16)  To agree the Pay Policy Statement for 2024/25, as set out in Appendix P of the report.

Council Tax recommendations

(17)  In relation to the Council Tax for 2024/25:

        It was agreed that the following amounts be now calculated as the Council’s element by the Council for the year 2024/25 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended:

(a) £1,099,616,055    being the aggregate of the amount that the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act.

(b) £937,554,302       being the aggregate  ...  view the full decision text for item 10

The Mayor then moved on to receive the report from the Corporate Director of Finance & Resources setting out the Council’s budget proposals for 2024-25.  Included within the report were the results of the budget consultation, scrutiny and equalities processes along with a summary of the overall financial position, risks, issues and uncertainties facing the Council over the medium term.

In accordance with the procedural motion agreed at the start of the meeting, the Mayor invited Councillor Muhammed Butt, as Leader of the Council, to introduce the report.

Councillor Muhammed Butt began by thanking members, officers, the public and other stakeholders for their contribution in preparation of the budget.  Highlighting that the proposals presented another balanced budget he felt they not only set out a fair and responsible approach but also one that would continue to make a difference for residents across Brent in terms of ensuring no one was left behind.

Recognising the difficult nature of decisions needing to be made in developing the budget proposals and efforts being made to deliver more with less, he felt it important to highlight the ongoing impact of the Government’s programme of austerity and funding restrictions imposed on public services, which had resulted in a cumulative impact for Brent totalling approx. £210m worth of cuts over 14 years since 2010.  Despite this context, he felt it important to outline the Administration’s commitment to continue protecting those services relied on by the most vulnerable in society, recognising the importance of the council’s role as a ‘forth emergency service’ for those most in need.

Reflecting on what might have been possible with sufficient funding, Councillor Muhammed Butt outlined the extent of work undertaken to ensure that the proposals presented for consideration had been subject to detailed consideration and represented a reasoned and rational financial judgement reflecting the careful stewardship of the Council’s resources and the difficult and often unpalatable nature of decisions which had needed to be made given increasing levels of demand.  He felt this was best demonstrated in relation to the current housing crisis, which had resulted in increasing levels of homelessness and a reduction in supply of temporary accommodation; the increased reliance on foodbanks and widening of health inequalities being experienced by those living in the most deprived areas under the current Conservative Government with public debt at its highest since they had come to power, increased NHS treatment times, real terms cuts to schools, record highs in child poverty, wage stagnation and poor economic grow coupled with a significant reduction in the welfare state.

Referring to the Chancellor’s upcoming budget statement and nature of choices to be made, the Leader felt it important to once again highlight the case in support of retaining the Household Support Fund and in seeking to provide the necessary investment across public services in order to support the action required to tackle the current housing crisis, climate emergency, the disparity between income and wealth, delivering key infrastructure (including the West London Orbital) and resolving the ongoing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10