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Agenda and minutes

General Purposes Committee - Tuesday 25 January 2011 7.00 pm

Venue: Committee Room 4, Brent Town Hall, Forty Lane, Wembley, HA9 9HD. View directions

Contact: Joe Kwateng, Democratic Services Officer 020 8937 1354, Email: joe.kwateng@brent.gov.uk

Items
No.	Item
1.	Declarations of personal and prejudicial interests Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, any relevant financial or other interest in the items on this agenda. Minutes: None.
2.	Minutes of the previous meeting PDF 89 KB Minutes: RESOLVED:- that the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 September 2010 be approved as an accurate record of the meeting.
3.	Matters arising (if any) Minutes: None.
4.	Deputations (if any) Minutes: None.
5.	Calculation of Council Tax Base 2011/12 PDF 86 KB Additional documents: 20110125 - Council Tax - Appendix , item 5. PDF 86 KB Minutes: Councillor Mohammed Butt, Lead Member for Resources, outlined a report to the Committee which set out council tax base calculations to be used for 2011/12. The Committee was advised that this was a standard stage in the process of setting the council tax, which was scheduled for the Council Meeting on 28 Feburary 2011. Regulations required that the council tax base be set by 31 January prior to the start of the financial year. It was proposed that for 2011/12 the collection rate for the council tax be set at 97.5% and that the council tax base be set at 97,252. Mick Bowden, Deputy Director of Finance, noted that the proposed council tax base was a slight increase on the previous year but that the formula applied in the calculation of the council tax base had remained the same. It was explained that the calculation was based on the council tax base submitted to the Department of Communities and Local Government in October 2010 and that for the financial year 2011/12, the tax base used in grant calculations was 99,486 Band D equivalent properties and assumed 100% collection rate. In practice, the council tax collection rate was less than 100% due to changes to the collectable amount, fluctuations in the number of single person households in receipt of 25% discount, exemptions and valuation reductions due to appeals. Members noted that an over-optimistic assumption of this figure could lead to the Council having to declare a deficit in later years and conversely, an underestimate could lead to the Council having to declare a surplus. The Committee was advised that the recommended collection rate of 97.5% for 2011/12 was consistent with comparable London Local Authorities. RESOLVED:- (i) The collection rate for the council tax for 2011/12 is set at 97.5%. (ii) In accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992, the amount calculated by the council as its council tax base for 2011/12 is set at 97,252.
6.	Appointments to Sub-Committees / Outside Bodies Minutes: RESOLVED: That the following Sub-Committee appointments for the 2010/11 municipal year be approved: Staff Appeals Sub-Committee (A) Councillor R Moher (VC) in place of Councillor Mistry Councillor Mistry as first alternate to Councillor R Moher Licensing Sub-Committee Councillor BM Patel Schools Disciplinary Sub-Committee Councillor Colwill as second alternate to Councillor HM Patel
7.	Any Other Urgent Business Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Democratic Services Manager or his representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 64. Minutes: None.