Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Mili Patel (with Councillor Southwood in attendance as a substitute member) and Councillor Colwill (with Councillor Kansagra in attendance as a substitute member).

Members are invited to declare at this stage of the meeting, the nature and existence of any relevant disclosable pecuniary or personal interests in the items on this agenda and to specify the item(s) to which they relate.

There were no declarations of interests made by Members.

To hear any deputations received from members of the public in accordance with Standing Order 67.

There were no deputations received.

To approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on Monday 8 November 2021 as a correct record.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous meeting, held on Monday 8 November 2021, be approved as an accurate record.

To consider any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

Min 6. Review of Polling Districts, Polling Places and Polling Stations – Century Bowling & Sports Club (Polling Station PR2)

Katie Smith, Head of Executive and Member Services, updated members that following on from the access and safety issues raised at the previous meeting by Councillor Kennelly in relation to the use of the Century Bowling & Sports Social Club as a polling station a further site visit had been undertaken. As it had been possible to secure access from both the north and south of the site it was confirmed the issues raised were now deemed to have been mitigated with use of the venue therefore confirmed and highly visible signage to also be provided.

In addition, members were advised that following on from the meeting, it had been confirmed that the North Wembley Community Seventh Day Adventist Church proposed for use as polling station NP3 in the Northwick Park ward would no longer be available.  As a result it had been agreed to revert back to use of Sudbury Court Sports Club (Sudbury Court Pavillion) for polling station NP3 which it had been confirmed would be available and had been the site previously used for the GLA elections.  Members confirmed their support for the alternative site identified.

This report is presented to enable the Council to fulfil its statutory role to set a council tax base for 2022/23.  The Local Government Finance Act (LGFA) 1992, as amended by the LGFA 2003 & LGFA 2012, requires the Authority to formally calculate the Council Tax Base for 2022/23 and pass this information to precepting authorities by 31 January 2022.  The tax base must be set between 1 December 2021 and 31 January 2022.

RavinderJassar, Deputy Director of Finance introduced the report setting out the Council Tax base for 2022/23 in order to enable the Council to fulfil its statutory role under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended).

Members noted that calculation of the Tax Base was based on a formula involving two elements:

a.         the number of taxable properties shown as “Band D equivalents”; and

b.         the expected collection rate for the year;

In presenting the report, the Committee were advised that the calculation for the number of taxable properties had included an estimate for the number of new housing developments anticipated across the borough. The general trend identified was also supported by the level of new Council Tax registrations currently awaiting banding by the Valuation Office Agency.  Members noted the position would, however, continue to be monitored so that if during 2022/23, the rate of new properties coming on stream slowed, a further adjustment could be made in relation to the rate of growth for 2023/24 in order to ensure the collection fund remained in balance.

In terms of the expected Council Tax collection rate members were advised that as a result of the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on the economy and the limited level of normal debt recovery action, it was too early to be able to estimate the short and long term impact on collection rates.  The collection rate in 2021/22 had been lowered to take account of the impact of the pandemic and it had therefore been deemed prudent to further reduce the long term collection rate for 2022/23 to reflect the continued impact of the pandemic on collection with an overall eventual collection level of 97.0% considered reasonable.

In response to a member query it was confirmed that the details provided within the graph in section 3.10 of the report comparing the number of properties within the borough to those included within the tax base over the last five years reflected the difference once reductions for both statutory and local Council Tax support schemes had been applied.  This reduction accounted for approx. 15% of the total number of properties in the borough.

Members recognised and supported the prudent nature of the assumptions being made and as a result, it was RESOLVED:

(1)        That the Band D equivalent number of properties was calculated, as shown, in accordance with the Government regulations.

(2)        That the collection rate for Council Tax for 2022/23 was set at 97%.

(3)    That’s subject to (1) and (2) above, a Council Tax Base for 2022/23 of 98,730 Band D equivalent properties (after collection rate allowance deduction) be approved.

This report seeks approval to make a severance payment to an officer whose post has become redundant as a result of a restructure within the Customer and Digital Service Directorate. Where the redundancy and severance payment, when added to the pension strain costs that the council must bear as part of the Pension scheme rules, amounts to over £100,000 the General Purposes Committee is required to approve the payment.

Martin Williams, Head of Human Resources introduced the report to seeking approval to make a severance payment to an officer whose post had become redundant as a result of a restructure within the Customer and Digital Service Directorate.  Members noted that the severance payment required approval by General Purposes Committee, as the redundancy and severance payment, when added to the pension strain costs which the Council was required to bear under the Pension scheme rules, totalled over £100,000.

In considering the recommendations the Committee noted the details provided within the exempt appendix accompanying the report and RESOLVED.

(1)    To agree the severance payment, as detailed within the report.

(2)    To note that the payment in (1) above did not include any element additional to sums calculated in accordance with the council’s Managing Change Policy and the requirements of the Local Government Pension Scheme

To consider any appointments needing to be made in relation to the Sub Committees appointed by the General Purposes Committee.

None.

The following item is not for publication as it relates relate to the category of exempt information set out below, as specified under Part 1, Schedule 12 A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Agenda Item 7:       Severance Approval – Appendix 1 (severance payment costs).  This has been classified as exempt under Para 1 of Schedule 12A, namely: “Information relating to any individual.”

There were no items that required the exclusion of the press or public.

Notice of items to be raised under this heading must be given in writing to the Head of Executive and Member Services or her representative before the meeting in accordance with Standing Order 60.

None.