Agenda and decisions
Venue: Conference Hall - Brent Civic Centre, Engineers Way, Wembley, HA9 0FJ. View directions
Contact: James Kinsella, Governance Manager Tel: 020 8937 2063; Email: james.kinsella@brent.gov.uk
Note: The press and public are welcome to attend this meeting or alternatively to follow proceedings via the live webcast. The link to follow the meeting is available via the Livestreaming page on the Council and Democracy section of the Council's website or link on the front page of the published meeting agenda.
Media
No. | Item |
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Apologies for Absence Additional documents: Decision: Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Begum, Jayanti Patel & Shah. |
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Minutes of the Previous Meeting PDF 742 KB To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the previous Council meeting held on Monday 20 November 2023. Additional documents: Decision: AGREED that the minutes of the Council meeting held on Monday 20 November 2023 be approved as a correct record.
Eligible for Call-In: No |
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Declarations of Interest 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. Additional documents: Decision: There were no declarations of interest made at the meeting. |
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Mayor's Announcements (including any petitions received) To receive any announcements from the Mayor. Additional documents: Decision: Announcements from the Mayor were noted in relation to:
· Kings News Years Honours List 2024 · Holocaust & Genocide Memorial Day · New Year’s Day Parade · 106th birthday celebration – Mary Thomas · Death of former councillor & Mayor Ramesh Patel – with tributes paid by Councillors Muhammed Butt, Kabir, Mistry, Afzal, Gbajumo, Mahmood & Chohan. · Petitions |
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To agree any appointments to Committees and Outside Bodies (if any) in accordance with Standing Order 30(g).
(Agenda republished to include updated list of appointments for consideration on 29 February 2024) Additional documents: Decision: Council RESOLVED:
Committee Membership
(1) To note that following her return from maternity leave (with effect from Monday 11 March 2024) the Leader of the Council had reappointed Councillor Mili Patel to resume her role as Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Reform.
(2) To confirm the appointment of The Venerable Archdeacon Catherine Pickford to fill the vacancy as the Church of England Statutory co-opted member on the Community and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee for a period of 2 years (subject to confirmation of the ongoing appointment at the Annual Council meeting each year)
(3) Following Councillor Mili Patel’s return from maternity leave (with effect from Monday 11 March 2024):
(a) To confirm the appointment of Councillor Mili Patel to replace Councillor Farah as a full member on the General Purposes Committee with Councillor Farah to replace the existing vacancy as a substitute member & Councillor Mili Patel to be reappointed as Vice-Chair on the Committee.
(b) To confirm the appointment of Councillor Mili Patel to replace Councillor Tatler as a full member on the Health & Wellbeing Board.
(c) To note that the Leader of the Council had reappointed Councillor Mili Patel to replace Councillor Tatler as full member and Brent’s Chair of the Joint Borough IT Committee Brent, Lewisham & Southwark.
(d) To note that the Leader of the Council had appointed Councillor Mili Patel to replace Councillor Knight as a full member on the Barham Park Trust Committee with Councillor Knight to replace the existing vacancy as substitute member.
Outside Bodies:
(e) To confirm the appointment of Councillor Mili Patel to replace Councillor Tatler as deputy on the London Council’s Leaders Committee.
(f) To note that the Leader of the Council had appointed Councillor Mili Patel to replace Councillor Tatler as deputy on the London Council’s Greater London Employment Forum.
(g) To note that the Leader of the Council had appointed Councillor Mili Patel to replace Councillor Donnelly-Jackson as Brent’s full representative on the London Council’s Grants Committee with Councillor Donnelly-Jackson appointed as deputy.
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Budget and Council Tax 2024 - 2025 PDF 1 MB 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) Additional documents:
Decision: 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 6. |
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Auditor's Annual Report on the London Borough of Brent PDF 233 KB This report presents the Council’s External Auditor’s Annual Report on value for money as part of the 2022 - 23 audit of the year end accounts. It also sets out the key recommendations made within the Annual Report.
Members are asked to note that a representative of the Council’s External Auditor’s (Grant Thornton) will be present at the meeting to respond to any issues raised. Additional documents:
Decision: Council RESOLVED to note the external auditor’s annual report on Value for Money as part of the 2022-23 audit of the year end accounts.
Eligible for call-in: No |
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Treasury Management Mid-Year Report 2023-2024 PDF 373 KB This report provides an update on treasury management activities for the first half of the financial year 2023-24.
Members are asked to note that the report was noted by Cabinet on 15 January 2024 and has been referred on to Council for consideration in compliance with CIPFAs Code of Practice on Treasury Management. Additional documents: Decision: Council RESOLVED to note the 2023-24 Mid-Year Treasury report and that the Council had been fully compliant with the Prudential Indicators set as part of the annual strategy.
Eligible for call-in: No |
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Members' Allowance Scheme Annual Review 2024 -25 PDF 320 KB This report outlines the annual review of the Members Allowance Scheme undertaken for 2024 - 2025. Additional documents:
Decision: Council RESOLVED:
(1) To approve the Members Allowance Scheme in the proposed terms set out within the report for the 2024-25 Financial Year.
(2) To authorise the Corporate Director of Governance to comply with the statutory requirements to publicise the Council’s Members’ Allowance Scheme. |
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Urgent Business At the discretion of the Mayor to consider any urgent business, in accordance with Standing Order 37(s). Additional documents: Decision: No urgent items of business were raised at the meeting. |