Agenda item

In accordance with Standing Order 2 (Suspension of Standing Orders), Councillor Warren moved that Council suspend Standing Orders to consider a matter of urgent business Councillor Warren had asked be considered at this meeting.

For clarity, the Chief Executive asked that all Members be made aware as to what the matter in question was before Council could determine whether or not to suspend Standing Orders.

In response, Councillor Warren stated that Cabinet had decided to delegate to Councillor Butt and the Chief Executive, the decision to agree that the Revenue Support Grant be fixed for the next four years and that in addition to that, an efficiency plan be agreed. 

Councillor Warren stated that he accepted that the decision had been made by Cabinet and that decision was final but felt that Members should be aware of the significance of that decision, which was binding upon the next Administration, and also felt that Members would want to see what was included in any efficiency plan.

Councillor Warren said that 14 October 2016 was the date by which a decision had to be arrived at and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) to be notified of that decision.  He added that the urgent item he had asked to be considered was for an Extraordinary Meeting of the Council to be convened on 13 October 2016 to discuss the content or whatever decision the Leader of the Council and Chief Executive had made.  In conclusion, Councillor Warren said that this was a significant interest from the Council’s point of view and since it was part of the Budget process, should be discussed.

In response, Councillor McLennan, Deputy Leader, stated that the decision to offer the fixed, four-year rate had been agreed last year by DCLG and that the Council had agreed that it would wait until after the referendum as there was an area of uncertainty as to what the impact would be.  Councillor McLennan went on to say that now the Referendum had been held most, if not all London Councils, had agreed to the four-year rate since it was the only matter at the present time where the Council could say with any certainty that there was guaranteed income coming in.

Councillor McLennan said that Officers had been informed that out of all the London Councils, none had rejected it and, in terms of how it had been agreed, most Councils Cabinets had taken the decision.  She said that one or two London Councils had taken the matter to Full Council and that little or no discussion had taken place.  She added that Cabinet taking the decision was the right action to take.  Councillor McLennan said that the Cabinet decision on the offer made had been taken last year.

In conclusion, in respect of any efficiency plan, Councillor McLennan stated that, in line with transparency, she was happy for Members to see budget proposals prior to consultation.

On a vote being taken by a show of hands, three Members voted for the motion and no Members abstained from the vote.  The Mayor confirmed that all other Members present voted against the motion which, accordingly, was declared LOST.