Agenda item
Budget and Council Tax 2024 - 2025
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)
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 of the amounts that the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.
(c) £162,061,753 being the amount by which the aggregate at (a) above exceeds the aggregate at (b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax requirement for the year.
(d) £1,564.65 being the amount at (c) above, divided by the amount for the tax base of 103,577, agreed by the General Purposes Committee on the 11 December 2023, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.
(e) Valuation Bands
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
1,043.10 |
1,216.95 |
1,390.80 |
1,564.65 |
1,912.35 |
2,260.05 |
2,607.75 |
3,129.30 |
being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at (d) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands.
(18) That it be noted that for the year 2024/25 the proposed GLA precept issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, in respect of the GLA, for each of the categories of dwellings are as shown below:
Valuation Bands |
|||||||
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
314.27 |
366.64 |
419.02 |
471.40 |
576.16 |
680.91 |
785.67 |
942.80 |
(19) That, having calculated the aggregate of the amounts at 17(e) and (18) above the Council, in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts of council tax for the year 2024/25 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:
Valuation Bands |
|||||||
A |
B |
C |
D |
E |
F |
G |
H |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
1,357.37 |
1,583.59 |
1,809.82 |
2,036.05 |
2,488.51 |
2,940.96 |
3,393.42 |
4,072.10 |
(20) That it be noted that the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources has determined that the Council element of the basic amount of Council Tax for 2024/25 is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved under Section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
(a) That the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources be and is hereby authorised to give due notice of the said Council Tax in the manner provided by Section 38(2) of the 1992 Act.
(b) That the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources be and is hereby authorised when necessary to apply for a summons against any Council Taxpayer or non-domestic ratepayer on whom an account for the said tax or rate and any arrears has been duly served and who has failed to pay the amounts due to take all subsequent necessary action to recover them promptly.
(c) That the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources be and is hereby authorised to collect revenues and distribute monies from the Collection Fund and is authorised to borrow or to lend money in accordance with the regulations to the maximum benefit of each fund.
In accordance with Standing Order 43, as the above decisions related to the setting of the Budget and Council Tax they were subject to a recorded vote.
Prior to the above recommendations being approved, the alternative budget proposals moved as amendments to the budget report by the Conservative & Liberal Democrats Groups were put to the vote and declared LOST.
The voting recorded on the amendment moved by the Conservative Group was as follows:
For the Amendment (4): Councillors Hirani, Kansagra, Maurice & Mistry.
Against the Amendment (47): Councillors Aden, Afzal, Agha, Ahmed, Ahmadi-Moghaddam, Akram, Bajwa, Benea, M.Butt, S.Butt, Chan, Chappell, Chohan, Choudry, Collymore, Conneely, Crabb, Dixon, Donnelly-Jackson, Ethapemi, Farah, Fraser, Gbajumo, Georgiou, Grahl, Hack, Johnson, Kabir, Kelcher, Kennelly, Knight, Long, Lorber, Mahmood, Matin, Miller, Mitchell, Moeen, Molloy, Nerva, M.Patel, Rajan Seelan, Rubin, Ketan Sheth, Krupa Sheth, Southwood and Tatler.
Abstentions to the Amendment (2): Councillors Hylton (Mayor) and Dar (Deputy Mayor).
The voting recorded on the amendment moved by the Liberal Democrats Group was as follows:
For the Amendment (3): Councillors Georgiou, Lorber and Matin
Against the Amendment (48): Councillors Aden, Afzal, Agha, Ahmed, Ahmadi-Moghaddam, Akram, Bajwa, Benea, M.Butt, S.Butt, Chan, Chappell, Chohan, Choudry, Collymore, Conneely, Crabb, Dixon, Donnelly-Jackson, Ethapemi, Farah, Fraser, Gbajumo, Grahl, Hack, Hirani, Johnson, Kabir, Kansagra, Kelcher, Kennelly, Knight, Long, Mahmood, Maurice, Miller, Mistry, Mitchell, Moeen, Molloy, Nerva, M.Patel, Rajan Seelan, Rubin, Ketan Sheth, Krupa Sheth, Southwood and Tatler.
Abstentions to the Amendment (2): Councillors Hylton (Mayor) and Dar (Deputy Mayor).
The substantive recommendations, as detailed above, were then put to the vote and declared CARRIED. The voting recorded was as follows:
For (45): Councillors Aden, Afzal, Agha, Ahmed, Ahmadi-Moghaddam, Akram, Bajwa, Benea, M.Butt, S.Butt, Chan, Chappell, Chohan, Choudry, Collymore, Conneely, Crabb, Dixon, Donnelly-Jackson, Ethapemi, Farah, Fraser, Gbajumo, Grahl, Hack, Johnson, Kabir, Kelcher, Kennelly, Knight, Long, Mahmood, Miller, Mitchell, Moeen, Molloy, Nerva, M.Patel, Rajan Seelan, Rubin, Ketan Sheth, Krupa Sheth, Smith, Southwood and Tatler
Against (7): Councillors Georgiou, Hirani, Kansagra, Lorber, Matin. Maurice, & Mistry.
Abstentions (2): Councillors Hylton (Mayor) and Dar (Deputy Mayor).
Eligible for call-in: No
Supporting documents:
- 6.1 Budget and Council Tax 2024- 25 Council report, item 6. PDF 1 MB
- Appendices List 2024-25, item 6. PDF 108 KB
- 6.1a. Appendix A - Overall Revenue Budget for 2024-25, item 6. PDF 20 KB
- 6.1b. Appendix B - MTFS Changes, item 6. PDF 53 KB
- 6.1c(i). Appendix C (i) - Summary of 2023-24 & 2024-25 budget proposals, item 6. PDF 211 KB
- 6.1c(ii). Appendix C (ii) - Summary of 2024-25 Budget Proposals, item 6. PDF 110 KB
- 6.1c(iii). Appendix C (iii) - Full Equalities Impact Assessments, item 6. PDF 854 KB
- 6.1c(iv). Appendix C (iv) - Cumulative Equalities Impact Assessment, item 6. PDF 320 KB
- 6.1d. Appendix D - Budget Scrutiny Task Group Report 2024-25, item 6. PDF 1004 KB
- 6.1e. Appendix E - Detailed Capital Programme 2023-24 to 2027-28, item 6. PDF 567 KB
- 6.1f. Appendix F - Capital Pipeline, item 6. PDF 614 KB
- 6.1g. Appendix G - Capital Strategy 2024-25, item 6. PDF 160 KB
- 6.1h. Appendix H - Investment Strategy 2024-25, item 6. PDF 126 KB
- 6.1i. Appendix I - Treasury Management Strategy 2024-25, item 6. PDF 554 KB
- 6.1j. Appendix J - Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement 2024-25, item 6. PDF 131 KB
- 6.1k(i). Appendix K (i) Brent Reserves Strategy, item 6. PDF 151 KB
- 6.1k(ii). Appendix K (ii) - Reserves MTFS 2024-25 forecast, item 6. PDF 166 KB
- 6.1l. Appendix L - Financial Resilience Assessment, item 6. PDF 156 KB
- 06.1m(i) Appendix M (i) - Brent Council Fees and Charges Policy, item 6. PDF 152 KB
- 6.1m(ii). Appendix M (ii) - Fees and Charges for 24-25, item 6. PDF 375 KB
- 6.1n(i). Appendix N (i) - Summary of Budget Consultation, item 6. PDF 613 KB
- 6.1n(ii). Appendix N (ii) - Consultation Direct representation (submission 1), item 6. PDF 275 KB
- 6.1n(iii). Appendix N (ii) - Consultation Direct Representations (submission 2), item 6. PDF 470 KB
- 6.1o. Appendix O - Legal Advice, item 6. PDF 187 KB
- 6.1p. Appendix P - Pay Policy Statement - 2024-25, item 6. PDF 175 KB
- 6.1q. Appendix Q - Draft Summary of HRA business plan 2024-25, item 6. PDF 145 KB
- 6.2 Conservative Group Alternative Budget Proposals 2024-25, item 6. PDF 466 KB
- 6.3 Liberal Democrats Group Alternative Budget Proposals 2024-25 (amended), item 6. PDF 620 KB