Agenda item

The Mayor advised that as this meeting had been designated as the Council’s formal budget and Council Tax setting meeting, he would be inviting Councillor Ahmadi Moghaddam (as the Majority Group Chief Whip) to move a procedural motion, in accordance with Standing Orders, relating to the conduct of the debate on the budget report. Councillor Ahmadi Moghaddam then proceeded to the move the procedural motion.

Prior to being put to the vote, Councillor Lorber spoke (as Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group) to highlight his objection to the proposed change in timing for Group Leaders speeches during the budget debate, which he felt required further explanation and should have been subject to prior consultation with the respective Group Leaders.  The concerns highlighted were also shared and supported by Councillor Kansagra, as Leader of the Conservative Group.

In addressing the comments raised, Debra Norman (Corporate Director Law & Governance) clarified that there was no provision for debate on procedural motions.  Should members not wish to support the proposals, as moved, they were advised this would require them to vote against the procedural motion.  Should that not be passed, they would then have the opportunity to move any alternative proposals.

Having noted the advice provided, it was RESOLVED (on being put to the vote with all Liberal Democrats & Conservative members voting against) that the following procedural motion be agreed:

(1)        That the Leader of the Council be permitted to speak for up to 20 minutes in presenting the report to the meeting and setting out the Cabinet’s proposals for the budget, after which, the following arrangements be agreed for the purpose of debating and voting upon the Budget and Council Tax:

(a)        The Leader of the Conservative Group (or their nominated representative) be permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes in response to the Leader and in order to move their alternative budget proposals;

(b)    The Leader of the Liberal Democrats Group (or their nominated representative) be permitted to speak in response to the Leader and in order to move their alternative budget proposals for up to 5 minutes;

(c)    The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance & Resources be permitted to speak for up to 15 minutes;

(d)    The Chair of the Budget Scrutiny Task Group be permitted to speak for up to 5 minutes;

(e)    A general debate follow during which the usual rules for debate will apply as set out in Standing Orders (save as set out in this procedural motion);

(2)        At the end of the general debate, the Leader of the Council be permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes to submit his closing remarks.

(3)      Following the close of the debate, recorded votes on any amendments to the budget proposals and then the final substantive budget proposals be taken in turn with the recommendations each taken as one block for voting purposes.

Following a request from Councillor Lorber, under Standing Order 43 (f), the names of the Liberal Democrats Group members who voted against the above procedural motion were recorded as follows – Councillors. Clinton, Lorber & Matin.