Issue - meetings

Council is asked to agree the budget for 2024/25 and the Medium Term Financial Plan.

Cllr Leaver moved, and Cllr Ergin Erbil seconded, the report.

Cllr Leaver introduced the report and highlighted the background context and challenges, including government under-funding and economic pressures. The pressures in the MTFP were set out in Appendix 6 of the report. Consultation in relation to setting the budget, including consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, was also noted. The comments of the Chief Finance Officer in respect of the robustness of the budget were included in the report at Appendix 1a and noted. Officers and Cabinet colleagues were thanked for supporting the process. The Council would be setting a balanced budget which was prudent and responsible. Cabinet Members provided detail of pressures affecting service areas, investment in the borough, and protection of services for the most vulnerable residents.

The Opposition expressed their concerns in respect of raising of taxes, fees and charges and proposed cuts to services for residents. Money continued to be spent on external consultants and solicitors, and on Civic Centre refurbishments. The Administration’s manifesto commitments were not being kept. Warnings in respect of borrowing and debt servicing had not been heeded. There were concerns regarding the level of reserves. Residents had made their top issues known during the consultation but had been ignored. The balanced budget was dependent on in-year savings, which were known to be rarely achieved, and only 3.5% wage increases.

During the debate, a procedural motion moved by Cllr Ozaydin and seconded by Cllr Ergin Erbil under paragraph 13.20 (viii) of the Council’s Procedure Rules to extend the debate for 30 minutes was AGREED.

A further procedural motion moved by Cllr Ozaydin and seconded by Cllr Ergin Erbil under paragraph 13.20 (viii) of the Council’s Procedure Rules to extend the debate for a further 10 minutes was AGREED.

Before members’ summing up, a procedural motion moved by Cllr Ozaydin and seconded by Cllr Ergin Erbil under paragraph 13.20 (viii) of the Council’s Procedure Rules to extend the time for debate of reports for 60 minutes was AGREED.

The report recommendations were agreed following a recorded vote (as required by law) detailed below:

For:

Cllr Abdul Abdullahi

Cllr Josh Abey

Cllr Nicki Adeleke

Cllr Gunes Akbulut

Cllr Mahmut Aksanoglu

Cllr Nawshad Ali

Cllr Kate Anolue

Cllr Chinelo Anyanwu

Cllr Mahym Bedekova

Cllr Alev Cazimoglu

Cllr Mustafa Cetinkaya

Cllr Hivran Dalkaya

Cllr Guney Dogan

Cllr Elif Erbil

Cllr Ergin Erbil

Cllr Susan Erbil

Cllr Margaret Greer

Cllr Ayten Guzel

Cllr Nelly Gyosheva

Cllr Ahmet Hasan

Cllr Chris James

Cllr Rick Jewell

Cllr Doris Jiagge

Cllr Tim Leaver

Cllr Ahmet Oykener

Cllr Sabri Ozaydin

Cllr George Savva

Cllr Doug Taylor

Cllr Eylem Yuruk

Against:

Cllr Maria Alexandrou

Cllr Lee Chamberlain

Cllr Chris Dey

Cllr Hannah Dyson

Cllr Peter Fallart

Cllr Reece Fox

Cllr Alessandro Georgiou

Cllr Pat Gregory

Cllr James Hockney

Cllr Stephanos Ioannou

Cllr Chris Joannides

Cllr Joanne Laban

Cllr Andy Milne

Cllr Elisa Morreale

Cllr Tom O’Halloran

Cllr Paul Pratt

Cllr Michael Rye

Cllr Julian Sampson

Cllr Ruby  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6