The Speaker of the Council, Councillor M. A. Mukit, MBE in the Chair

Apologies for lateness were received from Councillor Marc Francis.

No apologies for absence were received.

No declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests were made.

The Speaker informed the Council that on Monday 9^th March, Commonwealth Day, he would be taking part in a ceremony to commemorate the centenary of the First World War, in common with Civic Heads up and down the country.   A candle would be lit, and a symbol of that candle kept alight for 12 months, as a reminder of the sacrifices made during that war and the conflicts since; and a symbol of hope for peace and understanding between peoples.

The Council Procedure Rules provide for a maximum of three petitions to be presented at a meeting of the Council.  At the Budget Council Meeting, only petitions that relate to the Council’s budget or the setting of the Council Tax may be presented.   

The deadline for receipt of petitions for this Council meeting is noon on Friday 27th February 2015.  At the time of agenda despatch no petitions had been received.

There were no petitions.

To consider the revised proposals of the Mayor and Executive in relation to the Council’s Budget and Council Tax 2015/16.

The first Budget Council Meeting on 25^th February 2015 did not agree the Mayor’s budget proposals.  The Council agreed an amendment moved by Councillor Rachael Saunders and seconded by Councillor Ayas Miah containing a number of proposed changes to the Mayor’s budget.  In accordance with the requirements of the Constitution and statutory provisions, the Mayor has been formally advised of the Council’s objections to his proposals and within a period of five working days must reconsider those proposals in accordance with the Council’s objections and submit his revised

budget proposals to the second Budget Council Meeting.  Those revised proposals may at the Mayor’s discretion include some or all elements of the amendment agreed by the Council at the first budget meeting. 

The attached report sets out the amendment agreed by the Council on 25^th February 2015.  The Mayor’s revised budget proposals will be circulated to Councillors as soon as they are available. 

Officer advice on the Mayor’s budget proposals and on each element of the agreed budget amendment has been received by Members in the agenda for the first Budget Council Meeting and papers tabled at that meeting.  Members are requested to bring those documents with them to this meeting.

The Mayor’s response to the budget amendment agreed by the Council at the Budget Meeting on 25^th February 2015 was tabled.

Mayor Lutfur Rahman introduced, and Councillor Alibor Choudhury moved, the reconsidered budget proposals of the Mayor and Executive as set out in the tabled report. Councillor Oliur Rahman seconded the proposals. The Mayor stated that he and the Executive were unable to accept any part of the amendment agreed by the Council on 25^th February 2015, with the reasons set out in the tabled report.

Councillor Rachael Saunders moved and Councillor Ayas Miah seconded the budget amendment as agreed at the meeting on 25^th February 2015 and as set out in the agenda.

Following debate a recorded vote was conducted on the amendment. The amendment did not achieve the necessary two-thirds majority of those present and voting as required by regulations, with 22 Members voting in favour, 18 against and 5 abstentions as set out below:-. 

The Mayor and Executive’s budget proposals were therefore adopted. Accordingly it was:-

RESOLVED

General Fund Revenue Budget and Council Tax Requirement 2015/16

1.         To agree a General Fund revenue budget of £291.362m and a total Council Tax Requirement for Tower Hamlets in 2015/16 of £69,814,540 as set out in the table below.