Agenda and draft minutes
Venue: Room C1, 1st Floor, Town Hall, Mulberry Place, 5 Clove Crescent, London, E14 2BG
Contact: Angus Taylor, Democratic Services Tel: 020 7364 4333 E-mail: angus.taylor@towerhamlets.gov.uk
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE To receive any apologies for absence. Minutes: Apologies for absence were received on behalf of: · Councillor Sirajul Islam (Scrutiny Lead Development & Renewal). · Councillor Fozol Miah. · Dr Phillip Rice (Church of England Diocese Representative).
Apologies for lateness were received on behalf of Councillor Rachael Saunders.
Noted |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST PDF 56 KB To note any declarations of interest made by Members, including those restricting Members from voting on the questions detailed in Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992. See attached note from the Monitoring Officer.
Minutes: No declarations of interest were made.
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REQUESTS TO SUBMIT PETITIONS To receive any petitions (to be notified at the meeting).
Minutes: There were no petitions.
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REPORTS FOR CONSIDERATION |
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General Fund Capital and Revenue Budgets and Medium Term Financial Plan 2013-2016 PDF 1 MB To consider the General Fund, Capital and Revenue Budgets and Medium Term Financial Plan 2013-2016 in accordance with the Council’s Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules.
Format for consideration of this item:
Budget Overview: presentation followed by Questions & Answers
Directorate Presentations: · Communities Localities & Culture Budget · Children Schools & Families Budget · Adults Health & Wellbeing Budget
OSC members are advised that the report and appendices concerning this item have been previously circulated to them as a Supplemental Cabinet Agenda (09 January 2013) “Budget 2013/14 Document Pack”. Please bring the document pack to the meeting.
Minutes: Special Circumstances and Reasons for Urgency The Chair informed the OSC that this extraordinary meeting of the OSC (21st January) had been arranged at short notice, because of finalisation of the timetable and process for the formal part of the Council’s 2013/14 Budget making process. Consequently the agenda papers were not published in line with normal timescales, although the content of the Mayor’s initial Budget proposals had been contained in the Cabinet agenda published before the Christmas break. However to allow the OSC to proceed with consideration of the business detailed on the agenda, as Chair, she must formally agree formally agree special circumstances and reasons for urgency.
The Chair subsequently agreed the special circumstances and reasons for urgency, as set out below:
“That OSC consideration of the Budget report at Agenda item 4.1 was urgent, in order to allow for: · Proper consultation with the OSC on the Mayor’s initial 2013/14 Budget proposals, in line with the Constitution. · To allow timely feedback to the Mayor in line with the agreed Budget making process.”
A comprehensive discussion followed which focused on the following points:- · Clarification sought and given as to: CLC
· In the context of the outlined budgetary pressures relating to waste treatment and recycling (a growth requirement of £0.6 million relating to waste collection and disposal costs primarily due to the Government “Landfill Escalator”): Why waste minimisation was not being actively promoted, and resources allocated accordingly, as rather than the Council encouraging recycling it would be better if waste was not generated. · Noting the response of Officers that waste minimisation, and in particular education on this, was an element of the Council’s Waste Management Contract: The apparent conflict of interest of those dealing with waste management promoting waste minimisation. · In the context of the outlined budgetary pressures relating to Environmental Health: The nature/ extent of the additional duties/ responsibilities being placed on the Council, anticipated budgetary pressures resulting from these, what provision the Council was making for this risk to the Budget, or whether the Council would be reactive to emerging issue. These were thought to relate to premises inspections - further information on this to be provided by SH S&R CLC next day. · Performance in delivering savings required of the Communities Localities and Culture directorate in the previous year’s Budget; in particular was the anticipated generation of advertising income from the 2012 Olympics fully realised and what was the amount of this. · Whether budgetary pressures were anticipated as a result of London-wide CO2 penalties on local councils if they did not meet targets for cleansing the local environment e.g. pollution relating to “through routes”, or whether Government proposals on this were dormant. · What strategy was in place to mitigate the “black hole” in the CLC Budget outlined by Officers relating to land fill and the Government “Landfill Escalator”. · In the context of the outlined budgetary pressures relating to Safer Communities and the Mayor of London Policing and Crime Funding: Whether the CLC Budget continued £1.45 million ... view the full minutes text for item 4.1 |