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Agenda and minutes

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Contact: Mick Steward, Head of Committee and Governance Services  Tel: 7641 3134; Email:  msteward@westminster.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome

Minutes:

1.1     It was noted that there were no changes to the membership.

2.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations by Members and Officers of the existence and nature of any personal or prejudicial interests in matters on this agenda.

Minutes:

2.1     There were no Declarations of Interest.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 196 KB

To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 15th and 25th October 2018.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

3.1       Councillor Heather Acton highlighted an error in respect of paragraph 3.4 of the minutes of the 25 October meeting, which related to Oxford Street District - Draft Place Strategy and Delivery Plan. She stated that the words ‘approximately four times per hour’ should refer to her desire to see more than four bus routes remaining on Oxford Street.

 

3.2       RESOLVED: The Leader, with the consent of the Members present, signed the minutes of the meetings held on 15 and 25 October 2018 as true and correct records of the proceedings subject to the correction referred to in 3.1 above.

 

4.

Council Tax Discounts (including Council Tax Local Reduction Scheme) and Council Tax Base report (To Follow) pdf icon PDF 251 KB

Report of the Assistant City Treasurer

Minutes:

4.1       Martin Hinckley, Assistant City Treasurer, introduced the report that was a statutory requirement for local authorities to provide and would be required to subsequently be approved by Full Council following Cabinet approval. There were no changes proposed to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Council Tax discounts. It was also proposed to continue to charge a Long Term Empty Property Premium at the maximum percentage allowed for by the relevant legislation, which is 100% for 2019-20.

 

4.2       The Leader requested that the report to Council highlight the continuing 100% Council Tax discount for care leavers which was approved last year by the Cabinet Member for Children Services for a period of 3 years. She stated that this was an important element of the council’s role and commitment as a corporate parent.

 

4.3       Councillor David Harvey stated that he supported the continuation of the long term empty property premium as such homes make no contribution to the city and sit empty for a significant period of time.

 

4.4       RESOLVED:

 

1.    That Cabinet recommended that the Council approve the following for the financial year 2019/20:-

 

(i)            that the Council Tax discount for second homes remains at  0%

(ii)          the Council Tax discounts for empty properties, including the discounts that replaced the previous Class A and C Council Tax exemptions, remain at 0%. 

(iii)          that a Long Term Empty Property Premium continues at the maximum percentage allowed for by the current legislation, which is a 100% premium for 2019/20 (an increase on the 2018/19 level)

            (iv)       that the Head of Revenues & Benefits be given delegated authority to                    determine any individual local discount applications received from                               Council Taxpayers during the course of the 2019/20 financial                                  year under section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act                 1992. 

           

2.            That Cabinet recommended that the Council approve the same Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2019/20 which has operated successfully since 2013/14. The scheme is based on the Default Scheme Regulations, updated to reflect changes made via the Prescribed Requirements Amendment Regulations and with War Disabled Pensions, War Widow, Pensions and Armed Forces Compensation scheme payments disregarded in full when calculating a claimant’s income.

 

3.         That Cabinet recommended to the Council to resolve that the Council Tax Base for 2019/20 for the Whole City is 130,319.70equivalent Band D properties, for Montpelier Square alone 97.61 equivalent Band D properties and for Queen’s Park 3,496.10 equivalent Band D properties.

 

4.         That Cabinet recommended to the Council to resolve that the figures set out in paragraph 3 above for the Council Tax Base for 2019/20 be used by the Council to make a determination pursuant to the requirements of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

 

 

 

5.

Treasury Management Strategy Mid-Year Review 2018-19 pdf icon PDF 185 KB

Report of the Tri-Borough Director of Treasury and Pensions

 

Minutes:

5.1       Stephen Muldoon, Assistant City Treasurer, introduced the report that updated Members on the implementation at mid-year of the 2018-19 Treasury Management Strategy. 

 

5.2       The Leader of The Council thanked Councillor Robathan, Cabinet Member for Finance, Property & Regeneration and finance officers for their work on the delivery of the Strategy.

 

5.3       RESOLVED: That Cabinet approved the Treasury Management Strategy 2018-19 mid year review, noting the cases of non-compliance and the action taken to rectify these.

 

6.

Annual Report of the Safeguarding Adults Executive Board pdf icon PDF 98 KB

Report of the Bi-Borough Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health Services

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

6.1               Councillor Heather Acton, Cabinet Member for Family Services and Public Health, welcomed the annual report which she considered to be very positive and thanked Louise Butler, Strategic Lead in Professional Standards & Safeguarding, and her team for their safeguarding work. She stated that although the Annual Report is presented on a Tri-Borough basis as from 2nd July 2018 the Safeguarding Adult Executive Board (SAEB) operated as a Bi-borough board as part of the disaggregation from Tri-borough services.

 

6.2               Bernie Flaherty, Bi-Borough Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health, advised that SAEB has invited fellow professionals to undertake a peer review in the new year. Whilst the review will not provide a judgement on the board it will provide feedback on how it is performing.

 

6.3               The Leader of the Council thanked the whole of the safeguarding board and the wider team for their work of securing the safety of residents who are most at risk of harm from others, or through self-neglect. She also thanked Lady Christabel Flight for her work as the Older People’s Champion which includes organising the Silver Sunday Tea Dance.

6.4     RESOLVED: That the report be noted and that the strategy and the emerging themes informing its current work be endorsed.