Agenda and minutes

To appoint a relief Chair.

1.1      Motion moved by the Lord Mayor and seconded by Councillor Ellie Ormsby, that Councillor Hamza Taouzzale be elected as Relief Chair.

1.2      Motion put, and on a show of hands, declared CARRIED.

To sign the Minutes of the Council meeting held on 13 November 2024.

2.1      The minutes of the proceedings at the Council meeting held on Wednesday 13 November 2024 were, with the assent of the Members present, signed by the Lord Mayor as a true record of the proceedings.

To receive the Lord Mayor’s communications.

3.1      The Lord Mayor referred to these as set out in the papers.

4.1      There were no declarations of interest.

5.1      There were no urgent matters.

6.1      There were no petitions or deputations received.

The Lord Mayor will invite members of the public who have been chosen to present their question or petition. After which the relevant Cabinet Member or Committee Chair will respond.

7.1      Five questions submitted by the public were asked and responded to by the relevant Cabinet Members. The questions and responses are available on the Council’s website.

The Lord Mayor will call Members who have indicated that they wish to ask a question after the Leader of the Opposition has asked their questions.

8.1      The questions, supplementary questions and replies are included as a recording on the Council’s website.

Councillor Regan Hook – ‘The Opportunities and Challenges in the Harrow Road Ward’

9.1      The Opportunities and Challenges in the Harrow Road Ward

Councillor Regan Hook spoke, and Councillor Cara Sanquest replied.

10.1    The Majority and Opposition Parties both selected to debate a topic on ‘Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour in Westminster’. The debate would be referred to the relevant Executive Director for consideration when reporting on the subject.

To receive, consider and debate, if chosen, the following report which contains recommendations to the Council for approval and adoption.

11.1    The Lord Mayor put the recommendations of the report to the vote and on a show of hands declared the recommendations adopted.

RESOLVED:

1)        That the following recommendations for the financial year 2025/26 be approved: -

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

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

(iii)   that a Long-Term Empty Property Premium continued at the maximum percentages allowed for by the current legislation for the 2025/26 financial year.

(iv)   that the Director of Revenues & Benefits be given delegated authority to determine any individual local discount applications received from Council Taxpayers during the 2025/26 financial year under section 13A(1)(c) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

2)        That the same Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2025/26 which had operated successfully since 2013/14 be approved. The scheme was 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. The same disregards should continue to apply to Housing Benefit and claims for Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP).

3)        That that the Council Tax Base for 2025/26 for the Whole City was 141,569.83 equivalent Band D properties, for Montpelier Square alone 101.76 equivalent Band D properties and for Queen’s Park 3,739.64 equivalent Band D properties.

4)        That the figures set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report for the Council Tax Base for 2025/26 be used by the Council to make a determination pursuant to the requirements of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

5)        That the determination made in last year’s report to implement a 100% Second Home Premium for the 2025/26 financial year be confirmed.

To receive, consider and debate, if chosen, the following report which contains recommendations to the Council for approval and adoption.

12.1    The Lord Mayor put the recommendation of the General Purposes Urgency Sub-Committee report to the vote and on a show of hands declared the recommendation adopted.

RESOLVED:

That the Council appoint Janet Kealey as an Independent Standards Person.