The Mayor outlined the procedure for this Budget Council meeting. She also reminded the Council that all budget related decisions, including proposed amendments, were required to be recorded within the minutes with a list of the names of those who voted for or against the decision or who abstained from voting. To accommodate that, a roll call vote would be taken for the substantive budget motion and any amendments to it. 

At the invitation of the Mayor, the Director of Corporate Services presented the Business Plan 2019-2023.  The Director then responded to questions from Councillors Agatha Akyigyina, Oonagh Moulton, Simon McGrath, Owen Pritchard, David Simpson, Paul Kohler, Pauling Cowper, Janice Howard, Russell Makin, Brenda Fraser, James Holmes, Abdul Latif and Nigel Benbow.

The Leader of the Council presented the Business Plan 2019-23 and formally moved the recommendations in the report whilst making his budget speech to Council, a copy of which is appended to the minutes as Appendix A.

Councillor Tobin Byers formally seconded the recommendations, and reserved his right to speak.

The Mayor then invited the opposition Group Leaders in turn to respond to the Budget proposal and the Business Plan.

The Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Nick McLean addressed the meeting and his speech is attached to the minutes, as Appendix B.  As part of his speech, he presented the proposed amendment to the Business Plan 2019-23.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Councillor Anthony Fairclough, addressed the meeting, and his speech is attached to the minutes, as Appendix C.  As part of his speech, he presented the proposed amendments to the Business Plan 2019-23.

The Leader of the Merton Park Ward Independent Residents Group, Councillor Peter Southgate, addressed the meeting and his speech is attached to the minutes, as Appendix D.

The following members of the Cabinet addressed the meeting:   Councillors Mark Allison, Caroline Cooper-Marbiah and Kelly Braund.

The Mayor then invited members to move proposed amendments to the Business Plan.

Councillor Nick McLean moved the Conservative amendment which was seconded by Councillor David Williams.

Councillor Anthony Fairclough moved the Liberal Democrat amendment 1 which was seconded by Councillor Eloise Bailey.

Councillor Anthony Fairclough moved the Liberal Democrat amendment 2 which was seconded by Councillor Eloise Bailey.

Councillor Anthony Fairclough moved the Liberal Democrat amendment 3 which was seconded by Councillor Eloise Bailey.

Councillor Anthony Fairclough moved the Liberal Democrat amendment 4 which was seconded by Councillor Eloise Bailey.

The Mayor then opened up the general debate on the proposed amendments and on the proposed substantive Business Plan.  The following members spoke in the debate:  Councillors Billy Christie, Hayley Ormrod, Marsie Skeete, Daniel Holden, Carl Quilliam, Nick Draper, David Dean, Eleanor Stringer, Stephen Crowe, John Dehaney, Edward Gretton, Joan Henry, Adam Bush, Dave Ward, Omar Bush, Hina Bokhari, Rebecca Lanning, Andrew Howard, Sally Kenny, Paul Kohler, Dennis Pearce, Mark Kenny, Natasha Irons, Aidan Mundy, Ben Butler, Laxmi Attawar, Martin Whelton, David Williams and, finally, Tobin Byers.

At the conclusion of the debate, the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4