No apologies were received

No declarations were received

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2015 were agreed as a correct record.

Part 4A, Paragraph 3.3 of the Constitution states that the Order of Business for the Budget/Council Tax Council shall include–

•          receive a presentation of the Budget/Council Tax report from the relevant officers

•          officers to respond to questions from members via the Mayor

•          to receive remarks from the Cabinet on the report

•          Council to debate the report and take any motions or amendments

Please Note – All decisions relating to either the substantive budget motion/proposal or any amendments to it, will have to be taken via a recorded vote (Roll Call).

The Mayor briefly explained procedure for this Budget Council meeting. She also reminded the Council that all Budget related decisions, including proposed amendments, were require 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’ would be used for each of the votes relating to the substantive budget motion or any amendments to it.

The Mayor invited the Director of Corporate Services to present the Business Plan 2015-19 to the Council. The Director of Corporate Services then responded to questions on the report from Councillors John Dehaney, Hamish Badenoch, Abigail Jones, Stephen Crowe, Peter Southgate, Peter McCabe, Brian Lewis-Lavender, Sally Kenny, David Simpson, Geraldine Stanford, Ian Munn, Janice Howard and Najeeb Latif respectively.

The Leader of the Council then addressed the Business Plan 2015-19. Councillor Stephen Alambritis moved the recommendations as detailed in the report whilst making his budget speech to Council. A copy of which is appended to the minutes as Appendix A.

Councillor Peter McCabe formally seconded the recommendations.

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

The Leader of the Conservative Group, Councillor Oonagh Moulton addressed the meeting and her speech is attached to the minutes, as Appendix B.

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 C.

Members of the Cabinet were then invited to address the meeting. The following took that opportunity:

•       The Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Mark Allison

•       The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, Councillor Caroline Cooper-Marbiah

•       The Cabinet Member for Community Safety, Engagement and Equalities, Councillor Edith Macauley

•       The Cabinet Member for Children's Services, Councillor Maxi Martin

The Mayor then invited any Councillors to move proposed amendments to the

Business Plan.

Councillor Suzanne Grocott moved the Conservative Amendment 1, (which can be found as Agenda Item 5), which was seconded by Councillor Gilli Lewis-Lavender

Councillor David Williams moved the Conservative Amendment 2, (which can be found as Agenda Item 6), which was seconded by Councillor James Holmes.

The Mayor then opened up the general debate on the two proposed amendments and on the proposed substantive Business Plan. Councillors Jeff Hanna, Katy Neep, John Bowcott, Andrew Judge, Stan Anderson, David Dean, Russell Makin, Fidelis Gadzama, John Sargeant, Ross Garrod, Pauline Cowper, Mary-Jane Jeanes, Tobin Byers, Daniel Holden, Brenda Fraser, Marsie Skeete, Linda Taylor, Martin Whelton and Peter McCabe, all spoke in the general debate.

Following the conclusion of the general debate, the Mayor called for the Council to vote on each of the amendments in turn via a roll-call

•         Conservative Amendment 1 (Agenda Item 5) that had been moved by Councillor Suzanne Grocott and seconded by Councillor Gilli Lewis-Lavender

Voting in Favour: Councillors: Hamish Badenoch, John Bowcott, Michael Bull, Adam Bush, Charlie  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.