Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair will read out the following statement:

“This meeting is being webcast live to our website (https://harlow.public-i.tv/core/portal/home) and will be available for repeated viewing after the meeting has ended.

By continuing to attend this meeting, you are consenting to being filmed and to appearing in the webcast.

I would like to remind all those participating in the meeting to use their microphones when they speak, and to turn them off once they have finished talking.”

The Chair said the meeting was being webcast live and would be available for repeated viewing after the meeting has ended. By continuing to attend the meeting, you were consenting to being filmed and to appearing in the webcast.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Nick Churchill, Michael Hardware, Maggie Hulcoop, Rusell Perrin, Stacy Seales and Clive Souter.

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any items on the agenda.

Councillor Matthew Saggers declared a pecuniary interest in items 10a-c as a council appointed director of HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd.

Councillors Saggers and Aiden O’Dell both declared a non-pecuniary interest in items 10a-c as leaseholders of council properties.

To agree the minutes of the meetings held on 14 December 2023 and 29 January 2024.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 December 2023 and 29 January 2024 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair said that the picture of His Majesty Charles III was now on display in the Chamber. It was now two years since the invasion of Ukraine and he read a prayer in commemoration.

The questions, together with the answers, are appended to the minutes.

The questions, together with the answers, are appended to the minutes.

None.

Full Council agreed to take items 10a-e together. As required by the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 a recorded vote would be taken. Details of the recorded vote are appended to the minutes.

Cabinet recommended to Full Council that:

               i)         The Medium-Term Financial Plan 2024 - 2028, and the General Fund Budget for 2024/25 attached as Appendix A to the report, is approved.

              ii)         The Council's Band D Council Tax for 2024/25 is set at £288.90 representing a 0% increase as set out in the 2024/25 Medium Term Financial Plan.

            iii)         The General Fund estimates for 2024/25, as set out in Appendix B to the report, are approved.

            iv)         The proposed transfers between the General Fund and Earmarked Reserves, referred to within the report and set out in Appendix A to the report, are approved.

             v)         The proposed Fees and Charges, as set out in Appendix C to the report, are approved.

            vi)         The Pay Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix E to the report, is approved.

Full Council received a referral from Cabinet to approve the Medium Term Financial Plan 2024/25 – 2027/28 and General Fund Budget 2024/25.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor James Leppard) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A     The Medium-Term Financial Plan 2024 - 2028, and the General Fund Budget for 2024/25 attached as Appendix A to the report, be approved.

B     The Council's Band D Council Tax for 2024/25 be set at £288.90 representing a 0% increase as set out in the 2024/25 Medium Term Financial Plan.

C     The General Fund estimates for 2024/25, as set out in Appendix B to the report, be approved.

D     The proposed transfers between the General Fund and Earmarked Reserves, referred to within the report and set out in Appendix A to the report, be approved.

E     The proposed Fees and Charges, as set out in Appendix C to the report, be approved.

F      The Pay Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix E to the report, be approved.

Cabinet recommended to Full Council to:

      i)         Approve the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) estimates as set out in Appendix A to the report.

     ii)         Approve that tenant rents are increased by 7.7 percent with effect from 1 April 2024. This equates to an average weekly rent of £112.20 an increase of £8.02 as set out in paragraph 2 of the report.

   iii)         Approve that the rents and personal charges for temporary accommodation are increased with effect from 1 April 2024 as set out in paragraph 3 of the report.

   iv)         Approve that garage rents within the ‘retain and invest’ category are increased by 5 percent with effect from 1 April 2024. This equates to an average weekly rent of £12.97, an increase of £0.62.  Also approve the proportionate increases for other garages, car ports and car spaces as set out in paragraph 4 of the report.

    v)         Approve that tenant service charges are increased to recover full cost with effect from 1 April 2024 (see paragraphs 5 to 7 of the report and Appendix C attached to the report).

   vi)         Approve that the leasehold service charges are increased with effect from 1 April 2024 to ensure that all leaseholder costs are recovered (see paragraphs 8 to 11 of the report and Appendix C attached to the report).

  vii)         Approve that all other tenant charges are increased with effect from 1 April 2024 in order to recover cost (see Appendix C attached to the report).

viii)         Approve the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

Full Council received a referral from Cabinet to approve the Housing Revenue Account Budget 2024/25 and Business Plan 2023-2053.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor James Leppard) it was:

RESOLVED that Full Council approved:

A     The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) estimates as set out in Appendix A to the report.

B     That tenant rents are increased by 7.7 percent with effect from 1 April 2024. This equates to an average weekly rent of £112.20 an increase of £8.02 as set out in paragraph 2 of the report.

C     That the rents and personal charges for temporary accommodation are increased with effect from 1 April 2024 as set out in paragraph 3 of the report.

D     That garage rents within the ‘retain and invest’ category are increased by 5 percent with effect from 1 April 2024. This equates to an average weekly rent of £12.97, an increase of £0.62.  Also approve the proportionate increases for other garages, car ports and car spaces as set out in paragraph 4 of the report.

E     That tenant service charges are increased to recover full cost with effect from 1 April 2024 (see paragraphs 5 to 7 of the report and Appendix C attached to the report).

F      That the leasehold service charges are increased with effect from 1 April 2024 to ensure that all leaseholder costs are recovered (see paragraphs 8 to 11 of the report and Appendix C attached to the report).

G     That all other tenant charges are increased with effect from 1 April 2024 in order to recover cost (see Appendix C attached to the report).

H     The Housing Revenue Account Business Plan, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

Cabinet recommended to Full Council to:

      i)         Approve the 2024/25 Housing Capital Programme (HCP) totalling £60.409 million as set out in Appendix A to the report.

     ii)         Approve the 2024/25 Non-Housing Capital Programme totalling £32.782 million as set out in Appendix A to the report.

    iii)         Approve the following Capital and Treasury Reports:

·       The Capital Strategy Report (Appendix B to the report);

·       The Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2023/24 (Appendix C to the report);

·       The Investment Strategy Report 2023/24 (Appendix D to the report); and

·       The MRP Statement 2023/24 (Appendix E to the report).

Full Council received a referral from Cabinet to approve the Capital and Treasury Budget Report 2024/25 – 2027/28.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor James Leppard) it was:

RESOLVED that Full Council approved:

A     The 2024/25 Housing Capital Programme (HCP) totalling £60.409 million as set out in Appendix A to the report.

B     The 2024/25 Non-Housing Capital Programme totalling £32.782 million as set out in Appendix A to the report.

C     The following Capital and Treasury Reports:

                                 i)         The Capital Strategy Report (Appendix B to the report);

                                ii)         The Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2023/24 (Appendix C to the report);

                              iii)         The Investment Strategy Report 2023/24 (Appendix D to the report); and

                              iv)         The MRP Statement 2023/24 (Appendix E to the report).

Cabinet recommended to Full Council that:

     i)        The current Local Council Tax Support Scheme remains unchanged for the 2024/25 financial year.

    ii)        A Council Tax premium of 100% is levied in respect of empty and substantially unfurnished properties 12 months after the property becomes vacant, with effect from 1 April 2024.

   iii)        The application of a Council Tax premium of 100% is levied in respect of dwellings which are unoccupied but substantially furnished (second homes) with effect from 1st April 2025.

   iv)        The proposed Empty Homes and Second Homes Policy 2024/25 be adopted, and that the Section 151 Officer is given delegated powers to implement the policy in regard to empty properties in line with the council’s requirements and any guidance given by the Secretary of State or regulation.

Full Council received a referral from Cabinet on the Local Council Tax Support Scheme and Council Tax Premium Proposals for 2024/25.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor James Leppard) it was:

RESOLVED that Full Council approved that:

A     The current Local Council Tax Support Scheme remained unchanged for the 2024/25 financial year.

B     A Council Tax premium of 100% be levied in respect of empty and substantially unfurnished properties 12 months after the property becomes vacant, with effect from 1 April 2024.

C     The application of a Council Tax premium of 100% be levied in respect of dwellings which are unoccupied but substantially furnished (second homes) with effect from 1st April 2025.

D     The proposed Empty Homes and Second Homes Policy 2024/25 be adopted, and that the Section 151 Officer is given delegated powers to implement the policy in regard to empty properties in line with the council’s requirements and any guidance given by the Secretary of State or regulation.

Cabinet recommended to Full Council that the Mid-Year Review of the Treasury Management Strategy, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be noted.

Full Council received a referral from Cabinet on the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2023/24: Mid-Year Review.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor James Leppard) it was:

RESOLVED that the Mid-Year Review of the Treasury Management Strategy, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be noted.

Full Council received a report to approve the Council Tax Resolution for 2024/25.

As required by the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 a recorded vote was taken, details of which are appended to the minutes.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor James Leppard) it was:

RESOLVED that the Council Tax Resolution for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix A to the report be approved.

To approve the changes to Council Representatives on Outside Bodies

appointments highlighted in bold.

RESOLVED that the appointment of council representatives on outside bodies be approved as appended to the minutes.

To note the following Cabinet and Committee minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the following meetings be noted.

Such other business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be received as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes.

None.