Apologies for absence were received from Councillors David Dean, Brenda Fraser, Joan Henry and Marsie Skeete.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 5 February 2020 are agreed as an accurate record.

Part 4A, paragraph 3.3 of the Constitution states that the business at the Budget Council meeting shall include the following:

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

·         officers to respond to questions from members via the Mayor

·         receive remarks from the Cabinet on the report

·         Council to debate the report and take any motions or Amendments

In accordance with Part 4A, paragraph 10.4 of the Constitution, all decisions relating to either the substantive budget motion/proposal or any amendments to it, will be taken via a recorded vote (roll call).

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 2020-2024.  The Director then responded to questions from Councillors David Chung, Adam Bush, Mike Brunt, Jenifer Gould, Stan Anderson, Oonagh Moulton, Paul Kohler, Edith Macauley, Najeeb Latif and Ben Butler.

The Leader of the Council presented the Business Plan 2020-24 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 Eleanor Stringer formally seconded the recommendations, and reserved her 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 2020-24.

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 2020-24

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 and Laxmi Attawar.

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 Edward Gretton.

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.

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 Owen Pritchard, Daniel Holden, Agatha Akyigyina, Hayley Ormrod, Hina Bokhari, Aidan Mundy, David Simpson, Nick Draper, Nigel Benbow, Carl Quilliam, Caroline Cooper-Marbiah, James Holmes, David Ward, Peter Southgate, John Dehaney, Andrew Howard, Rebecca Lanning, Thomas Barlow, Martin Whelton, Simon McGrath, Dennis Pearce, Stephen Crowe, Mary Curtin, David Williams, Paul Kohler, Tobin Byers, Peter McCabe, Natasha Irons, Billy Christie and Eleanor Stringer.

At the conclusion of the debate, the Mayor called for a roll-call vote on the Conservative amendment to the Business Plan 2020-2024.  Voting was as follows:

Votes in favour:  Councillors Thomas  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.