Agenda item - Mayor's Communications.

58.1       The Mayor asked the Council to stand and hold a minute’s silence as a mark of respect for the death of Alderman Brennan Turner, who had represented Falmer and then Moulsecoomb Ward on Brighton Borough Council from 1971-1986.

58.2       Following the minute’s silence, the Mayor reported that under Section 30(6) of the Local Government Act 1992 the Council had a duty to set the Council Tax by 10 March 2009.  A failure to set a tax did not then in itself invalidate the tax demands but it had other adverse consequences including the potential loss of income to the Council.  One significant practical implication is that the contractor who prints and sends out the Council Tax bills has a slot booked to process the City Council’s bills and a delay in setting the Budget could have significant implications.

58.3       The Mayor invited the Monitoring Officer to draw council’s attention to some of the key points in the procedural note that had been circulated.

58.4       The Monitoring Officer noted that the procedure agreed for the budget debate enabled the Administration to outline its budget proposals and for the various Groups to put forward up to six amendments.  Following which there would be a general debate and then votes taken on each amendment and finally on the substantive proposals as proposed or as amended.  He reminded the council of the need to set a balanced budget and whilst there was a situation of no overall control, he noted that Members had both a collective and individual responsibility to ensure that the process allowed for the setting of a balanced budget.  He also noted that should any of the amendments put forward be approved, there may then be a need to adjourn the meeting to enable the Director of Finance & Resources to clarify the impact on the overall budget position.

58.5       The Mayor stated that there would not be a formal call over as she was aware that Members wished to discuss all three items under the Policy and Resources Committee proceedings.  She also noted that a procedural note in relation to the Budget debate had been circulated, which she hoped Members would find helpful. In this respect she stated that it was intended that the Revenue Budget, the Capital Resources and Capital Investment Programme and the Housing Revenue Account Budget would be taken together in the one debate. 

58.6       The Mayor then advised the council that Procedural Rules would need to be suspended to enable the business under Item 59 on the agenda to be dealt with as set out in the procedural note and moved the suspension accordingly.

58.7       The Motion was carried.