The Lord Mayor informed the meeting that there were no announcements to make or urgent business for consideration.

To allow members an opportunity to declare any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interest they might have in any items which appear on this agenda; and record any items from which they are precluded from voting as a result of Council Tax or Council rent arrears. Members with a personal interest should declare that at the start of the item under consideration. If members also have a prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interest they must withdraw from the meeting during the consideration of the item.

No interests were declared regarding any of the business contained in the Council Summons.

To submit for approval the minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2024.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2024 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Lord Mayor.

The Council met to consider and set the 2024/25 budget, Council Tax resolution for 2024/25 and Collection Fund budget for 2024/25.  In doing so, the proceedings of the Art Galleries Committee on 14 February 2024, which provided details of the Art Galleries budget for 2024/25 were submitted for approval. In addition, the part proceedings of the Executive on 14 February 2024 were submitted for approval, which contained details on the following:

·       Revenue Budget Monitoring Update to the end of December 2023

•       Capital Programme Budget Monitoring 2023/24

•       Medium Term Financial Strategy and 2024/25 Revenue Budget

•       Corporate Core Budget 2024/25

•       Children and Education Services Budget 2024/25

•       Public Health Budget 2024-27

•       Adult Social Care Budget 2024/27

•       Neighbourhoods Directorate Budget 2024/25

•       Housing Revenue Account 2024/25 to 2026/27

•       Growth and Development Directorate Budget 2024/25

•       Dedicated Schools Grant 2024/25

•       Capital Strategy and Budget 2023/24 to 2026/27

•       Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2024/25, including Borrowing Limits and Annual Investment Strategy

•       Budget consultation results 2024/25

•       Budget Equality and Poverty Impact Assessments

The Council also considered the following reports:-

•   Details of proposed budget amendment;

•   The Council Tax Resolution 2024/25.

In addition, the Council received the minutes of the Resources and Governance Scrutiny Committee on 26 February 2024, that considered the Budget Report 2024-2025.

The Lord Mayor provided Council with an explanation of the process to be followed at the meeting to consider and vote on the two amendments received and to then consider the documents submitted and in doing so, to set the Council’s budget for 2024/25 by a named electronic vote.

Councillor Rahman moved the proceedings of the Art Galleries Committee and the part proceedings of the Executive, both held on 14 February 2024.

Councillor Akbar then moved the Revenue and Capital Budgets and the recommendations as detailed in the reports submitted, this was seconded by Councillor Craig. Councillor Akbar then presented his budget statement for 2023/24 to Council.

The Lord Mayor reported that as there was no current Opposition Group or Finance spokesperson, there would be an opportunity for the leader or spokesperson from each of the opposition groups to respond to Councillor Akbar’s budget statement for a combined time of 20 minutes. Councillor Johnson and Councillor Kilpatrick gave a response to the budget statement.  

The Council then considered an amendment to the Council Budget 2024/25.

Two amendments to the budget that were proposed by Councillor Leech had been submitted. The amendments were seconded by Councillor Good.

Proposed amendment 1:

‘In order to support the least well-off Manchester Council Taxpayers during the

continuing cost of living crisis, the following proposals to the Council Tax

Support Scheme as follows:

• To allocate a budget of £770,000, subject to consultation, to enable the

Council to deliver a Council Tax rebate to Manchester residents in receipt of the maximum Council Tax support equivalent to increasing the maximum support from 85% to 87.5%; to be funded through the transfer from the General Fund Reserve.

• To  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

The Lord Mayor reported that Carol Culley, the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer would be leaving the Council on 15 March 2024, to take up a new role. The Lord Mayor thanked Carol on behalf of all members of the Council for her exemplary and dedicated work during her 24 years as Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer, that has ensured the Council has continued to deliver a balanced budget. The Lord Mayor wished Carol every success in her future role.