Agenda item

(Mark John Boleat)

(A) London Councils Grants Scheme 2014/15 – Levy on the London Local Authorities Report of action taken under urgency procedures

13 February 2014

This report advises Members of two decisions; one taken by the Court as a matter of urgency and the other by the Policy and Resources Committee, pursuant to Standing Order No.19, relating to the London Councils Grants Scheme (“the Scheme”). The Scheme enables the City of London Corporation and the London Boroughs to share the cost of making grants to those voluntary organisations that operate in more than one of the Local Authorities’ areas.

The budget for the London Councils Grants Scheme, and the City Corporation’s contribution to the Scheme, is considered on an annual basis.  Last year, in order to simplify the approvals process, the Court of Common Council delegated the approval of the City Corporation’s contribution and its total expenditure for the scheme, to the Policy and Resources Committee.  On 23 January 2014, the Policy and Recourses Committee approved the total amount of expenditure to be incurred in 2014/15 under the London Council Grant Scheme (£10m) and the City Corporation’s subscription for 2014/15 (£8,233).

A further decision was then required, as the Court of Common Council is the designated body responsible for issuing the levies to all the Constituent Local Authorities for their contributions to the Scheme. A decision could not be taken until the total expenditure for the Scheme had been agreed by at least 2/3rds of the Constituent Councils and not before 1 February 2014.  

On 27th January 2014, London Councils advised us that the budget had been approved by over two thirds of the Constituent Councils. Following this confirmation, the City Corporation, as levying body, was required to issue the levies before the statutory deadline of 15 February 2014.  As the Court of Common Council was not due to meet within this period, a decision was sought under urgency procedures. 

We therefore report that on 13 February 2014, approval was given to the issue of levies as set out below:-

(Mark John Boleat)

(A) London Councils Grants Scheme 2014/15 – Levy on the London Local Authorities Report of action taken under urgency procedures

13 February 2014

This report advises Members of two decisions; one taken by the Court as a matter of urgency and the other by the Policy and Resources Committee, pursuant to Standing Order No.19, relating to the London Councils Grants Scheme (“the Scheme”). The Scheme enables the City of London Corporation and the London Boroughs to share the cost of making grants to those voluntary organisations that operate in more than one of the Local Authorities’ areas.

The budget for the London Councils Grants Scheme, and the City Corporation’s contribution to the Scheme, is considered on an annual basis.  Last year, in order to simplify the approvals process, the Court of Common Council delegated the approval of the City Corporation’s contribution and its total expenditure for the scheme, to the Policy and Resources Committee.  On 23 January 2014, the Policy and Recourses Committee approved the total amount of expenditure to be incurred in 2014/15 under the London Council Grant Scheme (£10m) and the City Corporation’s subscription for 2014/15 (£8,233).

A further decision was then required, as the Court of Common Council is the designated body responsible for issuing the levies to all the Constituent Local Authorities for their contributions to the Scheme. A decision could not be taken until the total expenditure for the Scheme had been agreed by at least 2/3rds of the Constituent Councils and not before 1 February 2014.  

On 27th January 2014, London Councils advised us that the budget had been approved by over two thirds of the Constituent Councils. Following this confirmation, the City Corporation, as levying body, was required to issue the levies before the statutory deadline of 15 February 2014.  As the Court of Common Council was not due to meet within this period, a decision was sought under urgency procedures. 

We therefore report that on 13 February 2014, approval was given to the issue of levies as set out below:-

Read and agreed to.