The Full Council of Barking and Dagenham Council met on Wednesday 31 January 2024, with a key decision made to adopt a new Council Tax Support Scheme for 2024/25. The meeting also included tributes to three former councillors and aldermen, and noted annual reports from the BAD Youth Forum and Adopt London East.

Tributes to Former Councillors

The Assembly noted with deep regret the passing of three distinguished former councillors:

• Haji Mohammed Siddique, Freeman of the Borough, aged 93. Haji Siddique was recognised for his significant contributions to community cohesion, his work with the Pakistani Muslim Association, and his global charity work.
• Albert Gibbs, former Councillor and Freeman of the Borough, aged 98. Albert Gibbs served as a councillor for Chadwell Heath and Whalebone wards and was noted for his service on various committees and his involvement in the town twinning with Witten, Germany.
• Roy Patient, former Councillor, Freeman and Alderman of the Borough, aged 90. Roy Patient was a long-serving Labour councillor for Thames ward, a former Chair of several committees, and played a key role in the East London Waste Authority. He also had a lasting legacy through his extensive involvement with Eastbury Community School.

Following these tributes, a minute's applause was held in memory of all three individuals.

BAD Youth Forum Annual Report 2023

The Assembly received the annual report from the Barking and Dagenham (BAD) Youth Forum and Young Mayor. The report highlighted the Forum's achievements over the past year, including work by its sub-groups. Key initiatives included addressing concerns about social media's influence on views of sexual harassment and assault, raising funds for the charity Centrepoint through a group sleepout and bucket shakes, and volunteering at Barking Foodbank. The Young Mayor, Regina Mudibo Pamba, also attended various events, including the Mayor Making and Civic Parade, and the Transgender Remembrance Day. The Assembly resolved to note the work and achievements of the BAD Youth Forum.

Adoption Annual Report 2022/23

The Cabinet Member for Children's Social Care and Disabilities presented the Adopt London East (ALE) Annual Report for 2022/23. ALE is a regional adoption agency formed by Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham, and Tower Hamlets, hosted by Havering Council. The report detailed adoption activity, including the recruitment and training of adopters, family finding for children with adoption plans, and post-adoption support. Key highlights included the approval of 21 households for adoption, an increase in Adoption Plans made by Agency Decision Makers, and the placement of 25 children with adoptive families across ALE, with eight of these children being from Barking and Dagenham. The Assembly resolved to note the report.

Council Tax Support Scheme 2024/25

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Growth and Core Services presented a report on the outcome of the public consultation for a new Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme for working-age recipients for 2024/25. The report explained that government welfare reforms, including the introduction of Universal Credit (UC), had made the Council's current CTS scheme less aligned with the new benefits system and had reduced central government funding for local authorities.

The Council's preferred option, Model 1, is an 'income banded discount' scheme designed to be more aligned with UC, easier for the Council to administer, and simpler for claimants to understand. A public consultation was held between 23 October and 24 November 2023, which was widely promoted and included direct engagement with claimants and voluntary sector partners.

The Cabinet Member reported that while the response rate was relatively low, the feedback on Model 1 was predominantly positive, acknowledging the need for change. The new CTS scheme, detailed in Appendix 1 of the report, is set to take effect from 1 April 2024. Additionally, the Assembly agreed to carry forward £250,000 of Council Tax Discretionary Hardship Funding from 2023/24 to 2024/25 to provide additional support for local residents who might be slightly worse off under the new scheme.

The Assembly resolved to:

• Agree to adopt Model 1 as the Council's replacement Council Tax Support Scheme for 2024/25.
• Agree the carry forward of £250,000 Council Tax Discretionary Hardship Funding from 2023/24 to 2024/25.

Leader's Statement

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Dominic Twomey, presented a verbal statement covering several key areas:

• Upcoming Elections: He highlighted the upcoming Mayor of London and London Assembly elections on 2 May 2024, and the likelihood of a General Election later in the year. He expressed a need for a change in government, citing issues such as Partygate, the junior doctor's strike, the Rwanda policy, the housing crisis, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. He also noted the severe financial pressures on local government due to central government austerity, stating that the Council now receives only 66p for every £1 of central government funding received in 2010.
• Family Hubs: He mentioned the recent launch of Family Hubs as part of the Council's new locality model and their integration into the Community Hub network.
• Bobby Moore Sports Hub: The opening of the Bobby Moore Sports Hub in December was highlighted as a unique facility in London, offering numerous grass and 3G football pitches, gym facilities, a cafeteria, and changing rooms.
• Visit by the Duke of Edinburgh: The Leader expressed pride in welcoming the Duke of Edinburgh to the Borough to mark the opening of the new Wharf studios, noting the creation of new employment and education opportunities.
• Holocaust Memorial Day: He acknowledged the commemoration of Holocaust Memorial Day on 26 January, attended by council representatives and community members, reinforcing the Council's aspiration for one Borough, one community, no one left behind.

Other Business

• Minutes of Sub-Committees: The minutes of the JNC Appointments, Salaries and Structures Panel meetings held on 14 and 19 December 2023 were received and noted.
• Appointments: There were no appointments made at this meeting.
• Motions and Questions With Notice: There were no motions or questions with notice raised.
• Suspension of Standing Orders: Standing Order 7.1 was suspended to allow the meeting to continue beyond the two-hour threshold.