The Melton Council Cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday, 4 February 2026, was set to discuss a range of significant financial and strategic matters. Key items on the agenda included the proposed Capital Programme for 2025-2030 and the associated Capital Strategy for 2026/27, alongside the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2026/27 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2027/28 to 2029/30. The meeting was also scheduled to review the Revenue Budget Proposals for 2026/27 for the Housing Revenue Account, the Treasury Management Strategy for 2025/26, and proposals for the write-off of corporate debts. Additionally, the Cabinet was to consider matters referred from the Scrutiny Committee, including feedback on the Capital Programme and budgets.

Capital Programme and Strategy

The Cabinet was scheduled to review the proposed Capital Programme for 2025-2030 and the Capital Strategy for 2026/27. The report outlined the forecast outturn position for 2025/26 for General Fund Capital schemes and presented the proposed General Fund Capital Programme for 2026-30. This programme is based on a review of spending in the current year and includes new and existing schemes. The Capital Strategy, a requirement of the CIPFA Prudential Code, provides an overview of how the Council determines its capital investment priorities, affordability, and risk appetite, linking to the Corporate Strategy and other key Council plans.

Key projects highlighted within the Capital Programme included the Asset Development Programme, aimed at delivering financial sustainability and maximising asset value, with ongoing work on heritage assessments and business cases for Council-owned sites. The Stockyard development at the Melton Cattle Market site, a joint project with Rutland County Council, was also a significant item, with planning permission granted and construction moving towards commencement. The report also detailed plans for asset rationalisation and planned maintenance, the progress of the Melton Mowbray Distributor Road (MMDR), and a key capital project for Lake Terrace Drainage (Surface Water Drainage).

For the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), the capital programme for 2026-27 to 2030-31 was to be presented, aligning with the HRA Business Plan and Asset Management Plan. This includes investment in council homes, meeting the Decent Homes Standard, and providing new high-quality council homes. Specific projects mentioned include Lifeline Services upgrades, the Thorpe Road Cemetery capacity extension, and the implementation of changes to Household Waste and Recycling Collections.

General Fund Revenue Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy

The Cabinet was to consider the draft General Fund Revenue Budget for 2026/27 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2027/28 to 2029/30. The report highlighted significant financial challenges arising from the provisional finance settlement, particularly impacting small, rural district councils. Concerns were raised about the funding for food waste collections, with the Council requesting a delay in implementation until after Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) to explore economies of scale. The report indicated that without additional funding or a delay, significant service reductions might be necessary. The draft budget proposed a 2.99% council tax increase across all funds, with specific increases for Special Expenses to balance budgets. The report also detailed proposed growth items for both General and Special Expenses, which, if approved, would result in deficits to be met by reserves. The financial sustainability of the Council was a key consideration, with the report noting the reliance on reserves and the need for ongoing efficiency savings.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Revenue Budget Proposals

The report on the HRA Revenue Budget Proposals for 2026/27 aimed to update Members on the financial position and propose rent increases. The proposed rent increase was set at the maximum permitted level under the 2026 Rent Standard (4.80% plus any additional rent convergence measures). The HRA budget estimates for 2A026/27 were to be approved, along with the capital programme for 2026-27 to 2030-31. The report also addressed the financial position of the HRA, including projected year-end overspends in areas like Repairs & Maintenance, and shortfalls in income, alongside positive progress in rent collection. The adequacy of HRA reserves was also to be reviewed.

Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators

The Cabinet was to review the Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators for 2026/27 to 2028/29. This report outlines the Council's capital expenditure plans, borrowing needs, and how these are financed. It includes key prudential indicators such as the Capital Financing Requirement (CFR), Operational Boundary, and Authorised Limit for external debt. The report also detailed the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy, the Borrowing Strategy, and the Annual Investment Strategy, including creditworthiness criteria for investment counterparties. Prospects for interest rates and the maturity structure of borrowing were also to be discussed. The Council's investment in the CCLA property fund and associated risks were highlighted.

Corporate Debt Write-offs

A report was presented seeking approval to write off corporate debts exceeding £5,000 where recovery is deemed unlikely. The report detailed the recovery actions taken by the Council, noting that the proposed write-offs represent a relatively low proportion of the total debt collected. The write-offs were categorised by fund: Council Tax, Rents, and Business Rates. Appendices A, B, and C, containing exempt information regarding specific debts, were not for public publication.

Contract Award Variation

A supplementary agenda item indicated that a report outlining a Contract Award Variation was to be presented to the Cabinet. However, the details of this report were not publicly available at the time of the agenda's publication.

In addition to these main items, the meeting also included standard agenda items such as apologies for absence, confirmation of minutes from the previous meeting, and declarations of interest. Matters referred from the Scrutiny Committee, including feedback on the Capital Programme, General Fund Revenue Budget, and HRA Revenue Budget Proposals, were also scheduled for discussion.