The Council of Bexley Council met on Wednesday 4 March 2026 to discuss the financial plans for the upcoming year, including the draft budget and capital programme. The meeting also included a review of the previous council meeting minutes and any declarations of interest.

Financial Plans 2026/27

The primary focus of the meeting was the proposed financial plans for the 2026/27 financial year. This included a comprehensive review of the draft budget, which was scheduled to be £271.950m, incorporating a contingency provision of £5.000m. The report pack indicated that a number of decisions made at the Public Cabinet on 23 February 2026 were being recommended for Council approval.

Key recommendations included:

• Agreeing the General Fund Budget for 2026/27.
• Agreeing the Capital Programme, noting the utilisation of external grants, S106, and CIL funding, as well as agreeing to proposed capital additions.
• Agreeing to a planning assumption to increase Council Tax by 2.99% for the 2026/27 financial year.
• Agreeing to a planning assumption to increase the Adult Social Care precept by 2.00% for the 2026/27 financial year.
• Setting the Council Tax (Band D) for 2026/27 at £1,855.85, reflecting the combined increase.
• Noting the precept of the Greater London Authority (GLA) for 2026/27, which equates to £510.51 for a Band D property.
• Agreeing to the calculation of various financial aggregates as required by the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
• Concluding that the Council's basic relevant amount of Council Tax for 2026/27 is not excessive.
• Agreeing to the Capital Management Strategy and the Annual Minimum Revenue Provision Statement.
• Agreeing the Treasury Management Strategy for 2025/26, including credit rating criteria and limits, and Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators.
• Delegating authority for changes to the Treasury Management Strategy, credit rating limits, and Treasury indicators to the Director of Finance and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council.
• Agreeing the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy.
• Confirming increases in fees and charges and delegating changes to the Director of Finance and Corporate Services in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member.
• Authorising the Director of Finance and Corporate Services to make transfers between reserves as necessary.
• Noting the opinion of the Director of Finance and Corporate Services as Chief Finance Officer on the robustness of the budget.
• Noting that specific grant allocations would be fully utilised for their intended purposes.
• Agreeing and publishing the Council's Pay Policy Statement in accordance with the Localism Act 2011.
• Agreeing that the Members' Allowances Scheme and Mayoral Allowances adopted in May 2025 would be extended until the Annual meeting of the Council in May 2026.
• Agreeing that the Scheme of Members' Allowances and Mayoral Allowances for 2025/26 would not be increased from their current levels.

The report pack detailed that the Council is under a legal duty to set a balanced and sustainable budget and Council Tax levels by 11 March 2026. The proposed increase in Council Tax of 2.99% for the general element and 2.00% for the Adult Social Care Precept would result in a total increase of 4.99%, which was stated to be beneath the referendum threshold. The report also outlined the capital programme for the five years to 2029/30, with a total programme of investment of £226.769m, excluding new proposed projects.

Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 5 November 2025

The meeting was scheduled to review and potentially confirm the minutes from the previous Council meeting held on 5 November 2025. The report pack indicated that Councillor Stefano Borella had offered an apology for events during that meeting, stating they could have been better for everyone.

Disclosures of Interest and Dispensations

The agenda included a review of disclosures of interest and dispensations made at meetings since the Council Meeting on 16 July 2025. A list of these declarations was provided, and members were asked to acknowledge them and make any necessary additions or variations. The report pack detailed various declarations, including those from Councillor Janice Ward-Wilson regarding her role on the Council of Governors at Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, Councillor Andy Dourmoush concerning a family member employed as an SEN solicitor, and several councillors declaring interests related to the Old Bexley and Sidcup Conservative Association in relation to applications at Roxby House. Councillor Mrs June Slaughter MBE also declared a trustee role for the building at Roxby House. Councillor Lisa Moore declared employment with NHS England London Region, and Councillor Sue Gower declared employment with Kent County Council. Councillors Wendy Perfect and Janice Ward-Wilson Perfect declared they were Bexley pensioners. Councillor Rags Sandhu declared he would speak on behalf of residents regarding an agenda item at the Planning Committee but would not vote. Councillor Kurtis Christoforides declared an interest in a specific item at the Planning Committee. Councillors John Davey and Sally Hinkley declared they were Friends of Lesnes Abbey. The Chairman of the Planning Committee declared knowledge of a public speaker on an application for Blendon Methodist Church in his capacity as a trustee of Bexley United Charities, but did not consider himself pre-determined. Councillor Jeremy Fosten declared a family member had recently been employed by Fleets Education Services. No dispensations were sought.