Purpose

This report presents the revenue and capital
budgets together with proposals for increases in Council Tax and
the Adult Social Care Precept for 2025/26.

Decision

(1) 
To recommend Council to approve:
 
· 
The General Fund net revenue budget for 2025/26 of £151.71m and the individual service cash limits for
2025/26 as outlined in Annex 1 of the report.
 
· 
The savings and income plans outlined in Annex 2(i), funding
requirements 2(ii), in conjunction with the Equalities Impact
Assessment Report in Annex 3 of the report.
 
· 
An increase in Council Tax of 2.99% in
2025/26 (an increase of £51.92 per Band
D property or £1 per week).
 
· 
An increase of 2% to Council Tax for the Adult Social Care Precept
in recognition of the current demands and financial pressures on
this service. This is equivalent to an increase of £34.72 on
a Band D property (67p per week).
 
· 
The movement in reserves outlined in section 5.6 and the adequacy
of Un-earmarked Reserves at £12.58m within a risk assessed
range requirement of £11.8m - £13.0m.
 
· 
To note the Children’s Services management plan update set
out in section 5.2.6 of the report.
 
· 
The Efficiency Strategy attached at Annex 4 of the report.
 
· 
The Capital Programme for 2025/26 of £76.41m including new
and emerging capital bids outlined in Annex 5(i), planned sources
of funding in 5.8.3, and notes the programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30
and that any wholly funded projects coming forward during the year
will be added to the Capital Programme in line with the Budget
Management Scheme.
 
· 
The delegation of implementation, subject to consultation where
appropriate, of the capital programmes set out in Annex 5(i) to
Annex 5(iv) to the relevant Director in consultation with the
appropriate Cabinet Portfolio Holder.
 
· 
The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allocations and amendments
outlined in Annex 5(v) of the report.
 
· 
The Capital & Investment Strategy attached at Annex 6 of the
report.
 
· 
The MRP Policy attached at Annex 7 of the report.
 
· 
The Capital Prudential Indicators outlined in 5.8.7 of the
report.
 
· 
The Annual Pay Policy Statement at Annex 8 of the report.
 
· 
The Community Contribution Fund extension outlined section 5.5 of
the report.
 
· 
The Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025/26 shown in the following
link: 

https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-01/Bath%20%26%20NE%20Someset%20S13A%20202526%20FINAL%20.pdf
and referred to in 5.3.5 of the report.
 
· 
The Fees and Charges schedule for 2025/26 at Annex 11 of the report
and support its publication following approval of the budget, with
delegation to amend individual costs within the schedule in line
with market needs, to the Director of Place Management, in
consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Portfolio Holder.
 

(2) 
That the Council include in its Council Tax setting, the precepts
set and approved by other bodies including the local precepts of
Town Councils, Parish Councils, and Charter Trustees of the City of
Bath, and those of the Fire and Police Authorities.

(3) 
To note the S151 Officer’s report on the robustness of the
proposed budget and the adequacy of the Council’s reserves
outlined in 5.7 of the report.
 

(4) 
To note the budget consultation responses in Annex 10, and the PDS
Panel feedback in Annex 12 of the report.
 

(5) 
To authorise the Council’s S151 Officer, in consultation with
the Portfolio Holder for Resources, to make any necessary changes
to the draft budget proposal for submission to Council.