Purpose

To approve the General Fund Budget for
2025/26, including the use of reserves, Medium Term Financial
Strategy, Capital Programme and Strategy, Treasury management
Policy/Strategy and the Annual Delivery Plan including the approval
of Council Tax levels for recommendation to Full Council.

Decision

RESOLVED:
 
1.    
That the results of the Budget Consultation process (at Appendix
7) be noted; and
 
2.    
That the following recommendations be submitted to Full Council
on 3rd March 2025 for approval:
 

a)   
That the Revenue Estimates for the General Fund and BTAC for
2025/26 (Appendices 1, 1a and 1b) be approved and that the
Councillor Grant Scheme be reintroduced, with each Councillor being
given £1,000 to allocate to projects within their ward, to be
funded from the contingency reserve fund;
 

b)   
That the Council Tax for a Band D property in 2025/26 be set at
£223.65 (a £7.56 per annum increase on 2024/25
levels);
 

c)   
That the Council tax for a band D property in 2025/26 for BTAC
be set at £81.09 (a 72p per annum increase on 2024/25
levels);
 

d)   
That the additions to and use of reserves (as detailed at
Appendix 1) be approved;
 

e)   
That the Medium Term Financial Strategy (at Appendix 1) be
approved;
 

f)     
That the Capital Programme and Capital Strategy (Appendices 2
and 3) be approved;
 

g)   
That the Section 25 addendum (Appendix 1) be noted;
 

h)   
That the Treasury Management Policy Statement and Treasury
Management Strategy Statement including MRP Policy (at Appendix 4a
and 4b) be approved;
 

i)     
That the proposed Fees and Charges Schedule as set out in
Appendix 5 be approved; and
 

j)     
That the Annual Delivery Plan for 2025/26 (Appendix 6) be
approved.