Purpose

To set out the organisation's revenue budget
incorporating decisions for Revenue Monitoring, Capital Programme
and Treasury Management Strategy to be considered by Strategy and
Resources Committee in making recommendations for council to
approve its budget

Content

The Committee for Strategy and Resources
Committee noted the following:
 
1.1. The budget consultation
process that was followed and feedback as outlined in Section 19
and Appendix 6. 
 
1.2. That the budget
consultation feedback and equality impact assessments have been
taken into consideration by officers and have informed the budget
proposals. 
 
1.3. The categorisation of
earmarked reserves and provisions as set out in section 16 of the
main report. 
 
1.4. The Section 25 Statement
of the Section 151 Officer as set out in section
18. 
 
For the Dedicated Schools Grant
(DSG)  
1.5. That Bristol Schools Forum
feedback on the 2026/27 DSG proposed Budget will follow to Full
Council following the meeting on 21 January 2026. 
 
1.6. Any further DSG mitigation
proposals for commencement in 2026/27 are approved by Children and
Young People Committee (subject to consultation
where required). 
 
For the Housing Revenue Account
(HRA) 
1.7. The Housing Revenue
Account Revenue draft budget of £166 million as set out in
section 12 and Appendix 17.  
 
1.8. The key assumptions in the
30-year business plan and that the finance model
is established within the agreed affordability principles
summarised in Appendix 17. 
 
The Committee for Strategy and
Resources Committee delegated authority for the following (6 FOR, 2
ABSTAIN and 0 AGAINST):
 
1.1. To the Executive Director
Resources (S151 Officer) in consultation with the Chair of Strategy
and Resources Committee, following the 2026/27 Final Local
Government Finance Settlement, to make any adjustments that may be
required to the budget report in the interim period between
Strategy and Resources Committee 2 February 2026 and Full Council
12 February 2026. Any such adjustments will then be reported to
Full Council for noting.
 
1.2. To the Executive Director
Resources (S151 Officer) in consultation with the Chair of Strategy
and Resources Committee to make any necessary technical adjustments
that may be required to the budget with transfers to and or from
reserves as appropriate.
 
 1.3. To Executive Director of Housing in
consultation with Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee
and s151 Officer to submit appropriate funding applications
(including Homes England grants for development and any over the
key decision threshold) to support the HRA budget and in particular
the delivery of the HIP and Development Programme and if successful
to:
 
 1.3.1. accept funding and agree associated grant
terms/conditions; and 
 
 1.3.2. utilise the funding for delivery of the
projects set out in appendices HIP and Development Programme;
and 
 
 1.3.3. where appropriate use HRA investment plan
funds and or reserves to match fund projects to maximise funding
opportunities.
 
 1.4. To the Executive Director of Housing in
consultation with Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery
Committee:
 
 1.4.1. To approve the priority of the procurement
projects set out in the HIP and take all steps required to select
the appropriate procurement route and to procure and award the
contracts in line with the council’s procurement rules and
regulations. Such authority to include decisions on matters which
exceed the key decision threshold within the envelopes outlined in
this budget.
 
 1.4.2. To make amendments to the current
year’s HIP programme budget allocations (which may be above
the key decision threshold) to meet operational need, providing the
programme operates within its approved budget limit.
 
 1.5. To the Executive Director of Housing in
consultation with Chair of the Homes and Housing Delivery Committee
to:
 
 1.5.1. Approve the priority of the Development
Programme projects set out in Sub-Appendix A3 and take all steps
required to procure and award contracts (including goods, works and
professional services). 
 
 1.5.2. During 2026/27 to deliver the Development
Programme capital investment plans detailed in Sub-Appendix A3
(notwithstanding any individual project or contract may exceed the
key decision threshold).
 
 1.5.3. To make amendments to the current
year’s Development Programme budget allocations (which may be
above the key decision threshold) to meet operational need,
providing the programme operates within its approved budget
limit. 
 
 1.5.4. To determine the appropriate nature/mix of
tenure appropriate for each scheme
 
1.5.5. to identify and allocate
suitable sites and properties for the Development Programme,
including both council property and acquiring additional land or
properties.
1.5.5 To identify and allocate
suitable sites and properties for the Development Programme,
including both council property and acquiring additional land or
properties.
 
The Committee for Strategy and
Resources Committee recommended for onward consideration to Full
Council (6 FOR, 2 ABSTAIN and 0 AGAINST):
 
3.1 The Bristol City Council
levels of Council Tax increase by 4.99%; which includes 2% precept to support
Adult Social Care, noting the precepts of the Police and Crime
Commissioner for Avon and Somerset and the Avon Fire
Authority.  
 
3.2 The council’s General
Fund net revenue budget for the year 2026/27 as £634.1
million and expenditure allocations as set out in Appendix 1;
subject to any budget amendments properly notified to and approved
by the council in line with the
Constitution.  
 
3.3 To approve the Reserves
Policy 2026/27 as set out in Appendix 13.  
 
3.4 To approve the Capital
Strategy 2026/27 – 2035/36 as set out in Appendix
2a.  
 
3.5 The council’s capital
budget and programme for the years 2026/27 – 2035/36,
totalling £1,669.3 million for the General Fund and Housing
Revenue Fund as set out in Appendix 2b.  
 
3.6 The strategic Community
Infrastructure Levy allocations in section 14 are
approved.  
 
3.7 The proposed Treasury
Management Strategy for 2026/27 in Appendix 4, incorporating the
Minimum Revenue Provision policy and the prudential indicators and
limits.  
 
3.8 To approve the strategy for
the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts as set out in Appendix
5. 
 
The Committee for Strategy and
Resources Committee recommended for onward consideration to Full
Council (6 FOR, 2 ABSTAIN and 0 AGAINST):
 
For the Dedicated Schools Grant
(DSG) 
3.9 The gross distribution of
the 2026/27 Dedicated Schools Grant of £583.2 million
(£264.6m is received net after deductions, for application
and onward administration of funds to schools and early years
settings) as set out is section 9 and Appendix 16. 
 
3.10 The Block budgets for
2026/27 
- Schools Block £384.9
million  
- Central School Services Block
£2.7 million  
- High Needs Block £102.5
million  
- Early Years Block £93.1
million 
as set out in Appendix 16 and
including transfers between blocks and Growth Funds as set out or
as to be agreed by Schools’ Forum. 
 
The Committee for Strategy and
Resources Committee recommended for onward consideration to Full
Council (6 FOR, 2 ABSTAIN and 0 AGAINST):
 
For the Housing Revenue Account
(HRA)  
• A rent and service
charge increase of 4.8% effective from April 2026, applicable to
HRA dwellings (general needs accommodation, supported housing and
temporary accommodation) and to approve the recalculated service
charges and service charge statement based on actual costs for
issue in September 2026 
 
• The one-year revenue
budget of £166 million for 2026/27 set out in Appendix
17  
 
• The five-year capital
programme 2026/27–2030/31 as detailed in Appendix
17 
 
• The HIP and Development
Programme set out in Sub-Appendices A2 and A3, subject to the
following recommendations 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5 above regarding
delegated authority.