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*RESOLVED
–
 
That it be recommended to Full Council:
 

1.  
That the forecast outturn for 2024/25 which presents a surplus for
the year of £910k to period 9, as set out in paragraph 4.13
of the officer’s report, be noted.
 

2.  
That the overall revenue budget for 2025/26, as set out in Table 3
of the office’s report, be approved.
 

3.  
That the use of £1m from the Business Rates Risk Reserve to
partly mitigate the estimated reduction in Business Rates in
2026/27 and 2027/28, as set out in paragraph 4.54 of the
officer’s report, be approved.
 

4.  
That the creation of a Service Efficiency and Improvement Reserve
to be funded from the uncommitted balance of £332k in the
Service Redesign Reserve and £218k from the Budget Risk
Reserve be approved and that authority be delegated for approving
project spend from the new reserve to the Chief Executive, in
consultation with the Leader of the Council, Deputy Leader and
Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management and Service
Director – Finance, as set out in paragraphs 4.57 –
4.61 of the officer’s report.
 

5.  
That the submission of a proposal to employ flexible use of capital
receipts in the financial years 2024/25 and 2025/26 be approved and
that authority be delegated to amend and approve the final proposal
to the Service Director – Finance (CFO), in consultation with
the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset
Management.
 

6.  
That the 2025/26 Council Tax Requirement and financing, as set out
in Appendices D and E of the officer’s report, be
approved.
 

7.  
That the Council’s share of Council Tax be increased for
properties in each band, a 2.99% increase for a Band
‘D’ property, in 2025/26 to £196.51, as set out
in paragraph 4.48 of the officer’s report.
 

8.  
That the Local Council Tax Support Scheme which remains unchanged
for 2025/26, as set out in paragraph 4.51 of the officer’s
report, be approved.
 

9.  
That the Collection Fund and Tax Base forecasts, as set out in
paragraphs 4.31, 4.47 and 4.50 of the officer’s report, be
noted.

 

10.               
That the financial projections in the Medium-Term Financial Plan
(MTFP) for 2026/27 to 2027/28, as set out in Table 3 of the
officer’s report, be noted.
 

11.               
That the estimates of reserves including maintaining the General
Working Balance at £1.5m, as set out at paragraph 4.64 and
Table 4 of the officer’s report, be approved.
 

12.               
That the budget risks and sensitivity analysis, as set out at
Appendix B, and the Chief Finance Officer’s assurances, as
set out in paragraphs 4.66 to 4.82 of the officer’s report,
be noted.
 
REASON FOR
DECISIONS
 
For the Council to meet the statutory
requirements relating to setting the General Fund revenue budget
and the level of Council Tax for 2025/26.