Content

RESOLVED
 
i)          The
Council Tax Base for 2026/27 be approved as set out below:
 
a.    
for the whole Council area as 65,900.6 (Item T in the formula in
section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended
(the “Act”) and
b.    
for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish Precept
or Special Expenses relates as shown below:
 
 

Parish

2026/27 tax base

Amberley

358.8

Ashington

                                      
1,173.5

Ashurst

                                         
148.8

Billingshurst

                                      
4,570.1

Bramber

                                         
420.5

Broadbridge Heath

                                      
2,339.5

Coldwaltham

                                         
479.4

Colgate

                                      
2,110.5

Cowfold

                                         
875.6

Henfield

                         
             2,743.0

Itchingfield

                                         
814.9

Lower Beeding

                                         
571.0

North Horsham

                                      
9,112.5

Nuthurst

                                      
1,114.6

Parham

                                         
145.6

Pulborough

                                      
2,625.3

Rudgwick

                                      
1,441.8

Rusper

                                         
957.6

Shermanbury

                                         
319.2

Shipley

                                         
659.7

Slinfold

                                         
980.4

Southwater

                                      
4,865.5

Steyning

                                      
2,599.3

Storrington & Sullington

                                      
3,349.5

Thakeham

                                      
1,202.7

Upper Beeding

                                      
1,439.7

Warnham

                  
                    1,024.4

Washington

                                      
1,184.0

West Chiltington

                                      
2,217.1

West Grinstead

                                      
1,315.9

Wiston

                                         
106.8

Woodmancote

                                         
275.5

Horsham Town

                                       
12,358

Total

                                    
65,900.6

 
ii) That a) the increases to fees and charges
set out in Appendix G(i), G(ii), G(iv),
G(v), G(vi) and G(vii), and, (b) all
relevant remaining fees and charges as previously set are
approved.
 
 
RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL ON 23 FEBRUARY
 
i)              
That the level of Council Tax for the Council’s own purposes
for 2026/27 increases from £174.95 by £5.15 (2.94%) to
£180.10 at Band D.

 
ii)             
That the net revenue budget set out in Appendix A for 2026/27 of
£21.240m is approved.
 
iii)            
That Special Expenses of £501,630 set out in Appendix B and
no increase of the Band D charge of £40.59 are agreed in
respect of the currently unparished area for 2026/27.

 
iv)            
That the capital expenditure for the projects contained within the
£26.67m capital programme as set out in Appendix C be
approved and authority delegated to the Director of Resources to
programme this across 2026/27 and 2027/28 accordingly.
 
v)             
That the projected future budgets on the revenue account in 2027/28
to 2029/30 are noted and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy
continues to be reviewed and refined to ensure a balanced budget is
set in 2027/28 and 2028/29.
 
vi)            
That the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement set out in Appendix D
is approved and adopted.
 
vii)          
That the Capital Strategy, Treasury Strategy, Investment Strategy
and prudential indicators and limits for 2026/27 to 2029/30 set out
in Appendix E are approved and adopted.
 
viii)         
To note the Section 25 statement on the robustness of the estimates
and adequacy of reserves in Appendix F.
 
ix)            
That a) the increases to fees and charges set out in Appendix
G(iii), and, (b) all relevant remaining
fees and charges as previously set are approved.
 
REASONS
 
To meet the Council’s (statutory)
requirements to (i) approve the budget
and the prudential indicators before the start of a new financial
year, (ii) adopt related financial strategies and statements (or
the noting thereof), (iii) approve the increase in various fees
levied by the Council and (iv) to approve the council tax base and
special charge and increases to the council tax.
 
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED BUT REJECTED AS
IDENTIFIED IN THE REPORT
 
Making cuts to popular non-statutory services
such as parks and countryside, and cultural and leisure services
was considered. This was rejected because the Council is able to set a balanced budget in 2026/27 and the
scale of any deficit in the future is uncertain.