Purpose

To recommend full
Council to set the 2024/25 budget and council tax at their meeting
in February 2024.

Content

Recommended to Full Council (Budget and policy
framework):
 
(1) Continue to lobby the UK
Government for additional funding in recognition of the exceptional
financial pressures placed on Local Councils in tackling the cost
of homelessness, which in Eastbourne is projected to be £4.9m
for 23/24 to pay for temporary accommodation.
 
a)   
In this circumstance, EBC Council Tax would increase
for a Band D property to 2.99% and deliver £3.8m of savings
over two years as per previous MTFS and reporting. This is
Eastbourne Borough Councils preferred option.

 
b)   
Our preference is that the Government recognise the
extreme pressures placed on Councils of all political persuasions,
and agrees, as they have done with social care, to provide
exceptional, emergency support to Councils to cover the costs of
EA/TA in the Budget.
 
c)   
However, in appreciation that this may be unlikely,
the Council have put forward three other alternatives as we
continue dialogue with DLHUC to provide support for this
authority.
 
(2) To give delegated authority
to the Section 151 Officer and Chief Executive in consultation with
the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance to
approve to Full Council, one of the following options in respect to
the General Fund Budget 2024/25 dependent on the outcome of the
Councils application to the Department of Levelling Up Housing
& Communities for Exceptional Financial Support.
 
a)
Option A is based on Department of Levelling Up Housing &
Communities recognising and directly funding the increased number
of homelessness and temporary accommodation placements activity
from 2023/24 onwards (Appendices 1A, 2A, 3A & 4A).
 
b)
Option B which assumes the acceptance of Exceptional Financial
Support by Department of Levelling Up Housing & Communities but
does not include additional Council Tax setting powers over and
above the existing pre-referendum limit of 2.99% (Appendices 1B,
2B, 3B & 4B).
 
d)
Option D which assumes the refusal of Exceptional Financial Support
by Department of Levelling Up Housing & Communities (Appendices
1D, 2D, 3D & 4D).
 
(3) To give delegated authority
to the Section 151 Officer and Chief executive in consultation with
the Leader of the Council and the Cabinet Member for Finance to
approve an increase in the Council Tax for Eastbourne Borough
Council dependent on the options described above.
 
a)
Option A, B & D- An increase of 2.99% resulting in a gross Band
D charge of £277.74 for 2024/25 an increase of £8.06
per annum.
 
(4) The revised General Fund
& Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme 2024/25 as set out
at Appendix 5 to the report.
 
(5) The rates of Fees and
Charges proposed within Appendix 5 to apply from 1 April 2024 and
to implement changes to statutory fees and charges for services
shown within Appendix 5 as and when notified by
Government.
 
(6) To note the Section 151
Officer’s sign off as outlined in the report.