Purpose

To agree the General Fund
Budget 2026/27, updated Medium Term Financial Strategy and the
updated Capital Programme and Treasury Management
position.

Content

A)
Recommended to Full Council (Budget and policy
framework):
 
1)   
To approve the General Fund Base Budget 2026/27 and
Medium -Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) as set out in Appendix 1 to
the report.

 
2)   
To approve an increase in the Council Tax for
Eastbourne Borough Council of 2.99% resulting in a gross Band D
charge of £294.59 for 2026/27.
 
3)   
To approve the revised General Fund and Housing
Revenue Account Capital Programme 2026/27 as set out in Appendix 4
to the report.
 
4)   
To approve the rates of Fees and Charges proposed
within Appendix 6 to the report to apply from 1 April 2026 and to
implement changes to statutory fees and charges for services shown
within Appendix 6 to the report as and when notified by
Government.
 
5)   
To approve the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts
Policy for 2026/27 as set out in Appendix 7 to the
report.
 
6)   
To delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer to
account for any changes in the 2026/27 Base Budget to funding
allocations when Final Settlement figures are announced.
 
7)   
To note the Section 151 Officer’s comments as
outlined in the report.
 
B)
Resolved (Key decision) that:
 
On a related matter, the
Cabinet agrees to the Council in conjunction with Lewes District
Council, seeking further opportunities to explore shared services
with other East Sussex councils as appropriate, where this would be
mutually beneficial. Such shared services arrangements would be in
keeping with the wider aspirations of Local Government
Reorganisation (LGR).