Decision

Decision
 
For the reasons set
out in the report and its appendices Cabinet RESOLVED to Agree:

i) 
To note the financial forecasts and management actions set out in
Appendix C, the Quarter Two Budget Monitoring reports.

ii) 
To agree that the budgeted expenditure in financial year 2024/25 on
items as detailed in Appendix A will now not be expended in-year as
originally planned.

iii) 
To agree that the Mayor and Cabinet will recommend to Council that
the items scheduled in Appendix A should be removed from the budget
for 2025/26 and future years.

iv) 
To agree that work will start to increase fees and charges, other
than for parking, by an average of 20% where permitted. To be
implemented as soon as practically possible, so that in-year
savings can be achieved in the final quarter of financial year
2024/25.

v) 
To agree to start consultation on certain items, as scheduled in
Appendix B, with the intention of including them in the 2025/26
budget or earlier if feasible.

vi) 
To note that the proposed savings items for 2025/26 as detailed in
Appendix B will also be subject to wider engagement with residents,
partners and stakeholders as part of the Council’s budget
setting engagement plans.

vii) 
To note that lobbying of central government on the financial
position continues.

viii) 
To note the update in the Capital Monitoring Report relating to the
Digital Fibre Grant Funded project being added to the Capital
Programme.
 
Alternatives
Considered
 
a) 
Failure to face up to the budget challenges facing Newham Council
in the hope that things ‘get better’ could mean the
Council faces the prospect of very difficult decisions to be made
in a short space of time in the run up to budget setting in
February 2025.