Purpose

To consider Service and Financial Planning
2026/27 and Capital Programme proposals for 2026/27 to 2030/31.

Decision

 
RESOLVED that the
Executive agreed to consult with Overview & Scrutiny
Committee’s Budget Scrutiny Panel and other stakeholder
groups, the draft Revenue Budget proposals for 2026/27 and Capital
Programme proposals for 2026/27 to 2030/31. This would come back to
Executive in January and then be forwarded to Council for approval
in February.
 
(i)            
That the national and local policy context (Annex 1) and
significant financial uncertainties at this stage in the
budget-setting process be noted.
(ii)          
That the service proposals set out in this report which seek to
respond to this context and deliver our corporate priorities, be
endorsed.
(iii)        
That the draft service business plans for 2026/27 to 2028/29 be
noted, and that Heads of Service finalise the plans for their
service areas in consultation with the relevant Portfolio
Holders.
(iv)        
That the following be approved for consultation under the
Council’s budget and policy framework:
a. Medium Term Financial
Plan Forecasts (Annex 2).
b. Forecast revenue budget
requirement of £23.018 million.
c. Impacts resulting from
Service and Financial Planning process for Service budgets
amounting to a net decrease of (£1.915) million as
follows:
 
• Pay savings of
(£0.399) million.
• Non-pay growth
£0.572 million
• Non-pay savings of
(£1.924) million
• Additional fees and
changes income of (£0.164) million
• Further details can
be found at Annex 3.
 
d. Impacts resulting from
the Service and Financial Planning process for Central budgets
amounting to a net increase of £0.793 million as follows:
 
• Non-pay growth of
£0.937 million
• Non-pay savings of
(£0.144 million)
• Further details can
be found at Annex 3.
 
e. Revenue Reserve
Balances forecast as at 31 March 2026 of £27.032 million as
set out (Annex 2). (This is following discussion by Members where
it was agreed that the use of £0.200 million of reserves to
fund resourcing requirements related to the Renters’ Rights
Bill, was removed from the Service & Financial Planning
recommendations.)
 
f. A forecast drawdown of
revenue reserves of £0.683 million to balance the Revenue
budget for 2026/27, subject to announcements in the Provisional
Local Government Finance Settlement, and any other outstanding
items to be included in the final January 2026 Budget report.
 
g. The movement in
reserves above incorporates within it a specific drawdown of
£0.671 million to fund Housing Benefit Subsidy pressures,
rather than recognition as base budget growth.
 
(v)          
That the proposed Capital Programme of £10.755 million as
set out in (Annex 4) be noted.
 
(vi)        
That the Fees & Charges Policy (Annex 5) be
approved.
 
(vii)       
That the Reserves Policy (Annex 6) be approved.