Purpose

To consider Service and Financial Planning
2025/26.

Decision

RESOLVED –
that the Executive agreed:
 
(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 2025/26 to 2027/28 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 and proposed actions to address the forecast Revenue
Budget gap (Annex 2).
 
b. Service Revenue Budget
growth proposals totalling £0.666 million, savings of
(£0.687) million and additional fees and charge income of
(£0.182) million (Annex 3).
 
c. Central Revenue Budget
savings and growth proposals totalling (£0.189) million, and
£1.716 million provision for the 2025/26 pay award (Annex
3).
 
d. Revenue Reserve
Balances forecast at 1 April 2025 of
£29.231 million (Annex 6); and
 
e. A forecast drawdown of
revenue reserves of £0.279 million to balance the Revenue
budget for 2025/26, subject to final announcements in and any
outstanding items in the provisional local government settlement to
be included in the final January 2024 Budget report.
 
(v)          
That the Capital Programme Growth proposals totalling
£0.839 million (Annex 4) be approved.
 
(vi)        
That the Fees & Charges Policy (Annex 5) be
approved.
 

(vii)    That the Reserves Policy
(Annex 6.1) be approved.