Content

The
Council voted (7 voting in favour, 27 voting against, 1 abstaining
from voting) on an amendment submitted by Councillor Heather
Williams, which was defeated.
 
The Council (27 voting in
favour, 8 voting against, 0 abstaining from voting) considered and
reviewed the report and appendices as presented. and:
 
General
Fund (GF): Revenue
 

(a) 
Approved the updated Medium Term Financial Strategy
forecasts as shown in Appendix A to the report.
 

(b) 
Approved the proposed General Fund revenue budget
for 2025/26, as shown in the GF summary budget at Appendix C to the
report and summarised at Appendix B to the report, considering the
statement by the Chief Finance Officer on the risks and robustness
of the estimates as required under Section 25 of the Local
Government Act 2003, reproduced at Appendix G to the
report.
 

(c)  
Acknowledged the key factors which had led to the
proposed 2025/26 General Fund Revenue Budget, with service budget
proposals and savings summarised at Appendix D to the report and
efficiency savings and income generation (outcome of budget star
chamber meetings) summarised at Appendix E to the
report.
 

(d) 
Approved the setting of the Council Tax Requirement
for 2025/26 at £12,255,340 and approve an increase in the
district element of the Council Tax of £5.09 per annum,
giving an average Band D Council Tax of £175.40, plus the
relevant amounts required by the precepts of the Parish Councils,
Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire Police & Crime
Commissioner, and the Cambridgeshire Fire Authority.
 

(e) 
Approved the estimates of the amounts required to be
made under the Non-domestic Rating (Rates Retention) Regulations
2013 as set out in paragraphs 47 - 58.
 

(f)   
Approved the use of the additional income from the
Business Rate Pool, estimated at £1,700,000 in 2025/26, for
transfer to the established Renewables Reserve for priority
projects.
 
GF:
Review of Reserves
 

(g) 
Approved the movement in Reserves in 2024/25 as set
out in Appendix H to the report, and note the estimated balance of
Reserves of £31.390 million.
 
GF:
Capital
 

(h) 
Approved the General Fund Capital Programme as shown
in Appendix I to the report.