Decision

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

a)     approves the updated financial forecast, as set out in Appendix A to the Report of the Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder (A.3), along with the savings and cost pressures set out in Appendices B and C respectively that form the firm proposals for the 2025/26 budget and recommends to Full Council:-

a Band D Council Tax for district services of £199.52 for 2025/26 (a 2.99% increase), along with the associated council tax requirement of £10.674m.

b)     authorises the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance, to agree the ‘technical’ appendices and resolutions for the budget proposals for recommending to Full Council on 11 February 2025;

c)   authorises the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Corporate Finance and Governance Portfolio Holder, to report directly to Council in respect of the formal resolutions necessary to implement the Executive’s budget proposals including any further amendments emerging from additional information becoming available and/or notifications received from the Government; and

d)    authorises the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance, to agree / adopt a Retail, Hospitality and Leisure mandatory business rate relief scheme for 2025/26 along with any other changes to reliefs that may be announced by the Government.