Decision

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)        notes the Council’s in-year financial position at the end of July 2026;

(b)        approves the proposed adjustments to the 2026/27 budget as set out in Appendix 1H and:

(i)         requests Officers to review the potential on-going impact from 2027/28 and beyond where necessary as part of developing the forecast and detailed estimates for further consideration by Cabinet later in the year;

(ii)        that in respect of the budget adjustment of £0.540m in 2026/27 relating to Housing Capacity / Restructure, acknowledges and supports the underlying principle / approach set out within this report and requests Officers to provide the necessary updates within future financial performance and budget reports;

(iii)       agrees to accept the £0.270m of grant funding awarded to this Council from the Government’s Playground Fund along with its initial allocation set out within this report and agrees a delegation to the Corporate Director Operations and Delivery, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Public Realm, to confirm or amend the proposed allocations via the application of the requirements set out in the associated MOU and/or in consultation with MHCLG as may be necessary.

(iv)       that in respect of the budget adjustment of £0.100m in 2026/27 relating to the Investment in Public Conveniences as set out within Appendix 1H, approves a delegation to the Corporate Director Operations and Delivery in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Assets and Community Safety to allocate / prioritise the total funding available within the scheme across the various sites;

(v)        that in respect of the budget adjustment of £0.400m in 2026/27 relating to project delivery capacity as set out within Appendix 1H, approves a delegation to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Governance, to allocate this funding as necessary; and

(vi)       that in respect of the reallocation of funding within the existing CRP2 schemes, approves a delegation to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism to undertake any necessary governance activities within the Council’s existing CRP 2 framework and processes. 

(c)        notes the updated context to the financial forecast from 2027/28 as set out in this report and requests Officers, in consultation with Portfolio Holders to develop the financial forecast alongside the delivery of the Council’s priorities; and

(d)        invites the views of the Resources and Service Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the information set out in this report along with the Council’s wider financial position as part of its work programme for the year.