Purpose

Budget Monitoring 25/26 Quarter 1

Decision

1. Note the Council’s quarter 1 Revenue and Capital forecasts as at 30 June 2025.
2. Approve in principle funding substitutions including NCIL, CIL and s106, subject to governance process.
3. Note the progress made against the 2025/26 savings targets of £33.5m as at 30 June 2025. 

Reasons for the decision

The regular, timely and accurate reporting of Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring and progress against savings targets through the year is a key financial control. It makes visible variations to budget to inform decision making and enable the council to take timely mitigating actions.

It is important that issues driving variations to budget are understood, challenged and addressed so that the council remains both within the approved budget envelope and on track to delivering the plans Council budgeted for.

Alternative options considered

The council could choose to monitor its budgetary performance against an alternative time frame, but it is considered that the reporting schedule provides the appropriate balance to allow strategic oversight of the budget by Members and to manage the council’s exposure to financial risk. More frequent monitoring is undertaken by officers and considered by individual service directors and the council’s CMT including approval of management action.