Purpose

To consider the draft Budget 2025/26.

Decision

RESOLVED to:

                            I.          Note the start of the Draft Budget consultation from December 19th 2024.

                           II.          To note the provisional council taxbase of 40,552.16 and the continued assumption of a maximum increase in the council tax of 2.99% over the lifetime of the Medium Term Financial Plan to 2029/30. For 2025/26, the Band D equivalent (for Uttlesford’s share of the bill) would be £182.02, which would be an increase of £5.28.

                         III.          To note the Government’s intent to provide forward certainty over the HRA rental increases allowed to be 1% above CPI, which is an increase of 2.7% for 2025/26. The average increase in HRA weekly rents would be £3.52, leading to an average weekly rent payable by council tenants of £129.61.