Content

Cabinet:

(1)           
noted the forecast revenue outturn
position;

(2)           
noted the forecast Housing Revenue Account (HRA)
outturn position;

(3)           
noted the forecast Dedicated School Grant (DSG)
position;

(4)           
noted the forecast Capital position;

(5)           
approved a budget of £0.075 million from
contingency to cover further commercial and legal advice, including
the drafting and finalisation of the Collaboration Agreement and
leading the negotiation with Bywater’s and any legal advice
in relation to implementing an injunction or commencing a
Compulsory Purchase Order process;

(6)           
approved a budget of £0.427 million to be
incorporated within the 2025/26 MTFS for a period of two years
(2025/26 and 2026/27) for Digital, Data & Technology
(DDaT) but is subject to a further
business case in the New Year;

(7)           
approved a budget of £0.956 million to be
incorporated within the 2025/26 MTFS for investment in the Housing
Prevention and Assessment Team. This investment will be targeted
at reducing
pressure on the Housing General Fund by increasing opportunities to
prevent homelessness and supporting residents to move on from
temporary accommodation as quickly as possible;

(8)           
approved funding for Commissioning Health Check of
£0.150 million funded from the budget strategy reserve
providing clear recommendations for improvement to allow the
Council to shift towards a more strategic, outcomes-focused
commissioning approach;

(9)           
approved the continuation of the 8 Borough Business
rates pool for 2025/26; and

(10)       
approved the re-baselined 24/25 Capital
budget of £154.62m from the July 2024 approved budget of
£184.24m.
 
Options & Alternatives
Considered

Much of this report is concerned with provision of
information, for which alternative options is not a relevant
consideration.