Decision

That Cabinet recommend to Council*:

1.   
That the level of General Fund Budget for 2025/26 be agreed and
recommend the summary as shown in Appendix A of report CAB3494.

2.   
That the Greener Faster and carbon investment proposals be
approved, used as the basis of this budget and as set out in the
CAB3483 including:

a.   
£135,000 additional budget per annum for the ongoing costs of
providing the food waste collection service.

b.   
£460,000 one-off budget to fund the phased roll out of the
food waste service from October 2025, without government
funding.

3.   
That in relation to the Healthy Communities priority of the new
Council Plan:

a.   
the revised income bands for the Council Tax Reduction scheme for
working age applicants (set out in appendix E of the report) that
ensure claimants continue to receive the appropriate level of
support after the DWPs increase in Universal Credit rates be
approved with effect from 1 April 2025.

b.   
That the amendment of the Council Tax Reduction scheme for working
age applicants to include all additional support and new disregards
with effect from 1 April 2025 be approved, as set out in the
report.

c.    
That £15,000 from the Cost of Living Reserve be used to
extend the Council Tax Exceptional Hardship Fund into 2025/26.

4.   
That in relation to the Good Homes for All priority, additional
investment of £300,000 per annum to fund increased demand for
temporary accommodation to prevent homelessness be approved.

5.   
That an additional £50,000 per annum be included to fund
additional pressures on council contracts.

6.   
That service income annual budgets be amended as follows, in
response to revised estimates:

a.   
Garden Waste income increased by £30,000 (to reflect
increases subscriptions, although partly off-set by increased
contract costs of delivering the service to more households).

b.   
Planning fee income reduction of £200,000 (to reflect the
current reduced levels of applications received)

7.   
That following a review of earmarked reserves they be amended as
follows:

a.   
£200,000 of the Transitional Reserve be re-allocated to the Thriving Places Reserve to
invest one-off resources into planning enforcement.

b.   
£2m of the Transitional Reserve be
re-allocated to the Property Reserve to fund maintenance
requirements of corporate properties.

c.    
£902,000 of the Exceptional Inflation Reserve be re-allocated to the Car Parks Property Reserve to
fund maintenance of and investment in parking. 

d.   
£425,000 from the Major Investment Reserve be re-allocated to the Local Development Framework
Reserve to fund Local Plan requirements.

e.   
An additional £250,000 per annum be set aside into the
Property Reserve, for the maintenance of and investment in
operational assets.

f.     
An additional £100,000 per annum be set aside into the Car
Parks Reserve to fund maintenance of and investment in parking.

8.   
That the sum of £1,364,045 be treated as Special Expenses
under Section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 in
respect of the Winchester Town area as set out in section 16 and
Appendix D of the report.

9.   
That the Council Tax for the Special Expenses in the Winchester
Town area at Band D for 2025/26 be increased by the maximum allowed
under the referendum limit of 2.99% combined between the town and
district.

10. That the deficit
balance on the Council Tax Collection Fund for distribution to this
Council, calculated in January 2025 of £142,787, be
approved.

11. That it be
recommended that the level of Council Tax at Band D for City
Council services for 2025/26 be increased to £163.66, an
increase of £4.30 reflecting an average Council tax increase
of 2.7%.

12. That a Second Home
premium for Council Tax which will take effect from 1 April 2026
(12 months’ notice is required to implement this premium),
and the adoption of exceptions (listed at Appendix F) in respect of
properties included in the Council Tax Premium schemes be
approved.

 
That Cabinet
approve:

13. That authority be
delegated to the Corporate Head of Economy and Community, in
consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member, to devise and
agree:

a.   
The Community and Voluntary Sector grant programme funding
criteria, detailed outcomes, application processes and assessments
and the allocation of grants.

b.   
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund programme, implement and administer
the scheme and the allocation of grants, in line with government
guidance.
 

*NB recommendations to Council are not subject to call-in.