Purpose

To receive the draft Medium Term Financial
Strategy and General Fund 2026-27 for the purpose of finalising
proposals for service budgets and Council Tax.

Content

The Executive
Resolved

That  (i)   
the new savings proposals at Appendix 1 to
the report be supported for inclusion in the final budget to be
presented in March 2026;

         
(ii)   the growth pressures at
Appendix 2 to the report be supported for inclusion in the final
budget to be presented in March 2026;

         
(iii) the Management of Change budget proposals be supported;
and

         
(iv)  the latest budget position be
noted, including the remaining business-as-usual budget gap of
£0.7m for 2026/27 and actions identified in paragraph 6.4 and
section 12 of the report to address this.

Reason: The recommendations will
support the Council in meeting its statutory duty to set a balanced
budget for 2026/27.