Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: January 29, 2025

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED   That the Council Tax Base for 2025/26 be approved as set out below;   a.     for the whole Council area as 65,389.2 (Item T in the formula in section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”) and   b.     for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish Precept or Special Expenses relates as shown below:     Parish 2025/26 tax base     Amberley                             344.8 Ashington                          1,174.9 Ashurst                             148.5 Billingshurst                          4,570.3 Bramber                             414.9 Broadbridge Heath                          2,339.5 Coldwaltham                             476.0 Colgate                          2,074.9 Cowfold                             865.5 Henfield                          2,732.2 Itchingfield                             772.6 Lower Beeding                             562.2 North Horsham                          8,977.7 Nuthurst                          1,108.4 Parham                             130.8 Pulborough                          2,595.5 Rudgwick                          1,451.6 Rusper                             929.9 Shermanbury                             314.8 Shipley                             637.4 Slinfold                             986.0 Southwater                           4,871.6 Steyning                           2,572.8 Storrington & Sullington                           3,355.7 Thakeham                           1,183.6 Upper Beeding                           1,442.3 Warnham                           1,011.9 Washington                           1,122.9 West Chiltington                           2,220.4 West Grinstead                           1,307.8 Wiston                              106.8 Woodmancote                              271.8 Horsham Town                         12,313.2                             Total                         65,389.2           RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL   i)               That the level of Council Tax for 2025/26 increases from £170.28 by £4.67 (2.74%) to £174.95 at Band D.   ii)              That the net revenue budget set out in Appendix A for 2025/26 of £15.780m is approved.   iii)             That £112,000 of the Green Reserve tree replacement funds are used to extend the Community Climate Fund grants over the next three years instead.   iv)             That £0.9m of the £3.36m Funding Floor grant received in 2025/26 is used in Revenue to balance the budget, with the £2.46m remainder earmarked to help smooth the future costs of food waste collection.   v)              That £0.34m of the £2.32m of the Extended Producer Responsibility for Packaging payments be used in revenue in 2025/26 with the remaining £1.98m earmarked to help smooth the future costs of the food waste collection.   vi)             That the £306,643 funding for food waste implementation costs received in 2024/25 is put into the food waste collection earmarked reserve for use during implementation of food waste in 2025/26.   vii)           Approve a revenue budget of £0.738m for the project costs incurred on the Capitol Theatre in 2024/25 to date, to be funded from the Environment and Infrastructure earmarked reserve.   viii)          That Special Expenses of £499,800 set out in Appendix C and an increase of £3.38 (9.1%) in the Band D charge to £40.59 are agreed in respect of the unparished area for 2025/26.   ix)             That the £13.8m capital programme for 2025/26 set out in Appendix D be approved and that the indicative capital budgets in the programme for future years be noted.   x)              That the projected future budgets on the revenue account in 2026/27 to 2029/30 are noted and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy continues to be reviewed and refined to ensure that decisions are taken in 2025 to set a balanced budget in 2026/27.   xi)             That the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement set out in Appendix E is approved.   xii)           That the Capital Strategy, Treasury Strategy, Investment Strategy and prudential indicators and limits for 2025/26 to 2028/29 set out in Appendix F are approved.   xiii)          To note the statement on the robustness of the level of reserves in Appendix G.   xiv)          That a) the increases to fees and charges set out in Appendix H and, (b) all remaining fees and charges as previously set are approved.     REASON   To meet the Council’s statutory requirement to approve the budget and the prudential indicators before the start of a new financial year.     ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED BUT REJECTED AS IDENTIFIED IN THE REPORT   Making cuts to popular non-statutory services such as parks and countryside, planning enforcement and cultural and leisure services was considered. This was rejected because the scale of the proposed deficits in the future is uncertain, and the Council is able to set a balanced budget in 2025/26 using the temporary Floor Funding grant.   It is a legal requirement to set council tax and a balanced budget, so not setting council tax or budget or medium-term financial strategy is not a viable option.