Decision Maker: Cabinet, Full Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: February 5, 2025

Purpose: The Council has a statutory responsibility to set a council tax and budget in advance of the commencement of the new financial year (1 April to 31 March). During the year the Council will review its spending plans, consider options to amend spending to meet new priorities and consider comments received as part of the consultation process.

Content: RESOLVED That Cabinet approves that Appendix C on page 136 be replaced with the revised version of the Appendix C contained within the Supplementary agenda on page 9. That the Full Council be recommended to approve the following items regarding the 2025/26 Budget: a)             the proposed 2025/26 General Fund Budget which includes a £140k contribution to general fund reserve as set out in section 6 and Appendix A of report FIN/683; b)             the proposed 2025/26 Housing Revenue Account Budget as set out in Appendix B of the report of report FIN/683; c)             the 2025/26 and future years Capital Programme and funding as set out in section 9 and Appendix D of the report of report FIN/683; d)             the transfers between reserves as outlined in section 10 of the report of report FIN/683; e)             that the Council’s share of Council Tax for 2025/26 be increased by 2.99% an increase of £6.94 from £232.10 to £239.04 for a band D property as set out in paragraph 5.14 of report FIN/683; f)               the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/2026 as outlined in paragraph 11.4 and Appendix G of the report FIN/683; g)             and notes the results and commentary of the public budget consultation process as summarised in Appendix H of report FIN/683;   NB - From by Head of Governance, People and Performance. The updated Appendix C has now been included within the online version of report FIN/683. Reasons for the Recommendations   To provide adequate funding for the proposed level of services and to fulfil the statutory requirement to set a Budget and Council Tax and report on the robustness of estimates.