Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: February 13, 2025

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED:   a)     To make recommendations to Council on the budget b)     To note the consultation on the budget c)     To note the following recommendations for Cabinet to approve to council:   i.                 To note and have regard to the section 25 report in Appendix A when considering the budget for 2025/26 ii.                To approve the commercial strategy of 2025/26 detailed in Appendix B iii.               To note the key risks and assumptions set out at paragraph in the Medium Term Financial Strategy detailed in Appendix C iv.              To approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 to 2029/30 detailed in Appendix C v.                To agree the revenue growth bids as detailed in the Appendix C paragraph 65 vi.              To approve the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2025/26 detailed in Appendix D vii.             To approve Capital Strategy 2025/26 detailed in Appendix E viii.           To approve the Capital Programme 2025/26 to 2029/30 detailed in Appendix F ix.              To agree the capital growth bids as detailed in Appendix F x.                To delegate to the Section 151 Officer to increase the Capital budget to match the 30 Year HRA Programme once it is approved to enable the delivery of new homes in the HRA. xi.              To approve the Housing Revenue Account Budget as detailed in Appendix G xii.             To approve the General Fund budget as detailed in Appendix H xiii.           To note the Government’s intent to provide forward certainty over the HRA rental increases allowed to be 1% above CPI, which is an increase of 2.7% for 2025/26. (Appendix G) xiv.           To recommend the 2.7% increase in social housing revenue rents within the Housing Revenue Account. The average increase in HRA weekly rents would be £3.52, leading to an average weekly rent payable by council tenants of £129.61. (Appendix G) xv.             To recommend the council tax increase of 2.99% council tax for 2025/26. The Band D equivalent (for Uttlesford’s share of the bill) would be £182.02, which would be an increase of £5.28 (Appendix H). xvi.           To note the provisional council taxbase of 40,552.16 and the continued assumption of a maximum increase in the council tax of 2.99% over the lifetime of the Medium Term Financial Plan to 2029/30 (Appendix H) xvii.          To approve the Council Tax requirement for 2025/26 of £7.381m (Appendix H) xviii.        To approve the fees and charges schedule as set out in Appendix K xix.           To approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement 2025/26 detailed in Appendix L xx.             To resolve that the council tax premium of 100% shall be charged to properties that have been empty and furnished for one year or more, with effect from 1 April 2025 (Appendix M). xxi.           That Council approves the implementation of a second homes council tax premium of 100% from 1 April 2025. (Appendix M) xxii.          To approve the Ethical Investment Policy (Appendix N) xxiii.        To note the change in the discretionary rates policy as detailed in the accompanying report on Discretionary Rates