Decision Maker:

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: Yes

Date of Decision: February 17, 2026

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED to recommend to Council the following:   i. the key assumptions as set out at paragraphs 31 - 38 of the main report. ii. the Medium Term Financial Plan 2026/27 to 2030/31 on page 11 of the main report. iii. the council tax increase of 2.99% council tax for 2026/27. The Band D equivalent (for Uttlesford’s share of the bill) would be £187.46, which would be an increase of £5.44 as set out on page 17 of the main report. iv. the provisional council taxbase of 41,402.4 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 2030/31 as set out on page 18 of the main report. v. the Council Tax requirement for 2026/27 of £7.761m as set out on page 18 of the main report. vi. the General Fund budget as detailed on page 21 of the Budget Report. vii. to increase the HRA rent by the maximum allowed of 1% above CPI, which is an increase of 4.8% for 2026/27. The average increase in HRA weekly rents would be £6.22, leading to an average weekly rent payable by council tenants of £135.83 as set out on page 29 of the main report. viii. the housing service charge increases (General Fund and HRA) in line with inflation plus 1% as per rents. ix. the Housing Revenue Account Budget 5 year budget as set out on page 32. 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. the Capital Strategy 2026/27 to 2030/31 as set out on pages 33-43 of the main report. xii. to approve the Capital Programme 2026/27 to 2030/31 detailed on pages 44- 47 of the main report. xiii. the section 25 report set out on pages 49 - 55 when considering the budget for 2026/27. xiv. the further proposal to increase Garden Waste subscriptions by £5 in 2027/28 as part of the Blueprint Uttlesford 2.0 programme to support the MTFP on page 20. xv. the fees and charges schedule as set out in Appendix C xvi. the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2026/27 as set out in Appendix D xvii. the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement 2026/27 as set out in Appendix E. xviii. the commercial strategy of 2026/27 as set out in in Appendix F. xix. the Ethical Investment Policy as set out in Appendix G. xx. the revenue growth bids as detailed at Appendix H. xxi. the savings proposals as detailed at Appendix I.

Reasons for the decision: The report set-out the budget recommended for 2026/27, as proposed to full Council. 

Alternative options considered: None.