Councillor Jim Hobson

...the General Fund Revenue Budget, Council Tax, and Dedicated Schools Grant for 2026/27 were approved, including a net expenditure of £229,630,000, £12.5m in budget savings, and a 4.99% Council Tax increase with a 2% Adult Social Care precept.

...agreed to note the financial performance report, require continued close monitoring of service finances by directors, acknowledge the Scrutiny Leadership Board's independent reviews, commit to lobbying central government for funding, and continue working towards a £7m target for working balances by April 2026.

...recommended to the Council that rents for all Housing Revenue Account properties be increased by 4.8% in 2026/27, with additional increases of 5% and 10% applied at re-let for general needs and supported housing respectively, alongside the approval of the 2026/27 Housing Revenue Account budget and the protection of minimum balances at £1 million.

...to recommend to Council the approval of the Capital Programme for 2026/27 to 2028/29, including continued Executive approval for prudential borrowing schemes and an increased 25% top slice for the Single Capital Pot approach, alongside the approval of Capital Prudential Indicators.

...recommend to the Council to approve the Treasury Management Strategy 2026/27, including borrowing and investment strategies, adopt the Treasury Management Policy Statement, approve revised and new Prudential Indicators and Limits, and approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2026/27.