Councillor Len Ellis-Brown

...to continue supporting financially vulnerable residents, the Cabinet approved the adoption of the existing modified Housing Benefit scheme for 2026/27, which voluntarily disregards war disablement pensions and war widow pensions in the Housing Benefit calculation.

...to give effect to recommendations from committees, the Council approved the Horsham District Council (Reorganisation of Community Governance) Order 2025, which includes the constitution of a new parish for Horsham, the establishment of a parish council, warding arrangements, and a budget allocation for set-up costs.

...to approve the conversion of the Old Ambulance Station into a workshop for servicing food waste vehicles, delegate authority for grant funding applications and final designs, approve contract awards for the conversion and equipment acquisition, and recommend to the Council a capital budget of up to £488,000 and a revenue budget of £17,585 for the project in the 2025/26 financial year.

...to address the Council's financial position in 2025/26 and the medium-term, the Cabinet noted changes, approved remaining in the West Sussex Business Rates pool for 2026/27 with delegated authority for withdrawal if modelling proves unfavourable, and acknowledged the need to consider future budget decisions.

...the Cabinet noted the items in the draft 2026/27 Annual Plan and agreed to consider their potential impact on the 2026/27 budget setting process.