Issue - meetings

NOTE: In accordance with Statutory Instrument 2014 No.165, Local Government, England, The Local Authorities (Standing Orders)(England)(Amendment) Regulations 2014, any decision taken on the Council’s Budget or Council Tax setting must be taken with a recorded vote.

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Councillor Morley proposed the Budget, Financial Strategy and Council Tax Resolution and spoke in support, detailing the impact of the government settlements, efficiency targets, funding allocations and contribution to reserves.  Councillor Morley outlined the budget’s composition and outlined a new community project fund which had been introduced allowing Councillors to apply for one off projects.

Councillor Beales seconded the Budget, Financial Strategy and Council Tax Resolution and reserved his right to speak.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rules, the Leaders of each Opposition Group were invited to speak on the Budget.

Councillor Blunt stated that he was pleased to see a balanced budget and was pleased in the way that Members had been involved early on in the process with a plethora of briefings and updates and thanked officers for engaging Members.  However, he was concerned that, since the Budget had been subject to scrutiny, new information had been received and the budget had been amended and Members had not had the chance to scrutinise the new figures in detail.

Councillor Heneghan thanked officers and indicated that she would be supporting the budget as it was a requirement to have a balanced budget, however she had issues with the process carried out.  She referred to the Labour Government funding reforms and the work of the previous Government.  She commented that the revised settlement from Government was about fairness.

Councillor Heneghan commented that the budget could be more ambitious and money diverted to where it was needed to help residents.  Councillor Heneghan informed Council that the Labour Group had submitted amendments to the budget, however these had been rejected by the Administration and were based on the provisional budget, not the amended version that Councillors were now being asked to agree.

Councillor Heneghan referred to the additional funding which was available through the revised Government settlement and was pleased to see the addition of the Community Project Scheme which would be available to Members, and stated that the Labour Group had proposals which they would put forward.

Going forward, Councillor Heneghan requested that budget papers be made easier to understand and important figures highlighted rather than buried in the body of the report.

Councillor Heneghan also requested that the Council revisit the Council Procedure Rules relating to the submission of budget amendments as she felt the rules were currently restrictive.

Councillor Kirk commented that the lack of Scrutiny on the budget was worrying but he was happy with what was being presented.  He stated that Reform UK would like to see more support available for businesses and to support tourism and to consider assistance to individual wards.

Councillor Kemp stated that it was a credit to officers that a balanced budget had been produced.  She referred to the Council Tax increase being at the maximum level during a cost of living crisis and that the Fair Funding Review did not consider rural areas.  Councillor Kemp was concerned that Local  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103

RECOMMENDED:

Cabinet Recommends to Council:

Recommendation 1 It is recommended that Council note the revision to the Forecast for 2025/2026 as set out in Section 2 of the report.

Recommendation 2 It is recommend that Council delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to approve the contract for the appointment of a strategic partner to implement Local Government Reorganisation (Paragraph 4.1.2).

Recommendation 3 It is recommended that Council approves the amendments to the Fees and Charges Policy explained in paragraph 4.3.2 and proposed in Appendix 4b.

Recommendation 4 Council is recommended to approve the Policy on Earmarked Reserves and General Fund Balance and the maximum balances set for the reserves as noted in the report and at Appendix 8.

Recommendation 5 It is recommended that Council :

1) Approves the budget requirement of £24,475,309 for 2026/2027 and notes the projections for 2027/2028, 2028/2029 and 2029/2030.

2) Approves the Fees and Charges 2026/2027 detailed in Appendix 4a.

3) Approves the Pay Policy at Appendix 5

4) Approves the level of Special Expenses for the Town/Parish Councils as detailed in the report (Appendix 7).

5) Approves a Band D council tax of £157.44 for 2026/2027.

Recommendation 6 It is recommended that Council approves a minimum requirement of the General Fund balance for 2026/2027 of £1,245,250 (5% of estimated budget requirement).

Recommendation 7 Pursuant to Section 25 of the Local Government Act, Council is asked to have due regard to this statement at Section 9 of this report when considering and approving the budget and the level of council tax for 2026/2027.

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Cabinet noted that the Joint Panel had considered this item and supported the Cabinet recommendations.

Councillor Morley, as Portfolio Holder presented the report.  Councillor Morley highlighted a request from the Labour Group regarding the Bulky Household Waste Service and explained that this would be investigated.  The Deputy Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer explained that the Labour Group Leader had been made aware of the process for submitting an amendment to the budget through to Full Council.

Councillor Morley explained that an options paper on Brown Bin collections via direct debits was being prepared in response to a request.

Attention was also drawn to the Car Parking charges which would be further reviewed as part of the Car Parking Strategy.

With regard to pensions, Cabinet was provided with the current position in that contributions had reduced, as they were revalued every three years and previously the Council had paid up front to receive a discount.

Councillor Morley and the Deputy Chief Executive provided Cabinet with an update on the Internal Drainage Board levies explaining that following the provisional grant offer from the Fair Funding Review and the ongoing lobbying and work being carried out with the MHCLG and Defra Review.

Councillor Beales noted that the Council meets with the Internal Drainage Boards to discuss their proposed precepts to inform Council budgets, but that this was merely useful courtesy and information sharing and that it would be for the Internal Drainage Board to set their budgets, and stressed that Councillors who sat on Boards would be part of that decision making process.

Councillor Morley explained that he would be contacting the Councillors who sat on Internal Drainage Boards about the settlement and budget setting.

Councillor Beales asked about if there was a risk on core spending with regard to renewable energy and it was confirmed that there was an ongoing Government consultation on this matter.  Councillor Morley stated that the current budget assumed no return on renewable energy.

Cabinets attention was drawn to an error in the report at page 48 relating to draw downs and that this would be corrected prior to submission to Full Council.

The Deputy Chief Executive asked Cabinet to note that once the Final settlement had been received the budget papers would be updated in readiness for presentation to Full Council.

Councillor Kemp addressed Cabinet under Standing Order 34 and thanked those involved for achieving a balanced budget.  She asked for assurance that there would be not cuts to services for residents.

Councillor Morley advised that there were no cuts to services for residents and highlighted the Council’s efficiencies and savings programme and future challenges.

Councillor Morley referred to page 33 of the report which showed the percentage increase in council tax and the impact of not increasing council tax for a number of years.  It also highlighted the impact of Internal Drainage Board costs.

The Assistant Director explained that many consultations had been  ...  view the full minutes text for item 120