Agenda and draft minutes

Prayers were led by Father Adrian Ling.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Anota, Bone, Jamieson, Ratcliffe, Tyler and de Winton.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

There were none.

To receive Mayor’s communications and announcements.

There were none.

To receive any items of business which in the opinion of the Mayor are urgent. 

There was no Urgent Business.

To receive petitions and public questions in accordance with Procedure Rule 20.

There were no Public Questions relating to the Budget.

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 C:103

(Members are reminded this is a debate, not a question and answer session)

Please note that updated versions of reports are attached to this Agenda for Council approval.

Recommendations from the Cabinet meeting are also attached.

To consider the following reports and recommendations to Council:

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Councillor Morley, seconded by Councillor Beales proposed the following Cabinet recommendations be taken en bloc and this was agreed:

CAB121:         Capital Programme and Resources

CAB122:         Treasury Management Strategy, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy 2026/2027

CAB123:         Capital Strategy 2026/2027

Councillor Morley presented the Capital Strategy, Capital Programme and Treasury Management Policies highlighting the statutory requirements, project tiers, funding sources and debt management.  He explained that the Capital Strategy was a high-level document which linked the corporate strategy, capital expenditure and treasury management.  Councillor Morley provided detail of the long-term loan arrangements and work ongoing to manage these arrangements.

Councillor Beales, in seconding the recommendations, reserved his right to speak.

Councillor Long spoke in support of the reports as presented, noting that these had not changed since they had been subject to scrutiny.

Councillor Blunt commented that he would be supporting the recommendations.

Councillor Heneghan commented that she would be supporting the recommendations.

Councillor Joyce commented that money had been found to support the Capital Programme during these difficult times and made reference to losses that the Council was facing in housing delivery.

Councillor Beales called for a point of order on the comment made by Councillor Joyce in that it was not accurate.

Councillor Dark echoed the comments made by Councillor Long and indicated he would be supporting the recommendations as they had been subjected to scrutiny.

Councillor Dark called for a point of order in that points of order should only be used in relation to clarification on the Constitution.

Councillor Moriarty called a point of order in that speeches should be relevant to the current item being considered.

Councillor Kemp indicated her support for the recommendations, however raised concern that the Ferry was not included.

Councillor Beales referred to Council Procedure rule 15.1 in that a point of personal explanation could be used to remedy misunderstandings and felt his interjection was reasonable.

Councillor Beales commented that in relation to the Capital Programme and Major Housing Scheme it was important that facts were accurate. He acknowledged that there was a projected loss on Florence Fields.

Councillor Morley, in summing up referred to the non-financial benefits of the Major Housing Schemes, including social value and other benefits to residents.

RESOLVED: The budget related recommendations from Cabinet held on 3 February 2026 were agreed by Full Council as set out below:

CAB121: Capital Programme and Resources

1)     Cabinet recommends to Council the amendments to capital schemes and resources for the 2025-2030 capital programme as detailed in the report. 2

2)     Cabinet recommends to Council that new capital bids as set out in appendix 3 and the exempt report, are approved to be included in the capital programme 2025-2030 as detailed.

CAB122: Treasury Management Strategy, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy 2026/2027.

Cabinet is asked to recommend that Council approve:

· The Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2026/2027, including treasury indicators for 2025-2030.

· The Minimum Revenue  ...  view the full minutes text for item C:104