Decisions

RECOMMENDED:  That Officers be requested to conduct a Community Governance Review in respect of Hilgay Parish in line with the Terms of Reference drafted to potentially reorganise the parish into two parishes with parish councils using existing parish and ward boundaries as a guide.

Reason for Decision

BCKLWN have a statutory duty to carry out a Community Governance Review when a valid Community Governance Petition is received.

BCKLWN a statutory duty to agree and publish a Terms of Reference for the Community Governance Review to proceed. Once agreed and published, BCKLWN must comply with them.

RECOMMENDED:  That Officers conduct a Community Governance Review in respect of Burnham Market Parish Council to potentially reduce parish councillor numbers using the Terms of Reference attached to the report.

Reason for Decision

Cabinet and Council must agree to the Terms of Reference for the Community Governance Review to proceed

RECOMMENDED:  That the Conservation Areas Advisory Panel (CAAP) be disbanded.

Reason for Decision

The CAAP panel has been in existence for a long time and while the input of the panel has been invaluable, the National Planning Policy Framework now places greater emphasis upon specialist advice on design, which this panel are not qualified to deliver.

RECOMMENDED:      1)          That the content and recommendations of the report of the Independent Remuneration Panel dated November 2024 be noted.

2)             The Members Allowances for 2025-2026 set out in Table 3 of this report are approved.

3)             That the Members’ Allowance Scheme 2025-2029 attached as Appendix 2 be approved to come into effect on 1 April 2025 for a period of four years, subject to being updated with the Members Allowances approved at recommendation 2 above.

4)             That following the 2025-26 year, indexation be applied to Members Allowances for 3 years in line with the percentage increase to the national joint council for local government pay services pay grades spinal column point 43.

5)             That the Chief Finance Officer be delegated to approve non-material revisions to the Members’ Allowance Scheme, including the levels of allowances to reflect the current figures after indexation has been applied.

Reason for Decision

To comply with the requirements of The Local Authorities (Member's Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003 and set the allowances for 2025/29.

The Cabinet has had regard for the recommendations of the IRP and is recommending to Council Changes to the recommendations on the items set out in the report, including the reduction of the public service discount (PSD) from 20% to 5% as it was deemed appropriate to have a level of PSD, but not as high as that recommended by the panel.

The Cabinet noted that it is important that some element of the work of members continues to be voluntary, but that in accordance with the issued guidance, this must be balanced against the need to ensure that financial loss is not suffered by elected members, and further to ensure that, despite the input required, people are encouraged to come forward as elected members and that their service to the community is retained. Cabinet considers that a 5% public sector discount is the appropriate balance.

RECOMMENDED:  1)         That the amendments to capital schemes and resources for the 2024-2029 capital programme as detailed in the report be approved.

2) That new capital bids as set out in section 5, table 6 of the report, are to be funded from available capital resources and included in the capital programme 2024-2029 as detailed (subject to pending approval from SLT) of the report be approved.

Reason for Decision

To report amendments, rephasing and resources to the 2024-2029 Capital Programme. Cabinet chose not to exclude the press and public to discuss in detail the exempt elements as further detailed consideration of those would be made at a later date.

RECOMMENDED:     That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2025/2026 be approved including:

·         treasury indicators for 2025-2029.

·         The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy 2025/2026

·         The Investment Strategy 2025/2026

Reason for the Decision

The Council must have approved a Treasury Management Strategy Statement,

Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy

2025/2026 by 31 March 2025.

RECOMMENDED:      That the Capital Strategy 2025/2026, as attached to the report, be approved.

Cabinet noted that the final figures would be updated following recent announcement of the final Financial Settlement from Government.  These will be updated in the papers for Council.

RECOMMENDED 1

It is recommended that Council note the revision to the Forecast for 2024/2025 as set out in the report.

RECOMMENDED 2

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 of the report.

RECOMMENDED 3

That Council :

1) Approves the budget requirement of £26,329,130 for 2025/2026 and notes the projections for 2026/2027, 2027/2028 and 2028/2029.

2) Approves the Fees and Charges 2025/2026 detailed in Appendix 4a and 4b and approves the new Fees and Charges Policy at Appendix 4c

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 £152.87 for 2025/2026.

RECOMMENDED 4

That Council approves a minimum requirement of the General Fund balance for 2025/2026 of £1,316,460 (5% of estimated budget requirement).

RECOMMENDED 5

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 2025/2026.

The Forwards Decision List was noted.