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RESOLVED: To
 
1.1.         
Consider the responses to the budget engagement with
residents and statutory consultation with businesses (set out in
Section 10 of this report and detailed more fully in Appendix
J).

 
1.2.         
Consider and have due regard to the equalities
impact assessment undertaken on the budget proposals as set out in
Appendix N.

 
1.3.         
Approve the responses to the Scrutiny and Overview
Committee recommendations (to follow after publication of this
report – Appendix O) on the budget proposals as set out in
Section 20.

 
1.4.         
Approve that (subject to Full Council approving the
budget and any further decisions required of the Executive) that
Corporate Directors be authorised to implement their respective
growth and savings proposals for 2024-25 in accordance with the
recommendations within this report, the Council's Constitution,
Financial Regulations, relevant Schemes of Delegation and undertake
any further consultation required, including regarding the
Equalities Impacts of specific decisions within the Budget envelope
as approved by Full Council.

 
1.5.         
Propose to Full Council for approval an increase in
the Croydon element of the 2024-25 council tax charge by 2.99%
(Band D £53.98).

 
1.6.         
Propose to Full Council for approval a 2% increase
(Band D £36.11) in the 2024-25 Adult Social Care precept
levy.

 
1.7.         
Note, based on the Mayor of London’s draft
consolidated budget, a proposed 8.58% (Band D £37.26)
increase regarding the Greater London Authority precept.

 
1.8.         
Propose to Full Council for approval, the
calculation of budget requirement and council tax as set out in
Appendix I and note that the inclusion of the GLA precept will
result in a total increase of 5.69% (Band D £127.35) in the
overall Croydon council tax bill.

 
1.9.         
Propose to Full Council for approval the setting of
the Council’s own total net expenditure budget for 2024-25 at
£361.267m.

 
1.10.      
Propose to Full Council for approval the detailed
programme of revenue savings, income, demand pressures and legacy
budget corrections, by directorate, as set out in Appendix
C.

 
1.11.      
Propose to Full Council the proposed £5m
budget in 2024-25 to support delivery of the transformation
programme.

 
1.12.      
Propose to Full Council the Reserves Policy set out
in Appendix M.

 
1.13.      
Propose to Full Council for approval that the
Corporate Director of Resources be authorised to collect and
recover National Non-Domestic Rate and council tax in accordance
with the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (as amended) and the
Local Government Finance Act 1992.

 
1.14.      
Note the revenue budget assumptions detailed in the
report and budget projections to 2027- 28 made by the Corporate
Director of Resources in agreement with the Chief Executive and
with the Corporate Management Team.

 
1.15.      
Note the Council’s request for a
Capitalisation Direction from the Department of Levelling Up,
Housing and Communities [DLUHC] of up to £38m for 2024-25,
£9.439m relating to 2019-20 and current assumption that up to
a further £38m per annum in exceptional financial support
will be required for future years.

 
1.16.      
Note that all Directors will be required to report
on their projected financial position compared to their revenue
estimates in accordance with the 2024-25 monthly financial
performance reporting timetable.

 
1.17.      
Note the statement (Appendix K of the Report) of the
Corporate Director of Resources and S151 Officer, under Section 25
of the Local Government Act 2003, regarding the adequacy of
reserves and robustness of estimates.

 
1.18.      
Note that the provisional Dedicated Schools Grant
allocation for 2024-25 will increase by £28.583m to
£466.825m (section 12 of the Report).

 
1.19.      
Propose to Full Council that the necessary
determinations are made as billing authority under Section 11B of
the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for financial year 2024- 2025
to the effect that where permitted, for dwellings that have been
unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for a period of at least
one year the amount of Council Tax will be increased by 100% where
the period is less than 5 years, by 200% where the period is at
least 5 years but less than 10 years, and by 300% where the period
is at least 10 years, and that the discount under Section 11(2)(a)
shall not apply.

 
1.20.      
Propose to Full Council that the necessary
determinations are made under Section 11C of the Local government
Finance Act 1992 as billing authority for financial year 2025-2026
to the effect that where permitted, for dwellings where there is no
resident of the dwelling and the dwelling is substantially
furnished, the amount of Council Tax will be increased by 100%, and
the discount under Section 11(2)(a) shall not apply.

 
1.21.      
Propose to Full Council that the Council Tax Support
scheme (statutory local council tax reduction scheme) under Section
13A(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 is not changed from
that agreed by Full Council resolution on 1st March
2023.