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Decision:
1.        To note the
comments arising from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee meeting on 20 January 2026, as set out in the
Supplementary Agenda Pack.
2.        To recommend
that full Council, at its Budget meeting on 11 February 2026
resolves:
 

(a)    To agree a
2.99% increase in Guildford’s Band D Council Tax Charge for
2026/27 with resultant increases to the other council tax
bands.

(b)    To agree the
Fees and Charges for 2026/27 as proposed in Appendix 4.

(c)    To agree the car parking charges as proposed in
Appendix 5.

(d)    To approve the General Fund Budget for 2026/27 as
summarised in Appendix 2, incorporating the baseline net service
cost variations detailed at Appendices 1 and 3.

(e)    To
approve the General Fund Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix
6.

(f)     To approve the reserve movements as set out
in Appendix 7 and to agree a delegation to the S151 Officer to
agree draw down from the reserves if the use is in line with the
approved purpose.

(g)    To agree to
continue the Council’s existing Council Tax Support Scheme at
the current levels.

(h)    To continue
with the Modified Scheme of disregarding 100% of all types of war
pension for Housing Benefit, as set out in Appendix 8.
 
Reasons:
1.    
The General Fund Budget is a major decision for the
Council and setting a balanced budget is a statutory requirement.
Scrutiny of these MTFP and Budget proposals demonstrate
transparency and good governance.
2.    
While the Council has managed to respond to the
financial challenges in recent years, the latest MTFP for the years
ending 2029/30 continues to project future financial pressures. The
Council is taking action to ensure sufficient funding is in place
to deliver and maintain services for 2026/27, but this report also
explains the conditions and uncertainties that will impact service
delivery in future years
 
Other options considered and
rejected by the Executive:
None.
 
Details of any conflict of
interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any
dispensation granted:
None.