Purpose

To recommend the
General Fund Revenue Budget 2025/26 to Council.

Decision

 

1.         To thank
scrutiny commissions for taking time to consider and comment on the
draft budget.
 
2.         In
response to comments made:

(a)       I
acknowledge the concerns members expressed about adventure
playgrounds, and today I am publishing a decision which will secure
their funding for the whole of 2025/26;

(b)       The
final equality assessment now specifically refers to care
experienced young people which was omitted from the draft
report;

(c)       
I note the requests at a number of commissions for transparency
regarding the asset disposal programme,
and will ensure that regular updates are brought to the
scrutiny function.
 
3. To recommend to
Council the following:
 

(a)      
approve the three-year budget strategy described in the report
submitted by the Director of Finance;
 

(b)      
approve the proposed budget and council tax for 2025/26 as
described in the report, including the recommendations in the
formal budget resolution;
 

(c)       
approve the budget ceilings for each service shown at Appendix 1 to
the report;
 
(d)       approve the scheme
of virement described in Appendix 2 to the report;
 

(e)      
approve the use of the £90m capital fund to support the
revenue budget strategy (dependent on decisions taken in respect of
the capital programme for 2025/26, which is elsewhere on the
Council’s agenda);
 

(f)       
approve the changes to earmarked reserves to support the overall
strategy as described in Appendix 5;
 

(g)       note
the view of the Director of Finance’s on the adequacy of
reserves and the estimates used in preparing the budget;
 

(h)       note
the equality implications arising from the proposed tax increase,
as described in paragraph 15 and Appendix 3;
 

(i)         note the
medium-term financial strategy and forecasts presented at Appendix
4, and the significant financial challenges that lie ahead;
 
(j)         in
relation to council tax for empty properties:

•          
Thank those who responded to our consultation, the results of which
are described at Appendix 6;
 

•          
Note the equality implications arising from a decision to change
council tax payable in respect of empty properties, as described at
Appendix 6A;
 

•          
Change the current policies as described at Appendix 6,
specifically to commence charging Council Tax on empty, unfurnished
property as soon as it becomes empty; and to apply exemptions
introduced by the Government.
 

(k)       
approve the capital receipts flexibility policy at Appendix 7, to
come into force if and when a government direction is received.