Purpose

This report deals with the forecast Collection
Fund outturn position for 2025/26, the setting of the Council Tax
Taxbase for 2026/27 and also presents a forecast for Business Rates
income expected in 2026/27.These items form an integral and
important part of the Council’s budget setting and MTFP
process

Content

The Cabinet considered
the forecast Collection Fund outturn position for 2025/26, the
setting of the Council Tax Taxbase for 2026/27, and a forecast for
Business Rates income for 2026/27 and agreed:-
 
(1) That the
Cabinet:-
 

(i)           
Declare a provisional forecast outturn Collection Fund deficit to
be appropriated to the council’s General Fund in 2026/27 of
£0.754m relating to a Council Tax deficit of £0.810m
and Business Rates surplus of £0.056m subject to the
delegations below.
 

(ii)         
Note the proposal for the Council Tax Discretionary Hardship Fund
as set out in the Council Tax and Business Rates Discounts Annual
Review report as per paragraph 3.5
 

(iii)        
Note the 2026/27 Council Tax Taxbase for budget setting purposes of
99,698.1 Band D equivalent dwellings. The council’s final
2026/27 Council Tax Taxbase will be presented for approval to the
council meeting on 15 January 2026
 

(iv)        
Note that the indicative Collection Fund resources identified are
to be reviewed through the MTFP and 2026/27 budget setting
processes following the Provisional Local Government Finance
Settlement in December.
 
(2) That the following
decisions be delegated to the Director of Finance (Section 151
Officer) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance &
Resources:-
 

(i)           
The decision to change the provisional 2025/26 Collection Fund
forecast outturn position prior to declaring the position on 31
January 2026 as required by legislation.

 

(ii)         
The decision to change the Business Rates forecast linked to the
submission of the NNDR1 (Business Rates budget) to Government;
and
 

(iii)        
The decision to decline the Greater Manchester Business Rates
pooling arrangement.

Alternative options considered

None.