Decision

RESOLVED that -

(a)     the high-level Financial Outturn Position, as set out in this report (A.5), and the favourable General Fund Revenue variance of £5.417m for the year, which is currently held within the Revenue Commitments Reserve be noted;

(b)     the use of the General Fund Outturn for the Year of £5.417m, as set out in Appendix A (Section 1), be approved;

(c)     in respect of the additional £1.000m set aside to support the delivery of savings / efficiency plans and wider corporate priorities, the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance, be authorised to utilise this funding during the year;

(d)     in respect of the additional £1.000m set aside for Coast Protection Works, this be added to the remaining budget of £0.970m associated with earlier decisions, and that the Corporate Director (Operations and Delivery), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for the Environment & ICT, be authorised to utilise this funding during the year;

(e)     the budget adjustments for 2025/26, as set out in Appendix A (Sections 2 and 3), be approved;

(f)       the Council’s Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Corporate Finance and Governance Portfolio Holder, be authorised to adjust the outturn position for 2024/25 along with any corresponding adjustment to earmarked reserves as a direct result of any recommendations made by the Council’s External Auditor during the course of their audit activities relating to the Council’s 2024/25 accounts; and

(g)     Officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning, be requested to continue to explore opportunities to support the Council in addressing the increasing financial challenge associated with the demand for homelessness / temporary accommodation, and to present reports to future meetings of Cabinet, including the potential options associated with the possible levying of charges, balanced against various issues such as the circumstances of those seeking support.