Content

RESOLVED:
Cabinet:

a)    
Approved for consultation the 2026-27 Draft Budget,
including:

i.           
an estimated net revenue budget of £1,010.9m
(£458.9m excluding Dedicated Schools Grant) as set out in
Appendix A

ii.           
an average Band D Council Tax of £1960.14 for West
Northamptonshire Council, which represents an average increase of
4.99% or £1.79 per week. (2.99% increase in
‘core’ Council Tax and 2% Adult Social Care
Precept)

iii.           
proposed Fees and Charges as detailed in Appendix
C

iv.           
provisional dedicated schools grant budget of £552m as
detailed in Appendix D

v.           
the draft Capital Programme additions as set out in Appendix
E.

b)    
Noted the estimated tax base for West Northamptonshire at
148,000.4 Band D equivalent properties, as set out in paragraph
6.57.

c)    
Delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer to agree and
set the final tax base.

d)    
For the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG):

i.           
Notes the provisional allocations and planned usage of the
DSG for 2026-27 pending the final DSG settlement

ii.           
Following consultation with the Schools Forum, delegates
authority to the Executive Director for Children’s Services
to determine the DSG 2026-27 schools funding formula, high needs
funding arrangements and the Early Years Funding Formula in line
with Department for Education guidance.
 
REASONS
RESOLVED:
To ensure that the
Council complied with its Constitution and all other relevant
requirements in setting the budget for West Northamptonshire
Council.
 
ALTERNATIVE
OPTIONS:
The setting of the
budget is carried out in accordance with the Budget and Policy
Framework Procedure Rules set out in the Constitution. The
provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 set out what
the Council has to base its budget calculations upon and require
the Council to set a balanced budget with regard to the advice of
its Chief Finance Officer.
 
A range of options
to achieve net budget reductions through efficiencies have been
considered as part of the budget setting process. The final budget
setting decision rests with the Full Council.