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RESOLVED:
Cabinet;
 

a)                
Approves the 2026-27 Budget for West Northamptonshire set out
in this report, and recommends the Budget to the Full Council
meeting on 26 February including:

i.           
an estimated net revenue budget of £1024.4m
(£464.3m excluding Dedicated Schools Grant) as set out in
Appendix A

ii.           
an average Band D Council Tax of £1,959.40 for West
Northamptonshire Council, which represents an average increase of
4.95%. (2.95% increase in ‘core’ Council Tax and 2%
Adult Social Care Precept)

iii.           
proposed Fees and Charges as detailed in Appendix E, Subject
to the removal of proposals relating to the introduction of car
parking charges for Daventry, Towcester and Brackley. The cost of
the proposal to be met from base budget contingency

iv.           
Dedicated schools grant budget of £560m as detailed in
Appendix F

v.           
Capital Strategy additions as set out in Appendix G
(ii)

vi.           
Capital Pipeline proposals approved with release of funding
subject to further business case approval by Chief Finance Officer
( S151 ) as set out in Appendix G (iii)

vii.           
the Medium-Term Financial Strategy from 2026-27 to 2030-31 as
set out in Appendix D

viii.           
the Flexible use of Capital Receipts Strategy set out in
Appendix H

ix.           
the Treasury Management Strategy set out in Appendix
K

x.           
setting the authorised limits for borrowing as set out in
Appendix Gi section 8.13 and 8.14

b)                
Noted the final tax base for West Northamptonshire at
147,712.6 Band D equivalent properties, as set out in paragraph
6.58.

c)                 
Recommended the following to Full Council on 26 February
2026, to ensure that the revenue and capital budget and all
associated financial policies can be delivered from 1 April 2026
and to also ensure there is flexibility to manage the overall
budget in the year;

i.           
To delegate authority to the – Chief Finance Officer
(S151) to manage any variation in budget prior to the start of
2026-27 as a result of final confirmation of the local government
finance settlement, or as a result of unforeseen commitments; in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance.

ii.           
To delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer ( S151) in
consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance to amend the
capital programme for 2026-27 going forward so that it accurately
reflects issues such as slippage on current year projects that will
need to be added to the programme, any amendments made to existing
capital programmes, adjustments to accommodate any future use of
capital receipts policy and for any other reason where the Capital
Programme needs to be adjusted.

iii.           
To note the use of reserves as summarised in the table
contained at paragraph 6.64-6.77.

iv.           
To delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer (S151) to
employ earmarked reserves for the purposes they were set up for
including the release of the risk reserve if required.

v.           
To delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer (S151) in
consultation with the portfolio holder for finance to release the
general contingency fund of £10.5m if required in the
year.

vi.           
To note the Chief Finance Officer (S151) has delegated
authority to amend fees and charges.

d.)  
For the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG):

i.           
Notes the final allocation 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 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.

E.) 
Considered the Section 25 statement of the Chief Finance
Officer (S151) detailed in section 9 of the report.

F.) 
Noted the consultation feedback on the budget in Appendix
I.

G.) Noted the feedback from the
Overview and Scrutiny Committee in Appendix J.
 
REASONS
RESOLVED:
To ensure that the
Council complies with its Constitution and all other relevant
legislative requirements in setting the budget for West
Northamptonshire Council.
 
ALTERNATIVE
OPTIONS:
A range of options
have been considered as part of the budget setting process. However
the Council has a statutory duty to set a balanced
budget.