Purpose

To recommend to Council the General Fund
Budgets for 2025-26.

Content

RESOLVED

That (i)   the
£2.5m of savings in 2025/26, rising to £4.7m by 2027/28
as set-out in Appendix 1 to the report be agreed, subject to any
comments received from Resource and Finance Scrutiny
Committee;

       
(ii)  the £2.4m of growth
pressures in 2025/26, rising to £3.2m by 2027/28 as set-out
in Appendix 2 to the report be agreed, subject to any comments
received from Resource and Finance Scrutiny Committee;

       
(iii)  the Equality Impact Assessment on
the savings proposals that are summarised in Appendix 6 to the
report, with detailed reports on each resident facing saving
proposal, be noted as part of the decision-making
process;

        (iv) the
position of the Business Rates and Council Tax Collection Fund,
including the brought forward surplus/deficit position and the
Council Tax and Business Rates bases for 2025/26 as set out in
Section 14 of the report be noted and agreed;

       
(v)  the Management of Change and
Flexible Use of Capital Receipts budgets proposed at Appendices 3
and 4 to the report be supported; and

        (vi) it be
noted that Full Council on 3 March 2025 will receive a final report
from the Strategic Director of Finance to seek final, formal
approval of the Council's budget, the Exceptional Financial Support
and Council Tax for 2025/26.

Reason:  The contents of
the report is to ensure open and transparent governance in the
financial affairs of the Council in balancing the 2025/26 Budget,
and the Medium Term Financial Strategy.