Purpose

To recommend to Council the General Fund
Budgets for 2026-27.

Content

The Executive Recommended to Full Council on 2 March
2026

That (i)    the
£2.7m of new savings in 2026/27 as set-out in Appendix 1 to
the report be agreed, subject to any comments received from
Resource and Finance Scrutiny Committee;

         
(ii)   the £3.3m of new
growth pressures in 2026/27 as set-out in Appendix 2 to the report
be agreed, subject to any comments received from Resource and
Finance Scrutiny Committee;

         
(iii)  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 2026/27 as set out in Section 10 of the report be
noted and agreed;

         
(iv) the Management of Change and Flexible Use of Capital Receipts
budgets proposed at Appendices 4 and 5 to the report be approved;
and

         
(v)  it be noted that Full Council on 2
March 2026 will receive a final report from the Strategic Director
– Finance and Resources to seek final, formal approval of the
Council's budget, the Exceptional Financial Support and Council Tax
for 2026/27.

Reason: The contents of the report is to ensure open
and transparent governance in the financial affairs of the Council
in balancing the 2026/27 Budget, and the Medium Term Financial
Strategy (MTFS).