Decision Maker: Council

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: No

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: February 19, 2025

Purpose:

Content: RESOLVED: 1.             That Council agrees: a)            That the Revenue Budget for 2025/26 totalling £270.178m be approved. b)            That the Council Tax Band D of £1.759.72 for the Milton Keynes element of Council Tax, be approved. This is a 4.99% increase on the previous year (2.99% on the main element plus a 2.00% Adult Social Care Precept). c)             That the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2025/26 (excluding parish precepts) of £175.329m, be approved. d)            That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2025/26 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 [the “Act”]: i) £711,957,752 Being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by parish and town councils. (Gross expenditure including precepts) ii) £523,624,601 Being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3). (Net income excluding Council Tax requirement) iii) £188,333,151                                                                                                As its Council Tax requirement for the year, being the amount by which the aggregate at (i) above exceeds the aggregate at (ii) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4). iv) £1,890.24 As the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish Precepts), being the amount at (iii) above, divided by the Council Tax Base agreed on 5 November 2024. v) £13,003,889 Being the aggregate amount of all special items (Parish Precepts) referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act. vi) £1,759,72 Being the amount at (iv) less the result given by dividing the amount at (e) above by the Council Tax Base agreed on 5 November 2024, as the basic amount of Council Tax for the year for Milton Keynes City Council, excluding Parish and Major Precepting Authorities.   That the following amounts be calculated for Milton Keynes City Council Tax: Table A – Milton Keynes City Council Tax   VALUATION BANDS   A £ B £ C £ D £ E £ F £ G £ H £ MKCC With 2.99% Increase 1,008.47 1,176.55 1,344.63 1,512.71 1,848.87 2,185.03 2,521.18 3,025.42 ASC Levy With Further 2.00% Increase   164.67   192.12   219.56   247.01   301.90   356.79   411.68   494.02 MKCC Total 4.99% 1,173.14 1,368.67 1,564.19 1,759.72 2,150.77 2,541.82 2,932.86 3,519.44 e)            That the amounts given by multiplying the amount at (f) by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to all dwellings listed in each particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in Valuation Band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the Act. f)              That for the year 2025/26, Police & Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Act 1992, has confirmed the following precepts to the Council for each of the categories of dwellings: Table B – PCC for Thames Valley Council Tax VALUATION BANDS A £ B £ C £ D £ E £ F £ G £ H £ 188.85 220.33 251.80 283.28 346.23 409.18 472.13 566.56 g)            That for the year 2025/26, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Act 1992, has recommended the following precepts to the Council for each of the categories of dwellings:   Table C – Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority Council Tax VALUATION BANDS A £ B £ C £ D £ E £ F £ G £ H £ 56.31 65.69 75.08 84.46 103.23 122.00 140.77 168.92 h)            That as a result of the above, the amounts of Council Tax (shown in Appendix A and B) be set in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwelling shown in the Schedule. i)              That the 2025/26 levies payable to the Buckingham and River Ouzel Internal Drainage Board and the Environment Agency be noted. j)              That the Cabinet response to the Budget and Resources Scrutiny Committee recommendations on the 2025/26 budget be noted. k)            That the revised Capital Programme has been updated for the increased DfT funding be noted and approved. l)              That the revised Total HRA Service Charges for 2025/26 be noted and approved. m)         That the Reserves Risk Assessment has been updated to reflect the removal of the statutory override on IFRS9 Pooled investment funds and the revised minimum balance is £33.212m be noted. n)            That the position for the Dedicated Schools Grant of £407.174m and the Schools funding block for 2025/26 be noted and the budget and formula allocations for the High Needs Block and Early Years Block be approved. o)            That the parking account estimate for 2025/26 and use of the surplus be approved. p)            That the Housing Revenue Account Revenue Budget 2025/26 be approved. q)            That increases to housing rents are set at 2.7% for tenants (an average increase of £2.85 per week) and 7.7% for shared owners (an average increase of £7.35 per week), the maximum level allowable under the Rent Standard (CPI + 1%) (para 3.44) be approved. r)             That Garage rents are not increased for 2025/26. s)             That the Housing Revenue Account service charges be approved. t)             That the Rent and Service Charge Policy be approved. u)            That the fees and charges for 2025/26 (including those fees and charges which are exceptions to the Income and Collection Policy) be approved. v)            That the Capital Strategy be approved. w)          That the Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2029/30 be approved. x)             That the resource allocation for the 2025/26 Tariff programme be approved. y)            That the Treasury Management Strategy for 2025/26 to 2028/29 and the Treasury Policy Statement, including the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy, Borrowing Limits be approved. z)             That the financial forecast set out in the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), in relation to both resources and expenditure, be approved. 2.             a)      This Council believes that:                                   i.              Changing weather conditions and lack of investment incurs increased upkeep costs across the City Council, including the impact on road maintenance and other assets especially after flooding.                                 ii.              Whilst the public want action and support with flood resilience and flood defence, regular funding should be accessed via the Environment Agency. b)      This Council resolves to access an additional £10k from Corporate Contingency for the year 25/26 only, to offer a series of training sessions/webinars to community groups and other interested parties to assist them to gain the skills to develop flood plans and Local Flood Groups, so that our communities can access essential flood resilience funding from the Environment Agency more quickly. 3.             This Council: a)            mindful of how many of its services are now cut to a level that none of us would wish; b)            conscious that the national and international economic situation offers very little hope of any medium-term improvement; c)             believes that the time has come to consider the transfer a range of assets and services to parishes on a significantly larger and faster scale than at present envisaged; and d)            resolves to request the Administration to consider in the upcoming Corporate Stability Strategy how this might most effectively be implemented.     Appendix A 2025/26 BASIC AMOUNT OF COUNCIL TAX NOTE: Basic Amount of Council Tax includes parish precepts but excludes Police and Fire Authority precepts AREAS BAND A BAND B BAND C BAND D BAND E BAND F BAND G BAND H   £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Abbey Hill [formerly Bradwell Abbey] (PC) 1,218.94 1,422.09 1,625.25 1,828.42 2,234.74 2,641.05 3,047.36 3,656.84 Astwood & Hardmead (PC) 1,217.22 1,420.10 1,622.96 1,825.84 2,231.58 2,637.33 3,043.06 3,651.68 Bletchley & Fenny Stratford (TC) 1,311.28 1,529.83 1,748.38 1,966.93 2,404.03 2,841.12 3,278.21 3,933.86 Bow Brickhill (PC) 1,290.55 1,505.64 1,720.73 1,935.83 2,366.02 2,796.20 3,226.38 3,871.66 Bradwell (PC) 1,224.69 1,428.82 1,632.93 1,837.05 2,245.28 2,653.52 3,061.74 3,674.10 Broughton & Milton Keynes (PC) 1,214.46 1,416.88 1,619.28 1,821.70 2,226.52 2,631.35 3,036.16 3,643.40 Calverton (PM) 1,173.14 1,368.67 1,564.19 1,759.72 2,150.77 2,541.82 2,932.86 3,519.44 Campbell Park (PC) 1,325.71 1,546.67 1,767.62 1,988.58 2,430.49 2,872.40 3,314.29 3,977.16 Castlethorpe (PC) 1,233.96 1,439.63 1,645.28 1,850.95 2,262.27 2,673.60 3,084.91 3,701.90 Central Milton Keynes (PC) 1,196.42 1,395.83 1,595.23 1,794.64 2,193.45 2,592.26 2,991.06 3,589.28 Chicheley (PM) 1,193.12 1,392.00 1,590.85 1,789.71 2,187.41 2,585.14 2,982.83 3,579.42 Clifton Reynes & Newton Blossomville (PC) 1,200.19 1,400.23 1,600.26 1,800.30 2,200.37 2,600.44 3,000.49 3,600.60 Cold Brayfield (PM) 1,173.14 1,368.67 1,564.19 1,759.72 2,150.77 2,541.82 2,932.86 3,519.44 Emberton (PC) 1,218.40 1,421.47 1,624.54 1,827.62 2,233.76 2,639.90 3,046.02 3,655.24 Fairfields (PM) 1,239.51 1,446.11 1,652.69 1,859.28 2,272.45 2,685.63 3,098.79 3,718.56 Gayhurst (PM) 1,189.67 1,387.96 1,586.24 1,784.52 2,181.09 2,577.65 2,974.19 3,569.04 Great Linford (PC) 1,253.54 1,462.47 1,671.39 1,880.32 2,298.17 2,716.02 3,133.86 3,760.64 Hanslope (PC) 1,236.68 1,442.80 1,648.91 1,855.03 2,267.26 2,679.49 3,091.71 3,710.06 Haversham & Little Linford (PC) 1,236.88 1,443.03 1,649.18 1,855.33 2,267.63 2,679.92 3,092.21 3,710.66 Kents Hill, Monkston & Brinklow (PC) 1,217.61 1,420.55 1,623.49 1,826.43 2,232.30 2,638.17 3,044.04 3,652.86 Lathbury (PM) 1,184.55 1,381.99 1,579.41 1,776.84 2,171.69 2,566.55 2,961.39 3,553.68 Lavendon (PC) 1,214.86 1,417.34 1,619.82 1,822.30 2,227.26 2,632.21 3,037.16 3,644.60 Little Brickhill (PC) 1,240.55 1,447.32 1,654.07 1,860.84 2,274.36 2,687.88 3,101.39 3,721.68 Loughton & Great Holm (PC) 1,203.65 1,404.27 1,604.87 1,805.49 2,206.70 2,607.92 3,009.14 3,610.98 Moulsoe (PC) 1,204.35 1,405.08 1,605.80 1,806.53 2,207.98 2,609.43 3,010.88 3,613.06 New Bradwell (PC) 1,230.03 1,435.04 1,640.04 1,845.05 2,255.06 2,665.07 3,075.08 3,690.10 Newport Pagnell (TC) 1,328.57 1,550.00 1,771.43 1,992.86 2,435.72 2,878.58 3,321.43 3,985.72 North Crawley (PC) 1,226.39 1,430.79 1,635.19 1,839.59 2,248.39 2,657.19 3,065.98 3,679.18 Olney (TC) 1,258.27 1,467.99 1,677.70 1,887.42 2,306.85 2,726.28 3,145.69 3,774.84 Old Woughton (PC) 1,217.08 1,419.93 1,622.78 1,825.63 2,231.33 2,637.02 3,042.71 3,651.26 Ravenstone (PC) 1,233.10 1,438.62 1,644.14 1,849.66 2,260.70 2,671.73 3,082.76 3,699.32 Shenley Brook End & Tattenhoe (PC) 1,246.47 1,454.23 1,661.97 1,869.72 2,285.21 2,700.71 3,116.19 3,739.44 Shenley Church End (PC) 1,227.81 1,432.45 1,637.08 1,841.72 2,250.99 2,660.26 3,069.53 3,683.44 Sherington (PC) 1,228.51 1,433.27 1,638.02 1,842.78 2,252.29 2,661.80 3,071.29 3,685.56 Simpson & Ashland (PC) 1,226.99 1,431.49 1,635.99 1,840.49 2,249.49 2,658.49 3,067.48 3,680.98 Stantonbury (PC) 1,272.91 1,485.06 1,697.21 1,909.37 2,333.68 2,757.98 3,182.28 3,818.74 Stoke Goldington (PC) 1,237.30 1,443.52 1,649.74 1,855.96 2,268.39 2,680.83 3,093.26 3,711.92 Stony Stratford (PC) 1,250.37 1,458.78 1,667.17 1,875.57 2,292.36 2,709.16 3,125.94 3,751.14 Tyringham & Filgrave (PM) 1,183.86 1,381.17 1,578.47 1,775.79 2,170.41 2,565.03 2,959.64 3,551.58 Walton (PC) 1,245.96 1,453.63 1,661.28 1,868.95 2,284.27 2,699.60 3,114.91 3,737.90 Warrington (PM) 1,173.14 1,368.67 1,564.19 1,759.72 2,150.77 2,541.82 2,932.86 3,519.44 Wavendon (PC) 1,217.45 1,420.37 1,623.27 1,826.19 2,232.01 2,637.83 3,043.64 3,652.38 West Bletchley (PC) 1,294.63 1,510.41 1,726.18 1,941.96 2,373.51 2,805.06 3,236.59 3,883.92 Weston Underwood (PC) 1,233.55 1,439.14 1,644.73 1,850.33 2,261.52 2,672.70 3,083.88 3,700.66 Whitehouse (PM) 1,234.28 1,440.00 1,645.71 1,851.43 2,262.86 2,674.29 3,085.71 3,702.86 Woburn Sands (TC) 1,257.13 1,466.66 1,676.18 1,885.71 2,304.76 2,723.81 3,142.84 3,771.42 Wolverton & Greenleys (TC) 1,321.41 1,541.65 1,761.88 1,982.12 2,422.59 2,863.06 3,303.53 3,964.24 Woughton (PC) 1,402.52 1,636.28 1,870.03 2,103.79 2,571.30 3,038.81 3,506.31 4,207.58     AVERAGE AMOUNT 1,260.16 1,470.19 1,680.21 1,890.24 2,310.29 2,730.35 3,150.40 3,780.48 Appendix B 2025/26 TOTAL AMOUNT OF COUNCIL TAX NOTE: Amount of Council Tax includes Police, Fire Authority and parish precepts AREAS BAND A BAND B BAND C BAND D BAND E BAND F BAND G BAND H   £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ Abbey Hill [formerly Bradwell Abbey] (PC) 1,464.10 1,708.11 1,952.13 2,196.16 2,684.20 3,172.23 3,660.26 4,392.32 Astwood & Hardmead (PC) 1,462.38 1,706.12 1,949.84 2,193.58 2,681.04 3,168.51 3,655.96 4,387.16 Bletchley & Fenny Stratford (TC) 1,556.44 1,815.85 2,075.26 2,334.67 2,853.49 3,372.30 3,891.11 4,669.34 Bow Brickhill (PC) 1,535.71 1,791.66 2,047.61 2,303.57 2,815.48 3,327.38 3,839.28 4,607.14 Bradwell (PC) 1,469.85 1,714.84 1,959.81 2,204.79 2,694.74 3,184.70 3,674.64 4,409.58 Broughton & Milton Keynes (PC) 1,459.62 1,702.90 1,946.16 2,189.44 2,675.98 3,162.53 3,649.06 4,378.88 Calverton (PM) 1,418.30 1,654.69 1,891.07 2,127.46 2,600.23 3,073.00 3,545.76 4,254.92 Campbell Park (PC) 1,570.87 1,832.69 2,094.50 2,356.32 2,879.95 3,403.58 3,927.19 4,712.64 Castlethorpe (PC) 1,479.12 1,725.65 1,972.16 2,218.69 2,711.73 3,204.78 3,697.81 4,437.38 Central Milton Keynes (PC) 1,441.58 1,681.85 1,922.11 2,162.38 2,642.91 3,123.44 3,603.96 4,324.76 Chicheley (PM) 1,438.28 1,678.02 1,917.73 2,157.45 2,636.87 3,116.32 3,595.73 4,314.90 Clifton Reynes & Newton Blossomville (PC) 1,445.35 1,686.25 1,927.14 2,168.04 2,649.83 3,131.62 3,613.39 4,336.08 Cold Brayfield (PM) 1,418.30 1,654.69 1,891.07 2,127.46 2,600.23 3,073.00 3,545.76 4,254.92 Emberton (PC) 1,463.56 1,707.49 1,951.42 2,195.36 2,683.22 3,171.08 3,658.92 4,390.72 Fairfields (PM) 1,484.67 1,732.13 1,979.57 2,227.02 2,721.91 3,216.81 3,711.69 4,454.04 Gayhurst (PM) 1,434.83 1,673.98 1,913.12 2,152.26 2,630.55 3,108.83 3,587.09 4,304.52 Great Linford (PC) 1,498.70 1,748.49 1,998.27 2,248.06 2,747.63 3,247.20 3,746.76 4,496.12 Hanslope (PC) 1,481.84 1,728.82 1,975.79 2,222.77 2,716.72 3,210.67 3,704.61 4,445.54 Haversham & Little Linford (PC) 1,482.04 1,729.05 1,976.06 2,223.07 2,717.09 3,211.10 3,705.11 4,446.14 Kents Hill, Monkston & Brinklow (PC) 1,462.77 1,706.57 1,950.37 2,194.17 2,681.76 3,169.35 3,656.94 4,388.34 Lathbury (PM) 1,429.71 1,668.01 1,906.29 2,144.58 2,621.15 3,097.73 3,574.29 4,289.16 Lavendon (PC) 1,460.02 1,703.36 1,946.70 2,190.04 2,676.72 3,163.39 3,650.06 4,380.08 Little Brickhill (PC) 1,485.71 1,733.34 1,980.95 2,228.58 2,723.82 3,219.06 3,714.29 4,457.16 Loughton & Great Holm (PC) 1,448.81 1,690.29 1,931.75 2,173.23 2,656.16 3,139.10 3,622.04 4,346.46 Moulsoe (PC) 1,449.51 1,691.10 1,932.68 2,174.27 2,657.44 3,140.61 3,623.78 4,348.54 New Bradwell (PC) 1,475.19 1,721.06 1,966.92 2,212.79 2,704.52 3,196.25 3,687.98 4,425.58 Newport Pagnell (TC) 1,573.73 1,836.02 2,098.31 2,360.60 2,885.18 3,409.76 3,934.33 4,721.20 North Crawley (PC) 1,471.55 1,716.81 1,962.07 2,207.33 2,697.85 3,188.37 3,678.88 4,414.66 Olney (TC) 1,503.43 1,754.01 2,004.58 2,255.16 2,756.31 3,257.46 3,758.59 4,510.32 Old Woughton (PC) 1,462.24 1,705.95 1,949.66 2,193.37 2,680.79 3,168.20 3,655.61 4,386.74 Ravenstone (PC) 1,478.26 1,724.64 1,971.02 2,217.40 2,710.16 3,202.91 3,695.66 4,434.80 Shenley Brook End & Tattenhoe (PC) 1,491.63 1,740.25 1,988.85 2,237.46 2,734.67 3,231.89 3,729.09 4,474.92 Shenley Church End (PC) 1,472.97 1,718.47 1,963.96 2,209.46 2,700.45 3,191.44 3,682.43 4,418.92 Sherington (PC) 1,473.67 1,719.29 1,964.90 2,210.52 2,701.75 3,192.98 3,684.19 4,421.04 Simpson & Ashland (PC) 1,472.15 1,717.51 1,962.87 2,208.23 2,698.95 3,189.67 3,680.38 4,416.46 Stantonbury (PC) 1,518.07 1,771.08 2,024.09 2,277.11 2,783.14 3,289.16 3,795.18 4,554.22 Stoke Goldington (PC) 1,482.46 1,729.54 1,976.62 2,223.70 2,717.85 3,212.01 3,706.16 4,447.40 Stony Stratford (PC) 1,495.53 1,744.80 1,994.05 2,243.31 2,741.82 3,240.34 3,738.84 4,486.62 Tyringham & Filgrave (PM) 1,429.02 1,667.19 1,905.35 2,143.53 2,619.87 3,096.21 3,572.54 4,287.06 Walton (PC) 1,491.12 1,739.65 1,988.16 2,236.69 2,733.73 3,230.78 3,727.81 4,473.38 Warrington (PM) 1,418.30 1,654.69 1,891.07 2,127.46 2,600.23 3,073.00 3,545.76 4,254.92 Wavendon (PC) 1,462.61 1,706.39 1,950.15 2,193.93 2,681.47 3,169.01 3,656.54 4,387.86 West Bletchley (PC) 1,539.79 1,796.43 2,053.06 2,309.70 2,822.97 3,336.24 3,849.49 4,619.40 Weston Underwood (PC) 1,478.71 1,725.16 1,971.61 2,218.07 2,710.98 3,203.88 3,696.78 4,436.14 Whitehouse (PM) 1,479.44 1,726.02 1,972.59 2,219.17 2,712.32 3,205.47 3,698.61 4,438.34 Woburn Sands (TC) 1,502.29 1,752.68 2,003.06 2,253.45 2,754.22 3,254.99 3,755.74 4,506.90 Wolverton & Greenleys (TC) 1,566.57 1,827.67 2,088.76 2,349.86 2,872.05 3,394.24 3,916.43 4,699.72 Woughton (PC) 1,647.68 1,922.30 2,196.91 2,471.53 3,020.76 3,569.99 4,119.21 4,943.06     AVERAGE AMOUNT 1,505.32 1,756.21 2,007.09 2,257.98 2,759.75 3,261.53 3,763.30 4,515.96