The Corporate Infrastructure and Regulatory Services Scrutiny Committee met on Tuesday 21 July 2026 to review the Locality Budget Annual Report and the Treasury Management Annual Report. The committee agreed to undertake a survey of elected members regarding their experiences with the locality budget and to note the Treasury Management report.

Locality Budget Annual Report

The committee reviewed the Locality Budget Annual Report for 2025-2026, which detailed the £399,900 allocated by councillors to support local projects and activities. Councillors discussed the effectiveness of the scheme, with some highlighting its significant positive impact on their communities. Councillor Michael Mitchell suggested that the annual report could provide more detailed information on spending patterns, the number of allocations made by each member, and whether there was a pattern of regular customers receiving funding. He proposed that this additional detail would help encourage better use of the fund, particularly in urban areas.

Councillor Nick Hookway proposed that the committee recommend to the Cabinet a review of the locality budget allowance with a view to increasing it, citing inflationary pressures and the significant benefit even small amounts of funding could provide. Councillor James Wachowski, Cabinet Member for Finance and Public Value, noted that while the administration supported the scheme, any increase would need to be considered within the context of the wider council budget.

A significant portion of the discussion focused on how to gather more comprehensive feedback from all councillors on the locality budget. Councillor Michael Mitchell proposed a survey of all 60 members to understand their experiences and views on the direction of the locality grant. This was supported by Councillor Nick Hookway, who suggested that the results of such a survey should be fed into the allocation process for the 2027-2028 budget and the medium-term financial strategy. Councillor Simon Rake, Head of Communities, confirmed that a survey could be drafted and reviewed.

The committee ultimately agreed on two recommendations:

• To note the Locality Budget Annual Report.
• That a survey be undertaken of elected members to understand the use patterns, requests, and barriers to the use of locality budgets. The results of this survey are to be brought to a future committee and fed into the locality budget allocation for the 2027-2028 budget and the medium-term financial strategy.

Councillor Robin Julian and Councillor Jim Cairney proposed these recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Jim Cairney and Councillor Debo Sellis respectively. Councillor Thomas Richardson abstained from voting on these recommendations.

Treasury Management Annual Report

The committee also considered the Treasury Management Stewardship Annual Report for 2025-2026. Councillor James Wachowski, Cabinet Member for Finance and Public Value, presented the report, highlighting a strong year with effective management of borrowing and investments, resulting in investment income exceeding the budget and savings on interest charges due to refinancing activities. Mark Gayler, Assistant Director for Pensions and Investments, provided further detail, noting that the authority had repaid and refinanced loans totalling approximately £44 million, leading to annual revenue savings of £360,000. Overall interest charges were over £1 million less than budgeted.

Councillor Geoff Reid raised questions regarding the High Needs Stability Grant, which is expected to cover 90% of the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) deficit. He inquired about the remaining 10% and any associated grant conditions. Councillor Wachowski explained that while the 90% would be a significant boost to cashflow, the remaining 10% and the ongoing deficit accruing in the current financial year would still need to be managed, with the government's long-term plan for SEND deficits still awaited.

Councillor Michael Mitchell sought clarification on the capital programme and borrowing, questioning whether the authority could deliver its ambitious capital programme, thus necessitating the level of borrowing. Councillor Wachowski assured the committee that affordability was a key consideration when setting the capital programme and that resources would be in place to fund it.

The committee noted the report, with the recommendation to do so being proposed by the Chair and seconded by Councillor Debo Sellis.