Councillor David Howes

...to recommend to the Full Council the 2025/26 Housing Revenue Account Budget, a 2.7% increase in dwelling rents for 2025/26, and the Housing Revenue Account Medium Term Financial Plan for 2026/27 to 2029/30.

...to recommend to Council for approval the General Fund Final Budget 2025-26 and Medium-Term Financial Plan, including a revenue budget of £827.905m, a Council Tax requirement of £214.835m, an average Band D Council Tax of £1,827.06, pressures of £51.6m, savings of £26.3m, a Dedicated Schools Grant budget of £427.2m, and a contingency sum of £2.6m, along with the Treasury Management Strategy for 2025-26 and the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy.

...to receive the Annual Budget Scrutiny Report for 2025/26, endorse the enhanced budget scrutiny process, and delegate authority to Executive Directors to agree on an action plan to respond to the report's recommendations.

...to recommend to the Full Council the approval of the General Fund and HRA Capital Programmes for 2025-29, the Capital Strategy including a borrowing limit of £749.1m, and amendments to the Constitution reflecting changes in the Capital Strategy, while also delegating authority to the Executive Director of Finance and Performance to agree on necessary variations to the capital budget before April 1, 2025.

...to endorse a draft consultation response regarding the proposed Green Hill Solar Farm and delegate authority to the Executive Director of Place and Economy to respond to consultations during the Development Consent Order stages and to deal with post-decision matters if development consent is granted.