Decision details

To approve the General Fund Budget for 2025/26, including the use of reserves, Medium Term Financial Strategy, Capital Programme and Strategy, Treasury management Policy/Strategy and the Annual Delivery Plan including the approval of Council Tax levels for recommendation to Full Council.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the results of the Budget Consultation process (at Appendix 7) be noted; and

2.     That the following recommendations be submitted to Full Council on 3^rd March 2025 for approval:

a)    That the Revenue Estimates for the General Fund and BTAC for 2025/26 (Appendices 1, 1a and 1b) be approved and that the Councillor Grant Scheme be reintroduced, with each Councillor being given £1,000 to allocate to projects within their ward, to be funded from the contingency reserve fund;

b)    That the Council Tax for a Band D property in 2025/26 be set at £223.65 (a £7.56 per annum increase on 2024/25 levels);

c)    That the Council tax for a band D property in 2025/26 for BTAC be set at £81.09 (a 72p per annum increase on 2024/25 levels);

d)    That the additions to and use of reserves (as detailed at Appendix 1) be approved;

e)    That the Medium Term Financial Strategy (at Appendix 1) be approved;

f)      That the Capital Programme and Capital Strategy (Appendices 2 and 3) be approved;

g)    That the Section 25 addendum (Appendix 1) be noted;

h)    That the Treasury Management Policy Statement and Treasury Management Strategy Statement including MRP Policy (at Appendix 4a and 4b) be approved;

i)      That the proposed Fees and Charges Schedule as set out in Appendix 5 be approved; and

j)      That the Annual Delivery Plan for 2025/26 (Appendix 6) be approved.

To comply with the budgetary and policy framework and legislative requirement.

No other options were considered.