Decision details

1. To approve the Final Budget for 2024/25 and MTFS to 2026/27 and recommend to Full Council.

2. To approve the Council Tax for 2024/25 and recommend to Full Council.

Resolved to RECOMMEND:  (to Council)

That

(1)            the 2024/25 budget be approved, to enable the Council Tax for 2024/25 to be set;

(2)            the Model Council Tax Resolution 2024/25 be approved as set out in Appendix 11 of the officer report;

(3)            in accordance with Section 38 (2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Managing Director be instructed to place a notice in the local press of the amounts set under recommendation 2 above within a period of 21 days following the Council’s decision;

(4)            it be referred to make a determination to apply the new council tax premium for empty furnished properties (under section 11C of the Local Government Finance Act 1992) at a premium of 100% from 1 April 2025 (Paragraphs 1.21-1.24 of the officer report);

(5)            additional funding be noted, namely Social Care Grant and Funding Guarantee, announced by Government on 24 January 2024 for Local Government at the Final Settlement, which was published on 5 February 2024 (Paragraph 1.05 of the officer report);

(6)            the Medium-Term Financial Strategy be approved, (Appendix 2 of the officer report);

(7)            the balanced budget position for 2024/25 and the estimated budget gap of £10.880m and £6.732m for 2025/26 and 2026/27 respectively (Table 2 of the officer report), be noted;

(8)            the intention to increase core Council Tax by 2.99% in 2024/25 (Paragraph 1.17 of the officer report), be noted;

(9)            the intention to increase Council Tax by a further 2% in 2024/25 in respect of the Adult Social Care Precept (Paragraph 1.19 of the officer report) be noted;

(10)        the 2024/25 budgets for Schools and Public Health as set out in Appendices 6 & 7 of the officer report, be noted;

(11)        the proposal to increase funding to Additionally Resourced Mainstream Units by 3.4% (within the High Needs Block) (Paragraph 1.43 of the officer report), be noted;

(12)        the proposal to provide additional funding for pupils with Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) in mainstream schools of 7% (Paragraph 1.46 of the officer report), be noted;

(13)        the assumed funding for the protection of social care 2024/25 through the Better Care Fund (Paragraphs 1.58 to 1.61 of the officer report), be noted;.

(14)        the 2024/25 Annual Pay Policy Statement be approved (Appendix 12 of the officer report).

(15)        the Capital Receipts Flexibility Strategy  be approved (Appendix 13 of the officer report).

Reason for Recommendations: This would ensure that the Council sets a balanced budget for 2024/25.

[Call-in did not apply to the decision above as it was reserved to full Council.]