Decision details

RESOLVED –

That Cabinet recommend to Council:

(1)  The budget in respect of the General Fund as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be approved as the Current Budget for 2023/24.

(2)  The budget in respect of the HRA as set out in Appendix 3 of the report be approved as the Current Budget for 2023/24.

(3)  The Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 4 of the report be approved as the Current Budget for 2023/24.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To prepare revised budgets as early as possible within the financial year to provide sufficient time to allow any planned changes to be delivered. The Council has faced financial challenges this year, putting pressure on the ability to set a balanced General Fund budget but careful budget management, use of reserves ringfenced for providing resilience when needed, and the ongoing progression of the transformation agenda has mitigated this.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – There are no alternative options being considered at this time. How resources are utilised is ultimately a decision Members will take as part of the 2024/25 Medium Term Financial Planning process.

Please note that this was not a Key Decision so can be implemented by officers with immediate effect.