Agenda and draft minutes

RESOLVED – that Councillor M Smith be appointed as Chair for the meeting.

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors S Clough, S Cornwell, M Durrant, L Harthorne, C Lacey, F Petersen, R Shipman and R Welton.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or other interests, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record and the Chair to sign the attached Minutes of the meeting held on 16 January 2025.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the Joint Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 16 January 2025 be approved as a correct record.

To consider the Cabinet report which will be published on Wednesday 7 January 2026, and can be accessed online at https://democracy.ne-derbyshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=1137&MId=3073&Ver=4

Report of the Director of Finance & Resources and Section 151 Officer

Councillor P Kerry, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance, introduced the draft Medium Term Financial Plan 2025/26 – 2029/30, which would be presented to Council on 26 January 2026.

Councillor Kerry talked about the budget setting process, a key part of which had been the upcoming business rate reset, which was the first reset since 2013. The reset removed all previous growth, significantly affecting the Council’s business rate income.  An increase to Council Tax of 2.99% was being proposed.

The importance of rent affordability for tenants was emphasised, with consideration also given to rising costs pressures on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). The housing service had recently been awarded a C1 rating, however the financial burden of regulatory and compliance requirements was beginning to have a notable impact.  Consequently, a rent increase of 4.8% was proposed.

The Director of Finance and Resources (Section 151 Officer) gave a presentation which summarised the draft Medium Term Financial Plan. This included details of:

·       General Fund

o   Funding Reforms

o   Waste Reforms

o   Revenue Support Grant (RSG) and Transitional Protection

o   Business Rates

o   Recovery Grant

o   Local Government Reorganisation

o   Council Tax

o   2025/26 Budget

o   2026/27 Original Budget

o   Forecast 2027/28 – 2029/30

o   Reserves

·       Housing Update

o   Housing Revenue Account (HRA)

·       Capital Investment Programme

Members thanked the Director of Finance and Resources (Section 151 Officer) for their presentation and the work in preparing the budget.

To consider any other matter which the Chair of the Committee is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency.  

None.