Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of absence.

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

Councillor K Gillott declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in relation to the Agenda Item titled ‘Medium Term Financial Plan 2025/26 – 2029/30’, as a Board Member at Rykneld Homes Ltd. He indicated that he would leave the room at the appropriate time and would not participate in the consideration or determination of recommendations 8-12 (relating to the Housing Revenue Account).

Councillor S Pickering informed Cabiet that in relation to the Agenda Item titled ‘Medium Term Financial Plan 2025/26 – 2029/30’, he rented a property from Rykneld Homes. 

To approve as a correct record and the Leader to sign the attached Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 27 November 2025 and the Special Cabinet held on 18 December 2025.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 November and extraordinary meeting held on 18 December 2025 were approved as correct records.

Report of Councillor P R Kerry, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership and Finance

RESOLVED

1.     That all recommendations below are referred to the Council meeting of 26 January 2026.

The following recommendations to Council are made:

2.     That the view of the Director of Finance & Resources, that the  estimates included in the Medium-Term Financial Plan 2025/26 to 2029/30 are robust and that the level of financial reserves are adequate at this time, is accepted.

3.     That officers report back to Cabinet and the Services Scrutiny Committee on a quarterly basis regarding the overall position in respect of the Council’s budgets.

General Fund

4.     A Council Tax increase of £6.48 will be levied in respect of a notional Band D property (2.99%).

5.     The Medium-Term Financial Plan in respect of the General Fund as set out in Appendix 1 of this report was approved as the Current Budget 2025/26, as the Agenda Item 4 Original Budget 2026/27, and as the financial projections in respect of 2027/28 to 2029/30.

6.     That the General Fund Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 4 was approved as the Current Budget in respect of 2025/26, and as the Approved Programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30.

7.     That budget under spends be transferred to the Resilience Reserve to provide increased financial resilience for future years of the plan.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA)

8.     That Council set its rent levels for 2026/27 in consideration of the Social Housing Rent Standard increasing rents by 4.8% from 1st April 2026.

9.     The Medium-Term Financial Plan in respect of the Housing Revenue Account as set out in Appendix 3 of this report was approved as the Current Budget in respect of 2025/26, as the Original Budget in respect of 2026/27, and the financial projection in respect of 2027/28 to 2029/30.

10. That the HRA Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 4 was approved as the Current Budget in respect of 2025/26, and as the Approved Programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30.

11. That the Management Fee for undertaking housing services at £13.962m and the Management Fee for undertaking capital works at £1.1m to Rykneld Homes in respect of 2026/27 was approved.

12. That Members noted the requirement to provide Rykneld Homes with a ‘letter of comfort’ to the company’s auditors and granted delegated authority to the Council’s Director of Finance & Resources (S151 Officer) in consultation with the Deputy Leader of the Council to agree the contents of that letter.

This was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval of the Current Budget for 2025/26 and Original Budget for 2026/27 for the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Programme as part of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan covering the years 2025/26 to 2029/30.  The report made a number of recommendations proposing to be taken by Council on 26 January 2025. 

With the agreement of the Leader, the report recommendations were considered and taken in two parts. Cabinet would consider recommendations 1-7 (relating to the General Fund) followed by recommendations 8-12 (relating to the Housing Revenue Account).

Cabinet considered the report and recommendations 1-7. Some Members suggested that the proposed council tax increase was sensible, necessary for services to be fully funded and provided resilience for future years. Cabinet agreed to pass recommendations 1-7.

Councillor K Gillott left the meeting

Cabinet considered the report and recommendations 8-12. It was highlighted that the proposed rent levels would allow for contingency and resilience. Some Members suggested that it wasn’t an easy decision to increase rents, however it was a necessary decision as additional costs were approaching and there was a need for contingency. Some Members highlighted that Rykneld Homes had achieved a C1 score from the regulator and expressed positivity at the level of service provided. Cabinet agreed to pass recommendations 8-12.

RESOLVED –

1. That all recommendations below are referred to the Council meeting of 26 January 2026.

The following recommendations to Council are made:

2. That the view of the Director of Finance & Resources, that the estimates included in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2025/26 to 2029/30 are robust and that the level of financial reserves are adequate at this time, is accepted.

3. That officers report back to Cabinet and the Services Scrutiny Committee on a quarterly basis regarding the overall position in respect of the Council’s budgets.

General Fund

4. A Council Tax increase of £6.48 will be levied in respect of a notional Band D property (2.99%).

5. The Medium-Term Financial Plan in respect of the General Fund as set out in Appendix 1 of the report was approved as the Current Budget 2025/26, as the Original Budget 2026/27, and as the financial projections in respect of 2027/28 to 2029/30.

6. That the General Fund Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 4 was approved as the Current Budget in respect of 2025/26, and as the Approved Programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30.

7. That budget under spends be transferred to the Resilience Reserve to provide increased financial resilience for future years of the plan.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA)

8. That Council set its rent levels for 2026/27 in consideration of the Social Housing Rent Standard increasing rents by 4.8% from 1st April 2026.

9. The Medium-Term Financial Plan in respect of the Housing Revenue Account as set out in Appendix 3 of the report was approved as the Current Budget in respect of 2025/26, as the Original Budget in respect of 2026/27, and the financial projection in respect of 2027/28 to 2029/30.

10. That the HRA Capital Programme as  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB/61/25-26

Report of Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place

RESOLVED

That Cabinet noted the contents of this report and endorsed its inclusion on the agenda for the Council meeting on 26 January 2026 and the next available Environment Scrutiny Committee meeting after that date.

This was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers.

Cabinet considered a report which gave an update on the work that had been undertaken to develop a new Local Plan. The report explained the importance of having an up-to-date Plan and included a summary of determining a sustainable strategy for development, the consultations so far, the evidence base updates, future consultation requirements and priorities for the next six months.

Cabinet discussed the report. Some Members acknowledged the importance of an up-to-date Local Plan and therefore the importance of engaging in the process of developing a new Local Plan, despite the perceived challenges of meeting the housing target.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet noted the contents of this report and endorsed its inclusion on the agenda for the Council meeting on 26 January 2026 and the next available Environment Scrutiny Committee meeting after that date.

This was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers.

Report of Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place

RESOLVED

That the item was deferred.

Cabinet agreed to defer the item due to a technical issue that needed to be considered.

RESOLVED

That the item was deferred.

To consider any other matter which the Leader is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with the provisions of Statutory Instrument 2012 No 2089, Regulations 5 and 11.

None.