Agenda item

Report of Councillor P Kerry, Deputy Leader of the Council with responsibility for Finance.

The report to Council sought approval for 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.

Members were informed that Cabinet had considered and endorsed the proposals at its meeting on 15 January 2026 following on from scrutiny at the Joint Scrutiny Committee on 14 January 2026.

The Director of Finance and Resources and Section 151 Officer gave a presentation on the budget proposals. Members then asked any technical questions of the officer.

Councillor P Kerry, Deputy Leader of the Council, provided background to the budget setting and moved a Motion that Council approve recommendations 1 to 6 in the report.  Councillor N Barker spoke and seconded the Motion.

Councillor A Dale moved an amendment to freeze Council Tax (to amend recommendation 3 to 0% instead of 2.99%). This was seconded by Councillor Helen Wetherall.

Councillors M Thacker MBE, K Gillott, H Wetherall, R Shipman, D Hancock, J Barry and F Adlington-Stringer spoke regarding the budget proposal and amendment.

The amendment was put to the vote. As required by law this was taken as a recorded vote.  The amendment failed.

For: 14

Councillors F Adlington-Stringer, N Baker, S Clough, A Dale, L Deighton, M Foster, P Jones, W Jones, H Liggett, R Spooner, J Stokes, M Thacker MBE, R Welton, H Wetherall

Against: 27

Councillors N Barker, J Barry, G Baxter, R Beech, J Birkin, D Cheetham, A Cooper, S Cornwell, S Fawcett, C Fletcher, C Gare, K Gillott, D Hancock, L Hartshorne, D Higgon, P Kerry, C Lacey, T Lacey, F Petersen, S Pickering, M Roe, K Rouse, R Shipman, D Skinner, Caroline Smith, M Smith, L Stone

Councillor R Shipman moved an amendment to increase Council Tax by 1% (to amend recommendation 3 to 1% instead of 2.99%). This was seconded by Councillor D Hancock.

The amendment was put to the vote. As required by law this was taken as a recorded vote.  The amendment failed.

For: 16

Councillors F Adlington-Stringer, N Baker, S Clough, A Dale, M Foster, D Hancock, P Jones, W Jones, H Liggett, M Roe, R Shipman, R Spooner, J Stokes, M Thacker MBE, R Welton, H Wetherall

Against: 24

Councillors N Barker, J Barry, G Baxter, R Beech, J Birkin, D Cheetham, A Cooper, S Cornwell, S Fawcett, C Fletcher, C Gare, K Gillott, L Hartshorne, D Higgon, P Kerry, C Lacey, T Lacey, F Petersen, S Pickering, K Rouse, D Skinner, Caroline Smith, M Smith, L Stone

The original Motion was put to the vote. As required by law this was taken as a recorded vote. The Motion was approved.

For: 23

Councillors N Barker, J Barry, G Baxter, R Beech, J Birkin, D Cheetham, A Cooper, S Cornwell, S Fawcett, C Fletcher, C Gare, K Gillott, L Hartshorne, D Higgon, P Kerry, C Lacey, F Petersen, S Pickering, K Rouse, D Skinner, Caroline Smith, M Smith, L Stone

Against: 17

Councillors F Adlington-Stringer, N Baker, S Clough, A Dale, L Deighton, M Foster, D Hancock, P Jones, W Jones, H Liggett, M Roe, R Shipman, R Spooner, J Stokes, M Thacker MBE, R Welton, H Wetherall

RESOLVED – That:

(1)  that the view of the Director of Finance and 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; be accepted.

(2)  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

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

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

(5)  that the General Fund Capital Programme be approved as the Current Budget in respect of 2025/26, and as the Approved Programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30.

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

Councillor P Kerry moved a Motion that Council approve recommendations 7 to 11 in the report.  Councillor N Barker spoke and seconded the Motion.

The Motion was put to the vote. As required by law this was taken as a recorded vote. The Motion was approved.

For: 32

Councillors F Adlington-Stringer, N Baker, N Barker, J Barry, G Baxter, R Beech, D Cheetham, S Clough, A Cooper, A Dale, S Fawcett, C Fletcher, M Foster, C Gare, K Gillott, L Hartshorne, D Higgon, P Jones, W Jones, P Kerry, C Lacey, H Liggett, F Petersen, S Pickering, K Rouse, R Shipman, D Skinner, Caroline Smith, M Smith, R Spooner, L Stone, H Wetherall

Against: 2

Councillors D Hancock, M Roe

RESOLVED – That:

(1)  the Council sets its rent levels for 2026/27 be increasing rents by 4.8% from 1^st April 2026.

(2)  the Medium Term Financial Plan in respect of the Housing Revenue Account as set out in the report to Cabinet (Appendix 1) be 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.

(3)  that the HRA Capital Programme be approved as the Current Budget in respect of 2025/26, and as the Approved Programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30.

(4)  that the Management Free for undertaking housing services at £13.962m and the Management Free for undertaking capital works at £1.1m to Rykneld Homes in respect of 2026/27 be approved.

(5)  that Members note the requirement to provide Rykneld Homes with a ‘letter of comfort’ to the company’s auditors and grant delegated authority to the Council’s Director of Finance and Resources in consultation with the Leader of the Council to agree the contents of that letter.