Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial

Further to Minute No. 110 of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 13 February 2025, the Council considered the report of the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial that set out:

·       An assessment of the Council’s current financial position and approach to the 2025/26 Budget Plan and preparation for the additional two-year budget period 2026/27 to 2027/28.

·       An update on the Government’s announcement of resources that were available to the Council for 2025/26.

·       The Council’s current financial position and the assumptions built into the Medium-Term Financial Plan.

·       The proposed Budget for 2025/26; and,

·       The proposed Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2027/28.

The report also set out the financial strategy of the Council and the national and local financial context within which it was operating. The Council had a statutory requirement to remain financially sustainable and to balance its budget every year.

The following appendices were attached to the report:

·       Individual School Budgets 2025/26

·       Budget Saving Proposals / Mitigations 2025/26 – 2027/28

·       Draft Council Budget Summary 2025/26

·       Capital Programme 2025/26 – 2027/28

The Council also considered supplementary notes on the final charges set by levying bodies and the final demands set by all precepting authorities (including parishes); an updated Draft Council Budget Summary 2025/26; and a copy of the draft Council Tax resolution for 2025/26, which had been published prior to the Council meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Atkinson, seconded by Councillor Moncur:

That:

Budget 2025/26 and Medium-Term Financial Plan from 2026/27 to 2027/28

(1)      the update of the Medium-Term Financial Plan for the period 2025/26 to 2027/28 be noted;

(2)      the Revenue Budget for 2025/26 be approved and officers be authorised to undertake all of the necessary actions to implement the budget changes and proposals as detailed within the report;

(3)      the commencement of all appropriate activity required to implement the budget savings proposals as detailed in the report, be approved, including for example, consultation with employees and engagement with partners and contractual changes as the programme develops;

(4)      it be noted that officers will comply with agreed HR policies and procedures, including relevant consultation with Trade Unions and reports to the Cabinet Member - Corporate Services, as required;

(5)      the Schools’ Forum decisions on the Dedicated Schools Grant and Individual School Budgets, as set out at section 12 of the report, be noted;

(6)      the allocation of specific grants as detailed in the report, as set out at section 13, be approved;

(7)      subject to the recommendations above, the overall Council Tax resolution for 2025/26 including Police, Fire, Mayoral and Parish Precepts, be approved;

Capital Programme 2025/26 to 2027/28

(8)      the full list of projects in Appendix D to the report be approved for inclusion within the Capital Programme;

(9)      a supplementary capital estimate of £1.500m for the demolition of Vine House funded by prudential borrowing, as set out at section 17 of the report, be approved;

(10)    a supplementary capital estimate of £0.500m for Food Waste Management funded by prudential borrowing, as set out at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 104

Report of the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial

Further to Minute No. 44 of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Regulatory, Compliance and Corporate Services) held on 11 February 2025, the Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial that set out:

·       An assessment of the Council’s current financial position and approach to the 2025/26 Budget Plan and preparation for the additional two-year budget period 2026/27 to 2027/28.

·       An update on the Government’s announcement of resources that were available to the Council for 2025/26.

·       The Council’s current financial position and the assumptions built into the Medium-Term Financial Plan.

·       The proposed Budget for 2025/26; and,

·       The proposed Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2027/28.

The report also set out the financial strategy of the Council and the national and local financial context within which it was operating. The Council had a statutory requirement to remain financially sustainable and to balance its budget every year.

The following appendices were attached to the report:

·       Individual School Budgets 2025/26

·       Budget Saving Proposals / Mitigations 2025/26 – 2027/28

·       Draft Council Budget Summary 2025/26

·       Capital Programme 2025/26 – 2027/28

Cabinet Members asked questions/commented on the following issues:

·       Budget challenges due to increasing costs;

·       The new government’s commitment to a fundamental review of local government funding that will inform the next three-year settlement from 2026/27; and

·       Thanks to officers for their work on the budget, particularly to the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial, as it was his last Sefton budget prior to taking up a new role in another local authority.

Decisions Made:

That

(1)      the update of the Medium-Term Financial Plan for the period 2025/26 to 2027/28 be noted;

(2)      the Council be recommended to approve the Budget Plan for 2025/26, including the Revenue Budget, allocation of specific grants, as set out at section 13 of the report, and the Capital Programme, as set out at Appendix D to the report, and authorise officers to undertake the necessary actions to implement the recommendations;

(3)      the Schools’ Forum decisions on the Dedicated Schools Grant and Individual School Budgets, as set out at section 12 of the report, be noted

(4)      the application of the 2025/26 Dedicated Schools Grant funding for Schools; Early Years; High Needs and Central Schools Support agreed by the Schools’ Forum, as set out at section 12 of the report, be approved;

(5)      authority be delegated to the Head of Health and Wellbeing / Director of Public Health, in consultation with Cabinet Member - Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion, to formalise the agreement relating to the Drug and Alcohol Treatment and Recovery Improvement Grant, and to issue a contract variation to uplift the service contract in line with the Grant funding as per existing arrangements, as set out at section 13 of the report;

(6)      the Council be recommended to approve a supplementary capital estimate of £1.500m for the demolition of Vine House funded by prudential borrowing, as set out at section 17 of the report;

(7)      the Council be recommended to approve a supplementary  ...  view the full minutes text for item 110

Report of the Executive Director – Corporate Services and Commercial

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Services and Commercial on the Revenue and Capital Budget Plan 2025/26 – 2027/28 and Council Tax 2025/26.

The report provided:

·       An assessment of the Council’s current financial position and approach to the 2025/26 Budget Plan and preparation for the additional two-year budget period 2026/27 to 2027/28.

·       An update on the Government’s announcement of resources that are available to the Council for 2025/26.

·       The Council’s current financial position and the assumptions built into the Medium-Term Financial Plan.

·       The proposed Budget for 2025/26; and

·       The proposed Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2027/28.

The report also set out the financial strategy of the Council and the national and local financial context within which it was operating; and that the Council had a statutory requirement to remain financially sustainable and to balance its budget every year.

Attached as appendices to the report were the individual school budgets 2025/26; budget saving proposals; draft Council budget summary 2025/26; and the Capital Programme 2025/26 – 2027/28.

This report would also be considered by Cabinet and Council at their meetings to be held on 13 and 27 February 2025 respectively. The Council would be recommended: