Agenda item

RESOLVED

That (i)   the £2.5m of savings in 2025/26, rising to £4.7m by 2027/28 as set-out in Appendix 1 to the report be agreed, subject to any comments received from Resource and Finance Scrutiny Committee;

        (ii)  the £2.4m of growth pressures in 2025/26, rising to £3.2m by 2027/28 as set-out in Appendix 2 to the report be agreed, subject to any comments received from Resource and Finance Scrutiny Committee;

        (iii)  the Equality Impact Assessment on the savings proposals that are summarised in Appendix 6 to the report, with detailed reports on each resident facing saving proposal, be noted as part of the decision-making process;

        (iv) the position of the Business Rates and Council Tax Collection Fund, including the brought forward surplus/deficit position and the Council Tax and Business Rates bases for 2025/26 as set out in Section 14 of the report be noted and agreed;

        (v)  the Management of Change and Flexible Use of Capital Receipts budgets proposed at Appendices 3 and 4 to the report be supported; and

        (vi) it be noted that Full Council on 3 March 2025 will receive a final report from the Strategic Director of Finance to seek final, formal approval of the Council's budget, the Exceptional Financial Support and Council Tax for 2025/26.

Reason:  The contents of the report is to ensure open and transparent governance in the financial affairs of the Council in balancing the 2025/26 Budget, and the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

The recommendations of the Executive in respect of the General Fund Budget were introduced by the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Dale Roberts.  The report outlined the provisional budget proposals for the coming year together with proposals for the three years up to 2027/28.

The Council’s discretionary services would be maintained under the budget proposals, and the areas of housing and homelessness had been identified as priority service areas.  It was noted that, despite the financial position faced by the Authority, the Council’s proposals would limit the year’s Council Tax increase to 2.99%, an increase adopted by most of the Surrey Authorities.

In presenting the proposals, the Portfolio Holder thanked all the Officers who had helped in the development of the budget, including all those who had sought to identify all possible savings while ensuring services were maintained for those most in need.

Councillor Ian Johnson, the Portfolio Holder for Housing Services, highlighted the work undertaken to support the Council’s housing services and the support for homeless individuals.  Working with Thameswey Housing, the Council was able to bring properties currently classed as void back into use, to be let to those needing homes.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Ann-Marie Barker, highlighted a number key points, reiterating the challenge faced in ensuring the Council Tax increase was kept at 2.99%, outlining the work being undertaken to fully record the true costs of services and the focus on essential services such as housing.

Councillor Roberts thanked the Councillors for their comments before referring them to the recommendations set out in the report before them.

RESOLVED

That (i)   the £2.5m of savings in 2025/26, rising to £4.7m by 2027/28 as set-out in Appendix 1 to the report be agreed, subject to any comments received from Resource and Finance Scrutiny Committee;

        (ii)  the £2.4m of growth pressures in 2025/26, rising to £3.2m by 2027/28 as set-out in Appendix 2 to the report be agreed, subject to any comments received from Resource and Finance Scrutiny Committee;

        (iii)  the Equality Impact Assessment on the savings proposals that are summarised in Appendix 6 to the report, with detailed reports on each resident facing saving proposal, be noted as part of the decision-making process;

        (iv) the position of the Business Rates and Council Tax Collection Fund, including the brought forward surplus/deficit position and the Council Tax and Business Rates bases for 2025/26 as set out in Section 14 of the report be noted and agreed;

        (v)  the Management of Change and Flexible Use of Capital Receipts budgets proposed at Appendices 3 and 4 to the report be supported; and

        (vi) it be noted that Full Council on 3 March 2025 will receive a final report from the Strategic Director of Finance to seek final, formal approval of the Council's budget, the Exceptional Financial Support and Council Tax for 2025/26.

Reason:  The contents of the report is to ensure open and transparent governance in the financial affairs of the Council in balancing the 2025/26 Budget, and the Medium Term Financial Strategy.