Decision details

To approve: 1) The General Fund and Housing Revenue Account budgets for 2024/25 including the use of reserves, Medium Term Financial Strategy, Capital Programme and Strategy, and Fees and Charges for 2024/25; 2) Approval of Council Tax for recommendation to Full Council; and 3) the Annual Delivery Plan

DECISION:

a)    That the minutes of the Joint Performance Monitoring Panel and Policy Development Panel held on 25 January 2024 (Appendix 8) be noted.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL:

b)    That Cabinet approve the following recommendations for onward referral to Full Council on 29 February 2024:

1)    That the Revenue Estimates for the General Fund, HRA and Spalding Special for 2024/25 (Appendices 1, 1a, 1b and 1c) be approved.

2)    That the Council Tax for a Band D property in 2024/25 be set at £201.42 (£6.03 per annum increase on 2023/24 levels).

3)    That the Spalding Special Expenses for a Band D property be set at £25.83 for 2024/25, (previously £25.47 in 2023/24).

4)    The additions to and use of reserves (as detailed at Appendix 1) be approved.

5)    The Medium Term Financial Strategy (at Appendix 1) be approved.

6)    The Draft Capital Programme and Capital Strategy (Appendices 1 and 2) be approved.

7)    The Fees and Charges Schedule 2024/25 (Appendix 4) be approved.

8)    That the uplift to the Real Living Wage (Appendix 1) be approved.

9)    That Cabinet re-affirms its previous decision in respect of long-term empty properties, detailed in Appendix 1, and makes a determination for the introduction of the premium for substantially furnished with no resident (second homes), to be introduced at the earliest point, 1 April 2025.

10) The Annual Delivery Plan for 2024/25 (Appendix 5) be approved.

11) That Cabinet notes the results of the Budget Consultation process at Appendix 6.

12)That the alignment of constitutional financial limits across the partnership (Appendix 7) be approved.

To comply with the budgetary and policy framework and legislative requirements.

No other options were considered.