Issue - meetings
Draft 2026/27 Reserves Strategy and Medium Term Reserves Plan
Meeting: 20/01/2026 - Budget Planning Committee (Item 35)
35 Review of Reserves 
PDF 174 KB
Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer)
Purpose of report
To update Budget Planning Committee on the Review of Reserves that has taken place in preparation of the budget for 2026/27 and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 – 2030/31.
Recommendations
The Budget Planning Committee resolves:
1.1 To note the outcome of the review of reserves and the forecast over the Medium-Term Financial Strategy period.
1.2 To provide the Executive with feedback on whether the Committee supports the draft reserve allocations.
Additional documents:
- Appendix 1 - Reserves Policy, item 35
PDF 312 KB
- Appendix 2 - Reserves Forecast 25-26 with PWLB to reserves, item 35
PDF 251 KB
- Appendix 3 - General Balances Risk Assessment, item 35
PDF 67 KB
- Webcast for Review of Reserves
Decision:
Resolved
(1) That the outcome of the review of reserves and the forecast over the Medium-Term Financial Strategy period be noted.
(2) That Executive be advised that the Committee supports the draft reserve allocations.
Minutes:
The Assistant Director of Finance (S151 Officer) submitted a report to update the Committee on the review of reserves that had taken place in preparation of the budget for 2026/27 and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2025/26 – 2030/31.
In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Property and Regeneration advised the Committee that an annual review of the council’s reserves was undertaken as part of the budget setting process to ensure the council maintained a prudent level of reserves over the medium term. Following assessment by the Chief Finance Officer, the Council’s General Find Reserve was proposed to be increased from £7.852m to £8.011m for 2026/27.
In response to a question from the Committee regarding funds that may need to be used for possible planning appeals in the future, the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Property and Regeneration confirmed that the Executive were mindful of possible financial challenges from future planning appeals and were in conversation with officers involved regarding mitigation.
Resolved
(1) That the outcome of the review of reserves and the forecast over the Medium-Term Financial Strategy period be noted.
(2) That Executive be advised that the Committee supports the draft reserve allocations.