Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 December 2025.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9 December 2025 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive communications from the Chair.

There were no Chair’s announcements.

The Chair to report on any requests to address the meeting.

There were no requests to address the meeting.

The Chair to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (S151 Officer)

Purpose of report

To submit the draft Capital and Investment Strategy for 2026-27 for recommendation by the committee to the Executive.

Recommendations

The Budget Planning Committee resolves:

1.1         To recommend the draft Capital and Investment Strategy for 2026-27 (Appendix 1) to Executive.

Resolved

(1)        That the Committee recommends the draft Capital and Investment Strategy for 2026/27 to the Executive.

The Assistant Director of Finance (S151 Officer) submitted a report for the Committee to consider the draft Capital Strategy and Investment strategy for 2026-27 and recommend to the Executive.

In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Property and Regeneration advised the Committee that the Capital Strategy and Investment Strategy must be approved by Full Council annually and must satisfy the requirements of government legislation and CIPFA guidance.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Property and Regeneration gave an overview of the key changes in the 2026-27 Strategy, explaining that the annual Minimum revenue provision statement had been expanded in line with new statutory guidance and the operation boundary had been reviewed and reduced from £200m to £199m.

In response to a question from the Committee on the reported spend of £3m to purchase temporary accommodation, the Assistant Director of Finance explained that the local authorities were seeing a trend in increased need for temporary accommodation and the proposal would help reduce potential pressures in future years. This indicated there was a clear business case for the purchase of property to be used for temporary accommodation.

The Assistant Director of Finance (S151 Officer) responded to a question from the Committee regarding the revised CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance which stated that the Council cannot borrow for commercial purposes. This meant that the Council may only borrow funds for purposes that clearly demonstrated that it was linked with the priorities of the Council.

Resolved

(1)      That the Committee recommends the draft Capital and Investment Strategy for 2026/27 to the Executive.

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.

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.

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.

Report of Assistant Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer).

Purpose of report

To report to the committee the council’s financial position at the end of the financial year 2025-2026.

Recommendations

1.         To note the contents of the report

Resolved

(1)        That the report be noted.

The Assistant Director of Finance (S151 Officer) submitted a report which updated the committee of the council’s financial position at the end of the financial year 2025/2026 as at November 2025.

In introducing the report, the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Regeneration and Property advised the Committee that the year-end forecast position for 2025/26 was projected to be an overspend of £0.609m. This was an increase of £0.209m compared to the year-end forecast at Period 7.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Regeneration and Property explained that the largest variances were within Neighbourhood Services which included Environmental Services, Wellbeing and Housing.

In response to a question from the Committee in relation to the increase of the forecast overspend and if the budget was optimistic when set, the Assistant Director of Finance explained that ideally there would not be an overspend however, in reality, the situation arises and therefore mitigation measures were being explored.

Resolved

(1)      That the report be noted.

The following report(s) contain exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

3– Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Members are reminded that whilst the following item(s) have been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider each of them in private or in public. In making the decision, members should balance the interests of individuals or the Council itself in having access to the information. In considering their discretion members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers.

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to resolve as follows:

“That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraph 3 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

There being no questions on the exempt appendix, it was not necessary to exclude the press and public.

There being no specific questions on the exempt appendix, it had been noted as part of agenda item 9 (Minute 36).

The Budget Planning Committee to resolve to readmit the public and press to the meeting.

This item was not required as the press and public had not been excluded from the meeting.

To review the Committee Work Plan.

Resolved

(1)        That the work programme be noted.

In considering the Committee Work Plan, no queries were raised or additional items put forward.

Resolved

(1)      That the work programme be noted.