Agenda and decisions


Executive - Monday 3 February 2025 6.30 pm

Venue: Bodicote House, Bodicote, Banbury, Oxon OX15 4AA

Contact: Natasha Clark, Democratic and Elections  Email: democracy@cherwell-dc.gov.uk, 01295 221534

Media

Items
No. Item

2.

Declarations of Interest

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

Additional documents:

3.

Petitions and Requests to Address the Meeting

The Chairman to report on any requests to submit petitions or to address the meeting.

Additional documents:

4.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 242 KB

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 6 January 2025.

Additional documents:

5.

Chairman's Announcements

To receive communications from the Chairman.

 

Additional documents:

6.

Urgent Business

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

Additional documents:

7.

Budget Setting for 2025/26 and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy up to 2029/30 pdf icon PDF 963 KB

Report of Assistant Director Finance (Section 151 Officer)

 

Purpose of report

 

To consider and approve the Budget Setting for 2025/26 and MTFS 2029/30 as per the recommendations.


Recommendations

The Executive resolves to:

 

1.1         Delegate authority to the Section 151 Officer (S151), following consultation with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Member for Finance, to complete the legal Council Tax calculations once all the information required has been received and submit as appendices to the budget report to Council.

 

1.2         Delegate authority to the S151, following consultation with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Regeneration and Property to make appropriate changes to the Executive’s proposed budget to Council including policies and plans.

 

The Executive resolves to recommend to Council as follows:

 

1.3         Approve the proposed Fees and Charges schedule for 2025/26 (Appendix 7) and statutory notices be placed where required.

 

1.4         Consider and note the Equality Impact Assessments of the Budget (Appendix 8)

 

1.5         In relation to the Corporate Plan (Section 4.1) to:

 

1.5.1    Approve the Corporate Plan set out in Appendix 1.

 

1.5.2    Note the Internal Perspectives set out in Appendix 2.

 

1.6         In relation to the Revenue Budget Strategy (Section 4.2) and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) (Section 4.5) to approve:

 

1.6.1    The net revenue budget for the financial year commencing on 1 April 2025, as set out in Table 4.2.1, and further analysed in the Budget Book provided at Appendix 12.

 

1.6.2    The MTFS and Revenue Budget 2025/26 (Sections 4.5 and 4.2 respectively), including the Savings Proposals and Investments included at Appendices 4 and 5 respectively.

 

1.7         In relation to Council Tax to approve:

 

1.7.1    An increase in the Basic Amount of Council Tax for Cherwell District Council for the financial year beginning on 1 April 2025 of £5, resulting in a Band D charge of £158.50 per annum.

 

1.8         In relation to the Capital Programme and related strategies (Section 4.3) to approve:

 

1.8.1    The Capital Bid(s) and Capital Programme at Appendices 17 and 18 respectively.

 

1.8.2    The Capital and Investment Strategy 2025/26 (Appendix 19), including the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy.

 

1.8.3    The Treasury Management Strategy, including the Prudential Indicators, and Affordable Borrowing Limit for 2025/26 (Appendix 21).

 

1.9         In relation to reserves (Section 4.4) to approve:

 

1.9.1    A minimum level of General Balances of £7.8m as supported by Appendix 15.

 

1.9.2    The Reserves Policy (Appendix 14).

 

1.9.3    The medium-term reserves plan described in Appendix 16.

 

1.10      In relation to the Pay Policy Statement approve:

 

1.10.1The Pay Policy Statement, as required by the Localism Act 2010, detailed in Appendix 9.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          That authority be delegated to the Section 151 Officer (S151), following consultation with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Member for Finance, Regeneration and Property to complete the legal Council Tax calculations once all the information required has been received and submit as appendices to the budget report to Council.

 

(2)          That authority be delegated to the S151 Officer, following consultation with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance, Regeneration and Property to make appropriate changes to the Executive’s proposed budget to Council including policies and plans.

 

(3)          That Council be recommended to approve the proposed Fees and Charges schedule for 2025/26 (Appendix 7 to the report) and statutory notices be placed where required.

 

(4)          That Council be recommended to consider and note the Equality Impact Assessments of the Budget (Appendix 8 to the report).

 

(5)          That Council be recommended to approve the Corporate Plan (Appendix 1 to the report) and to note the Internal Perspectives (Appendix 2 to report).

 

(6)          That,  in relation to the Revenue Budget Strategy (Section 4.2 of the report) and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) (section 4.5 of the report), Council be recommended to approve:

 

                      i.        The net revenue budget for the financial year commencing on 1 April 2025, as set out in Table 4.2.1 of the report, and further analysed in the Budget Book (Appendix 12 to the report).

 

                    ii.        The MTFS and Revenue Budget 2025/26 (Sections 4.5 and 4.2 respectively), including the Savings Proposals and Investments included at Appendices 4 and 5 of the report respectively.

 

(7)          That, in relation to Council Tax, Council be recommended to approve:

 

                     i.        An increase in the Basic Amount of Council Tax for Cherwell District Council for the financial year beginning on 1 April 2025 of £5, resulting in a Band D charge of £158.50 per annum.

 

                    ii.        That for long term empty properties, from 1 April 2025 an additional council tax premium will be charged of 100 per cent for properties empty for one year or more, replacing the current 100 per cent premium that begins after 2 years of a property being empty.  All other empty property premiums will remain.

 

(8)          That, in relation to the Capital Programme and related strategies (Section 4.3 of the report), Council be recommended to approve:

                    i.          The Capital Bid(s) and Capital Programme at Appendices 17 and 18 to the report respectively.

 

                   ii.          The Capital and Investment Strategy 2025/26 (Appendix 19 of the report), including the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy.

 

                 iii.          The Treasury Management Strategy, including the Prudential Indicators, and Affordable Borrowing Limit for 2025/26 (Appendix 21 of the report).

 

(9)          That, in relation to reserves (section 4.4 of the report), Council be recommended to approve:

 

                    i.          A minimum level of General Balances of £7.8m as supported by Appendix 15 to the report.

 

                   ii.          The Reserves Policy (Appendix 14 to the report).

 

                 iii.          The medium-term reserves plan described in Appendix 16 to the report.

 

(10)       That Council be recommended to approve The Pay Policy  ...  view the full decision text for item 7.

8.

New Cherwell District Council Housing Strategy 2025-2030 pdf icon PDF 347 KB

Report of Assistant Director Wellbeing and Housing

 

Purpose of report

 

To seek approval for the new Cherwell District Council Housing Strategy 2025-2030.

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:


1.1       To approve the Cherwell District Council Housing Strategy 2025-2030.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          That the Cherwell District Council Housing Strategy 2025-2030 be approved.

9.

Annual Monitoring Report 2024 pdf icon PDF 371 KB

Report of Assistant Director Planning and Development

 

Purpose of report

 

To seek approval for publication the 2024 Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) which includes a housing land supply update (December 2024).

 

To seek approval of the accompanying updates to the Local Plan’s Infrastructure Delivery Plan and Brownfield Land Register update (December 2024).

 

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

 

1.1           To approve the 2024 Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) presented at Appendix 1 including a Housing Land Supply Statement and a 2023/24 Infrastructure Delivery Plan update for publication.

 

1.2           To approve the 2023/24 Brownfield Land Register presented at Appendix 2 for publication.

 

1.3           To instruct the Assistant Director Planning and Development to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management.

 

1.4           To authorise the Assistant Director Planning and Development to approve the final presentation of the AMR and Brownfield Land Register and to make any necessary minor administrative amendments and corrections to them prior to formal publication and in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)          That the 2024 Annual Monitoring Report (AMR) (Appendix 1 to the report) including a Housing Land Supply Statement and a 2023/24 Infrastructure Delivery Plan update be approved for publication.

 

(2)          That the 2023/24 Brownfield Land Register (Appendix 2 to the report) be approved for publication.

 

(3)          That the Assistant Director Planning and Development be instructed to prepare a Housing Delivery Action Plan in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management.

 

(4)          That the Assistant Director Planning and Development be authorised to approve the final presentation of the AMR and Brownfield Land Register and to make any necessary minor administrative amendments and corrections to them prior to formal publication and in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Development Management.

 

10.

Finance, Performance and Risk Monitoring Report Quarter 3 2024-25 pdf icon PDF 665 KB

Report of Assistant Director Finance (Section 151 Officer) and Assistant Director Customer Focus

 

Purpose of report

 

To report to Executive the council’s forecast financial position, performance and risk as at the end of the Quarter 3 2024-25.

 

Recommendations

The Executive resolves:

 

1.1           To consider and note the contents of the council’s financial, performance and risk report as at the end of Quarter 3 2024 -25.

 

1.2           To approve the reprofiling of capital projects beyond 2024/25 (section 4.2.3 and Appendix 1) and the subsequent update to the programme budget for this financial year 2024/25.

 

1.3           To approve the Use of Reserve Requests set out in Appendix 5.

 

1.4           To approve the proposed write offs set out in exempt Appendix 6.

 

1.5           To note the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) underspend of (£1.600m) due to the reprofiling of capital projects within the programme and to approve the moving of this to the Projects Reserve as detailed in Appendix 2 and 5.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved

 

(1)            That the council’s financial, performance and risk report as at the end of Quarter 3 2024 -25 be noted.

 

(2)            That the reprofiling of capital projects beyond 2024/25 (set out section 4.2.3 of the report and Appendix 1 to the report) and the subsequent update to the programme budget for this financial year 2024/25 be approved.

 

(3)            That the Use of Reserve Requests (set out in Appendix 5 to the report) be approved.

 

(4)            That the proposed write offs (set out in exempt Appendix 6 to the report) be approved.

 

(5)            That the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) underspend of (£1.600m) due to the reprofiling of capital projects within the programme and be noted and the moving of this to the Projects Reserve (as detailed in Appendices 2 and 5 of the report) be approved.

 

11.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

The following item contains exempt information as defined in the following paragraphs 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 has been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider it 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.

 

No representations have been received from the public requesting that this item be considered in public.

 

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to pass the following recommendation:

 

“That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the ground 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.”

 

 

 

Additional documents:

12.

Finance, Performance and Risk Monitoring Report Quarter 3 2024-25 - Exempt Appendix

Decision:

As set out under item 10