Decision details

RESOLVED:

1.    That Cabinet notes the 2025/26 Draft Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy to 2029/30, including progress to date in setting out spending pressures and efficiencies, as set out in Annex A.

2.    That Cabinet notes the provisional budget gap of £17.4mfor 2025/26 and the next steps required to close the gap.

3.    That Cabinet notes the proposed Draft Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2029/30 of £1.4bn set out in Section 6 of the report and Annex B.

4.    That Cabinet notes the summary of Resident Engagement and next steps set out in Section 9 of the report.

Reasons for Decisions:

In January 2025, Cabinet will be asked to recommend a Final Budget for 2025/26 to full Council for approval in February. The draft budget sets out proposals to direct available resources to support the achievement of the Council’s corporate priorities, balanced against a challenging financial environment, giving Cabinet the opportunity to comment on the proposals and next steps.

(The decisions on this item can be called-in by the Resources and Performance Select Committee)