Agenda and decisions

(Budget), Cabinet - Tuesday, 11th February, 2025 7.30 pm

Venue: Council Chamber, Gibson Drive, Kings Hill

Contact: Democratic Services  Email: committee.services@tmbc.gov.uk

Link: View Meeting

Items
No. Item

PART 1 - PUBLIC

3.

Declarations of interest pdf icon PDF 3 KB

Members are reminded of their obligation under the Council’s Code of Conduct to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests and Other Significant Interests in any matter(s) to be considered or being considered at the meeting. These are explained in the Code of Conduct on the Council’s website at Code of conduct for members – Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council (tmbc.gov.uk).

 

Members in any doubt about such declarations are advised to contact Legal or Democratic Services in advance of the meeting.

4.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 219 KB

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 7 January 2025

Matters for Recommendation to the Council

5.

Setting the Budget 2025/26 pdf icon PDF 500 KB

Further to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee earlier in the cycle, this report updates Cabinet on issues relating to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy.  It also takes Members through the necessary procedures in order to set the Budget for 2025/26.

 

Members are asked to note that at the time of writing this report, the final settlement has not been received.  All figures contained in the report are based on the provisional settlement. 

Additional documents:

6.

Setting the Council Tax 2025/26 pdf icon PDF 140 KB

This report takes Cabinet through the process of setting the level of Council Tax for the financial year 2025/26 and seeks Cabinet’s recommendations.

Additional documents:

7.

Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2025/26 pdf icon PDF 129 KB

A report providing the proposed Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council Working Age Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2025/26, requesting Cabinet Members to approve and recommend the updated Scheme to Full Council.

Additional documents:

8.

Revenue Estimates 2025/26 pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 23 January 2025.

 

All budgetary matters will be considered in the substantive item on Setting the Budget 2025/26

Additional documents:

9.

Capital Plan Review 2024/25 pdf icon PDF 113 KB

Recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 23 January 2025.

 

All budgetary matters will be considered in the substantive item on Setting the Budget 2025/26

 

Additional documents:

10.

Risk Management pdf icon PDF 110 KB

Recommendations of the Audit Committee of 13 January 2025.

Additional documents:

11.

Treasury Management Update and Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategy for 2025/26 pdf icon PDF 110 KB

Recommendations of the Audit Committee of 13 January 2025.

Additional documents:

12.

Annual Audit Report 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 103 KB

Recommendations of the Audit Committee of 13 January 2025.

Additional documents:

Decisions to be taken in accordance with Part 3 of the Constitution

Executive Non-Key Decisions

13.

Annual Service Delivery Plan 2025/26 pdf icon PDF 226 KB

Following the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 23 January 2025, a revised draft Annual Service Delivery Plan for 2025/26, setting out a wide range of activities, milestones and targets to strengthen the links between the Corporate Strategy 2023-2027 is provided in Annex 1.

 

The recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 23 January 2025 are also attached for information.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Consideration was given to the draft Annual Service Delivery Plan, a performance management tool that set out the priority actions for the year, along with key milestones and targets that could be used to monitor whether the council was on track with delivery.  The Plan also provided the opportunity to realign the Key Performance Indicators, strengthened accountability and aligned priorities with budget setting. 

 

The draft Plan had been discussed and welcomed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 23 January 2025.  Cabinet had due regard to the suggested amendments put forward by the Committee, as set out at paragraph 6.2 of the report. 

 

RESOLVED:That

 

(1)        the report be noted;

 

(2)        the draft Annual Service Delivery Plan (attached at Annex 1), be approved;

 

(3)        any remaining drafting changes be delegated to the Chief Executive in discussion with the Leader of the Council; and

 

(4)        the proposed process for reporting updates on the Annual Service Delivery Plan, set out in paragraphs 7.1 to 7.3, be approved.

14.

MHCLG Consultation: Local Authority Funding Reform - Objectives and Principles pdf icon PDF 324 KB

The report provides details in respect of the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) recently published consultation paper ‘’Local Authority Funding Reform: Objectives and Principles”, which was seeking views on the approach to local authority funding reform through the local government finance settlement from 2026/27. 

 

The deadline for responses is 12 February 2025 and the Borough Council’s draft response is to follow and will be circulated in advance of the meeting of Cabinet.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Careful consideration was given to the proposed responses to the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government consultation paper ‘Local Authority Funding Reform: Objectives and Principle’ which sought views on the approach to local authority funding reform through the local government finance settlement from 2026/27.  The consultation also covered both Business Rate Retention, the cessation of New Homes Bonus and Sales, Fees and Charges reform.

 

Cabinet had due regard to the financial and value for money considerations and legal implications and recognised that the Council had not faired favourably on previous assessments of need and following the consultation in 2018, had anticipated a reduction in government funding within its Medium Term Financial Strategy.

 

RESOLVED: That the draft response to the Local Authority Funding Reform: Objectives and Principles’ consultation, be endorsed and that the response be submitted by the deadline of 12 February 2025.

15.

Waste Services Contract - Strategic Approach to Service Provision pdf icon PDF 196 KB

Recommendations of the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee of 5 February are to follow and will be circulated in advance of the meeting of Cabinet. 

 

Annexes 1 and 2 of the report considered by the Scrutiny Select Committee are restricted and private in accordance with LGA 1972, Schedule 12A Paragraph 3 -  Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

 

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Consideration was given to recommendation CE 25/4 of the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee of 5 February 2025 in respect of the future delivery of the Councils Waste Service Contract. 

 

Cabinet had due regard to the views of the Scrutiny Select Committee, the commissioning options report, the partnership agreement with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council, the financial and value for money considerations and legal implications.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)        the Borough Council remain in partnership with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council for the delivery of the provision of the household waste and recycling collection and street cleansing service;

 

(2)        the contracting out model remains the Borough Council’s preferred commissioning model for the delivery of the provision of the household waste and recycling collection and street cleansing services; and

 

(3)        a further report be presented to the Communities and Environment Scrutiny and Select Committee to allow for the consideration of key service specification issues and the proposed procurement process for the delivery of the provision of the household waste and recycling collection and street cleansing services.

16.

Corporate Complaints Policy Review pdf icon PDF 196 KB

Recommendations of the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee of 5 February 2025 are to follow and will be circulated in advance of  the meeting of Cabinet.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Consideration was given to recommendation CE 25/7 of the Communities and Environment Scrutiny Select Committee of 5 February 2025. 

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)        the new Corporate Complaints Policy (attached at Annex 3), be adopted; and

 

(2)        the new Corporate Complaints Policy be implemented from June 2025.

Matters submitted for Information

17.

Decisions taken by Cabinet Members pdf icon PDF 11 KB

A record of the decisions taken by portfolio holders since the last meeting of Cabinet are attached.

18.

Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions

The Notice for the period March to April 2025 will be published as a supplement once available.

Additional documents:

20.

Exclusion of Press and Public pdf icon PDF 4 KB

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.