Agenda item

Due to the timescales and print deadlines, the recommendations of the meeting of Cabinet held on 11 February 2025 will be circulated to Members in advance of the meeting of Council.

In accordance with CPR 8.5 of the Constitution there will be a recorded vote for this item.

Item CB 25/12 referred from the Cabinet of 11 February 2025.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing  proposed that Council Procedure Rule No 6.4 be suspended to allow the leading speakers from each Group to exceed the time limit on speeches when debating the budget proposals.   This was seconded by Cllr Boughton and supported by the Council.

In presenting the budget proposals, which had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Cabinet on 23 January and 11 February 2025 respectively, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing highlighted the areas of budget growth and pressure, outlined the support provided to vulnerable residents, businesses and community groups during the last financial year and welcomed the better than anticipated final Local Government Finance Settlement figure as well as better than anticipated business rates receipts.  

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing was pleased to advise that the Borough Council had a balanced budget for 2025/26 and had been able to set aside funds in earmarked reserves for key priorities.  In addition, as a result of the inclusion in the final settlement of a grant in relation to the increased cost of Employers’ National Insurance contributions it seemed appropriate to transfer the additional funding to the earmarked ‘Transformation Reserve’.

It was proposed by Councillor Tanner and seconded by Councillor Boughton that the recommendations at Minute CB 25/12 be adopted.  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 8.5 voting was recorded as follows:

Members voting for the motion:

Cllrs Bell, Bennison, Betts, Bishop, Boughton, Boxall, Bridge, Brown, Cannon, Clokey, Coffin, Crisp, Dalton, Davis, Dean, Hammond, Harman, Hickmott, Hoskins, Hudson, Keers, King, Lark, McDermott, Mehmet, Oakley, Palmer, Rhodes, Roud, Tanner,  Tatton, Taylor, Thornewell, Tunstall and Williams

Total:  35

Members voting against the motion:  0

Total: 0

Members abstaining:

Cllrs Athwal,  Cope,  Hood, Oliver, Parry and Pilgrim

Total: 6

(Total number of Members eligible to vote = 41)

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute CB 25/12 be approved.