Issue - meetings

To consider the budget recommendations arising from the Cabinet meeting scheduled for 5 February 2025. The recommendations will be circulated as soon as practicably possible following the meeting of the Cabinet. A copy of the reports and appendices to the Cabinet have been published and are available on the Council’s website on the following link: https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=285&MId=6058&Ver=4

Cabinet 5 February 2025 – Minute No. 113 – Council Budget Monitoring 2024/25 at Quarter Three

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(c)           Agrees the acceptance of capital grant for the HRA detailed in Appendix D paragraph 20.

Note – resolutions (a) and (b) were resolved matters by the Cabinet.

Cabinet 5 February 2025 – Minute No. 117 – Early Years and Mainstream Schools Funding 2025/26

RECOMMENDED that Council agrees: -

(a)           The early years funding formula detailed in Appendix 1; and

(b)           The mainstream schools funding formula options detailed in Appendix 2 (paragraph 18), with the final outcome dependent on DfE decisions. 

Cabinet 5 February 2025 – Minute No. 114 – Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget Setting 2025/26

RECOMMENDED that Council agrees: -

(a)            The revenue budget for 2025/26 is set using the following principles:

(i)         That dwelling rents are increased by 2.7 per cent (CPI for September 2024 + 1 per cent) from 7 April 2025 in line with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Policy statement on rents for social housing published in February 2019 (Rent Policy Statement).

(ii)       That garage, garage bases and parking plot rental charges are increased by 5 percent from 7 April 2025 and an additional £1.00 per week increase is made to garages in parts of Poole so that charges begin to align.

(iii)      That leasehold services are charged to leaseholders in line with actual costs incurred.

(iv)      That shared ownership dwelling rents are increased in line with lease terms.

(v)       That the changes to services charges are agreed as set out in appendix 2.

(vi)      That HRA reserves are set at £8.6 million.

(b)           That the Income and Expenditure budget as set out in Appendix 3 is agreed;

(c)            That capital budgets for 2025/26 are set using the following principles;

(i)         That the major project capital programme as set out in Appendix 4 is noted.

(ii)       That the planned maintenance programme as set out in Appendix 5 is agreed.

(iii)      That £0.5 million for the acquisition of individual properties (Acquire and Repair) is agreed.

Note – resolution (d) was a resolved matter by the Cabinet.

Cabinet 5 February 2025 – Minute No. 112 – Budget 2025/26 and Medium-Term Financial Plan

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(a)           Undertakes a recorded vote in relation to the following items as required by the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendments) Regulations 2014;

(i)         Agrees that a net budget of £356m, resulting in a total council tax requirement of £281.2m, is set for 2025/26 based on the draft local government financial settlement figures published by government in December 2024.

(ii)       Agrees an increase in council tax of 2.99%  ...  view the full agenda text for item 67

Council was advised that there were four budget related items from the Cabinet meeting held on the 5 February with recommendations to Council.

Minute No. 113 – Council Budget Monitoring 2024/25 at Quarter Three

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Mike Cox presented the report on Council Budget Monitoring 2024/25 at Quarter Three and outlined the recommendations as set out in the supplementary agenda papers.

RESOLVED that Council: -

(a)           Agrees the acceptance of capital grant for the HRA detailed in Appendix D paragraph 20

Note – resolutions (a) and (b) were resolved matters by the Cabinet.

Voting: Agreed with no dissent

Minute No. 117 – Early Years and Mainstream Schools Funding 2025/26

The Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People, Education and Skills, Councillor Richard Burton presented the report on the Early Years and Mainstream Schools Funding 2025/26 and outlined the recommendations as set out in the supplementary agenda papers.

RESOLVED that Council agrees: -

(a)           The early years funding formula detailed in Appendix 1; and

(b)           The mainstream schools funding formula options detailed in Appendix 2 (paragraph 18), with the final outcome dependent on DfE decisions.

Voting: Agreed with no dissent

Minute No. 114 – Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget Setting 2025/26

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regulatory Services, Councillor Kieron Wilson presented the report on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget Setting 2025/26 and outlined the recommendations as set out in the supplementary agenda papers.

RESOLVED that Council agrees: -

(a)           The revenue budget for 2025/26 is set using the following principles:

(i)         That dwelling rents are increased by 2.7 per cent (CPI for September 2024 + 1 per cent) from 7 April 2025 in line with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Policy statement on rents for social housing published in February 2019 (Rent Policy Statement).

(ii)       That garage, garage bases and parking plot rental charges are increased by 5 percent from 7 April 2025 and an additional £1.00 per week increase is made to garages in parts of Poole so that charges begin to align.

(iii)     That leasehold services are charged to leaseholders in line with actual costs incurred.

(iv)      That shared ownership dwelling rents are increased in line with lease terms.

(v)       That the changes to services charges are agreed as set out in appendix 2.

(vi)      That HRA reserves are set at £8.6 million.

(b)           That the Income and Expenditure budget as set out in Appendix 3 is agreed;

(c)           That capital budgets for 2025/26 are set using the following principles;

(i)         That the major project capital programme as set out in Appendix 4 is noted.

(ii)       That the planned maintenance programme as set out in Appendix 5 is agreed.

(iii)      That £0.5 million for the acquisition of individual properties (Acquire and Repair) is agreed.

Note – resolution (d) was a resolved matter by the Cabinet

Voting: Agreed with no dissent

Minute No. 112 – Budget 2025/26 and Medium-Term Financial Plan

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Mike Cox presented the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 67

This report provides the quarter three projected financial outturn information for the general fund, housing revenue account (HRA) and capital programme.

The quarter three overall revenue projected outturn is for a balanced position to be achieved based on the latest assumptions, including that the expenditure control mechanisms remain in place for the remainder of the year. A small contingency remains unused for any unexpected costs over the final quarter.    

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)        Noted the budget monitoring position for quarter three 2024/25; and

(b)        Agree the acceptance of capital grants for the general fund detailed in Appendix C1 paragraph 2. 

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommends that Council: -

(c)        Agrees the acceptance of capital grant for the HRA detailed in Appendix D paragraph 20.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Finance

Reason

To comply with accounting codes of practice and best practice which requires councils to regularly monitor the annual budget position and take any action to support the sustainability of the council’s finances. Also, to comply with the council’s financial regulations regarding acceptance of grants.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the report provided the quarter three projected financial outturn information for the general fund, housing revenue account (HRA) and capital programme.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that the quarter three overall revenue projected outturn is for a balanced position to be achieved based on the latest assumptions, including that the expenditure control mechanisms remain in place for the remainder of the year, and that a small contingency remains unused for any unexpected costs over the final quarter.    

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)        Noted the budget monitoring position for quarter three 2024/25; and

(b)        Agree the acceptance of capital grants for the general fund detailed in Appendix C1 paragraph 2. 

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommends that Council: -

(c)        Agrees the acceptance of capital grant for the HRA detailed in Appendix D paragraph 20.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Finance

Reason

To comply with accounting codes of practice and best practice which requires councils to regularly monitor the annual budget position and take any action to support the sustainability of the council’s finances. Also, to comply with the council’s financial regulations regarding acceptance of grants.