Agenda

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution. Further information on the requirements for submitting these is available to view at the following link: -

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeID=151&Info=1&bcr=1

The deadline for the submission of public questions is mid-day Wednesday 18 February 2026 (mid-day, 3 clear working days before the meeting).

The deadline for the submission of a statement is mid-day Monday 23 February 2026 (mid-day the working day before the meeting).

The deadline for the submission of a petition is Tuesday 10 February 2026 (10 working days before the meeting).

[PLEASE NOTE: In accordance with the Constitution public issues submitted to the Budget Council meeting must address the business on the agenda in so far as it may relate to the setting of the budget for the coming financial year.]

RECOMMENDED that Council approves: -

(a)        the report for the calculation of the council’s tax base for the year 2026/27 and recommends the tax base to Full Council; and

(b)        pursuant to the report, and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992, as amended, the amount calculated as the council tax base for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council for 2026/27 is 152,481.7

RECOMMENDED that Council approves the Treasury Management Strategy 2026/27 (Appendix 1)

RECOMMENDED that: -

(a)            The revenue budget for 2026/27 and provisionally for 2027/28 to 2028/29 are set using the following principles:

(i)         That dwelling rents are increased by 4.8 per cent (Consumer Price Index for September 2025 + 1 per cent) from 6 April 2026 in line with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Policy statement on rents for social housing. 

(ii)       That garage, garage bases and parking plot rental charges are increased by 4.8 percent from 6 April 2026 and 11 per cent in parts of Poole so that charges continue 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 service charges are agreed as set out in appendix 2.

(vi)      That HRA reserves are set at £4.8 million. 

(b)           That the Income and Expenditure budget for 2026/7 and provisionally for 2027/28 to 2028/29 as set out in Appendix 3 is agreed.

(c)           That capital budgets for 2026/27 and provisionally for 2027/28 to 2028/29are set using the following principles.

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

(ii)      That £0.5 million for the acquisition of individual properties (Acquire and Repair) and other annual capital budgets are agreed.

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

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 requirement of £452m, resulting in a total council tax requirement of £297.033m, is set for 2026/27 based on the draft local government financial settlement figures published by government in December 2025.

(ii)       Agrees an increase in council tax of 2.99% for 2026/27 in respect of the basic annual threshold and the collection of the additional social care precept of 2%.

(iii)      Confirms the key assumptions and provisions made in the budget as proposed and as set out in Appendix 3.

(iv)      Agrees the allocations to service areas in the budget as set out in Appendix 5.

(v)       Agrees the implementation of £14m of savings as set out in Appendix 5a.

(vi)      Approve that the current Council Tax discount for Beach Chalets on Mudeford Sandspit and Hengistbury Head is removed from 1 April 2026 onwards see appendix 5b.

(vii)    Approves the flexible use of capital receipts efficiency strategy as the mechanism for funding the council’s transformation related and invest to save expenditure as set out in Appendix 6 and potentially a capitalisation direction from government to cover the 2026/27 DSG borrowing costs should it be granted.

(viii)  Approves the capital investment programme (CIP) as set out in paragraphs 66 to 82 and Appendix 7.

(ix)      Approves the asset management plan as set out in Appendix 8.

(x)       Agrees the treasury management strategy (TMS) and prudential indicators as set out in paragraphs 84to 87 and Appendix 9.

(xi)      Accepts and supports the formal advice of the chief finance officer on the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of the reserves as set out in paragraphs 102 to 109and Appendix 10.

(b)             Agree to borrow £95.7m to fund the 2026/27 excess Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) High Needs DSG revenue expenditure above the government grant being made available. This is also based on previous assurance from government that the council can exceed its borrowing thresholds temporarily based on their commitment to return the SEND system to financial sustainability;

(c)              Delegate to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Director of Finance, Leader, and Portfolio Holder for Finance, the allocation of any additional resources that become available through the final 2026/27 local government finance settlement or any other means;

(d)             Approves the chief officers’ pay policy statement 2026/2027 for consideration and approval by the council in accordance with the provisions of the Localism Act 2011 as set out in paragraphs 111 to 113 and Appendix 12; and

(e)              Note amendments to the Council’s Shared Vision (Appendix 1b), updated to reflect changes to political and officer leadership, the list of milestones to reflect progress made in the last two years and areas of focus for 2025 to 27. The vision, ambitions and priorities remain unchanged.

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommends to Council withdrawal of the offer of a £2.6m contribution to the Pokesdown Railway Station Improvements project.

Under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 the council as the billing authority must calculate a council tax requirement and basic amount of council tax for the following year. 

If the formal council tax resolution at Appendix A is approved the BCP Council Band D council tax will be £1,980.46 from 1 April 2026.

This report invites the Council to approve the appointment of Matthew Filmer  to the position of Interim Chief of Finance & Section 151 Officer in accordance with the Council’s Constitution and statutory requirements.

A summary of Mr Filmer’s skills, experience and employment history is shown within appendix 1 of this report.