Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Bagwell, J Butt, J Challinor, J Clements, G Farquhar, A Filer, P Hilliard, M Howell, J Richardson and L Williams.

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.

Council was advised that the Monitoring Officer had granted all Members dispensations to enable all Councillors to fully and freely participate in the debate relating to all aspects of the budget setting for the forthcoming year and the Council Tax base.

In relation to this Council was advised that the granting of the dispensation would be reported to the next meeting of the Standards Committee.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meetings held on 10 December 2024 and 15 January 2025.

The Minutes of the Council meetings held on 10 December 2024 and 15 January 2025 were confirmed as a correct record.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman.

The Chairman reported the sad passing of former Councillor Bob Williams who was a serving Poole Councillor from 1996-2003 representing Broadstone.

Councillor Vikki Slade relayed personal experiences of Bob Williams following which Councillors stood in silent tribute.

The Chairman advised Council that given the budget specific nature of the meeting Council would be updated with regards to engagements attended at the next meeting of the Council on the 25 February.

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 5 February 2025 (12 noon, 3 clear working days before the meeting).

The deadline for the submission of a statement is mid-day Monday 10 February 2025 (mid-day the working day before the meeting).

The deadline for the submission of a petition is Tuesday 28 January 2025 (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.]

Council was advised that there had been no petitions, questions or statements submitted by members of the public on this occasion.

RECOMMENDED that: -

(a)           Cabinet approves the report for the calculation of the council’s tax base for the year 2025/26 and recommends the tax base to Full Council.

(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 2025/26 is 151,574.2.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Mike Cox presented the report on the Council Tax – Tax base 2025/26 and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

RESOLVED that: -

(a)          Cabinet approves the report for the calculation of the council’s tax base for the year 2025/26 and recommends the tax base to Full Council

(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 2025/26 is 151,574.2

Voting: Agreed with no dissent

RECOMMENDED that Council:-

2)      Approve the Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26 (Appendix 1)

3)      Approve Treasury Management Practices and Policies 2025/26 (Appendix 2)

Note – resolution (1) was a resolved matter by the Committee

The Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee, Councillor M Andrews presented the report on the Treasury Management Monitoring for the period April to December 2024 and Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26 and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

Council was advised that the report set out the monitoring of the Council’s Treasury Management function for he period 1 April 2024 to 31 December 2024.

In presenting the report the Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee highlighted an amendment to the report whereby

Members raised concerns with regards to the council borrowing money in order to avoid a capitalisation directive.

RESOLVED that Council: -

(2)          Approve the Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26 (Appendix 1) and;

(3)          Approve Treasury Management Practices and Policies 2025/26 (Appendix 2)

Note – resolution (1) was a resolved matter by the Audit and Governance Committee.

Voting: For: 46 Against: 0 Abstentions: 20

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.

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 £1,855.41 from 1 April 2025.

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 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Council was advised that 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. 

Further to this Council was informed that if the formal council tax resolution at Appendix A is approved the BCP Council Band D council tax will be £1,855.41 from 1 April 2025.

Following debate Council moved to a recorded vote where the motion as set out below was carried with voting 48:9 (9 Abstentions): -

For: 48

Against: 9

Abstentions: 6

RESOLVED that Council: -

(a)           Approved the council tax resolution as set out in Appendix A

Voting: 48:9 (6 Abstentions)