Agenda

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

To receive information on any changes in the membership of the Committee.

Note – When a member of a Committee is unable to attend a meeting of a Committee or Sub-Committee, the relevant Political Group Leader (or their nominated representative) may, by notice to the Monitoring Officer (or their nominated representative) prior to the meeting, appoint a substitute member from within the same Political Group. The contact details on the front of this agenda should be used for notifications.

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 confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 June 2025.

The Overview and Scrutiny Board is asked to consider the identify work priorities for its next meeting pending a wider review of its forward plan at a future meeting.

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 midday 3 clear working days before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a statement is midday the working day before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.

Since the creation of BCP Council through the local government reorganisation of the four preceding councils in April 2019 we have been negotiating with the trade unions to introduce a new Pay and Reward package which aligns pay and conditions across all colleagues. 

This report sets out the progress made since Cabinet last considered the results of the November trade union ballot process and outlines next steps.

To consider the following budget items prior to Cabinet:

The report presents the revenue and capital budget outturn, reserves position, dedicated schools grant outturn, housing revenue account, and results of council company and partner organisations for the financial year 2024/25.

The financial revenue outturn is a £1.2m surplus, an improvement on the reported quarter three balanced position, with this delivered in a challenging budget environment.

In February 2024 Council set a balanced budget and medium-term financial plan over the 4-year period to 31 March 2028 based on conventional local government financial management process. This addressed the inherited £30m structural deficit from using reserves rather than savings to balance the 2023/24 budget.

The non-deliverability of previous year savings was addressed, particularly those expected from the transformation investment. New fully itemised savings of £38m were programmed for 2024/25 with 86% being achieved through service transformation, third party spend reduction, staff savings and raising additional income. Mitigations have been found in other areas to reduce the impact of those unable to be delivered.

The budget recognised the ongoing cost-of-living and service demand pressures that face all local authorities and this required council tax to be increased by the maximum amount permitted by government of 4.99%, with the same increase assumed for future years.

A revised approach was taken to the annual repayment of debt with voluntary contributions made above the statutory minimum to reduce the burden for future years.

This report:

·       Aims to ensure the council presents a legally balanced 2026/27 budget. 

·       Presents an update on the 11 June 2025 Spending Review.

·       Provides details of two consultation documents issued on 20 June 2025 namely the Local Government Fair Funding Review and Modernising and Improving the administration of council tax.

·       Presents an update on the MTFP position of the council.

Acknowledges the action of the Leader of the Council and Director of Finance in writing to Government to seek assurance around the council’s ability to continue to cashflow the significant and growing Dedicated Schools Grants deficit within the statutory framework.