Agenda item

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.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Mike Cox presented the report on the Budget 2026/27 and Medium-Term Financial Plan and outlined the recommendations as set out in the agenda papers.

Councillor Rachel Pattinson-West moved an amended budget, this was seconded by Councillor Chris Rigby, copies of which had been circulated to all councillors and had been published as a supplement to the agenda papers prior to the meeting and a copy of which will be appended to the signed minutes in the signed minute book.

Council comprehensively debated the submitted budget amendment which proposed the removal of the Lead Member Special Responsibility Allowances from the 2026/27 proposed budget and the establishment of a ring-fenced Governance and Assurance Reserve.

Following discussion, the proposed budget amendment was put to a recorded vote and fell with voting 12:49 (6 abstentions)

For:12

Against:49

Abstentions:6

The meeting adjourned at 8.54pm and reconvened at 9.10pm

Councillor Patrick Canavan moved an amended budget, this was seconded by Councillor Eleanor Connolly, copies of which had been circulated to all councillors and had been published as a supplement to the agenda papers prior to the meeting and a copy of which will be appended to the signed minutes in the signed minute book.

Council comprehensively debated the amendment which proposed the removal of recommendation (c) which was then to be replaced with an alternative recommendation setting out that the additional council tax receipts from increasing the council tax by the additional 1.75% be allocated specifically for the Plan for Play, the Library Strategy, pothole repair and road surfacing with the remainder being allocated towards essential services reducing the draw down of unearmarked reserves.

Following discussion, the proposed budget amendment was put to a recorded vote and fell with voting 6:57 (4 abstentions)

For:6

Against:57

Abstentions:4

Council then debated the substantive budget proposals in detail as originally proposed.

Following comprehensive debate Council moved to a recorded vote where the motion as set out below was carried with voting: 39:20 (8 abstentions): -

For:39

Against:20

Abstentions:8

RESOLVED 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 84 to 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 109 and 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.

(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.

Voting: For:39, Against:20, Abstentions:8

Councillors Jackie Edwards, Margaret Phipps and Toby Slade left the meeting at 10.52pm at the conclusion of this item.

The Chairman advised that Council would now proceed to Agenda Item 10 (2026/27 Council Tax Resolution), after which the meeting would return to the published order of business.