Report of Executive Director (Finance and Resources)

The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director (Finance and Resources) summarising the national headlines of the Policy Statement published on 28^th November 2024 by the Minister of State for Local Government and English Devolution in advance of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26.  The report also set out the Council’s intentions and budget considerations in relation to fees and charges for 2025/26.

Resolved:

1. That the summary of the Government’s recent Finance Policy

Statement, the timing of release of the Local Government’s Provisional

Finance Settlement for 2025/26 and the major reform planned as part of

a Comprehensive Spending Review from 2026/27 to 2028/29, be noted.

2. That it be noted that the income yield for fees and charges generally across

all City Council services will be increased by circa 2.75% with effect

from 1st April 2025, under officer delegation, with certain exceptions, as

set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

3. That, in principle, the proposals for the fees and charges changes set out in Appendix 1 to the report, together with a commitment to provide a comprehensive schedule detailing all fees and charges proposed for 2025/26 as part of the final budget report to Cabinet in February 2025, be approved.

Reasons for decision:

1. To note the update following the publication of the Government’s Policy Statement on the 2025/26 Local Government Finance Settlement.

2. To approve in principle the intention generally to increase fees and charges yield from services by circa 2.75% for 2025/26, under officer delegation, with certain exceptions that fall outside of this parameter.

Other options:

To change fees and charges in most service areas by a different amount. This approach is not recommended following the careful consideration that has been given to balancing the level of charges proposed with the significant financial challenges currently being faced by the Council.

Note: This is an Executive Function

Not eligible for call-in

Cabinet Members: Cllr Cowan/Cllr Collins

The Committee received a report by the Executive Director (Finance & Resources), by way of pre-Cabinet Scrutiny, that summarised the national headlines of the policy statement which was published on 28 November 2024 by the Minister of State for Local government and English Devolution in advance of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26.

The Committee asked a number of questions which were responded to by the Cabinet Member for Finance, Assets and Investments. The Cabinet Member endeavoured to provide a written response in relation to:

·       How much income was expected to be generated from charging small local businesses from running paid for fitness activities in parks, for example, fitness bootcamps.

Resolved:

That the report to Cabinet be noted.

Note: This is and Executive Function

Cabinet Member: Councillor D Cowan (Leader of the Council) and Councillor P Collins (Cabinet Member for Cabinet Member for Finance, Assets and Investments).