Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Corporate Director - Finance and Resources on the final 2025/26 Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (2026/27 to 2029/30) including the capital programme prior to its consideration by the Council.

Executive Councillor: B Mickelburgh.

The Cabinet has recommended to Council the approval of the overall Final Budget 2025/26 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2026/27 to 2029/30 as outlined in Appendix 1 of the report submitted which includes the Revenue Budget at Section 2 and the Capital Programme at Section 3.

With the aid of a report prepared by the Corporate Director – Finance and Resources (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were apprised with details of the Final Budget 2025/26 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (2026/27 to 2029/30).

By way of background, the Corporate Director – Finance and Resources reported that the final Government settlement figure had now been received and that this would not make a material difference to the overall budget proposals. Furthermore, it was reported that the Quarter 3 Finance Performance Report had also been included as an appendix to the report and that funding remained available within the Council’s reserves in anticipation of work arising from the Government’s White Paper proposals on Local Government Reorganisation. Reference was also made to the budget planning principles, the legal requirement for the Council to propose a balanced budget which had resulted in a small drawdown from earmarked reserves, the impact of National Insurance contribution changes and the statement made by the Corporate Director – Finance and Resources as Section 151 Officer on the robustness of the proposed final budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy, including the Capital Programme.

The Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources then drew attention to the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth) where questions had been raised and responded to at the meeting relating to the Local Government Settlement, the Council’s approach to budget setting, a property within the Commercial Investment Strategy, the proposed increase in parking fees after the expected implementation of Civil Parking Enforcement and wage growth proposals which had been included within the budget.

Referring to the comments made by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth) relating to proposed changes to car parking charges, the Executive Councillor for Open Spaces, Waste and Street Scene stated that a holistic approach to this must be adopted once Civil Parking Enforcement was in place with a view to reviewing occupancy levels across each car parking site, options for introducing parcel lockers and reviewing the scale of fees at each site against its competitors. All of these factors should be considered as part of the Council’s review of its car parking strategy. The Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources responded that it would be timely to review the Council’s car parking strategy now that the timeframes for Civil Parking Enforcement were known. He also reminded the Cabinet that the car parks were also subject to business rates and expressed the view that the strategy would need to balance outcomes for residents.

In concurring with the comments which had been raised in respect of the Council’s approach to reviewing car parking charges, the Executive Councillor for Climate, Transformation and Workforce commented upon the need for the Council to focus its efforts on reducing overall net expenditure. Having commended Officers for their hard work in producing a balanced budget in 2025/26 and for their efforts with the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Capital Programme, it was

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet recommend  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61

The Panel is invited to comment on the 2025/26 Revenue Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy (2026/27 to 2029/30) including the Capital Programme.

Executive Cllr: B Mickelburgh

By means of a report by the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources (a copy of which was appended in the Minute Book), the 2025/26 Revenue Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy (2026/27 to 2029/30) including the Capital Programme was presented to the Panel.

The Panel heard that the provisional Local Government Settlement had been released in December, and that no significant changes were anticipated with the release of the final Local Government Settlement this week. It was noted that some additional monies would be made available to Councils who were experiencing significant increases to the charges made to them by Internal Drainage Boards, however it was not felt that this would make a material difference to Huntingdonshire District Council. It was also advised to the Panel that HDC’s response to the provisional Settlement had been made by the Section 151 Officer as part of the response from the Society of District Councils Treasurers.

Following an enquiry on how the approach to budget setting by the Executive Councillor had changed over the past three years and how the budget setting was managed, the Panel heard that the budget process had evolved in recent years with more onus on services to work with their Executive Councillors to manage the process throughout the year. The Executive Councillor confirmed that he took more of a governance role in budget setting and oversaw the robustness overall whilst leaving the detail to portfolio holders and officers.

In response to an enquiry relating to the Stonehill property within the Commercial Investment Strategy, the Panel heard that the property was undergoing repairs and would be placed back onto the rental market, it was confirmed that this was being actively managed by the estates team.

Concern was expressed over the proposed increase in parking fees being after the expected implementation of Civil Parking Enforcement (CPE) within the district. The Panel heard that the introduction of CPE was expected to affect the current car park income but that the approach detailed within the budget was an inflationary increase to support a prudent approach. It was suggested, that this would be an opportune time to review the existing parking strategy to ensure consistency across the district before CPE comes into force.

It was noted that wage growth for the proposed budget had been budgeted at 4%. The Panel also heard that this was a prudent budget based on what was known at the moment, it was noted that there were differing predictions from economic forecasters and therefore a medium of these had been used within the proposals. It was further noted that as capital spend was to be expected over the coming year, the budget looked to balance all factors to provide a sensible way forward.

It was clarified to the Panel, that following a recent restructure of Heads of Service, the proposed budget followed the new structure.

Following the discussion, it was

RESOLVED

that Cabinet be encouraged to consider the comments from Overview and Scrutiny when making a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 58