Agenda item

The Council considered a report presenting the revenue and capital budgets together with proposals for increases in Council Tax and the Adult Social Care Precept for 2025/26.

On a motion from Councillor Kevin Guy, seconded by Councillor Robin Moss and RESOLVED that, in accordance with rule 3.1.14 (Suspension of rules), rule 3.1.33 be suspended to allow the length of speeches for the Budget debate to be varied (NB: unless otherwise stated, all mover speeches 5 minutes, all others 3 minutes).

On a motion from Councillor Mark Elliott, seconded by Councillor Paul May, it was

RESOLVED

1.  To approve;

·  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2025/26 of £151.71m and the individual service cash limits for 2025/26 as outlined in Annex 1.

·  The savings and income plans outlined in Annex 2(i), funding requirements 2(ii), in conjunction with the Equalities Impact Assessment Report in Annex 3.

·  An increase in Council Tax of 2.99% in 2025/26 (an increase of £51.92 per Band D property or £1 per week).

·  An increase of 2% to Council Tax for the Adult Social Care Precept in recognition of the current demands and financial pressures on this service. This is equivalent to an increase of £34.72 on a Band D property (67p per week).

·  The movement in reserves outlined in section 5.6 and the adequacy of Un-earmarked Reserves at £12.58m within a risk assessed range requirement of £11.8m - £13.0m.

·  To note the Children’s Services management plan update set out in section 5.2.6 of the report.

·  The Efficiency Strategy attached at Annex 4.

·  The Capital Programme for 2025/26 of £76.41m including new and emerging capital bids outlined in Annex 5(i), planned sources of funding in 5.8.3, and notes the programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30 and that any wholly funded projects coming forward during the year will be added to the Capital Programme in line with the Budget Management Scheme.

·  The delegation of implementation, subject to consultation where appropriate, of the capital programmes set out in Annex 5(i) to Annex 5(iv) to the relevant Director in consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Portfolio Holder.

·  The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allocations and amendments outlined in Annex 5(v).

·  The Capital & Investment Strategy attached at Annex 6.

·   The MRP Policy attached at Annex 7.

·  The Capital Prudential Indicators outlined in 5.8.7.

·  The Annual Pay Policy Statement at Annex 8.

·  The Community Contribution Fund extension outlined section 5.5.

·  The Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025/26 shown in the following link:  https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2025-01/Bath%20%26%20NE%20Someset%20S13A%20202526%20FINAL%20.pdf  and referred to in 5.3.5 of the report.

·  The Fees and Charges schedule for 2025/26 at Annex 11 and support its publication following approval of the budget, with delegation to amend individual costs within the schedule in line with market needs, to the Director of Place Management, in consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Portfolio Holder.

2.2  That the Council approves the technical resolutions that are derived from the budget report, and all the figures in that report, including the precepts for towns, parishes and other precepting bodies as set out in Annex 13.

2.3  That the Cabinet note the S151 Officer’s report on the robustness of the proposed budget and the adequacy of the Council’s reserves outlined in 5.7.

2.4  That the Cabinet note the budget consultation responses in Annex 10, and the PDS Panel feedback in Annex 12.

[Notes;

1.  An amendment was moved by Councillor Shaun Hughes and seconded by Councillor Tim Warren to reinstate the Parking Reinvestment fund (attached to the minutes).  This was lost on a named vote;

Councillors in favour (16); - Councillors David Biddleston, Colin Blackburn, Chris Dando, Liz Hardman, Gavin Heathcote, Saskia Heijltjes, Shaun Hughes, Eleanor Jackson, Grant Johnson, Lesley Mansell, Robin Moss, Sam Ross, Karen Walker, Chris Warren, Tim Warren, Joanna Wright.

Councillors against (36)- Councillors Michael Auton, Tim Ball, Alex Beaumont, Alison Born, Anna Box, Paul Crossley, Jess David, Mark Elliott, Ian Halsall, Dave Harding, Steve Hedges, Oli Henman, Joel Hirst, Lucy Hodge, Duncan Hounsell, Samantha Kelly, Fiona Gourley, Kevin Guy,  George Leach, John Leach, Hal MacFie, Ruth Malloy, Paul May, Matt McCabe, Sarah Moore, Michelle O’Doherty, Bharat Pankhania, Manda Rigby, Dine Romero, Paul Roper, Onkar Saini, Toby Simon, Shaun Stephenson-McGall, George Tomlin, Andy Wait, Sarah Warren

Councillors abstaining (0)

2.  An amendment was moved by Councillor Joanna Wright and seconded by Councillor Sam Ross, containing a series of proposals (attached to the minutes).  This was lost on a named vote;

Councillors in favour (3); - Councillors Saskia Heijltjes, Sam Ross and Joanna Wright

Councillors against (49)- Councillors Michael Auton, Tim Ball, Alex Beaumont, David Biddleston, Colin Blackburn, Alison Born, Anna Box, Paul Crossley, Chris Dando, Jess David, Mark Elliott, Fiona Gourley, Kevin Guy, Ian Halsall, Dave Harding, Liz Hardman, Gavin Heathcote, Steve Hedges, Oli Henman, Joel Hirst, Lucy Hodge, Duncan Hounsell, Shaun Hughes, Samantha Kelly, Eleanor Jackson, Grant Johnson, George Leach, John Leach, Hal MacFie, Ruth Malloy, Lesley Mansell, Paul May, Matt McCabe, Sarah Moore, Robin Moss, Michelle O’Doherty, Bharat Pankhania; Manda Rigby, Dine Romero, Paul Roper, Onkar Saini, Toby Simon, Shaun Stephenson-McGall, George Tomlin, Andy Wait, Karen Walker, Chris Warren, Sarah Warren, Tim Warren.

Councillors abstaining (0)

3.  The original motion, as set out in the report, was carried on a named vote;

Councillors in favour (36); - Councillors Michael Auton, Tim Ball, Alex Beaumont, Alison Born, Anna Box, Paul Crossley, Jess David, Mark Elliott, Fiona Gourley, Kevin Guy, Ian Halsall, Dave Harding, Steve Hedges, Oli Henman, Joel Hirst, Lucy Hodge, Duncan Hounsell, Samantha Kelly, George Leach, John Leach, Hal MacFie, Ruth Malloy, Paul May, Matt McCabe, Sarah Moore, Michelle O’Doherty, Bharat Pankhania; Manda Rigby, Dine Romero, Paul Roper, Onkar Saini, Toby Simon, Shaun Stephenson-McGall, George Tomlin, Andy Wait and Sarah Warren.

Councillors against (8); - Councillors David Biddleston, Chris Dando, Liz Hardman, Eleanor Jackson, Grant Johnson, Lesley Mansell, Robin Moss, Tim Warren.

Councillors abstaining (8): - Councillors Colin Blackburn, Gavin Heathcote, Saskia Heijltjes, Shaun Hughes, Sam Ross, Karen Walker, Chris Warren, Joanna Wright]