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 2026/2.

An amendment was moved by the Labour Group (attached to the online record) calling for an exemption for public conveniences contracts and all charity and voluntary sector contractors from the list of “top 25 contracts” targeted for savings and a business case for a Discovery card.  This was lost on a vote.

An amendment was moved by the Green Group (attached to the online record) calling for additional software to accurately model changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme.  This was lost on a vote.

On a motion from Councillor Kevin Guy, seconded by Councillor Robin Moss and RESOLVED that, in accordance with rule 3.1.15 (Suspension of rules), rule 3.1.34 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 Kevin Guy, it was

RESOLVED that

1.  The Council approves:

·  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2026/27 of £193.17m and the individual service cash limits for 2026/27 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 general Council Tax of 2.99% in 2026/27 (an increase of £54.51 per Band D property or £1.05 per week).

·  An increase of 2.00% 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 £36.46 on a Band D property or £0.70 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 £12.00m - £13.20m.

·  To note the Children’s Services management plan update set out in paragraphs 5.2.65 to 5.2.66 of the report.

·  The Efficiency Strategy attached at Annex 4.

·  The Capital Programme for 2026/27 of £110.219m including new and emerging capital bids outlined in Annex 5(i), planned sources of funding in 5.8.10, and notes the programme for 2027/28 to 2030/31 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(vi) to the relevant Director in consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Portfolio Holder.

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

·  The Capital & Investment Strategy attached at Annex 6.

·  The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy attached at Annex 7.

·  The Capital Prudential Indicators outlined in 5.8.17.

·  The Annual Pay Policy Statement at Annex 8.

·  The Community Contribution Fund extension outlined Section 5.5.

·  The Council Tax Support Scheme for 2026/27 shown in the following link, and referred to in 5.3.10:

https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2026-01/Council_Tax_reduction_scheme_April_1_2026_to_March_31_2027.pdf

·  The Fees and Charges schedule for 2026/27 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.  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.

3.  The Council notes the S151 Officer’s report on the robustness of the proposed budget and the adequacy of the Council’s reserves outlined in Section 5.7; and

4.  The Council notes the budget consultation responses in Annex 10, and the Policy Development and Scrutiny (PDS) Panel feedback in Annex 12.

[Notes;

1.  An amendment from the Labour Group was moved by Councillor Robin Moss and seconded by Councillor Lesley Mansell, as set out above.  This was lost on a named vote;

Councillors in favour (7); - Councillors David Biddleston, Shaun Hughes, Eleanor Jackson, Lesley Mansell, Ann Morgan, Robin Moss, June Player.

Councillors against (37)- Councillors Michael Auton, Tim Ball, Colin Blackburn, Alison Born, Anna Box, Stuart Bridge, Mark Elliott, Fiona Gourley, Kevin Guy, Ian Halsall, Dave Harding, Steve Hedges, Saskia Heijltjes, Oli Henman, Joel Hirst, Lucy Hodge, Duncan Hounsell, Samantha Kelly, George Leach, John Leach, Hal MacFie, Ruth Malloy, Paul May, Matt McCabe, Simon McCombe, Sarah Moore, Michelle O’Doherty, Bharat Pankhania, Manda Rigby, Sam Ross, Onkar Saini, Shaun Stephenson-McGall, George Tomlin, Malcolm Treby, Andy Wait, Sarah Warren, Joanna Wright

Councillors abstaining (7); - Councillors Sarah Evans, Alan Hale, Gavin Heathcote, Grant Johnson, Karen Walker, Chris Warren, Tim Warren

2.  An amendment from the Green Group was moved by Councillor Saskia Heijltjes and seconded by Councillor Joanna Wright, as set out above.  This was lost on a named vote;

Councillors in favour (5); - Councillors Colin Blackburn, Saskia Heijltjes, Shaun Hughes, Sam Ross and Joanna Wright

Councillors against (46)- Councillors Michael Auton, Tim Ball, Alison Born, Anna Box, Stuart Bridge, Paul Crossley, Jess David, Mark Elliott, Sarah Evans, Fiona Gourley, Kevin Guy, Alan Hale, Ian Halsall, Dave Harding, Gavin Heathcote, Steve Hedges, Oli Henman, Joel Hirst, Lucy Hodge, Duncan Hounsell,  Grant Johnson, Samantha Kelly, George Leach, John Leach, Hal MacFie, Ruth Malloy, Paul May, Matt McCabe, Simon McCombe, Sarah Moore, Ann Morgan, Michelle O’Doherty, Bharat Pankhania; June Player, Manda Rigby, Dine Romero, Onkar Saini, Toby Simon, Shaun Stephenson-McGall, George Tomlin, Malcolm Treby, Andy Wait, Karen Walker, Chris Warren, Sarah Warren, Tim Warren.

Councillors abstaining (4); - Councillors David Biddleston, Eleanor Jackson, Lesley Mansell, Robin Moss.

3.  The above successful resolution was carried on a named vote;

Councillors in favour (46); - Councillors Michael Auton, Tim Ball, Colin Blackburn, Alison Born, Anna Box, Stuart Bridge, Paul Crossley, Jess David, Mark Elliott, Fiona Gourley, Kevin Guy, Alan Hale, Ian Halsall, Dave Harding, Gavin Heathcote, Steve Hedges, Oli Henman, Joel Hirst, Lucy Hodge, Duncan Hounsell, Shaun Hughes, Grant Johnson, Samantha Kelly, George Leach, John Leach, Hal MacFie, Ruth Malloy, Paul May, Matt McCabe, Simon McCombe, Sarah Moore, Michelle O’Doherty, Bharat Pankhania; June Player, Manda Rigby, Dine Romero, Onkar Saini, Toby Simon, Shaun Stephenson-McGall, George Tomlin, Malcolm Treby, Andy Wait, Karen Walker, Chris Warren, Sarah Warren, Tim Warren.

Councillors against (6); - Councillors David Biddleston, Sarah Evans, Eleanor Jackson, Lesley Mansell, Robin Moss, Tim Warren.

Councillors abstaining (3): - Councillors Saskia Heijltjes, Sam Ross, Joanna Wright]