Decision details

Resolved

that the committee approved

1.

the Vision Statement, Priority Themes, Corporate Priorities and Outcomes for 2025 – 2030 (Appendix 1);

2.

the proposed revisions to Service Revenue Budgets (Policy Changes) (Appendix E of the MTFS);

3.

the sum of £33,143 be applied from Council Tax Collection Fund surpluses in reducing the Council Tax demand in 2025/26 (Table 16, Section 7.8 of the MTFS);

4.

the sum of £92,642 be applied to Business Rates Collection Fund deficits in 2025/26 (Table 16, Section 7.8 of the MTFS);

5.

that on 12th December 2024, the Cabinet calculated the Council Tax Base 2025/26 for the whole Council area as 23,596 [Item T in the formula in Section 31B(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")];

6.

that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2025/26 is £4,925,901 (Appendix F and Appendix H of the MTFS);

7.

the following amounts as calculated for the year 2025/26 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

a.       £4,925,901 being the amount calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year (Item R in the formula in Section 31A(4) of the Act);

b.       £208.76 being the amount at 6 (a) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (at 4 above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year;

8.

the Council Tax level for the Borough Council for 2025/26 of £208.76 (an increase of £6.06 (2.99%) on the 2024/25 level of £202.70) at Band D;

9.

an aggregate Council Tax (comprising the respective demands of the Borough Council, Staffordshire County Council, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority) of £2,209.81 at Band D for 2025/26 be noted (£2,107.68 in 2024/25) (Appendix H of the MTFS);

10.

the Council Tax levels at each band for 2025/26 (Appendix H of the MTFS);

11.

In accordance with Section 11c of the Levelling Up and Regeneration Act     2023, a discretionary council tax premium of 100% on second homes and  empty homes to be implemented with effect from 1st April 2026;

12.

the sum of £148,939 be transferred to General Fund Revenue Balances in 2025/26 (Appendix F of the MTFS);

13.

the Summary General Fund Revenue Budget for 2025/26 (Appendix F of the MTFS);

14.

the Provisional General Fund Budgets for 2026/27 to 2027/28, summarised at Appendix F of the MTFS, as the basis for future planning;

15.

minimum level for balances of £500k to be held for each of the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account, General Capital Fund and Housing Capital Fund;

16.

Cabinet be authorised to release funding from the General Contingency budget and that the release of funding for Specific Contingency items be delegated to the Corporate Management Team in consultation with the Leader of the Council;

17.

proposed HRA Expenditure level of £19,713,680 for 2025/26 (Appendix I of the MTFS);

18.

rents for Council House Tenants for 2025/26 be set at an average of £110.40 (2024/25 £107.50), over a 48 week rent year (including a 2.7% increase in line with the Government’s updated Rent Standard for 2025/26);

19.

rents for Council House Tenants due for 52 weeks in 2025/26 be collected over 48 weeks;

20.

the HRA deficit of £409,240 be transferred from the Housing Revenue Account Balances in 2025/26 (Table 18, Section 8.8 of the MTFS);

21.

the proposed 5 year General Fund Capital Programme of £7,162,780, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the MTFS;

22.

the proposed 5 year Housing Capital Programme of £51,047,190, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the MTFS;

23.

to delegate authority to Cabinet to approve/add new capital schemes to the capital programme where grant funding is received or there is no net additional cost to the Council;

24.

the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, the Treasury Management Policy Statement, Minimum Revenue Provision Strategy and Annual Investment Statement 2025/26 (as detailed at Appendix 3);

25.

the Prudential and Treasury Indicators and Limits for 2025/26 to 2027/28 contained within Appendix 3 to the MTFS;

26.

the detailed criteria of the Investment Strategy 2025/26 contained in the Treasury Management Strategy; and

27.

the Corporate Capital Strategy and associated Action Plan (as detailed at Appendix 1 of the MTFS).

(Moved by Councillor D Foster and seconded by Councillor L Smith)