Agenda item

Report of Director of Finance and Performance

Lead Cabinet member: Councillor Daniel Butcher

Recommend to Full Council (Budget and policy framework):

(1) The General Fund Base Budget 2025/26 and projected MTFS as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

(2) An increase in the Council Tax for Eastbourne Borough Council of 2.99% resulting in a Band D charge of £286.04 for 2025/26.

(3) The revised General Fund & Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme 2025/26 as set out at Appendix 4 to the report.

(4) The rates of Fees & Charges proposed within Appendix 6 to the report, to apply from 1 April 2025 and to implement changes to statutory fees and charges for services when notified by Government.

(5) To note the Section 151 Officer’s comments as outlined in the report.

The Cabinet considered the report of the Director of Finance and Performance, asking it to recommend to Full Council, the General Fund Budget 2025/26, updated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and the updated Capital Programme and Treasury Management position.

The proposed budget was set within the context of continuing financial challenges, facing the council. Full details were contained in the report.

Councillor Small, visiting member, addressed the Cabinet on this item. He queried where in the budget proposals correlated with previous statements made that the Council was spending 49p in every pound of council tax collected on temporary accommodation. Councillor Small also queried the council’s total services spend, its definition of family and how much debt servicing costs had changed in last three years relative to the cost of homelessness. Questions were responded at the meeting by the Chief Finance Office and for those unanswered, a follow up response was agreed.

Recommend to Full Council (Budget and policy framework):

(1) The General Fund Base Budget 2025/26 and projected MTFS as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

(2) An increase in the Council Tax for Eastbourne Borough Council of 2.99% resulting in a Band D charge of £286.04 for 2025/26.

(3) The revised General Fund & Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme 2025/26 as set out at Appendix 4 to the report.

(4) The rates of Fees & Charges proposed within Appendix 6 to the report, to apply from 1 April 2025 and to implement changes to statutory fees and charges for services when notified by Government.

(5) To note the Section 151 Officer’s comments as outlined in the report.

Reason for decisions:

The Cabinet must recommend to Full Council the setting of a revenue budget and associated Council Tax for the forthcoming financial year by law.