Decision details

(1)  That delegated authority be granted to the Executive Member for Finance and Governance to agree and submit a response to the Government’s consultation on Local Authority Funding Reform.

(2)  That the outcome of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26, as set out in the report, be noted.

(3)  That the response to the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement for 2025/26 as set out at Appendix A attached to the report, be noted.

(4)  That it be noted further work was required to determine the estimate of Business Rates Retained for 2025/26 which would reflect the Council’s local knowledge/circumstances and that this work had begun following the release of guidance from Government on this matter.

(5)  That it be acknowledged that the estimates of Council Tax income presented in the report were subject to decision by Finance Council on 24^th February 2025 and were, therefore, indicative at this stage.

(6)  That the updated Medium Term Financial Plan 2025/28 be noted and this would be further updated once decisions on the Council’s budget were taken at Finance Council on 24^th February 2025.