Agenda and draft minutes

The Chief Executive read out the Notice convening the meeting.

There then followed Prayers by the Mayor’s Chaplain.

Finance Council also observed a minute’s silence following the recent passing of former Councillor Mohammed Khaliq.

Apologies were received from Councillors Stephanie Brookfield, Katrina Fielding, Mahfooz Hussain, Liz Johnson, Rana Khan, Altaf Patel, Salim Sidat, Neil Slater and Jim Smith.

To agree as a correct record the minutes of the Council Forum meeting held on 30^th January 2025.

RESOLVED

That subject to a correction in the name of Councillor Elaine Whittingham (minute number 5 refers) the Minutes of the Council Forum meeting held on 30^th January 2025 be agreed as a correct record.

No declarations of interest were submitted.

The Mayor updated Finance Council on recent activities he and the Mayoress had attended since the last meeting.  This included:

Attending the opening of Amoracci Tiles; a presentation evening and tour at the Tauheedul Boy’s High School and a visit to Escape to Fun Island on the former Thwaites Brewery site.  They also met with young people taking part in the King’s Trust Award who had completed a project at the Ivy Street Community Centre.  They had attended the 110^th anniversary of the 11^th Battalion East Lancashire Regiment Accrington Pals Memorial Service and the 100^th Anniversary Service at Rividge Fold United Reform Church.

The Mayor invited members to support his chosen charities by attending the following:

14^th March – Quiz Night at the Hare and Hounds, Lammack

17^th April – Quiz Night at Edgeworth Cricket Club

4^th April – the Mayors Ball at Blackburn Cathedral

A report was submitted which updated Members and shared information relating to salary payments made to employees in the Council’s employment during 2024/25.  Details of the proposed Pay Policy to be applied in the forthcoming financial year 2025/26 were also set out in the report.

The report also included details of the Chief Executive and Chief Officers pay scales and the range of salaries across the whole organisation during this period.

RESOLVED

That the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26 be approved.

Members considered a report on the robustness of the Council’s budget estimates for 2025/26 and the adequacy of financial reserves in accordance with Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003.  Section 25(2) of the Act states:

“an Authority to which a report under this section is made shall have regard to the report when making decisions about the calculations in connection with which it is made.”

RESOLVED

(1)  That consideration and regard be given to the statements from the Strategic Director Finance and Resources (as the Council’s statutory finance officer) as provided at Appendices A and B when determining the budget (Revenue Budget and Capital Programme) and the level of Council Tax for 2025/26.

(2)  That the forecast deficit on the High Needs Budget for 2025/26 be noted, and the reliance on the statutory override permitting an unfunded deficit in the year be acknowledged along with action that would need to be taken to deal with this deficit should the Government not extend the statutory override beyond 31^st March 2026.

(3)  That the position on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan and the uncertainty with future funding allocations be noted and the Executive Board be requested to take actions as appropriate to ensure the Council’s budget remained sustainable over the medium term.

Council Forum considered a report on proposals for the Revenue Budget for 2025/26 together with an update to the Financial Strategy for 2022/25.  A report elsewhere on the agenda provided details of the proposed Capital Programme for 2025/26 (and included an updated Capital Strategy).

The report set out details of the Autumn Budget, the Local Government Finance Policy Statement and information on the Local Government Finance Settlement, details of which were confirmed by the Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government on 3^rd February 2025.

Members were reminded that the agreement to the Council’s General Fund Revenue Budget for 2025/26 (and the Capital Programme for 2025/26) should be considered in the context of the Council’s medium term financial position.  Details of this were provided in an Addendum to the Financial Strategy (and Medium-Term Financial Plan) 2022/25 to 2025/26 which was attached to the report at Appendix H.

In accordance with the Local Government (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which came into force on 25^th February 2014, the Council was required to record in the minutes of a budget decision meeting the names of persons who cast a vote for or against the decision or who abstained from voting.

Those Members voting in favour of the recommendations were Councillors Imran Ahmed, Parwaiz Akhtar, Saj Ali, Jim Casey, Mustafa Desai, Tasleem Fazal, Jackie Floyd, Matt Gibson, Julie Gunn, Tony Humphrys, Shaukat Hussain, Waqar Hussain, Sabahat Imtiaz, Matthew Jackson, Amin Kapadia, Sonia Khan, Zamir Khan, Suleman Khonat, Terri Mahmood, Quesir Mahmood, Iqbal Masters, Martin McCaughran, Vicky McGurk, Muntazir Patel, Salma Patel, Ehsan Raja, Phil Riley, Anthony shaw, Jim Shorrock, Dave Smith, Damian Talbot, Ashley Whalley and Elaine Whittingham.

Those Members voting against the recommendations were Councillors Kevin Connor, Derek Hardman, Paul Marrow, Jean Rigby, Mark Surrell, Jacqueline Slater, John Slater and Julie Slater.

Councillor Brian Taylor abstained from voting.

Upon being put to the vote it was:

RESOLVED

(1)  That the impact of the increase in the Real/National Living Wage, as set out in the report be acknowledged, and it be noted that the impact of this on the hourly rates and contract changes for Social Care Providers for 2025/26 would be submitted to the Executive Board in due course.

(2)  That the use of High Needs Dedicated School Grant (DSG) Funding block in 2025/26, as set out in Appendix B attached to the report, be approved.

(3)  That the budget deficit on the High Needs DSG be noted, and that the Council would rely on the statutory override in 2025/26 to carry the deficit unfunded.

(4)  That the Strategic Director, Children and Education, in consultation with the Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education, be requested to undertake a review of High Needs expenditure with a view to bringing forward proposals to the Executive Board to mitigate the forecast deficit on the High Needs DSG.

(5)  That the service investment proposals, as set out in the report, be approved.

(6)  That  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

A report was submitted seeking approval for the 2025/26-2027/28 Capital Strategy and the Capital Programme.

The Capital Strategy provided a high-level overview of how the Council’s capital expenditure, capital financing and treasury management activity contributed to the provision of local public services, along with an overview of how associated risks were managed and the implications for future financial sustainability.

Decisions made this year on capital and treasury management would have financial consequences for the Authority for many years into the future.  They were therefore, subject to both a national regulatory framework and to a local policy framework summarised in the report.

In accordance with the Local Government (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which came into force on 25^th February 2014, the Council was required to record in the minutes of a budget decision meeting the names of persons who cast a vote for or against the decision or who abstained from voting.

Those Members voting in favour of the recommendations were Councillors Imran Ahmed, Parwaiz Akhtar, Saj Ali, Jim Casey, Mustafa Desai, Tasleem Fazal, Jackie Floyd, Matt Gibson, Julie Gunn, Tony Humphrys, Shaukat Imtiaz, Matthew Jackson, Amin Kapadia, Sonia Khan, Zamir Khan, Suleman Khonat, Terri Mahmood, Quesir Mahmood, Iqbal Masters, Martin McCaughran, Vicky McGurk, Muntazir Patel, Salma Patel, Ehsan Raja, Phil Riley, Anthony Shaw, Jim Shorrock, Dave Smith, Damian Talbot, Ashley Whalley and Elaine Whittingham.

Those Members voting against the recommendations were Councillors Kevin Connor, Derek Hardman, Paul Marrow, Jean Rigby, Mark Russell, Jacqueline slater, John Slater and Julie Slater.

Councillor Brian Taylor abstained from voting.

Upon being put to the vote it was:

RESOVLED

(1)  That the Capital Strategy for 2025/28, as set out at Appendix 1 attached to the report, be approved, including:

(a)  The Council’s Capitalisation Policy, as outlined in Appendix 2 attached to the report.

(b)  The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement, which determined the Council’s policy for repayment of debt, as set out in Appendix 3 attached to the report.

(c)  The proposed Prudential Indicators for the forthcoming year, as set out in Appendix 4 attached to the report.

(d)  The proposed Investment Strategy for 2025/26, as outlined in Appendix 5 attached to the report.

(2)  That the proposed Capital Programme for 2025/26, as outlined in Appendices 6 and 6(a) attached to the report be approved.

(3)  That the indicative programmes for 2026/27 to 2027/28, as shown in Appendix 6 attached to the report, be noted and it be acknowledged that these would be subject to further review as part of the development of future years’ capital programme.

A report setting out the amounts of Council Tax for 2025/26 was submitted for consideration.

As the billing authority the Council was required to calculate a Council Tax requirement for the forthcoming year in accordance with regulations made under Section 31A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the Act).

In accordance with the Local Government (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which came into force on 25^th February 2014, the Council was required to record in the minutes of a budget decision meeting the names of persons who cast a vote for or against the decision or who abstained from voting.

Those Members voting in favour of the recommendation were Councillors Imran Ahmed, Parwaiz Akhtar, Saj Ali, Jim Casey, Mustafa Desai, Tasleem Fazal, Jackie Floyd, Matt Gibson, Julie Gunn, Tony Humphrys, Shaukat Hussain, Waqar Hussain, Sabahat Imtiaz, Matthew Jackson, Amin Kapadia, Sonia Khan, Samir Khan, Suleman Khonat, Terri Mahmood, Quesir Mahmood, Iqbal Masters, Martin McCaughran, Vicky McGurk, Muntazir Patel, Salma Patel, Ehsan Raja, Phil Riley, Anthony Shaw, Jim Shorrock, Dave Smith, Damian Talbot, Ashley Whalley and Elain Whittingham.

Those Members voting against the recommendation were Councillors Kevin Connor, Derek Hardman, Paul Marrow, Jean Rigby, Mark Russell, Jacqueline Slater, John Slater and Julie Slater.

Councillor Brian Taylor abstained.

Upon being put to the vote it was:

RESOLVED

That the draft resolution setting the Council Tax or 2025/26, as set out in the appendices attached to these minutes, be approved.