Issue - meetings

The Chairperson moved the recommendations set out in the report.

In response to a question raised regarding the Leisure Contract and the assurance statement of the Interim Chief Financial Officer Members were advised that the risk identified relating to the volatility of the contract was because it was demand led, something which the Council could not control, and in response the Council had put mitigations in place which was the normal course of business. The Section 151 Officer had highlighted this within his report to ensure that Members and the public were fully aware of it and that measures had been put in place. A further question regarding sharing the details of the contract with Members, the Officer advised that he would advise Members outside of the meeting.

The Chairperson then put the recommendations and in accordance with earlier notification the voting was as follows:

For the recommendation:

Councillors V J Bell, D O Bown, S J Burwood, J Driver, M F L Durham, A Fittock, A S Fluker, L J Haywood, J C Hughes, K Jennings, W J Laybourn, S J N Morgan, M G Neall, R G Pratt, R H Siddall, U G C Siddall-Norman, N D Spenceley, P L Spenceley, W Stamp, E L Stephens, J C Stilts, N J Swindle and M E Thompson.

Against the recommendation: None.

Abstain: None.

The Chairperson declared that these recommendations were therefore agreed.

RESOLVED

(i)             that the following be approved:

(a)           the Revised 2024 / 25 and Original 2025 / 26 General Fund Revenue Budget Estimates (Appendices 1, 2 and 3 to the report),

(b)           an average Band D council tax of £232.01 (excluding parish precepts) (£6.74 increase) for 2025 / 26 (Appendix 1 to the report),

(c)           policies on the designated use of financial reserves (Appendix 4 to the report).

(ii)            that the Council maintains the current policy of a minimum general fund balance of £2,600,000.

(iii)           that the Council gives due regard to the Interim Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) statement on the robustness of budgets and adequacy of reserves in Appendix 5 to the report.