Cabinet

 

2.00pm 13 February 2025

 

Council Chamber, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove, BN3 3BQ

 

 

decision list

 

 

Part One

 

<AI1>

155

 

Visitor Economy Strategy for Growth 2024 - 2034

 

Decision implemented at close of business on: 21 February 2025 unless called in

 

 

Contact Officer:

Julia Gallagher

Tel: 01273 291614

 

Ward Affected:

All Wards

 

 

 

1)           That Cabinet approves the Sussex Visitor Economy Strategy for Growth 2024 – 2034 (Appendix 1).

 

 

</AI1>

<AI2>

156

 

Annual Procurement Forward Plan

 

Decision implemented at close of business on: 21 February 2025 unless called in

 

 

Ward Affected:

All Wards

 

 

 

1)           That Cabinet agrees the Procurement Forward Plan for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix 1.

 

2)           That Cabinet notes the Procurement Flow chart set out at Appendix 2.

 

 

</AI2>

<AI3>

157

 

General Fund Revenue Budget, Capital & Treasury Management Strategy 2025-26

 

Decision implemented at close of business on: 21 February 2025 unless called in

 

 

Contact Officer:

Nigel Manvell

Tel: 01273 293104

 

Ward Affected:

All Wards

 

 

 

That Cabinet recommends to Council the following:

1)           That Council approves the Administration’s proposed General Fund revenue and capital budget and Council Tax increase on the Brighton and Hove element of the council tax for 2025/26, comprising:

i)     A general Council Tax increase of 2.99%;

ii)    An Adult Social Care Precept increase of 2.00%;

iii)   The council’s net General Fund budget requirement for 2025/26 of £264.819m;

iv)   The 2025/26 budget allocations to services as set out in Appendix 1 incorporating budget savings proposals detailed at Appendix 2, subject to the amendment below:

 

Care pathway for sexual dysfunction (female)

Proposed withdrawal of funding for this service as this is not a Public Health responsibility.  The most significant impact will be experienced by women who are unable to identify or afford a paid-for therapy service.

 

v)    The changes to Fees & Charges set out in Appendix 3;

vi)   The one-off resource allocations as set out in the table at paragraph 6.5.

vii)  A recommended working balance of £9.000m (approximately 3.4% of the net budget) to be maintained or replenished over the period of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

2)           That Council notes plans to address future projected budget shortfalls set out in the 4-Year Medium Term Financial Strategy at Appendix 4.

3)           That Council approves the Capital Strategy for 2025/26 at Appendix 5 comprising:

i)     Funding for investment in transformation and change, supported by the flexible use of capital receipts as set out in paragraph 10.12;

ii)    The capital resources and proposed borrowing included at Annex A of the Capital Strategy;

iii)   The Capital Investment Programme for 2025/26 of £246.946m included at Appendix 5 incorporating allocations to strategic funds.

4)           That Council approves the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as set out in Appendix 6 comprising:

i)     The Annual Investment Strategy;

ii)    The Prudential and Treasury Indicators;

iii)   The Minimum Revenue Provision policy;

iv)    The authorised borrowing limit for the year commencing 1 April 2025.

5)           That Council notes and considers the Equalities Impact Assessments to cover all relevant budget proposals as set out in Appendix 7.

6)           That Council further notes that approval of the budget is an indicative resourcing decision to be taken in the context of the explanation given in the Legal Implications in Section 19.

7)           That Council notes that supplementary information needed to set the overall council tax, including a detailed Budget Book, will be provided for the Budget Council meeting as listed in paragraph 12.1.

8)           That Cabinet agrees that the council’s S151 Chief Financial Officer be authorised to make any necessary technical, presentational or consequential amendments to this report before submission to Budget Council.

 

9)           Following the announcement of the Public Health Grant on 7 February 2025 and the higher than anticipated grant announcement, Full Council approve use of these additional resources to:

 

·           Reduce the proposed reduction of contribution to the Healthy Child programme from £100,000 to £50,000 shown on Page 340;

·           Remove the £4,000 proposed saving on YMCA Mental Health Champions (part of proposed savings of £44,000 on Page 340);

·           Remove the proposed saving of £35,000 for cessation of the Audio Active CYP service (part of proposed savings of £44,000 on Page 340);

·           Remove the proposed £20,000 saving on Mental Health Support Services  on Page 341;

·           Remove the proposed saving of £45,000 on the Ageing Well service delivered by Impact initiatives on Page 342;

·           Remove the proposed reduction in contribution of £18,000 to the Academic Library Service (part of proposed savings of £73,000 on Page 342);

·           Remove the proposed reduction of £10,000 to the TDC Act on Cancer Project screening promotion service (part of proposed savings of £73,000 on Page 342);

·           Remove the proposal to reduce the contribution to Oral Health promotion by £9,000 (10%) as shown on Page 342, and;

·           Reduce the proposed staffing saving of £565,000 by £39,000 to £526,000 as shown on Pages 342/343.

 

 

</AI3>

<AI4>

158

 

Housing Revenue Account Budget & Capital Investment Programme 2025-26 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy

 

Decision implemented at close of business on: 21 February 2025 unless called in

 

 

 

Contact Officer:

Craig Garoghan

Tel: 01273 291262

 

Ward Affected:

All Wards

 

 

 

That Cabinet:

 

1)           Approves a rent increase of 2.7% in line with government legislation as detailed in paragraph 3.12 of the report.

 

2)           Approves the service charges and fees as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report.

 

3)           Notes the 5-year capital programme as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

 

4)           Notes the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and 30-year financial projections shown in Appendix 4 to the report.

 

5)           Notes and recommends to Full Council for approval the HRA Revenue Budget for 2025/26 as outlined in table 1 of the main report and Appendix 1.

 

6)           Notes and recommends to Full Council for approval the new Capital Programme Budget of £77.765m for 2025/26 be agreed as part of the revised capital budget of £111.098m (which includes reprofiles of £33.333m from 2024/25).

 

7)           Notes and recommends to Full Council approval of the earmarking of £1m reserves against disrepair claims for 2025/26.

 

8)           Notes and recommends to Full Council for approval the 5-year capital programme as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

 

 

</AI4>

<AI5>

159

 

Targeted Budget Management (TBM) 202/245: Month 9 (December)

 

Decision implemented at close of business on: 21 February 2025 unless called in

 

 

Contact Officer:

Nigel Manvell

Tel: 01273 293104

 

Ward Affected:

All Wards

 

 

 

1)            Cabinet notes the forecast risk position for the General Fund, which indicates a potential forecast overspend risk of £3.310m.

 

2)            Cabinet notes the forecast outturn includes a forecast overspend risk of £1.522m on the NHS managed Section 75 services.

 

3)            Cabinet notes the forecast breakeven position for the separate Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

 

4)            Cabinet notes the forecast overspend risk for the ring-fenced Dedicated Schools Grant, which is an overspend of £1.276m.

 

5)            Cabinet notes the forecast position on the Capital Programme which is an underspend variance of £2.188m.

 

6)            Cabinet approves the capital budget variations and re-profiling requests set out in Appendix 6.

 

7)            Cabinet approves new capital schemes requested in Appendix 7.

 

8)            Cabinet notes the Treasury Management update as set out in Appendix 8.

 

</AI5>

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