Decision details

To set out and agree the Council’s budget proposals for recommendation to Full Council.

Cabinet NOTED the following comments made in advance of considering the main report on the Budget & Council Tax 2025-26:

1.     Councillor Conneely, as Chair of the Scrutiny Budget Scrutiny Task Group, summarising the main recommendations from the Task Group in relation to the budget process which had been included as Appendix D to the Budget and Council Tax 2025 - 26 report. In introducing the report, Councillor Conneely began by thanking all members of the Budget Scrutiny Task Group along with everyone else who had participated in the evidence sessions as part of the scrutiny process.  In emphasising the ongoing nature of the financial challenges and pressures faced by the Council, Councillor Conneely reiterated the need for fundamental reform of the current way in which local authorities were funded, given the inadequacy of the existing funding regime.

In outlining the comprehensive nature of the process undertaken by the Task Group in reviewing the budget proposals, it was hoped Cabinet would actively seek to take forward the recommendations made as a result which, it was highlighted, had included a focus on:

·             The impact of the proposed changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme and package of support being provided for more vulnerable residents in seeking to manage the impact, which it was noted the Resource & Public Realm Scrutiny Committee would continue to monitor.

·             The need to review the way in which the use of funding generated through Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy could be maximised to provide optimal community benefit; and

·             The way in which the Council’s commissioning and procurement arrangements could be enhanced to provide greater cost efficiency, value for money and social value.

In concluding, Councillor Conneely once again thanked all those involved for their participation in the Task Group and commended the recommendations made by the Budget Scrutiny Task Group to Cabinet for consideration as part of the budget setting process.

2.     Councillor Lorber who, whilst recognising the financial crisis faced by local government, felt it important to highlight the £150m reserve of Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) funding held in Brent.  Whilst aware of the restrictions in the permitted use of this funding, Councillor Lorber felt stronger representations needed to be made to the Government in seeking to ease the restrictions and provide greater flexibility and autonomy in how the Council could use this funding given the wider pressures and demands faced by key local services and in addressing what he felt to be the current poor state of the borough.  In closing, he felt the £150m SCIL reserve identified could make a significant contribution towards addressing the issues residents were concerned about and therefore was keen to encourage ongoing lobbying of Government to allow Councils to decide how to spend that money and avoid the need for further cuts to services.

Having noted the comments made by Councillor Lorber and welcoming and supporting the approach taken and recommendations made by the Budget Scrutiny Task Group, Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)        To recommend to Full Council an overall 4.99% increase in the Council’s element of Council Tax for 2025/26, with 2% as a precept for Adult Social Care and a 2.99% general increase.

(2)        To recommend to Full Council the General Fund revenue budget for 2025/26, as summarised in Appendices A and B of the report.

(3)        To recommend to Full Council the savings proposals for 2025/26 as set out in Appendices C (i) and C (ii) of the report.

(4)        To note the Equalities Impact Assessments on the budget proposals, as set out in Appendices C (iii) and C (iv) of the report.

(5)        To note and endorse the report from the Budget Scrutiny Task Group in Appendix D of the report.

(6)        To recommend to Full Council the HRA budget and business plan for 2025/26, as set out in section eight and appendix O of the report.

(7)        To agree, for final approval by Council, the HRA rents for council dwellings, tenant service charges and garages as set out in section eight of the report.

(8)        To agree the rents set under the Housing General Fund for Brent Housing PFI and traveller’s site pitches and to note the rents for Hillside dwellings as set out in section eight of the report.

(9)        To note the Dedicated Schools Grant, as set out in section nine of the report.

(10)    To recommend to Full Council the changes to the existing Capital Programme in relation to additions of new schemes and reprofiling, as set out in section ten of this report, and note the Capital Pipeline Schemes in Appendix E of the report.

(11)    To recommend to Full Council the Capital Strategy, the Non-Treasury Investment Strategy, the Treasury Management Strategy and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement as set out in Appendices F, G, H and I of the report.

(12)    To recommend to Full Council the Reserves Strategy and schedule of reserves, as set out in Appendices J (i) and J (ii) of the report.

(13)    To agree, and where relevant agree to recommend to Full Council the schedule of fees and charges, as set out in Appendix K (ii) of the report.

(14)    To note the results of the budget consultation, as set out in section seven and detailed in Appendices L (i) and L (ii) of the report.

(15)    To note the legal advice from the Corporate Director, Law and Governance, as set out in Appendix M of the report.

(16)    To note the decision of the Corporate Director, Finance and Resources to continue as part of the Eight Authority Business Rates pool in 2025/26 as set out in section six of the report.

(17)    To note the changes to waste policy, notably the Extended Producer Responsibility (ERP) for packaging from 2025 and agree to recommend to Full Council for the funding to be transferred to reserves in 2025/26.

To also note and approve the recommendations identified for consideration by Full Council as detailed in section 2.18 – 2.37 of the report.

Eligible for call-in: No (report and recommendations referred to Council)