Issue - meetings

This report covers this Committee’s financial position over the medium term (2025 – 2028) as at Period 6 (end of September 2025).

The Period 6 comprehensive Budget Management report has already been presented to the Policy & Resources Committee at its meeting on 10 November 2025 which sought approval to a change in the Council’s 2025 - 2028 medium-term financial plan.

Recommendation:

That Members note the changes concerning their budget areas.

The Finance Business Partner presented the budget monitoring report for period 6 (to end-September 2025).  The report had previously been presented to Policy & Resources Committee on 10 November 2025, where approval had been sought for a change to the council’s 2025-28 medium-term financial plan.

The Finance Business Partner highlighted some of the key points of the report as follows:

·         There was an unfavourable variance of £258,000 on the revenue budget.  Factors which had affected this included the application of the 2025/26 pay award; inflationary increases on contracts; and an increase in the abandoned vehicle budget due to an increase in the number of abandoned vehicles reported.

·         A variance of £378,000 was reported in the capital budget.  Factors affecting this included the CIL Community Grants agreed by Council in July; rephasing of the replacement of bins from 2026/27 to 2025/26 due to the number which needed to be purchased; and a virement to Open Spaces for the implementation of pickleball courts.

·         In relation to staffing, the previously reported five vacant positions were no longer vacant. 

·         All income streams were on target to achieve budgeted income levels during 2025/26.

RESOLVED:

That the General Public Services & Community Engagement Committee notes the changes concerning the budget areas within the committee’s remit.