Decision details

A copy of the 2025/26 Budget Report which will be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 6 February 2025 is set out at Annex 'A'.

Members were provided with a report on the 2025/26 Budget Report to be considered by Cabinet on 6 February 2025.

It was reported that the 2025/26 revenue budget requirement was £1,244.217m, with funding levels to support this being £1,234.989m. This has resulted in a financial gap of £9.228m in 2025/26, to be funded by the transitional reserve. It was highlighted however that there were £100m in savings required to be achieved in the next two years (including the previously agreed and forecasted savings). The new savings identified have been included in Table 5 of the report.

As previously reported, a more realistic savings target has been identified for Adult Services. But a key requirement was to deliver all savings identified across the council.

Members were invited to ask questions and a summary of discussions detailed below:

Members considered a suggestion for all political groups to come together to discuss the savings required as part of a possible new scrutiny committee, and to consider a potential structure to form part of the decision making process.

Members raised concerns that the focus should be on when the savings could be realised, as any significant changes would potentially only see future rather than immediate savings. Members were assured that management effort was primarily focussed on achieving savings.

It was highlighted to members that savings were not 'cuts' to services, more an opportunity to review current processes to identify 'efficiencies' to better support service provision. The new Council Plan sought to address this. However, alongside the plan, there remained a need to monitor budgets to ensure that those services continued to support families.

Members felt that the report was difficult to read in part, due to the need for considerable cross referencing. It was agreed that finance colleagues would seek to review the report in light of the feedback provided.

Resolved: That the information provided on the 2025/26 Budget Report be noted.