Decision details

Part C: 2025/26 Cabinet Revenue Budget (F&R46)

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Decision status: Recommendations approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

The purpose of the report is to present the proposed 2025/26 Cabinet Revenue Budget for approval. The report outlines the Council’s financial outlook and significant challenges across the medium term period 2025/26 to 2026/27. The report highlights the overarching priorities and desired outcomes upon which the Cabinet has based its budget proposals, and which form the basis of our Borough Plan and updated Council Plan included elsewhere on this agenda. We continue to shape our budget within an incredibly uncertain, volatile and complex environment which includes pressures across public services as well as the increasing need within our communities.

Decision:

The Cabinet considered its proposed 2025/26 Revenue Budget outlining the Council’s strategic approach to responding to the significant medium-term financial pressures whilst ensuring a sustainable and stable financial position to deliver our overarching priorities and desired outcomes, and recommended to the Council Meeting that it:-

 

(1) Approve the Budget for 2025/26 described in the report and set out in Appendix 2 and 3.

 

(2) Note the risk assessment of the 2025/26 Budget at Appendix 5 and the report of the Director of Finance - Section 151 Officer on the adequacy of proposed financial reserves and robustness of the estimates also included at Appendix 5.

 

(3) Approve the required Council General Fund Balance to reflect the Director of Finance - Section 151 Officer’s assessment of risks.

 

(4) Note, comment upon, and approve the financial forecasts and assumptions for 2025/26 to 2028/29 at Appendix 6, and the key issues to be addressed in formulating a response to the future financial challenges facing the council.

 

(5) Pass the appropriate Council Tax resolutions which produce a Council Tax increase of 4.99% in 2025/26 (2.99% General increase, 2% Adult Social Care Precept increase) as illustrated in Appendix 7.

Alternative options considered:

None.

Interests and Nature of Interests Declared:

None.

Reason Key: Policy Framework & Budget;

Wards Affected: (All Wards);

Equality and/or Environmental Impact Assessment: Considered as part of the report

Decision Reference: CAB514

Declarations or conflicts of Interest: None.

Forward Plan Reference: F&R46

Other reasons / organisations consulted

As part of the 2025/26 budget setting process

Contact: Jonathan Davies, Corporate and Support Services Email: jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk Tel: 218 1025.

Report author: Jonathan Davies

Publication date: 05/02/2025

Date of decision: 04/02/2025

Decided at meeting: 04/02/2025 - Cabinet

Accompanying Documents: