Agenda item

Cabinet:

a) Noted the detailed budgets presented at Appendix B, and summarised at Appendix A, with an estimated General Fund Gross Operating Expenditure for 2024/2025 of £76.731 million, estimated Gross Operating Income of £48.306 million and estimated General Fund Net Operating Expenditure of £28.425 million.

b) Acknowledged the key factors which have led to the proposed 2024/2025 General Fund Revenue Budget, with service pressures summarised at Appendix C and offsetting efficiency savings/policy options summarised at Appendix D.

c) Acknowledged that the 2024/2025 General Fund Revenue Budget gross expenditure is covered by forecast income sources (assuming no change in Government grant) and, therefore, any addition(s) to expenditure that are made by the Cabinet or Council will need to be met from the General Fund Balance.

d) Approved the 2024/2025 General Fund Revenue Budget taking into account the statement by the Chief Finance Officer on the risks and robustness of the estimates as required under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 (reproduced at Appendix F).

e) Set the Council Tax Requirement for 2024/2025 at £11,688,650.

f) Approved an increase in the District element of the Council Tax of £5 per annum, giving an average Band D Council Tax of £170.31, plus the relevant amounts required by the precepts of the Parish Councils, Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire Police & Crime Commissioner, the Cambridgeshire Fire Authority, and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Mayor.

g) Approved the estimates of the amounts required to be made under the Non-domestic Rating (Rates Retention) Regulations 2013 as set out in paragraphs 38 - 41.

h) Approved the use of the additional income from the Business Rate Pool, estimated at £1,100,000 in 2024/2025, for transfer to the established Renewables Reserve for priority projects.

i) Recommended to Council that it approves:

(i)            The 2024/2025 General Fund Revenue Budget based on known commitments at this time and planned levels of Service/functions resulting in a Budget Requirement of £37.125 million.

(ii)          The District Council Precept on the Collection Fund (Council Tax Requirement) of £11.689 million in 2024/2025 (based on the Provisional Government Settlement) and a Band D Council Tax of £170.31.

Councillor John Williams, Lead Cabinet Member for Resources, introduced the report and moved the recommendations. In so doing, Councillor Williams noted that the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Mayor’s precept had been mistakenly omitted from the report. It was further advised that the report came at time of local government funding pressure, with many councils issuing 114 notices. South Cambridgeshire District Council had a track record of prudent and robust financial management, as highlighted by the recent Peer Review. It was recognised, however, that future pressures were anticipated.

The recommendations were seconded by Councillor Bridget Smith, who thanked the Lead Cabinet Member and officers for their work.

Resolution

Cabinet:

a)    Noted the detailed budgets presented at Appendix B, and summarised at Appendix A, with an estimated General Fund Gross Operating Expenditure for 2024/2025 of £76.731 million, estimated Gross Operating Income of £48.306 million and estimated General Fund Net Operating Expenditure of £28.425 million.

b)    Acknowledged the key factors which have led to the proposed 2024/2025 General Fund Revenue Budget, with service pressures summarised at Appendix C and offsetting efficiency savings/policy options summarised at Appendix D.

c)    Acknowledged that the 2024/2025 General Fund Revenue Budget gross expenditure is covered by forecast income sources (assuming no change in Government grant) and, therefore, any addition(s) to expenditure that are made by the Cabinet or Council will need to be met from the General Fund Balance.

d)    Approved the 2024/2025 General Fund Revenue Budget taking into account the statement by the Chief Finance Officer on the risks and robustness of the estimates as required under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 (reproduced at Appendix F).

e)    Set the Council Tax Requirement for 2024/2025 at £11,688,650.

f)     Approved an increase in the District element of the Council Tax of £5 per annum, giving an average Band D Council Tax of £170.31, plus the relevant amounts required by the precepts of the Parish Councils, Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire Police & Crime Commissioner, the Cambridgeshire Fire Authority, and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority Mayor.

g)    Approved the estimates of the amounts required to be made under the Non-domestic Rating (Rates Retention) Regulations 2013 as set out in paragraphs 38 - 41.

h)    Approved the use of the additional income from the Business Rate Pool, estimated at £1,100,000 in 2024/2025, for transfer to the established Renewables Reserve for priority projects.

i)     Recommended to Council that it approves:

(i)            The 2024/2025 General Fund Revenue Budget based on known commitments at this time and planned levels of Service/functions resulting in a Budget Requirement of £37.125 million.

(ii)          The District Council Precept on the Collection Fund (Council Tax Requirement) of £11.689 million in 2024/2025 (based on the Provisional Government Settlement) and a Band D Council Tax of £170.31.

Options Considered

There were options to remove or add items to the budget but, based on previous Cabinet decisions and the detailed discussions held with spending officers, the General Fund Revenue Budget as presented included all items required to deliver council services and member priorities. The gross expenditure was covered by forecast income sources (assuming no change in Government grant) and, therefore, any addition(s) to expenditure that were required would need to identify matching savings and/or additional income if the proposed level of Council Tax was not to change.

Reasons for Decision

To enable the Cabinet to recommend to Full Council the 2023/2024 General Fund Revenue Budget.