Decision details

The Board received a report from the Director – Finance, which reported the Council’s overall revenue net spending position as of 31 July 2025, together with a 2025/26 forecast outturn position.

A summary of spending against the operational revenue budget position as at 31 July was presented in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 and these provided detailed figures for each individual Department.  In overall terms net spending as at 31 July 2025 was £1.629m over budget. The outturn forecast for the year estimated that net spend would be over the approved budget by £5.572m. It was noted that the forecast position remained a matter of great concern and action needed to be taken to reduce net spend immediately.

The report detailed a review of the Council General Reserve as at 31 July 2025 it remained unchanged from the previous period at £5.149m.

Members were advised that Council had previously approved the capital programme for 2025/26 at its meeting on 5 March 2025. Since then, the capital programme had been revised to reflect a number of changes in spending profiles and funding as schemes had been developed. Appendix 4  brought all the separate elements together and outlined the Council’s total planned capital programme expenditure.

RESOLVED:  That

1)    Executive Directors continue to implement the approved 2025/26 saving proposals as detailed in Appendix 3;

2)    Executive Directors continue to identify areas where they can further reduce their directorate’s spending or generate income, in order to ensure the Council wide forecast outturn overspend position for the year remains within budget;

3)    the report be shared with each Policy and Performance Board, in order to ensure they have a full appreciation of the councilwide financial position, in addition to their specific areas of responsibility; and

4)    Council be asked to approve the revisions to the capital programme set-out in paragraph 3.24 and incorporated within Appendix 4.