Agenda

          RECOMMENDED: That the Board

1)    all spending continue to be limited to only absolutely essential items;

2)    Executive Directors identify reductions to their directorate forecast outturn net spend position and urgently implement them; and

3)    Council be asked to agree to submit an application for Exceptional Finance Support to cover the deficit position for the year, as recommended within the Medium Term Financial Strategy report  elsewhere on the agenda.

          RECOMMENDED: That the Board

1)    the Medium Term Financial Strategy be approved;

2)    the 2025/26 base budget be prepared on the basis of the underlying assumptions set out in the Strategy;

3)    the Reserves and Balances Strategy be approved;

4)    the award of Council Tax Support for 2025/26 remains at the 2024/25 level of 21.55%; and

5)    Council approve the submission of an application to Government for Exceptional Finance Support.

          RECOMMENDED: That the Board

1)    setting the 2025/26 Council Tax Base at 36,936 for the Borough and that the Cheshire Fire Authority, the Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority and the Environment Agency be so notified; and

2)    setting the Council Tax Base for each of the Parishes as follows:

Under Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, permission is sought for Councillor Skinner to be granted a period of absence from attending Council meetings for a period of 6 months, concluding on 4 June 2025, due to Maternity Leave.

In this case Council has a discretion to exclude the press and public and, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, it is RECOMMENDED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, having been satisfied that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Please note that if this resolution is passed, members of the press and public will be asked to leave the room prior to the consideration of the following business.

          RECOMMENDED: That the Board

1)    Council be asked to approve the investment as defined in the report for improvement programme funding; and

2)    delegated authority to approve the expenditure of the programme budget is given to the Executive Director of Children’s Services in consultation with the lead member for Children and Young People.

          RECOMMENDED: That the Board

1)    adopts Option Three within the Legal Services Transformation Report:

Interim structure with enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery moving towards consideration of viability around options of:

·       Outsourcing;

·       Formation of a collaboration/shared service with another Local Authority;

·       Wholly owned subsidiary Legal Company

2)    Council be requested to approve the necessary funding set out in paragraph 5 of the report.