Agenda

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council be recommended to approve the Calendar of Meetings for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council be recommended

1)    To adopt the resolution set out in Appendix A, which includes setting the budget at £183.052m, the Council Tax requirement of £68.208m (before Parish, Police, Fire and LCR Combined Authority precepts) and the Band D Council Tax for Halton of £1,846.66;

2)    To approve the capital programme set out in Appendix E;

3)    To approve the Use of Capital Receipts Strategy set out in Appendix H;

4)    To approve the budget savings set out in Appendix G;

5)    To approve 100% Council Tax premium being applied to properties which have been unoccupied and unfurnished for a minimum period of 12 months; and

6)    To note that Government have given provisional approval to the Council’s application for Exceptional Financial Support, as outlined in section 3.7.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That;

1)              All spending continues to be limited to essential items only;

2)              Executive Directors continue to identify areas where they can further reduce their directorate’s spending or generate income, in order to reduce the councilwide forecast outturn overspend position;

3)              Executive Directors continue to implement the approved savings proposals for 2024/25 and 2025/26 as detailed in Appendix 4;

4)              The updated forecast outturn position be shared with the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government in support of the Council’s application for Exceptional Financial Support;

5)              Council be asked to approve the revisions to the capital programme set-out in paragraph 3.22 and incorporated within Appendix 3;

6)              This 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.

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council be recommended to adopt the policies, strategies, statements, prudential and treasury indicators outlined in the report.

          RECOMMENDED: That Council be recommended to approve the 2025/26 Capital Strategy, as presented in the Appendix.

Under Section 85 of the Local Government Act 1972, permission is sought for:

·       Councillor McDonough to be granted a period of absence from attending Council meetings for a period of 6 months, concluding on 5 September 2025, due to personal circumstances.

The Mayoral Committee considered a Part II item making a recommendation on the appointment of Mayor and Deputy Mayor for the 2025/26 Municipal Year.

Council is requested to note the following recommendations, formal confirmation of which will be sought at Annual Council.

1)   Councillor Martha Lloyd Jones be appointed as the Mayor; and

2)   Councillor Pamela Wallace be appointed as the Deputy Mayor.