Agenda item

Councillor Barry Rawlings Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources & Effective Council introduced the report. Cabinet Members welcomed the report and commented on sections of the report in relation to their portfolio areas.

Following discussion, the Chair moved to vote on the recommendations.

DECISION:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

In respect of the Budget and Council Tax for 2024/25 and the MTFS 2024-30 taking into account the equality impact assessment and consultation findings:

1.       Recommended to Council for approval the MTFS, attached as Appendix A, and the detailed revenue budgets in Appendix C, including the proposed savings and funding for pressures in 2024/25;

2.       Recommended to Council for approval that the budget 2024/25 is prepared on the basis of a 2.98% increase for the general element of Council Tax in 2024/25 as discussed in paragraph 3.14 to 3.21;

3.       Recommended to Council for approval that the budget for 2024/25 is prepared on the basis of an increase of 2% for the Social Care Precept, to help fund social care as detailed in paragraph 3.14 to 3.21;

4.       Recommended to Council for the approval the resolutions relating to Council Tax contained within Appendix B;

5.       Noted a change in legislation relating to council tax premiums chargeable on unoccupied dwellings as set out in para 3.22-3.25.

6.       Recommended to Council for the approval of application of the Council Tax Premiums (under Section 11C of the Local Government Finance Act 1992) with effect 1st of April 2025 (as set out in para 3.24).

7.       Recommended to Full Council to agree not to amend the Barnet Council Tax Support Scheme as set out in para 3.26.

8.       Recommended to Council for approval, on the advice of the Chief Finance Officer, that it determines that the council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2024/25 as set out in Council Tax resolution Appendix B, 2(iv) is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved under section 52ZB and 52ZC of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, set out in the Referendums relating to Council Tax increases (Principles)(England) Report 2024/25;

9.       Recommended to Council that in accordance with Section 38(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 the Chief Executive be instructed to place a notice in the local press of the amounts set under recommendation 9 above within a period of 21 days following the Council’s decision; and

10.      Approved delegation of any further allocations from the transformation reserve to the Leader of the Council as set out in Section 4.

11.      Approved consultation on an increased Garden Waste fee as set out in paragraph 1.6 to 1.8 and delegated to the Cabinet Member for Environment & Climate Change in consultation with the Chief Officer for Customer & Place to consider the consultation responses and equality impact assessment and make a decision regarding the fee.

In respect of Capital Strategy and the proposed capital programme:

12.      Recommended to Council the approval of the Capital Strategy as set out in Appendix I1; and

13.      Recommended to Council for approval the Capital Programme as set out in Appendix I2 and set out in Section 7;

In respect of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS):

14.      Recommended to Council the approval of the TMSS for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix J.

In respect of Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Temporary Accommodation (TA):

15.      Recommended to Council the approval of the HRA Business Plan (at Appendix K).

The report set out the options considered, if any, and the reasons for the recommendations and the decision.