Decision
Analysis
outcome: The recommendations were approved by the Cabinet.
summary: The council is making decisions regarding the General Fund Budget, Capital Programme, and Medium-Term Financial Strategy for the upcoming years.
topline: The Cabinet has decided to approve the revised General Fund Budget, Capital Programme, and Medium-Term Financial Strategy for the upcoming years.
reason_contentious: This issue may be contentious as it involves making difficult choices about budget allocations and potential impacts on local services.
affected_stakeholders: ["Council members", "Local residents", "Service users"]
contentiousness_score: 6
political_party_relevance: There are mentions of different council members and their approaches to budget decisions, but no explicit political party influence.
URL: https://www.fenland.gov.uk/localgov/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=909
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Outcome: Recommendations Approved
Is Key Decision?: No
Is Callable In?: No
Purpose: To consider and approve: · The revised General Fund Budget and Capital Programme for 2024/25. · The Draft General Fund Budget Estimates for 2025/26 and the Draft Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 to 2029/30 for consultation. · Capital Programme 2025/26 - 2027/28.
Content: To consider and approve: · The revised General Fund Budget and Capital Programme for 2024/25. · The Draft General Fund Budget Estimates for 2025/26 and the Draft Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 to 2029/30 for consultation. · Capital Programme 2025/26 - 2027/28. Members considered the Revised General Fund Budget and Capital Programme 2024/25; the Draft General Fund Budget Estimates for 2025/26 and Draft Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2025/26 to 2029/30 and Capital Programme for 2025-2028 report presented by Councillor Boden. · Councillor Boden commented that there is a lot of uncertainty around council finances particularly given that central government have not yet indicated what Fenland will receive, and the Chief Accountant had said this is the most difficult budget he has ever had to put forward as a result. There are specific issues that need to be addressed, for instance the cost of the Internal Drainage Board levies and homelessness, which continues to be a significant drain on resources and is above the budgeted figure for the current year. However, the transformation programme continues to look at all services with a view to how they can be reformed and made more efficient whilst providing the same outcomes. · Councillor Mrs French congratulated Councillor Boden and officers for producing this budget at such a difficult time. · Councillor Tierney said some councils would simply raise council tax to address the challenges and so it is admirable that this council’s approach is always to aim to keep the strain off local people by making difficult choices until it is impossible to do otherwise. · Councillor Boden stated that members may find themselves having to make the choice between unpalatable changes or increasing council tax but will always look first at ways to save money and reduce costs before even considering raising council tax. · Councillor Miscandlon said with reference to internal drainage boards and their costings, this was raised by himself and the Section 151 Officer at a recent Special Interest Group (SIG) meeting. Given that 41 councils have signed up to the SIG relating to IDBs and the worsening funding gap, central government are going to have to take notice and help find a solution to the problem. Proposed by Councillor Boden, seconded by Councillor Tierney and AGREED that: (i) the revised General Fund Budget and revised Capital Programme for 2024/25 be approved (ii) the draft budget proposals for 2025/26 outlined in this report be approved for consultation (iii) the proposed Capital Programme for 2025/26 – 2027/28 be approved.
Date of Decision: December 16, 2024