Decisions

Following consideration, it was resolved:

(1)       Note the two reports attached as Appendix 1 and Exempt Appendix 2 to the report.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Note the implications of the budget targets presented to Strategy & Resources Committee on 23 July 2024.

(2)       Support the changes to services and savings previously identified in Table 1 of the report and that those are included within the budget presented to this Committee in January 2025.

(3)       Consider how additional income or savings can be generated to address the projected Council wide funding gap of £573,000 in 2025/26, rising to £720,000 per annum by 2028/29.

(4)       Note that owing to the Council’s projected budget deficit, any additional new revenue growth items (i.e. service enhancements resulting in increased net expenditure) supported by Policy Committees will need to be fully funded from existing budgets.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Endorse the approach taken to consultation.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Note the urgent decision taken and the reasons for that decision, since the last meeting of the committee.

Following consideration, the Committee unanimously resolved to:

(1)       Note the use of Homelessness Prevention Grant (HPG) and reserves to cover the anticipated expenditure, for 2024/25, to enable the Council to meet its duties under the Housing Act 1996 and Homelessness Reduction Act 2017.

(2)       Agree that a further update regarding nightly paid accommodation (NPA) expenditure be provided at the Community & Wellbeing Committee in March 2025.