Agenda item

Council is asked to approve the recommendations set out on pages 123 and 124.

Please note that a full record of the of the discussion is available on the recording of the meeting at Budget Council 19 February 2025 - YouTube at time 1:49:07-2:16:30.

City Mayor seconded by Councillor Cassidy, to move:-

“Council is recommended to:

a.    approve the three-year budget strategy described in the report submitted by the Director of Finance;

b.    approve the proposed budget and council tax for 2025/26 as described in the report, including the recommendations in the formal budget resolution;

c.    approve the budget ceilings for each service shown at Appendix 1 to the report;

d.    approve the scheme of virement described in Appendix 2 to the report;

e.    approve the use of the £90m capital fund to support the revenue budget strategy (dependent on decisions taken in respect of the capital programme for 2025/26, which is elsewhere on the Council’s agenda);

f.     approve the changes to earmarked reserves to support the overall strategy as described in Appendix 5;

g.    note the view of the Director of Finance’s on the adequacy of reserves and the estimates used in preparing the budget;

h.     note the equality implications arising from the proposed tax increase, as described in paragraph 15 and Appendix 3;

i.      note the medium-term financial strategy and forecasts presented at Appendix 4, and the significant financial challenges that lie ahead;

j.      in relation to council tax for empty properties:

·         Thank those who responded to our consultation, the results of which are described at Appendix 6;

·         Note the equality implications arising from a decision to change council tax payable in respect of empty properties, as described at Appendix 6A;

·         Change the current policies as described at Appendix 6, specifically to commence charging Council Tax on empty, unfurnished property as soon as it becomes empty; and to apply exemptions introduced by the Government.

k.    approve the capital receipts flexibility policy at Appendix 7, to come into force if and when a government direction is received.”

Following the debate, the Lord Mayor put the motion to the vote.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 30(c) of the Council’s Constitution, a recorded vote was taken.

For the motion:

Councillors: Agath, Aldred, Aqbany, Bajaj, Barton, Batool, Bonham, Cassidy, Clarke, Cole, Cutkelvin, Dawood, Dempster, Halford, Kaur Saini, Malik

Mohammed, Moore, Pantling, Pickering, Russell, Singh Johal, Singh-Sangha, Sood, Soulsby (City Mayor), Surti, Waddington, Whittle, Zaman.

Against the motion:

Councillors: Adatia, Barnes, Cank, Chauhan, Dave, Gopal, Haq, Joshi, Karavadra, Kennedy-Lount, Kitterick, Mahesh, Modhwadia, Orton, Osman, Porter, Rae Bhatia, Singh Patel, Westley.

The Lord Mayor declared the motion carried.