Report by Director of Finance

The Director of Finance submitted a report fulfilling the requirement on him under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003 as the Council’s Chief Finance Officer to report on the robustness of the estimates made for the purposes of the calculations of the budget and the adequacy of the proposed level of financial reserves.  The Council had a duty to have regard to the advice set out in the report when considering setting its 2025/26 Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy for the subsequent two financial years.  The Statement of Reserves and Balances, which provided a summary of estimated reserve movements from 31 March 2025 and 31 March 2028, were attached to the report for information.

The following motion was moved by Councillor Terry and seconded by Councillor Leng and CARRIED:

Resolved –

That the Chief Finance Officer’s report on the robustness of the Council’s 2025/26 budget and indicative budgets for the subsequent two financial years 2026/27 and 2027/28 be noted and the opinion contained therein be taken into account in making the decisions set out in Minutes 44-47 below.