Agenda item

A proposition was moved by Councillor Clarke and seconded by Councillor Hollingsworth in the following terms:

 

1.         In accordance with the recommendations of Cabinet on 13 February 2025, that the Prudential and Treasury Indicators and Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS) 2025/26, which includes the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement, the Borrowing Strategy, and the Annual Investment Strategy, set out at pages 5 to 34 of the Council agenda, be approved.

 

2.         In accordance with the recommendations of Cabinet on 13 February 2025, that the Capital Programme and Capital Investment Strategy 2025/26 to 2029/30 set out at pages 89 to 98 of the Council agenda, be approved.

 

3.         In accordance with the recommendation of Cabinet on 13 February 2025, that the financial threshold above which decisions will be regarded as Key Decisions be set at £0.5 million for 2025/26, and that the detailed budget for 2025/26 included at pages 127 to 156 of the Council agenda be approved.

 

4.         That the sum of £56,300 be taken from General Fund Balances in 2025/26 to support future General Fund revenue expenditure.

 

5.         That it be noted that the Portfolio holder for Corporate Resources and Performance and Leader of the Council determined on 19 December 2024 (D1572), the following amounts for the year 2025/26 in accordance with regulations made under section 31(B) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

 

(a)  39,664.26 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, as its council tax base for the year. (The Council Tax base for the whole district)

 

 (b)

Part of the Council’s Area	Tax Base
Bestwood Village	732.75
Burton Joyce	1,564.06
Calverton	2,555.11
Colwick	897.78
Lambley	505.61
Linby	403.53
Newstead	368.39
Papplewick	271.19
Ravenshead St Albans	2,805.64 945.66
Stoke Bardolph	463.75
Woodborough	935.89

 

being the amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with regulation 6 of the Regulations, as the amounts of its council tax base for the year for dwellings in/ those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate. (The Council Tax base for each parish)

 

6.         That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2025/26 in accordance with sections 31A, 31B and 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (the Act):

 

(a)       £48,232,280 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act. (Effectively gross expenditure including parish precepts, and transfers to reserves)

 

(b)       £39,536,110 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(3) of the Act. (Effectively gross income and transfers from reserves)

 

(c)        £8,696,170 being the amount by which the aggregate at 6(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 6(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax Requirement for the year. (Expenditure less income)

 

(d)       £219.24 being the amount at 6(c) above, divided by the amount at 5(a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year. (The overall average amount of Council Tax per Band D property, including parish precepts)

 

(e)       £981,413 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in section 34(1) of the Act. (Total of parish precepts). For information, the amount in respect of each parish is as follows:

 

Part of the Council’s Area	Parish Precept
Bestwood Village	20,000
Burton Joyce	247,799
Calverton	294,634
Colwick	30,700
Lambley	25,151
Linby	29,532
Newstead	22,449
Papplewick	23,288
Ravenshead St Albans	170,055 28,720
Stoke Bardolph	2,500
Woodborough	86,585

 

(f)        £194.50 being the amount at 6(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 6(e) above by the amount at 5(a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates. (Gedling’s own element of the Council Tax for a Band D dwelling).

 

(g)

Part of the Council’s Area	£
Bestwood Village	221.79
Burton Joyce	352.93
Calverton	309.81
Colwick	228.70
Lambley	244.24
Linby	267.68
Newstead	255.44
Papplewick	280.37
Ravenshead St Albans	255.11 224.87
Stoke Bardolph	199.89
Woodborough	287.02

 

being the amounts given by adding the amount at 6(f) above to the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council’s area mentioned above, divided in each case by the amount at 5(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its council tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate. (The combined district and parish amount of Council Tax for a Band D dwelling)

 

(h)

Part of the Council's Area							Valuation Bands
				A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
				£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Bestwood Village				147.86	172.51	197.15	221.79	271.07	320.36	369.65	443.58
Burton Joyce				235.29	274.50	313.72	352.93	431.36	509.78	588.22	705.86
Calverton				206.54	240.97	275.39	309.81	378.65	447.50	516.35	619.62
Colwick				152.47	177.88	203.29	228.70	279.52	330.34	381.17	457.40
Lambley				162.83	189.97	217.10	244.24	298.51	352.79	407.07	488.48
Linby				178.46	208.20	237.94	267.68	327.16	386.64	446.14	535.36
Newstead				170.30	198.68	227.06	255.44	312.20	368.96	425.74	510.88
Papplewick				186.92	218.07	249.22	280.37	342.67	404.97	467.29	560.74
Ravenshead				170.08	198.42	226.77	255.11	311.80	368.49	425.19	510.22
St Albans				149.92	174.90	199.89	224.87	274.84	324.81	374.79	449.74
Stoke Bardolph				133.26	155.47	177.68	199.89	244.31	288.73	333.15	399.78
Woodborough				191.35	223.24	255.13	287.02	350.80	414.58	478.37	574.04
All other parts of the Council’s area				129.67	151.28	172.89	194.50	237.72	280.94	324.17	389.00

 

being the amounts given by multiplying the amounts at 6(f) and 6(g) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands. (The combined district and parish amount of Council Tax for each band of dwelling).

7.         That it be noted that for the year 2025/26, Nottinghamshire County Council, the Office of the Nottinghamshire Police & Crime Commissioner and the Combined Fire & Rescue Authority have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

 

			A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
Precepting Authority:			£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Notts County Council			1,263.03	1,473.53	1,684.04	1,894.54	2,315.55	2,736.56	3,157.57	3,789.08
Notts Police & Crime Commissioner			197.40	230.30	263.20	296.10	361.90	427.70	493.50	592.20
Combined Fire & Rescue Authority			64.81	75.61	86.41	97.21	118.81	140.41	162.02	194.42

 

 

 

8.         That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 6(h) and 7 above, the Council, in accordance with section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the following amounts of council tax for the year 2025/26 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below: (The total amount of Council Tax for each band of dwelling)

 

Part of the Council's Area						Valuation Bands
			A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
			£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Bestwood Village			1,673.10	1,951.95	2,230.80	2,509.64	3,067.33	3,625.03	4,182.74	5,019.28
Burton Joyce			1,760.53	2,053.94	2,347.37	2,640.78	3,227.62	3,814.45	4,401.31	5,281.56
Calverton			1,731.78	2,020.41	2,309.04	2,597.66	3,174.91	3,752.17	4,329.44	5,195.32
Colwick			1,677.71	1,957.32	2,236.94	2,516.55	3,075.78	3,635.01	4,194.26	5,033.10
Lambley			1,688.07	1,969.41	2,250.75	2,532.09	3,094.77	3,657.46	4,220.16	5,064.18
Linby			1,703.70	1,987.64	2,271.59	2,555.53	3,123.42	3,691.31	4,259.23	5,111.06
Newstead			1,695.54	1,978.12	2,260.71	2,543.29	3,108.46	3,673.63	4,238.83	5,086.58
Papplewick			1,712.16	1,997.51	2,282.87	2,568.22	3,138.93	3,709.64	4,280.38	5,136.44
Ravenshead			1,695.32	1,977.86	2,260.42	2,542.96	3,108.06	3,673.16	4,238.28	5,085.92
St Albans			1,675.16	1,954.34	2,233.54	2,512.72	3,071.10	3,629.48	4,187.88	5,025.44
Stoke Bardolph			1,658.50	1,934.91	2,211.33	2,487.74	3,040.57	3,593.40	4,146.24	4,975.48
Woodborough			1,716.59	2,002.68	2,288.78	2,574.87	3,147.06	3,719.25	4,291.46	5,149.74
All other parts of the Council's area			1,654.91	1,930.72	2,206.54	2,482.35	3,033.98	3,585.61	4,137.26	4,964.70

 

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor Adams and seconded by Councillor S Smith on the following terms:

 

That the Council has the following objections and proposals to the estimates submitted by Cabinet, and it requires the Cabinet to reconsider those estimates in the light of these objections and proposals, and report back to Council within five working days after the day of this meeting.

 

Revenue Budget Proposed Amendment

Revert to Diesel rather than HVO as a fuel source *	(£8,000)
Fuel savings due to budget calculated prior to a reduction in fuel prices identified**	(£18,000)
Deletion of four Portfolio Holders	(£34,000)
Removal of Deputy Mayor’s Special Responsibility Allowance	(£2,100)
Removal of Policy Advisors	(£4,200)
Removal of Contacts Magazine to online only publication	(£37,000)
Purchase of a New Small Street Sweeper this would result in an increase in the revenue budget to cover the cost of borrowing and associated running costs	£24,000
One additional driver for the above	£38,000
Provision of one free hour parking at Gedling Country Park ***	£41,300

                                                                       

The following caveats apply:

 

*On the assumption that the differential in fuel prices between Diesel and HVO do not alter significantly during 2025/26.

 

**Based on current fuel prices which can be volatile; therefore, this proposal is on the   assumption that fuel prices do not increase significantly during 2025/26.

 

***Offering an hour free parking may have a more significant impact on the income that is already included in the budget and the MTFP, if the majority of visitors only stay for an hour or less, this could result in insufficient income being unavailable to maintain the park and the car park, potentially placing additional pressure onto the revenue budget to be funded elsewhere or requiring additional efficiencies within the service area to be identified. This is an untested assumption which could have a more significant budget impact than stated above.

 

Note:

The Local Government Act 2003 requires that the Council’s Chief Financial Officer, in the case of Gedling that is The Chief Finance and S151 Officer, provide advice to the Council on the adequacy of financial reserves, and the robustness of the estimates.  These comments can be found below:

THE ROBUSTNESS OF THE ESTIMATES AND THE ADEQUACY OF THE GENERAL FUND BALANCES

The annual budget and the medium-term plan are based on a range of assumptions, detailed to Cabinet on 13 February, and these have enabled estimates of current and future spending to be modelled.  The Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) is presented against the backdrop of major and unprecedented uncertainty, primarily due to the continuing deferral of local government finance reforms inflationary increases, significant increase in demand for services, post-Brexit supply and labour shortages.  The Council has an established process for assessing the financial risk factors inherent in any business activity, and the financial risk register recognises the increasing risks to financial sustainability in the medium term arising from the increased costs and uncertain funding levels.

The Council has a strong track record of meeting demands within the approved budget, together with a good reputation for the robustness of its financial planning, which will continue, however, it is important to note the structural deficit that remains within the MTFP which will require the development of further plans for budget efficiencies/savings and it should be expected that there will need to be some contraction of service delivery/performance if efficiency plans do not proceed in line with expectations.

The annual budget for 2025/26 and the subsequent years of the MTFP leave the Council with a level of balances broadly in line with the minimum required from 2027/28 onwards. Whilst existing management approaches should enable the Council to deliver the efficiency required in the medium to long term, further changes to the way that services are delivered will be required if the Council is to fully achieve its ambitions and achieve a sustainable financial position.

The Council will continue to implement the approved efficiency plans and to develop new budget reduction proposals in order to balance the MTFP which, if implemented, will mean that the financial outlook remains fair, and that the 2025/26 estimates, and beyond, are robust. Members are reminded that risk levels in the MTFP are increasing as a result of ongoing uncertainties surrounding the local government finance settlement and in the absence of funding increases, from 2027/28 additional budget reductions will be required and whilst some have been identified they are not currently backed by an agreed action plan.  Despite this, risks are currently still at acceptable levels as there is a sufficient lead in time for developing detailed plans in the coming year.

An assessment of reserves and balances has been carried out and I am satisfied that the financial position as presented is robust, and that reserves and balances are adequate in the short to medium term.  However, pressures on both capital and revenue budgets are substantial and the MTFP shows continued reliance on the use of General Fund balances to support expenditure levels, as reported to Cabinet on 13 February 2025.

The Council has in the past successfully managed such pressures, and therefore I consider that, given the information available at the time, the level of general reserves are adequate for the purpose of setting the 2025/26 Council Tax.

 

A proposed motion to briefly adjourn the meeting to allow members to consider the amendment put before them. The motion was supported, and the Mayor declared it carried.

 

The meeting adjourned at 6:27pm.

 

The meeting resumed at 6:37pm.

 

Following debate, in accordance with standing orders the amendment was put to a named vote. The Mayor declared the amendment not carried.

 

Members debated the original motion, the main budget vote.

 

Upon the Mayor putting the original proposition of the meeting, and in accordance with standing orders, the original proposition was put to a named vote. The Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

1.         In accordance with the recommendations of Cabinet on 13 February 2025, that the Prudential and Treasury Indicators and Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS) 2025/26, which includes the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement, the Borrowing Strategy, and the Annual Investment Strategy, set out at pages 5 to 34 of the Council agenda, be approved.

 

2.         In accordance with the recommendations of Cabinet on 13 February 2025, that the Capital Programme and Capital Investment Strategy 2025/26 to 2029/30 set out at pages 89 to 98 of the Council agenda, be approved.

 

3.         In accordance with the recommendation of Cabinet on 13 February 2025, that the financial threshold above which decisions will be regarded as Key Decisions be set at £0.5 million for 2025/26, and that the detailed budget for 2025/26 included at pages 127 to 156 of the Council agenda be approved.

 

4.         That the sum of £56,300 be taken from General Fund Balances in 2025/26 to support future General Fund revenue expenditure.

 

5.         That it be noted that the Portfolio holder for Corporate Resources and Performance and Leader of the Council determined on 19 December 2024 (D1572), the following amounts for the year 2025/26 in accordance with regulations made under section 31(B) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

 

(a)  39,664.26 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, as its council tax base for the year. (The Council Tax base for the whole district)

 

 (b)

Part of the Council’s Area	Tax Base
Bestwood Village	732.75
Burton Joyce	1,564.06
Calverton	2,555.11
Colwick	897.78
Lambley	505.61
Linby	403.53
Newstead	368.39
Papplewick	271.19
Ravenshead St Albans	2,805.64 945.66
Stoke Bardolph	463.75
Woodborough	935.89

 

being the amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with regulation 6 of the Regulations, as the amounts of its council tax base for the year for dwellings in/ those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate. (The Council Tax base for each parish)

 

6.         That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2025/26 in accordance with sections 31A, 31B and 34 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (the Act):

 

(a)       £48,232,280 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act. (Effectively gross expenditure including parish precepts, and transfers to reserves)

 

(b)       £39,536,110 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(3) of the Act. (Effectively gross income and transfers from reserves)

 

(c)        £8,696,170 being the amount by which the aggregate at 6(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 6(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax Requirement for the year. (Expenditure less income)

 

(d)       £219.24 being the amount at 6(c) above, divided by the amount at 5(a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year. (The overall average amount of Council Tax per Band D property, including parish precepts)

 

(e)       £981,413 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in section 34(1) of the Act. (Total of parish precepts). For information, the amount in respect of each parish is as follows:

 

Part of the Council’s Area	Parish Precept
Bestwood Village	20,000
Burton Joyce	247,799
Calverton	294,634
Colwick	30,700
Lambley	25,151
Linby	29,532
Newstead	22,449
Papplewick	23,288
Ravenshead St Albans	170,055 28,720
Stoke Bardolph	2,500
Woodborough	86,585

 

(f)        £194.50 being the amount at 6(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 6(e) above by the amount at 5(a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates. (Gedling’s own element of the Council Tax for a Band D dwelling).

 

(g)

Part of the Council’s Area	£
Bestwood Village	221.79
Burton Joyce	352.93
Calverton	309.81
Colwick	228.70
Lambley	244.24
Linby	267.68
Newstead	255.44
Papplewick	280.37
Ravenshead St Albans	255.11 224.87
Stoke Bardolph	199.89
Woodborough	287.02

 

being the amounts given by adding the amount at 6(f) above to the amounts of the special item or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council’s area mentioned above, divided in each case by the amount at 5(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 34(3) of the Act, as the basic amounts of its council tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate. (The combined district and parish amount of Council Tax for a Band D dwelling)

 

(h)

Part of the Council's Area							Valuation Bands
				A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
				£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Bestwood Village				147.86	172.51	197.15	221.79	271.07	320.36	369.65	443.58
Burton Joyce				235.29	274.50	313.72	352.93	431.36	509.78	588.22	705.86
Calverton				206.54	240.97	275.39	309.81	378.65	447.50	516.35	619.62
Colwick				152.47	177.88	203.29	228.70	279.52	330.34	381.17	457.40
Lambley				162.83	189.97	217.10	244.24	298.51	352.79	407.07	488.48
Linby				178.46	208.20	237.94	267.68	327.16	386.64	446.14	535.36
Newstead				170.30	198.68	227.06	255.44	312.20	368.96	425.74	510.88
Papplewick				186.92	218.07	249.22	280.37	342.67	404.97	467.29	560.74
Ravenshead				170.08	198.42	226.77	255.11	311.80	368.49	425.19	510.22
St Albans				149.92	174.90	199.89	224.87	274.84	324.81	374.79	449.74
Stoke Bardolph				133.26	155.47	177.68	199.89	244.31	288.73	333.15	399.78
Woodborough				191.35	223.24	255.13	287.02	350.80	414.58	478.37	574.04
All other parts of the Council’s area				129.67	151.28	172.89	194.50	237.72	280.94	324.17	389.00

 

being the amounts given by multiplying the amounts at 6(f) and 6(g) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 36(1) of the Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands. (The combined district and parish amount of Council Tax for each band of dwelling).

 

7.         That it be noted that for the year 2025/26, Nottinghamshire County Council, the Office of the Nottinghamshire Police & Crime Commissioner and the Combined Fire & Rescue Authority have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

 

 

 

			A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
Precepting Authority:			£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Notts County Council			1,263.03	1,473.53	1,684.04	1,894.54	2,315.55	2,736.56	3,157.57	3,789.08
Notts Police & Crime Commissioner			197.40	230.30	263.20	296.10	361.90	427.70	493.50	592.20
Combined Fire & Rescue Authority			64.81	75.61	86.41	97.21	118.81	140.41	162.02	194.42

 

 

8.         That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 6(h) and 7 above, the Council, in accordance with section 30(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the following amounts of council tax for the year 2025/26 for each of the categories of dwellings shown below: (The total amount of Council Tax for each band of dwelling)

 

Part of the Council's Area						Valuation Bands
			A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H
			£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Bestwood Village			1,673.10	1,951.95	2,230.80	2,509.64	3,067.33	3,625.03	4,182.74	5,019.28
Burton Joyce			1,760.53	2,053.94	2,347.37	2,640.78	3,227.62	3,814.45	4,401.31	5,281.56
Calverton			1,731.78	2,020.41	2,309.04	2,597.66	3,174.91	3,752.17	4,329.44	5,195.32
Colwick			1,677.71	1,957.32	2,236.94	2,516.55	3,075.78	3,635.01	4,194.26	5,033.10
Lambley			1,688.07	1,969.41	2,250.75	2,532.09	3,094.77	3,657.46	4,220.16	5,064.18
Linby			1,703.70	1,987.64	2,271.59	2,555.53	3,123.42	3,691.31	4,259.23	5,111.06
Newstead			1,695.54	1,978.12	2,260.71	2,543.29	3,108.46	3,673.63	4,238.83	5,086.58
Papplewick			1,712.16	1,997.51	2,282.87	2,568.22	3,138.93	3,709.64	4,280.38	5,136.44
Ravenshead			1,695.32	1,977.86	2,260.42	2,542.96	3,108.06	3,673.16	4,238.28	5,085.92
St Albans			1,675.16	1,954.34	2,233.54	2,512.72	3,071.10	3,629.48	4,187.88	5,025.44
Stoke Bardolph			1,658.50	1,934.91	2,211.33	2,487.74	3,040.57	3,593.40	4,146.24	4,975.48
Woodborough			1,716.59	2,002.68	2,288.78	2,574.87	3,147.06	3,719.25	4,291.46	5,149.74
All other parts of the Council's area			1,654.91	1,930.72	2,206.54	2,482.35	3,033.98	3,585.61	4,137.26	4,964.70