That the Cabinet recommends to Council:

a.    that Council notes the revenue outturn position and approves the use of £0.351m year-end surplus to be transferred into a specific reserve to be allocated across the followingindicative priority initiatives:

1.    updated condition surveys of Community Centres circa £10,000;

2.    better Resident Communications circa £50,000;

3.    accelerate Adult Social Care Customer Management System – Paris replacement circa £50,000;

4.    support voluntary, community and social enterprise youth provision transitional arrangements (pending procurement) circa £50,000;

5.    events – ice skating rink circa £40,000;

6.    Operation Brighter Bay circa £81,000;

7.    Operation Town Centre – improving CCTV circa £40,000; and

8.    Enterprise Fund (Town Centre) £30,000; and

b.    that Council approves the revisions to the Capital Investment Plan, as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

To ensure the Council operates in a prudent manner and works to maintain a balanced budget.

To respond to the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Board regarding the allocation of funding for condition surveys for Community Centres.

Various options for the allocation of the year-end surplus were discussed at the Overview and Scrutiny Board on 4 June 2025, with the Cabinet taking on board their recommendation.

The Cabinet’s recommendations will be considered at the Council meeting on 24 July 2025.

The Budget Monitoring 2024/25 report set out a high-level budget summary of the Council’s revenue and capital position based on the final outturn figures for the year ending 31 March 2025.

The Council had delivered an end-of-year surplus of £0.351m on the revenue budget.  This was an improved position on the forecast at Quarter 3, which projected a breakeven position.

The Overview and Scrutiny Board considered the Budget Monitoring 2024/25 report on 4 June 2025 and made recommendations to Cabinet.  At the Cabinet meeting, Councillor Tyerman proposed and Councillor David Thomas seconded a motion that was agreed unanimously, as set out above.

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