To consider the recommendations of the Cabinet on the Revenue and Capital Budget 2025.

Members considered the recommendations of the Cabinet in relation to the Revenue Budget 2025/2026, the Fees and Charges for 2025/26, the Revenue Reserves Statement 2025/2026, the Capital Strategy 2025/2026 and the Treasury Management Strategy 2025/2026 (as set out in the submitted report and supporting documents).  A revised Fees and Charges for 2025/26 and the Director of Public Health’s proposals for the Public Health Ring-Fenced Grant Uplift was published on 20 February 2025

In accordance with legislation, The Worshipful The Mayor of Torbay advised that recorded votes would be taken on all the budget items on this agenda.

Councillor David Thomas proposed and Councillor Tyerman seconded a motion as set out below:

1.         that for 2025/26 a net revenue expenditure of £147.5m, resulting in a Council Tax requirement of £96.2m (a 4.75% increase in Council Tax, of which 2% is for Adult Social Care) be approved (as outlined in Appendix 1 to the submitted report);

2.         that the proposed Fees and Charges for 2025/26 be approved as set out in revised Appendix 4 to the submitted report;

3.         that in accordance with the requirement of the Local Government Act 2003, the advice given by the Chief Finance Officer with respect to the robustness of the budget estimates and the adequacy of the Council’s Reserves, (as set out in the Reserves Statement published in November 2024), be noted;

4.         that it be noted that the Brixham Town Council precept for 2025/26 of £531,935 will be included as part of the Torbay Council budget for Council Tax setting purposes;

5.         that the proposals for the allocation of the Public Health Ring-Fenced Grant uplift, as circulated 20 February 2025 and at Appendix 8 of the submitted report, be approved as part of the budget for 2025/26;

6.         that the Revenue Reserves Statement 2025/26, Capital Strategy 2025/26 and Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26 be approved as published for Cabinet on 26 November 2024; and

7.         that any technical adjustments to the Revenue and Capital Budget be delegated to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance.

The Worshipful The Mayor of Torbay advised that two notice of motions to amend the Cabinet’s revenue budget proposals had been received, in accordance with Standing Order A13.4.

Councillor Long proposed and Councillor Cowell seconded an amendment to the motion as follows:

1.         that for 2025/26 a net revenue expenditure of £147.5m, resulting in a Council Tax requirement of £96.2m (a 4.75% increase in Council Tax, of which 2% is for Adult Social Care) be approved (as outlined in Appendix 1 to the submitted report) ), subject to a one-off budget allocation for 2025/2026 of £100,000, to be funded from the Concessionary Fares budget (based on the forecasted underspends for 2024/25 and future projected spending for 2025/26) to:

a)       enable residents who receive an older person’s bus pass and in receipt of relevant disability benefits, to allow their carer to travel with them;  and

b)       allocate provision of bus passes for young carers (as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 97

To receive the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Board on the Cabinet’s draft budget proposals for 2025/2026 and to make final recommendations to the Council.