Decision details

To consider the Council Monitoring report for the second quarter of the financial year 2025/26 as part of the Council’s Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR) budget monitoring process.

42.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Executive.

42.2     It was RESOLVED to:

1) note the latest monitoring position for the Council;

2) recommend that Scrutiny consider the target for the CO2 arising from County Council operations measure set out in paragraph 2.2 of the report; and

3) approve the proposed Capital Programme variation to include the installation of fire suppression systems at Maresfield and Pebsham Waste Transfer Stations set out in paragraph 3.7 of the report.

Reasons

42.3     The report sets out the Council’s position and year-end projections for the Council Plan targets, Revenue Budget, Capital Programme, and Savings Plan, together with Risks at the end of September 2025.

42.4     We continue to make progress on reducing our carbon emissions. However, carbon and cost reduction work is now focused on business-as-usual activity such as the planned building maintenance programme, following the reprofiling of the capital budget in 2024/25. Analysis undertaken over the summer, using the latest available data on our emissions for 2024/25, suggests that with our current resources the current target is not achievable.

42.5     Installing suppression systems will safeguard infrastructure, reduce operational and environmental risk, and ensure compliance with Environment Agency guidance, providing long-term resilience.