Agenda item

Paragraph 1 - Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (RPPR)

58.1     Under Standing Order 23, the Council agreed that the speeches of the Leaders of the 5 Groups (or their nominees) on paragraph 2 of the Cabinet’s report be extended beyond 5 minutes.

58.2     Councillor Bennett introduced the reserved paragraph in the Cabinet report.

58.3     The following motion was moved by Councillor Bennett to adopt paragraph 1 of the Cabinet report:

(1) approve in principle the draft Council Plan 2026/27 at Appendix 1 and authorise the Chief Executive to finalise the Plan in consultation with the relevant Lead Members;

(2) approve the net Revenue Budget estimate of £693.2m for 2026/27 set out in Appendix 2 (Medium Term Financial Plan) and Appendix 3 (draft) (Budget Summary) and authorise the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Leader and Deputy Leader, to make adjustments to the presentation of the Budget Summary to reflect the final settlement and final budget decisions;

(3) in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to agree that:

(i) the net budget requirement is £693.2m and the amount calculated by East Sussex County Council as its council tax requirement (see Appendix 5) for the year 2026/27 is £420.8m;

(ii) the amount calculated by East Sussex County Council as the basic amount of council tax (i.e. for a band D property) for the year 2026/27 is £1,960.29 and represents a 4.99% (2% of which relates to the Adult Social Care precept) increase on the previous year;

(4) advise the District and Borough Councils of the relevant amounts payable and council tax in other bands in line with the regulations and to issue precepts accordingly in accordance with the agreed schedule of instalments as set out at Appendix 5;

(5) note that the Council has written to Government to request Exceptional Financial Support in the form of a £70m capitalisation direction to support the budget in 2026/27;

(6) amend the Treasury Management Strategy, as set out later in this report, to allow borrowing to fund the revenue budget;

(7) note the comments of the Chief Finance Officer on budget risks and robustness, as set out in Appendix 6;

(8) agree the Reserves Policy set out in Appendix 6;

(9) approve the Capital Strategy and Programme at Appendix 8;

(10) note progress with the Council Plan and Budget 2025/26 since quarter 2 set out in paragraphs 1.29 to 1.33;

(11) note the Medium Term Financial Plan forecast for 2026/27 to 2028/29, set out in Appendix 2;

(12) note the comments from engagement exercises set out in Appendix 7; and

(13) note the schedule of fees and charges that have increased above 4% at Appendix 9.

58.4     A recorded vote was taken on the motion moved by Councillor Bennett. The motion was CARRIED with the votes being cast as follows:

FOR THE MOTION

Councillors Adeniji, Azad, Beaver, Belsey, Bennett, Bowdler, Clark, di Cara, Chris Dowling, Claire Dowling, Fisher, Fox, Galley, Geary, Glazier, Hay, Hollidge, Howell, Kirby-Green, Liddiard, Lunn, Marlow-Eastwood, Maynard, Milligan, Redstone and Standley.

AGAINST THE MOTION

There were no votes against.

ABSENTIONS

Councillors Cross, Denis, Field, Hilton, Holt, Lambert, MacCleary, Maples, Murphy, Osborne, Robinson, Rodohan, Scott, Daniel Shing, Stephen Shing, Shuttleworth, Swansborough, Taylor, Tutt, Webb and Wright.

Paragraph 3 – Annual Report of Looked After Children

58.5     Councillor Bowdler introduced the reserved paragraph in the Cabinet’s report.

58.6     The paragraph was noted after the debate.