Decision details

The Board received a report from the Director – Finance, advising of the Council’s overall revenue net spending position as at 31 January 2026, together with a 2025/26 forecast outturn position.

Appendix 1 presented a summary of spending against the operational revenue budget up to 31 January 2026 and Appendix 2 provided detailed figures for each individual Department.  Appendix 3 presented detail on the High Needs 2025/26 forecast outturn position and Appendix 4 set out the progress against agreed savings.

It was reported that in overall terms the outturn forecast for the year showed that net spend at 31 January 2026, was £1.236m below budget. The outturn forecast for the year estimated that net spending would be below budget by £1.273m based upon current assumptions.  The position represented a significant improvement on forecasts from earlier in the year. It was noted that the 2025/26 budget was set using £29.385m of Exceptional Financial Support (EFS), therefore, it was essential for spending to remain below budget.

Consistent with those councils who had previously sought EFS, in order for Government to provide a final capitalisation direction, the Council was required to undergo an external assurance review which would include but would not be limited to, an assessment of the Council's financial position and governance arrangements. The Council had undertaken a proactive approach and in September 2025 commissioned the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (Cipfa) to undertake such a review of the Council’s financial resilience and financial management arrangements. The review had been completed, and the Council was in the process of drawing up an action plan in line with the recommendations made.

It was noted that Council had approved the 2025/26 Capital Programme on 5 March 2025. Since then, the Programme had been revised to reflect a number of changes in spending profiles and funding as schemes had been developed. Appendix 5 brought all the separate elements together and report on the Council’s total planned capital programme expenditure. The report set out those Capital schemes that had been revised.

RESOLVED: That

1)    Executive Directors continue to implement the approved 2025/26 saving proposals as detailed in Appendix 4;

2)    Executive Directors continue to identify areas where they can further reduce their directorate’s spending or generate income, in order to ensure the council wide forecast outturn overspend position for the year remains within budget;

3)    this report be shared with each Policy and Performance Board in order to ensure they have a full appreciation of the councilwide financial position, in addition to their specific areas of responsibility;

4)    Council be asked to approve the revisions to the capital programme set-out in paragraph 3.31 and incorporated within Appendix 5; and

5)    the forecast position for High Needs funded pupil costs set-out in Para 3.18 to 3.24 and Appendix 3, be noted.