Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bashforth, Kenyon, Sheldon and Wilkinson.

There were no declarations of interests

There were no communications relating to the business of the Council.

(Minutes of Cabinet held 23^rd February 2025 to be circulated)

a)    Housing Revenue Account Estimates for 2026/27 to 2030/31 and Forecast Outturn for 2025/26

b)    Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2026/27

c)    The Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and Treasury Management Strategy Statement for 2026/27

                                               i.     Revenue Budget 2026/27 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2027/28 to 2028/29

                                              ii.     Capital Strategy and Capital Programme 2026/27 to 2030/31 and Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement

                                            iii.     Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2026/27 including the Annual Investment Strategy, Borrowing Strategy and Prudential Indicators

Liberal Democrats Budget Amendment Proposals 2026/27

d)    Pay Policy Statement 2026/27

e)    Members Allowances 2026/27

And if thought fit, pass the following resolutions:

1.    That it be noted that on 19 January 2026, the following amounts were approved by the Cabinet (subject to minor amendment) as the Council's Council Tax Base for the financial year 2026/27:

a)    59,937 for the whole Council area [Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")

b)    9,877 for dwellings in the Saddleworth Parish area to which a Parish precept relates

c)    6,018 for dwellings in the Shaw and Crompton Town Council area to which a precept relates

2.    That the Council Meeting approve the Council Tax Requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2026/27 (excluding Parish precepts) as being £129,237,358.

3.    That the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2026/27 in accordance with sections 31A to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:

The Mayor requested and it was RESOLVED that Council

Procedure Rule 14 (Rules of Debate) be suspended to enable

Councillor Jabbar, the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for

Value for Money and Sustainability to exceed the time limit for

his contribution in moving the Administration Budget to 15

minutes with one 30 second extension and the seconder,

Councillor Shah, the Leader of the Council, 7 minutes, the Mover

of the Main Opposition Group, Councillor Al-Hamdani in moving the opposition budget, a time limit of 7 minutes 30 seconds if required, and the seconder, Councillor Sykes, 6 minutes. All other speakers will be limited to 4

minutes.

The Mayor informed members that regulations had been

implemented which required recorded votes on specific decision

at the Budget Council meeting.  Members would be advised

when a recorded vote was required.

Prior to the consideration of the Budget Proposals, the Mayor

asked the Council to note the draft minutes of the Cabinet

meeting held on 23^rd February 2026.

On a vote being taken, the recommendation was CARRIED

UNANIMOUSLY.

RESOLVED: that the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 23^rd February 2026 be noted.

a.    Housing Revenue Account Estimates for 2026/27 to 2030/31 and Forecast Outturn for 2025/26

Councillor Taylor MOVED and Councillor Jabbar SECONDED a joint report, which set out the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), the detailed budget estimates for 2026/27, the strategic estimates for the four years 2027/28 through to 2030/31 and outturn estimate for 2025/26. The report also sets out the recommended dwelling, non-dwelling rents and service and concierge charges to be applied from April 2026.

The report established the HRA 2026/27, proposed original budget and the forecast outturn for 2025/26. The opportunity was also taken to present the provisional strategic budgets for 2027/28 through to 2030/31.

After taking all relevant issues into account, the projected financial position for 2025/26 is estimated to be a £3.723m positive variance when compared to the original budget forecast for 2025/26 approved at the Budget Council meeting, on 6^th March 2025. This was largely due to the contribution to capital of £3m being delayed until 2026/27. It was noted that the revised forecast outturn would still see HRA expenditure at £0.757m greater than income, and reserves reducing as a result.

The 2026/27 position has been presented after allowing for a proposed increase in dwelling rents of 4.8%, an increase in non-dwelling rents in line with individual contracts, a nominal increase of 2% on service charges and the setting of Extra Care Housing concierge charges to fully recover costs.

The majority of HRA tenants are either the recipient of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, and it is assumed that the proposed increase in rents will not be an additional financial pressure to the majority of tenants.

The financial projections for the HRA over the period 2025/26 to 2030/31 show an overall reduction in the level of balances from £22.173m at the start of 2025/26 to £15.628m at the end of 2030/31.

The HRA detailed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.