The Head of Finance – Place introduced the report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services which set out how the 2024/25 budget would be monitored through the Committee system, which would facilitate the Policy and Services Committees (the Committees) to take ownership of their specific budgets and present appropriate challenge and scrutiny of Officers on the management and performance of those budgets.

The 2025/2026 budget setting process involved workshops with Members where savings options would be proposed along with proposals to generate income to close the forecast budget gap of £3.2m.

Resolved – That

(1)  the process for in-year monitoring of the 2024/25 budget be noted.

(2)  the proposed approach to 2025/26 budget setting and the key assumptions that will be used be noted.