Issue - meetings

Cabinet recommended to Full Council that it:

 i)     Notes and comments on the balanced 2025-26 General Fund budget and balanced 2025-28 MTFP which will fully fund all corporate missions and pressures whilst ensuring greater efficiency and value for money for Harlow taxpayers and improved service provision and do so whilst freezing Harlow council tax and fees and charges across the lifetime of the MTFP.

ii)     Approves the Medium Term Financial Plan 2025 - 2028, and the General Fund Budget for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix A to the report.

iii)     Approves that the council's band D council tax for 2025/26 is set at £288.90 representing a 0% increase as set out Appendix A to the report.

iv)     Approves the General Fund estimates for 2025/26, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

v)     Approves the proposed transfers between the General Fund and service specific earmarked reserves, referred to within the report and as set out in Appendix A to the report.

vi)     Approves proposed Fees and Charges, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

vii)     Approves proposed Pay Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix C to the report.

viii)     Delegates to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make minor amendments as required.

Full Council received a referral from Cabinet on the Medium Term Financial Plan and General Fund Budget 2025/26.

Councillor Stefan Mullard-Toal (seconded by Councillor James Griggs) moved an amendment as set out in supplementary agenda 1.

A recorded vote was taken on the amendment and the amendment was lost.

During debate, the duration of the meeting reached two hours. Under Council Procedure Rule 9.1, Full Council agreed that the meeting would continue until all remaining business was considered.

Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor James Leppard) proposed that a vote was taken on the substantive motion. As required by law a recorded vote was taken and it was:

RESOLVED that Full Council:

A     Noted the balanced 2025-26 General Fund budget and balanced 2025-28 MTFP which will fully fund all corporate missions and pressures whilst ensuring greater efficiency and value for money for Harlow taxpayers and improved service provision and do so whilst freezing Harlow council tax and fees and charges across the lifetime of the MTFP.

B     Approved the Medium Term Financial Plan 2025 - 2028, and the General Fund Budget for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix A to the report.

C     Approved that the council's band D council tax for 2025/26 is set at £288.90 representing a 0% increase as set out Appendix A to the report.

D     Approved the General Fund estimates for 2025/26, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

E      Approved the proposed transfers between the General Fund and service specific earmarked reserves, referred to within the report and as set out in Appendix A to the report.

F      Approved proposed Fees and Charges, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

G     Approved proposed Pay Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix C to the report.

A     Recommended to Full Council that it:

                                          i)         Notes the balanced 2025-26 General Fund budget and balanced 2025-28 MTFP which will fully fund all corporate missions and pressures whilst ensuring greater efficiency and value for money for Harlow taxpayers and improved service provision and do so whilst freezing Harlow council tax and fees and charges across the lifetime of the MTFP.

                                         ii)         Approves the Medium Term Financial Plan 2025 - 2028, and the General Fund Budget for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix A to the report.

                                       iii)         Approves that the council's band D council tax for 2025/26 is set at £288.90 representing a 0% increase as set out Appendix A to the report.

                                       iv)         Approves the General Fund estimates for 2025/26, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

                                        v)         Approves the proposed transfers between the General Fund and service specific earmarked reserves, referred to within the report and as set out in Appendix A to the report.

                                       vi)         Approves proposed Fees and Charges, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

                                      vii)         Approves proposed Pay Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix C to the report.

B     Granted delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make minor and inconsequential amendments prior to the publication of the Full Council agenda.

Cabinet received a report on the Medium Term Financial Plan and General Fund Budget 2025/26.

The Leader said an additional recommendation was to be added to this item, and the two subsequent items, granting delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Leader, to make minor and inconsequential amendments to the budget papers prior to their publication in the Full Council agenda.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor James Leppard) it was:

A    Recommended to Full Council that it:

                                     i)        Notes the balanced 2025-26 General Fund budget and balanced 2025-28 MTFP which will fully fund all corporate missions and pressures whilst ensuring greater efficiency and value for money for Harlow taxpayers and improved service provision and do so whilst freezing Harlow council tax and fees and charges across the lifetime of the MTFP.

                                    ii)        Approves the Medium Term Financial Plan 2025 - 2028, and the General Fund Budget for 2025/26 as set out in Appendix A to the report.

                                   iii)        Approves that the council's band D council tax for 2025/26 is set at £288.90 representing a 0% increase as set out Appendix A to the report.

                                   iv)        Approves the General Fund estimates for 2025/26, as set out in Appendix A to the report.

                                    v)        Approves the proposed transfers between the General Fund and service specific earmarked reserves, referred to within the report and as set out in Appendix A to the report.

                                   vi)        Approves proposed Fees and Charges, as set out in Appendix B to the report.

                                  vii)        Approves proposed Pay Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix C to the report.

B    Granted delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make minor and inconsequential amendments prior to the publication of the Full Council agenda.