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Expenditure Plan

The Net Cost of Services for 2025/26 is £15.782m compared with £16.207m in 2024/25, a decrease of £0.425m. This is supported by a contribution from balances and reserves of £375k, meaning that the amount to be met from government grants and taxation is estimated to be £15.407m (£15.394m in 2024/25).

Income from Government Grants and Business Rates is estimated at £8.695m, a decrease of £260k compared with 2024/25, following confirmation of the financial settlement from government. The Council has approved an increase in Council Tax of 2.99%, which means that we expect to collect £6.754m in 2025/26.

Open each accordion to reveal the Council's expenditure plans by service area for 2024/2025 and 2025/2026:

2024/2025 Expenditure

This table shows the Council's expenditure plans by service area for the 2024-2025 tax year:

(Table values in brackets are minus figures)

Service Gross Expenditure £'000 Income £'000 Net Expenditure £'000
Central Items & Appropriations (4,224) 0 (4,224)
Finance, People & Performance 15,879 (11,964) 3,915
Housing, Community Safety & Environmental Services 3,974 (1,264) 2,710
Health, Leisure, Climate and Economic Development 4,648 (3,601) 1,047
Leader 2,947 (285) 2,662
Neighbourhood Services & Assets 10,264 (3,874) 6,390
Planning, Transformation and ICT 4,361 (654) 3,707
Net Cost of General Fund Services 37,849 (21,642) 16,207
Contribution to/(from) General Fund Balance     (464)
Contributions to/(from) Earmarked Reserves     (349)
Amount to be met from Government Grants and local taxation     15,394
Less: Government Grants     (2,355)
Less: Income from Business Rates     (6,600)
Collection Fund (Surplus)/Deficit     88
Council Tax Requirement     6,526

 

2025/2026 Expenditure

This table shows the Council's expenditure plans by service area for the 2025-2026 tax year:

(Table values in brackets are minus figures)

Service Gross Expenditure £'000 Income £'000 Net Expenditure £'000
Central Items & Appropriations (1,044) 0 (1,044)
Finance, People & Performance 13,438 (10,325) 3,113
Housing, Community Safety & Environmental Services 3,922 (1,477) 2,445
Health, Leisure, Climate and Economic Development 3,863 (3,693) 170
Leader 2,936 (425) 2,511
Neighbourhood Services & Assets 10,937 (5,205) 5,732
Planning, Transformation and ICT 3,746 (891) 2,855
Net Cost of General Fund Services 37,798 (22,016) 15,782
Contribution to/(from) General Fund Balance     112
Contributions to/(from) Earmarked Reserves     (486)
Amount to be met from Government Grants and local taxation     15,407
Less: Government Grants     (2,095)
Less: Income from Business Rates     (6,600)
Collection Fund (Surplus)/Deficit     41
Council Tax Requirement     6,754

 

Change in net cost of services 2025-26

Increased expenditure

 

Description Amount £'000
Establishment costs  1,605
Capital Financing Costs  126
Premises-related expenditure  39
Fuel and other Fleet management costs  
Total 1771
Reduced income

 

Description Amount £'000
Contract Income 78

Offset by

Reduced expenditure

(Table values in brackets are minus figures)

Description Amount £'000
Employee Expenses (1)
Supplies and Services (368)
Loan Interest Payable  (106)
Other Expenditure (478)
Total (953)
Reduced income

(Table values in brackets are minus figures)

Description Amount (£'000)
Investment Interest (100)
Homelessness (136)
Specific Government Grants (135)
Other Income (217)
Building Control Partnership (162)
Car Park Income (12)
Lightbulb Partner Contributions (48)
Rents/Easements (36)
Grants and Contributions - Non Government (476)
Total (1,321)
Net Movement (425)

Capital programme 2025-26

The Council proposes new capital investment of £1,422.5k for 2025/2026.
The allocations are as below:

Description Amount £'000
Disabled Facilities Grant 630
Fleet Replacement Programme 304
Council Assets 190.3
Corporate & Service Specific ICT Projects 152
Community Development 54.5
Housing Support Grants 30
Landfill Gas Monitoring Works 43
Strategic Parks & Open Spaces 18.7
TOTAL 1,422.5

Outstanding loan liabilities

Aggregate Liabilities as at 31 March 2024 Amount £'000
Loan Debt Outstanding 5,713
Last updated 2 April 2025
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