RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)   notes the Council’s in-year financial position at the end of December 2024 along with the latest financial forecast update;

(b)   approves the proposed adjustments to the 2024/25 budget as set out in Appendix H to the Portfolio Holder’s report (A.5);

(c)   requests Officers to review any potential longer term / on-going impact of the items set out in Appendix H, as part of developing the forecast for further consideration by Cabinet later in the year;

(d)   in respect of the additional sum of £0.250m made available to support the delivery of savings / efficiency plans and wider corporate priorities that is set out in Appendix H, authorises the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance to utilise this funding to support any associated work and activities; 

(e)   notes the financial forecast update set out in this report (A.5) and requests Officers, in consultation with Portfolio Holders to further develop the forecast and associated savings and efficiency plans for presenting to Cabinet later in 2025/26;

(f)    in respect of the budget for 2025/26, authorises the Corporate Director (Place and Economy), in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Leisure and Public Realm and Corporate Finance and Governance to adjust the sports and leisure facilities budgets as necessary to better reflect the current experienced income and expenditure positions, but with no net overall impact on the Council’s wider budgeted position; and

(g)   invites the views of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the information set out in this report along with the Council’s wider financial position as part of its work programme for the year.