RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)    approves the latest financial forecast set out in Appendix A, along with the savings and cost pressures set out in Appendix B and C respectively that form the firm proposals for the 2022/23 budget and recommends to Full Council a Band D Council Tax for district services of £182.64 for 2022/23 (a £5 increase), along with the associated council tax requirement of £9.112m;

(b)    authorises the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance to agree the ‘technical’ appendices and resolutions for the budget proposals for recommending to Full Council on 15 February 2022;

(c)   authorises the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Corporate Finance and Governance Portfolio Holder, to report directly to Council in respect of the formal resolutions necessary to implement the Executive’s budget proposals along with any late information or notifications received from the Government;

(d)  authorises the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance, to agree / adopt a Retail, Hospitality and Leisure mandatory business rate relief scheme for 2022/23;

(e)  authorisesthe Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance to approve the draft Treasury Strategy 2022/23 for consultation with the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and

(f)   approves that, in respect of the in-year budget for 2021/22, £0.064m be added to the Capital Programme in order to enable the purchase and installation of additional audio and visual equipment associated with the ‘live streaming’ of meetings and improving the quality of sound within the new committee room, which will be funded by adjustments elsewhere within the overall 2021/22 budget, as identified by the Assistant Director (Finance & IT), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance.