To provide a general update and overview of the Council’s financial position against the 2026/27 budget as at the end of September 2026 and looking ahead to 2027/28 and beyond.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)     notes the Council’s in-year financial position as at the end of September 2026;

(b)     approves the proposed budget adjustments covering the periods 2026/27 and 2027/28, as set out in Appendix 1H and requests Officers to review the potential on-going impact from 2027/28 and beyond where necessary as part of developing the forecast and detailed estimates for further consideration by Cabinet later in the year;

(c)     notes the updated financial forecast to 2029/30 as set out in this report and its appendices and requests Officers, in consultation with Portfolio Holders, to further its development alongside the Council’s priorities; 

(d)     considers and notes the Leader of the Council’s response to the motion associated with the LGR process that was agreed by Full Council on 13 October 2026, as set out in Section 1(a) within the main body of this report (A.1); and

(e)     invites the views of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the information set out in this report, including the Leader’s response to the Full Council motion of 13 October 2026 regarding LGR, along with the Council’s wider financial position as part of its work programme for the year.