To consider the recommendations of the Cabinet on the Revenue and Capital Budget 2025.

Members considered the recommendations of the Cabinet in relation to the Revenue Budget 2025/2026, the Fees and Charges for 2025/26, the Revenue Reserves Statement 2025/2026, the Capital Strategy 2025/2026 and the Treasury Management Strategy 2025/2026 (as set out in the submitted report and supporting documents).  A revised Fees and Charges for 2025/26 and the Director of Public Health’s proposals for the Public Health Ring-Fenced Grant Uplift was published on 20 February 2025

In accordance with legislation, The Worshipful The Mayor of Torbay advised that recorded votes would be taken on all the budget items on this agenda.

Councillor David Thomas proposed and Councillor Tyerman seconded a motion as set out below:

1.         that for 2025/26 a net revenue expenditure of £147.5m, resulting in a Council Tax requirement of £96.2m (a 4.75% increase in Council Tax, of which 2% is for Adult Social Care) be approved (as outlined in Appendix 1 to the submitted report);

2.         that the proposed Fees and Charges for 2025/26 be approved as set out in revised Appendix 4 to the submitted report;

3.         that in accordance with the requirement of the Local Government Act 2003, the advice given by the Chief Finance Officer with respect to the robustness of the budget estimates and the adequacy of the Council’s Reserves, (as set out in the Reserves Statement published in November 2024), be noted;

4.         that it be noted that the Brixham Town Council precept for 2025/26 of £531,935 will be included as part of the Torbay Council budget for Council Tax setting purposes;

5.         that the proposals for the allocation of the Public Health Ring-Fenced Grant uplift, as circulated 20 February 2025 and at Appendix 8 of the submitted report, be approved as part of the budget for 2025/26;

6.         that the Revenue Reserves Statement 2025/26, Capital Strategy 2025/26 and Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26 be approved as published for Cabinet on 26 November 2024; and

7.         that any technical adjustments to the Revenue and Capital Budget be delegated to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance.

The Worshipful The Mayor of Torbay advised that two notice of motions to amend the Cabinet’s revenue budget proposals had been received, in accordance with Standing Order A13.4.

Councillor Long proposed and Councillor Cowell seconded an amendment to the motion as follows:

1.         that for 2025/26 a net revenue expenditure of £147.5m, resulting in a Council Tax requirement of £96.2m (a 4.75% increase in Council Tax, of which 2% is for Adult Social Care) be approved (as outlined in Appendix 1 to the submitted report) ), subject to a one-off budget allocation for 2025/2026 of £100,000, to be funded from the Concessionary Fares budget (based on the forecasted underspends for 2024/25 and future projected spending for 2025/26) to:

a)       enable residents who receive an older person’s bus pass and in receipt of relevant disability benefits, to allow their carer to travel with them;  and

b)       allocate provision of bus passes for young carers (as determined by assessment to be appropriate) to be provided in school holidays (excluding half terms);

2.         that the proposed Fees and Charges for 2025/26 be approved as set out in revised Appendix 4 to the submitted report;

3.         that in accordance with the requirement of the Local Government Act 2003, the advice given by the Chief Finance Officer with respect to the robustness of the budget estimates and the adequacy of the Council’s Reserves, (as set out in the Reserves Statement published in November 2024), be noted;

4.         that it be noted that the Brixham Town Council precept for 2025/26 of £531,935 will be included as part of the Torbay Council budget for Council Tax setting purposes;

5.         that the proposals for the allocation of the Public Health Ring-Fenced Grant uplift, as circulated 20 February 2025 and at Appendix 8 of the submitted report, be approved as part of the budget for 2025/26;

6.         that the Revenue Reserves Statement 2025/26, Capital Strategy 2025/26 and Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26 be approved as published for Cabinet on 26 November 2024; and

7.         that any technical adjustments to the Revenue and Capital Budget be delegated to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance.

A recorded vote was taken on the amendment.  The voting was taken by roll call as follows:  For:  Councillors Amil, Carter, Cowell, George Darling, Mandy Darling, Steve Darling, Douglas-Dunbar, Fox, Johns, Long, Maddison, Penny, Pentney and Virdee (14);  Against:  Councillors Billings, Brook, Bryant, Bye, Fellows, Foster, Hutchings, Barbara Lewis, Chris Lewis, Spacagna, Stevens, Strang, David Thomas, Jacqueline Thomas, Tolchard, Tranter, Twelves and Tyerman (18);  and Absent:  Councillors Atiya-Alla, Harvey, Law and Nicolaou (4).  Therefore the amendment was declared lost.

Councillor Long proposed and Councillor Cowell seconded an amendment to the motion as follows:

1.         that for 2025/26 a net revenue expenditure of £147.5m, resulting in a Council Tax requirement of £96.2m (a 4.75% increase in Council Tax, of which 2% is for Adult Social Care) be approved (as outlined in Appendix 1 to the submitted report), subject to the allocation of £20,000 one off funding to support People’s Parkfield to provide temporary toilet provision in the grounds, whilst People’s Parkfield identify funding for permanent provision;  and this funding to be identified from firstly developer contributions, or if this not possible, funding to be allocated from the Community Fund and reducing this budget to £180,000 (noting the Community Grant Fund is allocated to support areas of deprivation and the projects run by People’s Parkfield support deprived areas);

2.         that the proposed Fees and Charges for 2025/26 be approved as set out in revised Appendix 4 to the submitted report;

3.         that in accordance with the requirement of the Local Government Act 2003, the advice given by the Chief Finance Officer with respect to the robustness of the budget estimates and the adequacy of the Council’s Reserves, (as set out in the Reserves Statement published in November 2024), be noted;

4.         that it be noted that the Brixham Town Council precept for 2025/26 of £531,935 will be included as part of the Torbay Council budget for Council Tax setting purposes;

5.         that the proposals for the allocation of the Public Health Ring-Fenced Grant uplift, as circulated 20 February 2025 and at Appendix 8 of the submitted report, be approved as part of the budget for 2025/26;

6.         that the Revenue Reserves Statement 2025/26, Capital Strategy 2025/26 and Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26 be approved as published for Cabinet on 26 November 2024; and

7.         that any technical adjustments to the Revenue and Capital Budget be delegated to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance.

A recorded vote was taken on the amendment.  The voting was taken by roll call as follows:  For:  Councillors Amil, Carter, Cowell, George Darling, Mandy Darling, Steve Darling, Douglas-Dunbar, Fox, Johns, Long, Maddison, Penny, Pentney and Virdee (14);  Against:  Councillors Billings, Brook, Bryant, Bye, Fellows, Foster, Hutchings, Barbara Lewis, Chris Lewis, Spacagna, Stevens, Strang, David Thomas, Jacqueline Thomas, Tolchard, Tranter, Twelves and Tyerman (18);  and Absent:  Councillors Atiya-Alla, Harvey, Law and Nicolaou (4).  Therefore the amendment was declared lost.

Councillor David Thomas’ and Councillor Tyerman’s original motion was then considered and agreed by the Council (by recorded vote) as set out below:

1.         that for 2025/26 a net revenue expenditure of £147.5m, resulting in a Council Tax requirement of £96.2m (a 4.75% increase in Council Tax, of which 2% is for Adult Social Care) be approved (as outlined in Appendix 1 to the submitted report);

2.         that the proposed Fees and Charges for 2025/26 be approved as set out in revised Appendix 4 to the submitted report;

3.         that in accordance with the requirement of the Local Government Act 2003, the advice given by the Chief Finance Officer with respect to the robustness of the budget estimates and the adequacy of the Council’s Reserves, (as set out in the Reserves Statement published in November 2024), be noted;

4.         that it be noted that the Brixham Town Council precept for 2025/26 of £531,935 will be included as part of the Torbay Council budget for Council Tax setting purposes;

5.         that the proposals for the allocation of the Public Health Ring-Fenced Grant uplift, as circulated 20 February 2025 and at Appendix 8 of the submitted report, be approved as part of the budget for 2025/26;

6.         that the Revenue Reserves Statement 2025/26, Capital Strategy 2025/26 and Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26 be approved as published for Cabinet on 26 November 2024; and

7.         that any technical adjustments to the Revenue and Capital Budget be delegated to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Finance.

The voting was taken by roll call as follows:  For:  Councillors Billings, Brook, Bryant, Bye, Fellows, Foster, Hutchings, Barbara Lewis, Chris Lewis, Spacagna, Stevens, Strang, David Thomas, Jacqueline Thomas, Tolchard, Tranter, Twelves and Tyerman (18);  Against: Councillor Carter (1);  Councillor Abstain:  Councillors Amil, Cowell, George Darling, Mandy Darling, Steve Darling, Douglas-Dunbar, Fox, Johns, Long, Maddison, Penny, Pentney and Virdee (13); and Absent:  Councillors Atiya-Alla, Harvey, Law and Nicolaou (4).