Agenda item

Report of the Assistant Director Resources

The Assistant Director Resources submitted a report (previously circulated) requesting that Members give consideration to the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) for 2026/27 to 2029/30, which had been approved by Cabinet at its meeting on 2 December, as a basis for consultation.

The submitted report stated that an MTFP Briefing that was delivered to Members on 15 December outlining the overall contents of the MTFP, and requested that Members of this Scrutiny Committee now consider contents in relation to the services and finances within the remit of this Scrutiny Committee to enable a response to be formulated and forwarded to the Economy and Resources Scrutiny Committee for consideration at its meeting scheduled to be held on 20 January 2026.

The Assistant Director of Resources provided an update on the draft Local Government finance settlement, which had been received on 17 December, subsequent to the approval of the draft MTFP by Cabinet and advised on the impact this draft settlement had on the assumptions made within that approved draft MTFP.

Following a question regarding the Public Health Grant, Members were informed that this is ring-fenced and there are conditions for expenditure; that nationally there had been a real-term reduction in this grant of 24 per cent since 2015/16, however there was a welcome uplift to the grant in 25/26 and the continuation of additional grant funding relating to stopping smoking, supervised toothbrushing and  drug and alcohol services has been confirmed as part of the most recent grant allocations. Members also noted that around 32 per cent of the grant was invested across other Council departments to support health and wellbeing. Members requested a detailed breakdown of Public Health spend.

Discussion ensued regarding the range of grant funding schemes, with Members questioning whether these were ring fenced grants. Members were informed that there was some discretion in relation to how the grants were allocated within the Council; and following a comment regarding a move to more in house services, Members were advised of the cross department working that existed within the Council.

Following a query regarding fees and charges, Members were informed that individual officers were responsible for reviewing and setting their fees and charges and that a suggestion had been put forward by the Members of the Communities and Local Services Scrutiny Committee to increase those fees and charges that were staff based in line with the Consumer Price Index.

RESOLVED – (a) That the Economy and Resources Scrutiny Committee be advised that the Health and Housing Scrutiny Committee has no comment to make on the MTFP 2026/27 to 2029/30.

(b) That the Chair, in consultation with the Lead Scrutiny Officers supporting this Scrutiny Committee, be given authority to agree the Minutes of this Scrutiny Committee, to enable the Minutes to be considered at a Special Meeting of the Economy and Resources Scrutiny Committee scheduled to be held on 20 January 2026.