Agenda and decisions

To record the names of apologies given.

To give consideration to the approval of alternative arrangements for appointments to bodies set up by Cabinet or external bodies, or the making or terminating of such appointments.

To receive any disclosure of interests from Councillors or Officers in matters to be discussed.

Note: Councillors are reminded of their obligations to declare disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs), other registerable interests (ORIs) and non-registerable interests (NRIs) in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct.

– to note the names of members of the public wishing to speak on general matters affecting the District or on agenda items (in the case of the latter, representations will normally be received at the time of the agenda item, after the Cabinet Member’s introduction and any questions from Cabinet Members).

NB members of the public are required to register with Democratic Services three clear working days before the meeting (contact: democracy@winchester.gov.uk or 01962 848 264). 

1.      That the assumptions set out in respect of Government funding, council tax, inflation rates and fees and charges (set out in full in section 13 of report CAB3522) and the projections set out in Appendix 1 of the report be noted.

2.      That the Medium-Term Financial Strategy be approved as set out in sections 13 to 17 of the report. 

3.      That the following one-off revenue budget growth requests be approved;

            i.       An additional £0.3m revenue budget, funded by the transitional reserve, towards the Community Governance Review.

          ii.        A revenue budget of £2.280m, funded by the transitional reserve, towards the Local Government Review.

         iii.       A revenue budget of £0.03m in 2025/26, to be funded by higher than budgeted Parking income, towards additional Parking Enforcement overtime costs.

         iv.       A revenue budget of £0.05m in 2025/26, funded by the property reserve, for fees to design and plan works to the Guildhall.

4.      That a detailed budget be prepared for consideration by Council in February 2026 based on the assumptions set out in this MTFS; final spending review announcements; and including the following options shown in Appendix 2 and Section 14 of the report:

a.         That, in relation to services:

                             i.    Forecast increase in utility costs of £0.15m per annum.

                            ii.     Forecast annual savings of £0.3m per annum due to a reduction in the employer’s pension scheme contribution from 18.0% to 15.9%.

                           iii.    An additional baseline £0.115m revenue budget for the permanent recruitment of a Corporate Head of Resources.

b.         That, in relation to other annual budgets:

                             i.    Forecast increase in democratic costs of £0.085m

                            ii.     Increase in garage maintenance budgets of £0.120m per annum.

c.          In relation to management of the council’s property assets:

                             i.    An additional £400,000 per annum be set aside into the Property Reserve for the maintenance of and investment in operational assets.

                            ii.     An additional £100,000 per annum baseline revenue budget, for new requirements highlighted by the latest Asset Management plan and uplifts to existing maintenance budgets.

5.      That the following regarding Car Parking fees from October 2026 be approved:

a.      Freeze on park and walk and market town car park fees

b.      CPI increase to all central parking and overnight charges, generating an additional £150,000 per annum (£85,000 in 2026/27)

6.      That a capital budget of £100,000 be approved, funded by the Homelessness risk reserve, for the conversion of Stable Yard, to the rear of 59 Colebrook St, for temporary accommodation. This is subject to a business case and subsequent approval of expenditure under Financial Procedure Rule 7.4.

1. That the draft HRA Business 30-year Plan for 2025-26 to 2055-56 metrics shown in Appendix 3 and current 5 year projection at Appendix 1 of report CAB3523 be noted.

2. That the business plan pressures identified in the 2025/26 business planning exercise as outlined in paragraphs 11.41 to 11.51 of the report be noted, totalling £1.26m one off pressures and £1.2m ongoing pressures.

3. That the budget options outlined within the report and detailed at Appendix 2 be approved, as a basis for consultation to inform the February budget setting, including potential options for rent convergence in line with government proposals.

4. That the allocation of £0.12m per annum to support upgrades to the asset and property management systems be approved, including reprofiling £0.02m from the one-off investment budget set in the 2023/24 business plan to cover initial preparatory costs in 2025/26, with clearer estimates of project management costs for 2026/27 to be included in the February budget report.

5. That a change in the calculation of interest on internal borrowing and lending between the General Fund and HRA be approved, namely to equalise the interest rate at the PWLB 3 month variable loan rate for both borrowing and lending as outlined at paragraphs 11.34 to 11.36 of the report.

6. That the assumption in the business plan for New homes to be aligned to the Housing Development Strategy be noted.

7. That the current financial viability assessment for new build from paragraph 11.16 to 11.22 of the report be noted.

8. That it be noted that quantified revenue savings of £0.892m, and capital savings of £0.25m outlined in Appendix 2 of the report, have been identified to assist with bridging the forecast gap in annual HRA budgets.

9. That the proposed assumptions and timescale for asset disposals outlined in paragraphs 11.62 to 11.64 of the report be noted.

10.  That it be noted that based on the September 2025 CPI figure of 3.8% that the average formula rent increase for 2025-26 for all affordable and social housing will be 4.8%.

11.  That it be noted that the government is consulting on rent convergence criteria which indicates preference to increase rents above CPI+1% for social rent tenants below formula rent levels, with announcement expected as part of the wider Budget on 26 November 2025.

12.  That the principle of full cost recovery in tenant service charges (other than sewage treatment works) in 2026/27 be approved.

13.  That it be noted that following implementation of options, the draft HRA Business 30-year Plan is viable and sustainable and has the capacity to support the council’s ambitious delivery of 1,000 new affordable homes by the end of 2031/32

1.    That the Housing Development Strategy 2025-2032 be adopted.

2.    That the Service Lead – New Homes be authorised to make non-material amendments to the Housing Development Strategy 2025-2032 from time to time, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Good Homes.

That the reasons for the project overspend are noted, along with the points that Cabinet was asked to consider by the Scrutiny Committee, and that procurement and management of future projects seeks to learn from this pilot scheme.

1.      That following pre-market engagement, the procurement of a new Grounds Maintenance and Street Cleansing contract be approved for an initial term of up to 8 years, with an extension option of up to a further 8 years and within existing budgets.

2.      That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director with responsibility for grounds maintenance and street cleansing, in consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Member and the Section 151 Officer, to conduct a competitive and compliant procurement and award the contract within the existing budget, with flexibility to adjust the contract term within a range of 3 to 16 years total duration as informed by pre-market engagement and value for money assessment.

3.      That the financial implications, risk management measures and timetable be noted as set out in report CAB3528.

That the progress achieved during Q2 of 2025/26 be noted and the contents of report CAB3525 be endorsed.

To consider whether in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

(i)            To pass a resolution that the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business because it is likely that, if members of the public were present, there would be disclosure to them of ‘exempt information’ as defined by Section 100 (I) and Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.