Agenda item

Please note revised versions of Report CAB3541 and Appendices A and C from those considered at Cabinet on 12 February 2026.

a)           That Cabinet recommend to Council:

1.    That the level of General Fund Budget for 2026/27 be agreed and the summary be recommended as shown in Appendix A of CAB3541, as amended, due to the late change in the Government's local government financial settlement announced by MHCLG on 10 February 2026.

2. That in relation to the Greener Faster Council Plan priority:

 

a.    a growth of £30,000 be approved to increase the annual Town Account tree maintenance budget as a result of risks associated with the effects of climate change and associated tree disease.

3. That in relation to the Healthy Communities priority of the new Council Plan:

 

a. the revised income bands for the Council Tax Reduction scheme for working age applicants (set out in Appendix E of report CAB3541) be approved, that ensure claimants continue to receive the appropriate level of support after the DWPs increase in Universal Credit rates with effect from 1 April 2026.

 

4. That in relation to the Efficient and Effective priority:

 

a. a growth to the annual expenditure budget of £89,000 be approved for improvements to make the way our residents’ contact us is easier and faster.

 

5. That other service expenditure annual budgets be amended as follows, in response to revised estimates:

 

a. Utility budget increased by £150,000 in order to cover the additional forecast utility costs from 2026/27.

b. An additional budget of £115,000 per annum from 2026/27 for the Corporate Head of Resources.

c. A growth of £130,000 to reflect the net budget pressure of the migration of the Land Charges service to HM Land Registry.

d. A net budget saving of £215,000 per annum to reflect changes to forecast employers’ pension contributions and rates.

 

6. That one-off service expenditure budgets be approved as follows:

 

a. A £470,000 digital transformation budget, relating to the implementation of improvements to make our residents’ digital contact with us easier and faster, with £400,000 funded from the digital transformation reserve and £70,000 funded from the transitional reserve.

b. A Town Account budget of £15,000 for feasibility work related to speed indicators within the town area, funded by the town reserve.

c. £1.7m for essential structural and repair works to the Guildhall to maintain this listed civic building (and required prior to further decision making on the future operating model of the Guildhall and Abbey House) funded from Property - Asset Management Reserve, and delegates authority to:

 

i.  the Strategic Director to appoint, in accordance with the council’s Contract Procedure Rules (CPRs), all necessary consultants to prepare design work for the works required to the Guildhall through a competitive bid process or framework;

ii.  the Strategic Director to undertake a procurement exercise to obtain bids or use of a framework to appoint a contractor(s) for the works required to the Guildhall, in accordance with the council’s CPRs;

iii. the Strategic Director to appoint the relevant contractors and to negotiate and agree contractual heads of terms with the contract appointment; and

iv. the Service Lead: Legal to prepare and enter into all relevant agreements, negotiate the contractual agreements and see them to completion to enable the Guildhall works.

7. That following a review of earmarked reserves they be amended as follows:

 

a. £2m of the Major Investment Reserve be re-allocated to the Property  Reserve to fund maintenance requirements of corporate properties.

b. £1m from the Major Investment Reserve be re-allocated to the Car Parks Property Reserve to fund maintenance of and investment in parking.

c.  An additional £500,000 per annum be set aside into the Property Reserve, for the maintenance of and investment in operational assets.

 

8. That the sum of £1,434,779 be treated as Special Expenses under Section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 in respect of the Winchester Town area as set out in section 17 and Appendix D of the report.

 

9. That the Council Tax for the Special Expenses in the Winchester Town area at Band D for 2026/27 be increased by 5% (£4.50) to £94.58.

 

10. That the surplus balance on the Council Tax Collection Fund for distribution to this Council, calculated in January 2026 of £107,910, be approved.

 

11. That the level of Council Tax at Band D for City Council services for 2026/27 be increased to £168.49, an increase of £4.83 reflecting an average Council tax increase of 2.95% (the maximum allowed under the referendum limit of 2.99% when combined with the increase to the Special Expenses for the town area).

 

12. That the carry forward of the balance of the Council Tax Exceptional Hardship Fund in 2025/26 to 2026/27 be approved in order to extend this vital support for those on low income.

 

 

b)           TO PASS A FORMAL RESOLUTION SETTING THE COUNCIL TAX FOR THE CITY OF WINCHESTER FOR THE YEAR COMMENCING 1 APRIL 2026.  

Councillor Cutler (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Transformation) moved that the recommended minute of Cabinet be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Tod, Leader and Cabinet Member for Regeneration).

 

Council proceeded to ask questions and then debate the matters in the recommended minute and report.

 

AMENDMENT – Moved by Councillor Lee and seconded by Councillor Bailey-Morgan:

 

Add new Recommendation 6 (d). 

 

£130,000 to establish a two-year fixed-term River Catchment Officer post and associated project costs, to provide strategic leadership and coordinate delivery of work to strengthen river protection and recovery across the district, funded from the Transitional Reserve.

 

Councillor Lee introduced the Amendment.  Following continuation of the debate of the original motion (the recommended minute of Cabinet), a second Amendment was then proposed. 

 

AMENDMENT – Moved by Councillor Godfrey and seconded by Councillor Bolton:

 

Add new Recommendation 6 (d). 

 

A £1m business support budget to provide hospitality venues across the Winchester district with a one off 15% Hospitality Relief for 2026/2027 for properties subject to a business rates increase in 2026/2027 and a further  one off 15% Hospitality Relief for hospitality venues not in receipt of Pub Relief for 2026/2027, with the cost, including £15,000 for scheme administration, to be met from the transitional reserve.

 

The Mayor then called for an adjournment to the meeting whilst the first Amendment above was circulated in writing and for the groups to informally discuss.  The second Amendment above had been circulated in advance of the meeting.

 

Upon its reconvening, Council proceeded to firstly debate the matters in the first Amendment above (Moved by Councillor Lee and seconded by Councillor Bailey-Morgan).

 

At conclusion of debate, following the seconder of the Amendment speaking (Councillor Bailey-Morgan - having reserved his right), Councillor Cutler was then invited to exercise his right of reply before Council then voted on the Amendment.

 

In accordance with legislative requirements on recorded votes at Budget meetings, a recorded vote was taken on the Amendment before Council.

 

The following Members voted in favour of the Amendment before Council:

 

1. Councillor Liam Bailey-Morgan
2. Councillor Neil Bolton
3. Councillor Caroline Brook
4. Councillor Susan Cook
5. Councillor Patrick Cunningham
6. Councillor Stephen Godfrey
7. Councillor Caroline Horrill
8. Councillor Paula Langford-Smith
9. Councillor Danny Lee
10. Councillor Malcolm Wallace
11. Councillor Jan Warwick
12. Councillor Suzanne White

 

The following Members voted against of the Amendment:

 

1. Councillor James Batho
2. Councillor Kathleen Becker
3. Councillor Michael Bennett
4. Councillor Adrian Brophy
5. Councillor Chris Chamberlain
6. Councillor Angela Clear
7. Councillor Steve Cramoysan
8. Councillor Neil Cutler
9. Councillor Nathan Eve
10. Councillor Russell Gordon-Smith
11. Councillor Brian Laming
12. Councillor Ritchie Latham
13. Councillor Kelsie Learney
14. Councillor Jonny Morris
15. Councillor Richard Murphy
16. Councillor Jerry Pett
17. Councillor Clare Pinniger
18. Councillor Margot Power
19. Councillor Jane Rutter
20. Councillor Jamie Scott
21. Councillor Anne Small
22. Councillor Lucille Thompson
23. Councillor John Tippet-Cooper
24. Councillor Martin Tod
25. Councillor Chris Westwood
26. Councillor Jonathan Williams

 

The following Members abstained from voting:

 

1. Councillor Sudhakar Achwal

 

The following Members were absent during voting:

 

1. Councillor Jackie Porter

 

AMENDMENT LOST.

 

Following its introduction by the proposer (Councillor Godfrey), Council then proceeded to debate the matters in the second Amendment.

 

At conclusion of debate, following the seconder of the Amendment speaking (Councillor Bolton - having reserved his right), Councillor Cutler was then invited to exercise his right of reply before Council then voted on the Amendment.

 

In accordance with legislative requirements on recorded votes at Budget meetings, a recorded vote was taken on the Amendment before Council.

 

The following Members voted in favour of the Amendment before Council:

 

1. Councillor Neil Bolton
2. Councillor Caroline Brook
3. Councillor Susan Cook
4. Councillor Patrick Cunningham
5. Councillor Stephen Godfrey
6. Councillor Caroline Horrill
7. Councillor Paula Langford-Smith
8. Councillor Jan Warwick

 

The following Members voted against of the Amendment:

 

1. Councillor Liam Bailey-Morgan
2. Councillor James Batho
3. Councillor Kathleen Becker
4. Councillor Michael Bennett
5. Councillor Adrian Brophy
6. Councillor Chris Chamberlain
7. Councillor Angela Clear
8. Councillor Steve Cramoysan
9. Councillor Neil Cutler
10. Councillor Nathan Eve
11. Councillor Russell Gordon-Smith
12. Councillor Brian Laming
13. Councillor Ritchie Latham
14. Councillor Kelsie Learney
15. Councillor Danny Lee
16. Councillor Jonny Morris
17. Councillor Richard Murphy
18. Councillor Jerry Pett
19. Councillor Clare Pinniger
20. Councillor Jackie Porter
21. Councillor Margot Power
22. Councillor Jane Rutter
23. Councillor Jamie Scott
24. Councillor Anne Small
25. Councillor Lucille Thompson
26. Councillor John Tippet-Cooper
27. Councillor Martin Tod
28. Councillor Malcolm Wallace
29. Councillor Chris Westwood
30. Councillor Suzanne White
31. Councillor Jonathan Williams

 

The following Members abstained from voting:

 

1. Councillor Sudhakar Achwal

 

AMENDMENT LOST.

 

Following summing up by Councillor Cutler who was the proposer of the original substantive motion (which was the Recommended Minute of Cabinet), and the seconder (Councillor Tod) then exercising his right to speak, in accordance with legislative requirements on recorded votes at Budget meetings, a recorded vote was first taken regarding Recommendations 1 – 7 of the Recommended Minute of Cabinet.

 

The following Members voted in favour Recommendations 1 – 7 of the Recommended Minute of Cabinet:

 

1. Councillor Liam Bailey-Morgan
2. Councillor James Batho
3. Councillor Kathleen Becker
4. Councillor Michael Bennett
5. Councillor Adrian Brophy
6. Councillor Chris Chamberlain
7. Councillor Angela Clear
8. Councillor Susan Cook
9. Councillor Steve Cramoysan
10. Councillor Neil Cutler
11. Councillor Nathan Eve
12. Councillor Russell Gordon-Smith
13. Councillor Brian Laming
14. Councillor Ritchie Latham
15. Councillor Kelsie Learney
16. Councillor Danny Lee
17. Councillor Jonny Morris
18. Councillor Richard Murphy
19. Councillor Jerry Pett
20. Councillor Clare Pinniger
21. Councillor Jackie Porter
22. Councillor Margot Power
23. Councillor Jane Rutter
24. Councillor Jamie Scott
25. Councillor Anne Small
26. Councillor Lucille Thompson
27. Councillor John Tippet-Cooper
28. Councillor Martin Tod
29. Councillor Malcolm Wallace
30. Councillor Chris Westwood
31. Councillor Suzanne White
32. Councillor Jonathan Williams

 

The following Members voted against Recommendations 1 – 7 of the Recommended Minute of Cabinet:

 

1. Councillor Neil Bolton
2. Councillor Caroline Brook
3. Councillor Patrick Cunningham
4. Councillor Stephen Godfrey
5. Councillor Caroline Horrill
6. Councillor Paula Langford-Smith
7. Councillor Jan Warwick

 

The following Members abstained from voting:

 

1. Councillor Sudhakar Achwal

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the recommended minute of Cabinet held 12 February 2026 (Recommendations 1 – 7, as follows) be approved and adopted:

 

1.       That the level of General Fund Budget for 2026/27 be agreed and the summary be recommended as shown in Appendix A of CAB3541, as amended, due to the late change in the Government's local government financial settlement announced by MHCLG on 10 February 2026.

 

2.       That in relation to the Greener Faster Council Plan priority:

a.       a growth of £30,000 be approved to increase the annual Town Account tree maintenance budget as a result of risks associated with the effects of climate change and associated tree disease.

 

3.       That in relation to the Healthy Communities priority of the new Council Plan:

a.       the revised income bands for the Council Tax Reduction scheme for working age applicants (set out in Appendix E of the report) be approved, that ensure claimants continue to receive the appropriate level of support after the DWPs increase in Universal Credit rates with effect from 1 April 2026.

 

4.       That in relation to the Efficient and Effective priority:

a.       a growth to the annual expenditure budget of £89,000 be approved for improvements to make the way our residents’ contact us is easier and faster.

 

5.       That other service expenditure annual budgets be amended as follows, in response to revised estimates:

a.       Utility budget increased by £150,000 in order to cover the additional forecast utility costs from 2026/27.

b.       An additional budget of £115,000 per annum from 2026/27 for the Corporate Head of Resources.

c.       A growth of £130,000 to reflect the net budget pressure of the migration of the Land Charges service to HM Land Registry.

d.       A net budget saving of £215,000 per annum to reflect changes to forecast employers’ pension contributions and rates.

 

6.       That one-off service expenditure budgets be approved as follows:

a.       A £470,000 digital transformation budget, relating to the implementation of improvements to make our residents’ digital contact with us easier and faster, with £400,000 funded from the digital transformation reserve and £70,000 funded from the transitional reserve.

b.       A Town Account budget of £15,000 for feasibility work related to speed indicators within the town area, funded by the town reserve.

c.       £1.7m for essential structural and repair works to the Guildhall to maintain this listed civic building (and required prior to further decision making on the future operating model of the Guildhall and Abbey House) funded from Property - Asset Management Reserve, and delegates authority to:

                                           i.           the Strategic Director to appoint, in accordance with the council’s Contract Procedure Rules (CPRs), all necessary consultants to prepare design work for the works required to the Guildhall through a competitive bid process or framework;  

                                          ii.           the Strategic Director to undertake a procurement exercise to obtain bids or use of a framework to appoint a contractor(s) for the works required to the Guildhall, in accordance with the council’s CPRs;

                                         iii.           the Strategic Director to appoint the relevant contractors and to negotiate and agree contractual heads of terms with the contract appointment; and

                                        iv.           the Service Lead: Legal to prepare and enter into all relevant agreements, negotiate the contractual agreements and see them to completion to enable the Guildhall works.

 

7.       That following a review of earmarked reserves they be amended as follows:

a.       £2m of the Major Investment Reserve be re-allocated to the Property Reserve to fund maintenance requirements of corporate properties.

b.       £1m from the Major Investment Reserve be re-allocated to the Car Parks Property Reserve to fund maintenance of and investment in parking. 

                         c.   An additional £500,000 per annum be set aside into the Property Reserve, for the maintenance of and investment in operational assets.

 

In accordance with legislative requirements on recorded votes at Budget meetings, a recorded vote was then taken regarding Recommendations 8– 12 of the Recommended Minute of Cabinet.

 

The following Members voted in favour Recommendations 8 – 12 of the Recommended Minute of Cabinet:

 

1. Councillor Liam Bailey-Morgan
2. Councillor James Batho
3. Councillor Kathleen Becker
4. Councillor Michael Bennett
5. Councillor Neil Bolton
6. Councillor Adrian Brophy
7. Councillor Chris Chamberlain
8. Councillor Angela Clear
9. Councillor Susan Cook
10. Councillor Steve Cramoysan
11. Councillor Patrick Cunningham
12. Councillor Neil Cutler
13. Councillor Nathan Eve
14. Councillor Stephen Godfrey
15. Councillor Russell Gordon-Smith
16. Councillor Caroline Horrill
17. Councillor Brian Laming
18. Councillor Paula Langford-Smith
19. Councillor Ritchie Latham
20. Councillor Kelsie Learney
21. Councillor Danny Lee
22. Councillor Jonny Morris
23. Councillor Richard Murphy
24. Councillor Jerry Pett
25. Councillor Clare Pinniger
26. Councillor Jackie Porter
27. Councillor Margot Power
28. Councillor Jane Rutter
29. Councillor Jamie Scott
30. Councillor Anne Small
31. Councillor Lucille Thompson
32. Councillor John Tippet-Cooper
33. Councillor Martin Tod
34. Councillor Malcolm Wallace
35. Councillor Jan Warwick
36. Councillor Chris Westwood
37. Councillor Suzanne White
38. Councillor Jonathan Williams

 

No Members voted against Recommendations 8 – 12 of the Recommended Minute of Cabinet.

 

The following Members abstained from voting:

 

1. Councillor Sudhakar Achwal
2. Councillor Caroline Brook

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the recommended minute of Cabinet held 12 February 2026 (Recommendations 8 – 12, as follows) be approved and adopted:

 

8.       That the sum of £1,434,779 be treated as Special Expenses under Section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 in respect of the Winchester Town area as set out in section 17 and Appendix D of the report.

 

9.       That the Council Tax for the Special Expenses in the Winchester Town area at Band D for 2026/27 be increased by 5% (£4.50) to £94.58.

 

10.   That the surplus balance on the Council Tax Collection Fund for distribution to this Council, calculated in January 2026 of £107,910, be approved.

 

11.   That the level of Council Tax at Band D for City Council services for 2026/27 be increased to £168.49, an increase of £4.83 reflecting an average Council tax increase of 2.95% (the maximum allowed under the referendum limit of 2.99% when combined with the increase to the Special Expenses for the town area).

 

12.   That the carry forward of the balance of the Council Tax Exceptional Hardship Fund in 2025/26 to 2026/27 be approved in order to extend this vital support for those on low income.

 

 

 

Council Tax for the City of Winchester for the year commencing 1 April 2026.

 

In accordance with legislative requirements on recorded votes at Budget Meetings, a recorded vote was then taken regarding the Council Tax Resolutions (1 – 7), as set out on pages 93 – 99 of the agenda pack.

 

The following Members voted in favour of the Council Tax Resolutions (1 – 7):

 

1. Councillor Liam Bailey-Morgan
2. Councillor James Batho
3. Councillor Kathleen Becker
4. Councillor Michael Bennett
5. Councillor Neil Bolton
6. Councillor Caroline Brook
7. Councillor Adrian Brophy
8. Councillor Chris Chamberlain
9. Councillor Angela Clear
10. Councillor Susan Cook
11. Councillor Steve Cramoysan
12. Councillor Patrick Cunningham
13. Councillor Neil Cutler
14. Councillor Nathan Eve
15. Councillor Stephen Godfrey
16. Councillor Russell Gordon-Smith
17. Councillor Caroline Horrill
18. Councillor Brian Laming
19. Councillor Paula Langford-Smith
20. Councillor Ritchie Latham
21. Councillor Kelsie Learney
22. Councillor Danny Lee
23. Councillor Jonny Morris
24. Councillor Richard Murphy
25. Councillor Jerry Pett
26. Councillor Clare Pinniger
27. Councillor Jackie Porter
28. Councillor Margot Power
29. Councillor Jane Rutter
30. Councillor Jamie Scott
31. Councillor Anne Small
32. Councillor Lucille Thompson
33. Councillor John Tippet-Cooper
34. Councillor Martin Tod
35. Councillor Malcolm Wallace
36. Councillor Jan Warwick
37. Councillor Chris Westwood
38. Councillor Suzanne White
39. Councillor Jonathan Williams

 

 

The following Members abstained from voting:

 

1.                     Councillor Sudhakar Achwal

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Council Tax for the City of Winchester for the year commencing 1 April 2026 (as follows) be approved and adopted:

 

1.       That any expenses incurred by the Council in performing in a part of its area a function performed elsewhere in its area by a Parish Council/Town Council/Parish Meeting shall not be treated as special expenses for the purposes of Section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, except in the case of the following special items relating to the non-parished area the aggregate amount of which is £1,434,779 and which is shown within the total of special items at paragraph 4(e) below:-

 

a)    Magdalen Hill and West Hill Cemeteries;

b)    Allotments;

c)    Town centre Christmas lighting;

d)    Footway lighting;

e)    Grants and Vision Delivery (“parish” element);

f)     Recreation Grounds & Open Spaces (except Abbey Gardens, Riverside Walks, the Weirs and St Giles Hill);

g)    Neighbourhood Services;

h)    Public Conveniences

i)      Maintenance work to Council Owned Bridges

j)      Night Bus Contribution

k)    Neighbourhood Plans

l)      Community Infrastructure

m)  administration of the Town Forum

2.       That it be noted that the Head of Revenues, in consultation with the Corporate Head of Finance calculated the Council Tax Base for 2026/27 at

(a)    56,017.20

being the amount calculated by the Council for the whole Council area, in accordance with Section 31B(1) (Item T) of the Local Government Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”), as its Council Tax base for the year.

(b) for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish/Town precept relates as in the attached Annex 1 at page 97 of the report pack.

 

3.   Calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2026/27 (excluding Parish Precepts) is £10,873,117.

 

4.    That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2026/27 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

(a)    £142,222,053

being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils.

(b)    £126,181,417

being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

(c)    £16,040,636

being the amount by which the aggregate at 4(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 4(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax requirement for the year. (Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act).

(d)    £286.35

being the amount at 4(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (2(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish Precepts).

(e)    £6,602,298

being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act (as per the attached Annex 2 at page 99 of the report pack)

(f)     £168.49

being the amount at 4(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 4(e) above by Item T (2(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates.

 

5.   That it be noted for the year 2026/27, Hampshire County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner - Hampshire have stated, and the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority has recommended the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Precepting                                    Precept

Authority                                       Amount

 

Hampshire County         

Council (HCC)                              £94,675,230

 

Police and Crime Commissioner 

– Hampshire (PCCH)                    £16,270,756

 

Hampshire Fire and                       £5,200,637

Rescue Authority (HFRA)

 

       Valuation               HCC             PCCH            HFRA

         Bands

 

A	1,126.74	193.64	61.89
B	1,314.53	225.91	72.21
C	1,502.32	258.19	82.52
D	1,690.11	290.46	92.84
E	2,065.69	355.01	113.47
F	2,441.27	419.55	134.10
G	2,816.85	484.10	154.73
H	3,380.22	580.92	185.68

 

6.   That the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in columns 2-9 of Annex 2 as the amounts of Council Tax for 2026/27 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings shown.

 

7.   That the Council determines that the Council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2026/27 is not excessive in accordance with principles approved under Section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.