Appendix 3 to this item includes exempt information pursuant to Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972. If the Scrutiny Committee wishes to discuss matters relating to the information set out in Appendix 3 to the report, it will be necessary for the Scrutiny Committee to pass a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting.

The Scrutiny and Governance Advisor has submitted a report on behalf of the Chair of the Budget Review Group, following the Scrutiny Committee’s agreement to establish a Budget Review Group at it’s meeting on 10 June 2025 and approval of the Terms of Reference and Scope at it’s meeting on 9 September 2025.

The Committee is recommended to:

1.     Endorse the report and recommendations from the Budget Review Group.

2.     Delegate authority to the Scrutiny and Governance Advisor, in consultation with the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, to make minor amendments to the report.

The Scrutiny and Governance Advisor had submitted a report on behalf of the Chair of the Budget Review Group, following the Scrutiny Committee’s agreement to establish a Budget Review Group at?its meeting on 10 June 2025 and approval of the Terms of Reference and Scope at?its?meeting on 9 September 2025. 

The Chair reminded the Committee to indicate if they wished to discuss the confidential appendix to the report for this item; they did not.  

The Scrutiny and Governance Advisor summarised the report, noting that the Budget Review Group had met through December and January to examine the Council’s proposed budget and medium-term financial plan. The Committee were informed that nine recommendations were produced, as detailed in the report.   

Councillor Jarvis expressed his thanks to members of other working groups which had participated in the discussions and noted that the group had fewer recommendations than previous years, partially due to the nature of the financial plan and expected changes with Local Government Reorganisation. Councillor Jarvis also thanked Councillor Fry as the Chair of the budget review group, and the Group Finance Director.  

The Chair noted that the Committee’s earlier recommendation relating to noticeboards would be formally appended to this report.  

Councillor Miles noted her thanks and support for the recommendations but suggested that all those who had contributed the budget review group discussion be referenced within the report in the future. Councillor Jarvis supported this and requested that the report be amended to reflect this acknowledgement. There being no dissent, the Committee supported this amendment. 

Councillor Taylor expressed his discontent with recommendation 4.   

The Chair explained that detailed reasoning for the recommendation could not be provided during this meeting as relevant officers were not present to respond.  

Councillor Jarvis, as a member of the budget review group, noted that recommendation 4 had been discussed repeatedly in earlier years, and noted that it broadly held cross-party support. Councillor Jarvis recommended that the Committee endorse all the recommendations within the report. 

The Committee resolved to: 

1. Endorse?the report and recommendations from the Budget Review Group, subject to the amendments set out above. 

2. Delegate authority?to the Scrutiny and Governance Advisor, in consultation with the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, to make minor amendments to the report.