The Group Finance Director submitted a report to request that Cabinet approve the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for 2026/27 together with the Prudential Indicators for 2026/27 to 2029/30 for recommendation to full Council for its approval. 

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.    Recommend that Council approves:

a.    The Treasury Management Strategy 2026/27 as set out in paragraphs 11 to 56 of this report and the Prudential Indicators for 2026/27 – 2029/30 as set out in Appendix 2;

b.    The Borrowing Strategy 2026/27 at paragraphs 32 to 33 of this report;

c.     The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement at Appendix 3 which sets out the Council’s policy on charging borrowing to the revenue account;

d.    The Investment Strategy for 2026/27 and the investment criteria as set out in paragraphs 37 to 55 of this report and in Appendix 1;

e.    The Treasury Management Scheme of Delegation at Appendix 4

Cabinet resolved to:

1.       Recommend that Council approves:

a.       The Treasury Management Strategy 2026/27 as set out in paragraphs 11 to 56 of this report and the Prudential Indicators for 2026/27 – 2029/30 as set out in Appendix 2;

b.       The Borrowing Strategy 2026/27 at paragraphs 32 to 33 of this report;

c.       The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement at Appendix 3 which sets out the Council’s policy on charging borrowing to the revenue account;

d.       The Investment Strategy for 2026/27 and the investment criteria as set out in paragraphs 37 to 55 of this report and in Appendix 1;

e.       The Treasury Management Scheme of Delegation at Appendix 4

The Group Finance Director submitted a report to request that Cabinet approve the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for 2026/27 together with the Prudential Indicators for 2026/27 to 2029/30 for recommendation to full Council for its approval. 

Councillor Turner presented the report. He said that the report was largely unchanged from the previous version of the report. He said that the report sets out the Council’s approach to investment and risks. He noted the other policies, including the ethical investment policy, which formed part of the report.

Bill Lewis, Financial Accounting Manager, said that the report ties into the budget and sets out what officers can do in terms of borrowing and investments. He said that they tend to do a lot of internal borrowing, so that they can avoid more expensive external borrowing.

Councillor Munkonge said that he was happy with what they had achieved on treasury management. He discussed the transparent investment policy and how this showed a responsible approach to treasury management. He said that he hoped a similar approach would be taken by the future authority which would result from Local Government Reorganisation.

Councillor Turner discussed how they had progressed to their current position and the positive impacts that their approach had for the city’s residents.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.       Recommend that Council approves:

a.       The Treasury Management Strategy 2026/27 as set out in paragraphs 11 to 56 of this report and the Prudential Indicators for 2026/27 – 2029/30 as set out in Appendix 2;

b.       The Borrowing Strategy 2026/27 at paragraphs 32 to 33 of this report;

c.       The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement at Appendix 3 which sets out the Council’s policy on charging borrowing to the revenue account;

d.       The Investment Strategy for 2026/27 and the investment criteria as set out in paragraphs 37 to 55 of this report and in Appendix 1;

e.       The Treasury Management Scheme of Delegation at Appendix 4