Issue - meetings

To review and recommend the draft 2025-26 Budget for the Committee to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee.

The Committee considered a report on the Community Wellbeing and Housing Committee’s detailed budget for 2025/26. The purpose of the report was to give the Committee an opportunity to comment and shape the Budget before it was further finalised by Corporate Policy and Resources Committee and approved by Council in February. The Deputy Chief Executive provided a summary of the budget and highlighted the main adjustments reflected in the budget codes across the Committee’s remit. This included increased national insurance contributions and the impact of the 2-year pay settlement on salary payments, with a total budget increase of £231k for the committee. 

The Committee observed that Appendix one on the detailed budget breakdown was difficult to understand and felt more clarity was needed around certain figure increases. The Deputy Chief Executive confirmed the intention of the appendix was to provide full transparency, however it was agreed to circulate a summarised version of the budget to assist members’ understanding.

During the discussion, members questioned the inclusion of the Benwell Centre, to which the Deputy Chief Executive explained was for transitional cost purposes with plans for deletion in the final budget. Other Councillors raised concerns about the clarity of documents, particularly regarding the tracking of salary budgets and income from the community centres which was explained by the Strategic Lead, Independent Living. One member inquired about the significant increase in Afghan relocation scheme temporary staff salaries, and officers confirmed to liaise with colleagues to provide a written response on this. Following on from this, the Homes4Ukraine payments were explained as a government-funded scheme supporting households who hosted Ukrainian families.

Committee resolved to agree the Community Wellbeing draft detailed budget for 2025/26 and made a recommendation to Corporate Policy and Resources Committee to approve the proposed budget.