Decisions

The Committee resolved to:

Agree that it had considered the Statutory Section 25 and Section 26 Report of the Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) in Appendix J in determining:

A)   The proposed budget for 2026/27,

B)   The medium-term financial plans for 2026/27 to 2028/29 and

C)   The robustness of estimates and reserves projections; and

noted the level of earmarked reserves as at 31 March 2026 was £32.2m and available earmarked reserves forecast to be available were £27.1m as set out in Appendix F,

2. make a recommendation to Council to approve the following:

1. the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2026/27 including:

i)             The General Fund Budget Requirement of £19.318m for 2026/27,

ii)            Growth and pressures of £1.252m for 2026/27

iii)           Proposed savings of £5.752m for 2026/27

2. An increase in the Council’s element of the Council Tax for a band D property by £6.64 per annum for 2026/27 (2.90%), giving a band D Council Tax of £235.50 per year, excluding the precepts from Surrey County Council and the Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner.

3. Note the following Council Tax increases and precepts as detailed in Appendix I:

a)    Surrey County Council had increased Council Tax for a Band D property to £1,938.42 per annum, a 4.99% increase on 2025/26, resulting in a precept of £80,014,295.

b)    The Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey had increased Council Tax for a Band D property to £352.57 per annum, a £15 or 4.4% increase on 2025/26, resulting in a precept of £14,553.420.

c)    This resulted in an overall Band D Council Tax of £2,526.49 for Spelthorne residents, an increase of £113.71 (4.5%) per annum.

d)    The Spelthorne Borough Council element of the Council Tax was 9.3% of the total bill for Spelthorne residents

4.    The calculations for determining the Council Tax requirement for the year 2026/27 in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as set out in the Council Tax Resolution in Appendix I,

5.    The Fees and Charges for 2026/27 as set out in Appendix H; and

6.    The continuation of the complete disregard of war pension/armed forces pension income from benefit calculations as set out in paragraph 2.22 of this report

The Committee resolved to approve the revised Draft Improvement and Recovery Plan subject to it being amended to reflect the areas that the Committee asked to be addressed.

Proposed by Councillor Bateson

Seconded by Councillor Gibson

The Committee resolved to exclude the public and press for the discussion of the remaining items, in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

This item was considered at the carry-over meeting held Monday 23 February

The Committee resolved to note the contents of the Forward Plan.

There were none.

Councillors Attewell, Mooney and Sexton advised that they were also Surrey County Councillors.

Councillor Nichols advised that he was on the Board of Directors for Knowle Green Estates.

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 January 2026 were agreed as a correct record.

Apologies were received from Councillor Boughtflower. Councillor Howkins was present as Councillor Boughtflower’s substitute.

The Committee resolved to make a recommendation to Council to approve a pay award for 2026/27 and a backdated pay award for 2025/26 as follows:

1.    2026/27 – a consolidated pay award of 4% on all spinal points and personal salaries (across the board increase); and

2.    2025/26 – a consolidated backdated pay award of 0.2% in recognition of the difference between the National Pay Award and Spelthorne Council’s pay award of the previous two year period. Payment to be backdated to 01 April 2025.

The Committee resolved to approve the quarter 3 2025/226 Capital Programme Budget Monitoring Report for 2026/27 for the Council, showing a £0.238m overspend to be covered by earmarked reserves.

The Committee resolved  to acknowledge the forecast Revenue Outturn that reflected the latest forecast of budget holders.

The Committee resolved to agree that they had been informed and assured with regard to the Corporate Key Performance Indicators data for Quarter 2 2025/26.

This item was considered at the carry-over meeting held Monday 23 February

The Committee resolved to make a recommendation to Council to approve the Treasury Management Strategy for 2026/27 including:

1.    The Annual Investment Strategy for 2026/27,

2.    The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2026/27; and

3.    The Prudential Indicators for 2026/27.

The Committee resolved to make a recommendation to Council to consider and approve the proposed Capital Strategy and Capital Programme for 2026/27 to 2029 as set out in the report.

The Committee resolved to make a recommendation to Council to approve the Pay Policy Statement.