Decision details

It was resolved –

·      To utilise the additional funding resulting from Welsh Government’s final settlement to amend the initial draft budget proposal as follows –

-       Not to implement the proposal to begin making a service charge for industrial and business units in 2025/26

-       Not to implement the proposal to reduce the combined number of days that the Council’s recycling centres are open in 2025/26

-       To reduce the increase in Council Tax by 1% to 8.5% (7.85% for Council Services and 0.65% for the Fire Levy)

-       To allocate £217k to meet future costs of replacing IT equipment schools

·      To note the Section 151 Officer’s recommendation that the Council should maintain a minimum of £9.75m general balances.

·      To note the comments made by the Section 151 Officer on the robustness of the estimates made as set out in Section 5 of Appendix 1 of the report.

·      To recommend a final net budget for the County Council of £195.443m and resulting increase in the level of Council Tax of 8.5% (7.85% for Council Services and 0.65% for the Fire Levy) noting that a formal resolution, including the North Wales Police and Town/Community Council precepts will be presented to the Council on 6 March 2025.

·      To authorise the Section 151 Officer to make such changes as may be necessary before the submission of the final proposals to the Council.

·      To agree that any unforeseen pressures on demand led budgets during the financial year will be able to draw upon funding from the general contingencies budget.

·      To request the Council to authorise the Executive to release up to £250k from general balances if the general contingencies budget is fully committed during the year.

·      To delegate to the Section 151 Officer the power to release funding from the general contingency up to £50k for any single item. Any item in excess of £50k not to be approved without the prior consent of the Executive.

·      To confirm that the level of Council Tax Premium for second homes and empty homes is maintained at 100%.