6.                 THE COUNCIL'S REVENUE ESTIMATES FOR 2024-25

 

Resolved –

  

(1)        REVENUE ESTIMATES2024-25

 

(a)       That the Base Revenue Forecast of £575.265m for 2024-25 be approved as set out in Appendix A to Document “AL”.

 

(b)       That the existing pressures of £48.7m in 2024-25 as set out in Appendix B to Document “AL”be approved.

 

(c)       That the investment of £42.1m in 2024-25 into the Bradford Children & Families Trust be approved.

 

(d)       That the prior agreed savings in Appendix C to Document “AL” be noted.

 

(e)       That new savings of £15.810m in 2024-25 as set out in Appendix D to Document “AL” be approved.

 

(f)         That the Capital Financing and Central budget adjustments of £4.430m in 2024-25 as set out in Appendix E to Document “AL” be approved.

 

(g)       That time-limited Transformation costs and additional contingencies of £50m 2024-25 as set out in Appendix F to Document “AL” be approved.

 

(h)       That the comments of the Director of Finance set out in the Section 151 Officer’s Assessment of the proposed budgets on the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of reserves taking account of the recommendations made at 1.1(a) to (g) above be noted

 

(i)         That the consultation response outlined in Appendix G to Document “AL” be noted.

 

 

(2)        PROPOSED COUNCIL TAX2024/25

 

(a)        That it be noted that the projected council tax base and expenditure forecasts outlined in this report together with the 2024-25 resources and the budget variations approvedin 10.1 producea proposedBand Dcouncil taxof £1,701.86 for 2024-25. This is a £80.88 (4.99%) increase from 2023-24.

 

 

(3)        PAYMENT DATES FOR COUNCIL TAX AND NATIONALNON-DOMESTIC RATES

 

(a)        That the first instalment date for payment of National Non-Domestic Rates and Council Tax shall be specified by the s151Officer.

 

 

(4)        DELEGATION TOOFFICERS

 

(a)        That for the avoidance of doubt and without prejudice to any of the powers contained in Article 14 of Part 2 of the Council's Constitution on the Function of Officers, the s151 Officer shall have full delegated powers to act on behalf of the Council on all matters relating to the Council Tax, Non-Domestic Rates and Accounts Receivable Debtors including (without prejudice to the generality of the delegation) entry into any business rate pools, pilots, assessments, determinations, recovery, enforcement and, in accordance with the statutory scheme, full delegated powers to act on behalf of the Council with regard to all aspects of the granting of Discretionary and Hardship Rate Relief to qualifyingratepayers.

 

(5)           HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT         

 

(a)           Approve the HRA budget as set out in section 5.

 

 

(6)        PREPARATION OFACCOUNTS

 

(a)       That in preparing the Final Accounts for 2023-24, the s151 Officer be empowered to take appropriate steps to secure the best advantage for the Council's financialposition.

 

(b)       That the s151 Officer be empowered to deal with items which involve the transfer of net spending between the financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25 in a manner which secures the best advantage for the Council's financial position.

 

(c)       That the s151 Officer report any action taken in pursuance of 10.5(a) and 10.5 (b) above when reporting on the Final Accounts for 2024-25.

 

(7)         COUNCIL TAX REQUIREMENT2024-25

 

(a)       That the council tax base figures for 2024-25 calculated by the Council at its meeting on 9th January 2024 in respect of the whole of the Council’s area and individual parish and town council areas benoted.

 

(b)       That the only special items for 2024-25 under Section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 are local parish and town council precepts and no expenses are to be treated as special expenses under Section 35(1) (b) of that Act.

 

(c)       That the Council Tax Requirement, excluding parish and town council precepts, be calculated asfollows:

 

Gross expenditure	£1,454,259,600
Income	£1,204,095,315
Council Tax requirement (inc Parish precept)	£250,164,285
Council tax base	144,890
Basic amount of council tax	£1,726.58
Adjustment in respect of parish and town council precepts	£  24.72
Basic amount excluding parish and town councils	£1,701.86

 

 

(d)                That the precepts of parish and town councils are noted and the resulting basic council tax amounts for particular areas of the Council be calculated as follows:

 

Parish or Town Council Area	Local Precept	Council Tax Base	Parish/Town Council Tax	Whole Area Council Tax	Basic Council Tax Amount
	£		£	£	£
Addingham	109,000	1,771	61.55	1,701.86	1,763.41
Baildon	316,908	6,305	50.26	1,701.86	1,752.12
Bingley	238,290	8,587	27.75	1,701.86	1,729.61
Burley	278,944	3,034	91.94	1,701.86	1,793.80
Clayton	71,944	2,513	28.63	1,701.86	1,730.49
Cross Roads	46,340	1,016	45.61	1,701.86	1,747.47
Cullingworth	49,730	1,326	37.50	1,701.86	1,739.36
Denholme	60,550	1,212	49.96	1,701.86	1,751.82
Harden	54,795	844	64.92	1,701.86	1,766.78
Haworth and Stanbury	64,107	1,377	46.56	1,701.86	1,748.42
Ilkley	399,414	7,246	55.12	1,701.86	1,756.98
Keighley	1,136,626	15,243	74.57	1,701.86	1,776.43
Menston	131,152	2,342	56.00	1,701.86	1,757.86
Oxenhope	55,360	1,050	52.72	1,701.86	1,754.58
Sandy Lane	15,588	867	17.98	1,701.86	1,719.84
Shipley	189,135	4,702	40.22	1,701.86	1,742.08
Silsden	123,500	3,237	38.15	1,701.86	1,740.01
Steeton with Eastburn	91,261	1,786	51.10	1,701.86	1,752.96
Wilsden	112,500	1,772	63.49	1,701.86	1,765.35
Wrose	36,250	2,198	16.49	1,701.86	1,718.35
Total of all local precepts	3,581,394	68,428

 

(e)             That the council tax amounts for dwellings in different valuation bands in respect of the Council’s budget requirement, taking into account parish and town council precepts applicable to only part of the Council’s area, be calculated as follows:

 

	Council Tax Amount for Each Valuation Band
	Band A	Band B	Band C	Band D	Band E	Band F	Band G	Band H
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
All parts of the Council’s area other than those below	1,134.57	1,323.67	1,512.76	1,701.86	2,080.05	2,458.24	2,836.43	3,403.72
The parish and town council areas of:
Addingham	1,175.61	1,371.54	1,567.48	1,763.41	2,155.28	2,547.15	2,939.02	3,526.82
Baildon	1,168.08	1,362.76	1,557.44	1,752.12	2,141.48	2,530.84	2,920.20	3,504.24
Bingley	1,153.07	1,345.25	1,537.43	1,729.61	2,113.97	2,498.33	2,882.68	3,459.22
Burley	1,195.87	1,395.18	1,594.49	1,793.80	2,192.42	2,591.04	2,989.67	3,587.60
Clayton	1,153.66	1,345.94	1,538.21	1,730.49	2,115.04	2,499.60	2,884.15	3,460.98
Crossroads	1,164.98	1,359.14	1,553.31	1,747.47	2,135.80	2,524.12	2,912.45	3,494.94
Cullingworth	1,159.57	1,352.84	1,546.10	1,739.36	2,125.88	2,512.41	2,898.93	3,478.72
Denholme	1,167.88	1,362.53	1,557.17	1,751.82	2,141.11	2,530.41	2,919.70	3,503.64
Harden	1,177.85	1,374.16	1,570.47	1,766.78	2,159.40	2,552.02	2,944.63	3,533.56
Haworth and Stanbury	1,165.61	1,359.88	1,554.15	1,748.42	2,136.96	2,525.50	2,914.03	3,496.84
Ilkley	1,171.32	1,366.54	1,561.76	1,756.98	2,147.42	2,537.86	2,928.30	3,513.96
Keighley	1,184.29	1,381.67	1,579.05	1,776.43	2,171.19	2,565.95	2,960.72	3,552.86
Menston	1,171.91	1,367.22	1,562.54	1,757.86	2,148.50	2,539.13	2,929.77	3,515.72
Oxenhope	1,169.72	1,364.67	1,559.63	1,754.58	2,144.49	2,534.39	2,924.30	3,509.16
Sandy Lane	1,146.56	1,337.65	1,528.75	1,719.84	2,102.03	2,484.21	2,866.40	3,439.68
Shipley	1,161.39	1,354.95	1,548.52	1,742.08	2,129.21	2,516.34	2,903.47	3,484.16
Silsden	1,160.01	1,353.34	1,546.68	1,740.01	2,126.68	2,513.35	2,900.02	3,480.02
Steeton with Eastburn	1,168.64	1,363.41	1,558.19	1,752.96	2,142.51	2,532.05	2,921.60	3,505.92
Wilsden	1,176.90	1,373.05	1,569.20	1,765.35	2,157.65	2,549.95	2,942.25	3,530.70
Wrose	1,145.57	1,336.49	1,527.42	1,718.35	2,100.21	2,482.06	2,863.92	3,436.70

 

(f)            That it be noted that for the year 2024-25 the Police and Crime Commissioner and West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority (WYFRA) have notified their precepts to be:

Precept	Council Tax Amount for Each Valuation Band
Amount	Band A	Band B	Band C	Band D	Band E	Band F	Band G	Band H
£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority
11,517,306	52.99	61.83	70.66	79.49	97.15	114.82	132.48	158.98
Police and Crime Commissioner for West Yorkshire
36,118,179	166.19	193.88	221.58	249.28	304.68	360.07	415.47	498.56

 

(g)         That having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at (e) and (f) above, the Council set the following amounts of council tax for 2024-25 in each of the categories of dwellings shown below:

 

	Band A	Band B	Band C	Band D	Band E	Band F	Band G	Band H
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
All parts of the Council’s area other than those below	1,353.75	1,579.38	1,805.00	2,030.63	2,481.88	2,933.13	3,384.38	4,061.26
The parish and town council areas of:
Addingham	1,394.79	1,627.25	1,859.72	2,092.18	2,557.11	3,022.04	3,486.97	4,184.36
Baildon	1,387.26	1,618.47	1,849.68	2,080.89	2,543.31	3,005.73	3,468.15	4,161.78
Bingley	1,372.25	1,600.96	1,829.67	2,058.38	2,515.80	2,973.22	3,430.63	4,116.76
Burley	1,415.05	1,650.89	1,886.73	2,122.57	2,594.25	3,065.93	3,537.62	4,245.14
Clayton	1,372.84	1,601.65	1,830.45	2,059.26	2,516.87	2,974.49	3,432.10	4,118.52
Crossroads	1,384.16	1,614.85	1,845.55	2,076.24	2,537.63	2,999.01	3,460.40	4,152.48
Cullingworth	1,378.75	1,608.55	1,838.34	2,068.13	2,527.71	2,987.30	3,446.88	4,136.26
Denholme	1,387.06	1,618.24	1,849.41	2,080.59	2,542.94	3,005.30	3,467.65	4,161.18
Harden	1,397.03	1,629.87	1,862.71	2,095.55	2,561.23	3,026.91	3,492.58	4,191.10
Haworth and Stanbury	1,384.79	1,615.59	1,846.39	2,077.19	2,538.79	3,000.39	3,461.98	4,154.38
Ilkley	1,390.50	1,622.25	1,854.00	2,085.75	2,549.25	3,012.75	3,476.25	4,171.50
Keighley	1,403.47	1,637.38	1,871.29	2,105.20	2,573.02	3,040.84	3,508.67	4,210.40
Menston	1,391.09	1,622.93	1,854.78	2,086.63	2,550.33	3,014.02	3,477.72	4,173.26
Oxenhope	1,388.90	1,620.38	1,851.87	2,083.35	2,546.32	3,009.28	3,472.25	4,166.70
Sandy Lane	1,365.74	1,593.36	1,820.99	2,048.61	2,503.86	2,959.10	3,414.35	4,097.22
Shipley	1,380.57	1,610.66	1,840.76	2,070.85	2,531.04	2,991.23	3,451.42	4,141.70
Silsden	1,379.19	1,609.05	1,838.92	2,068.78	2,528.51	2,988.24	3,447.97	4,137.56
Steeton with Eastburn	1,387.82	1,619.12	1,850.43	2,081.73	2,544.34	3,006.94	3,469.55	4,163.46
Wilsden	1,396.08	1,628.76	1,861.44	2,094.12	2,559.48	3,024.84	3,490.20	4,188.24
Wrose	1,364.75	1,592.20	1,819.66	2,047.12	2,502.04	2,956.95	3,411.87	4,094.24

 

(h)  That Council notes the movement in Band D equivalent charges for 2024-25 over 2023-24 as set out in the table below.

	Council Tax 2024-25	Council Tax 2023-24	Percentage change 2023-24 on 2024-25
	Band D Equivalent	Band D Equivalent
Bradford Metropolitan District Council	1,701.86	1,620.98	4.99%
West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority *	79.49	77.18	2.99%
West Yorkshire Police Authority *	249.28	236.28	5.50%
Local (Parish Council) Precepts:
Addingham	61.55	56.26	9.4%
Baildon	50.26	48.83	2.9%
Bingley	27.75	27.74	0.0%
Burley	91.94	88.00	4.5%
Clayton	28.63	27.32	4.8%
Crossroads	45.61	New	100.0%
Cullingworth	37.50	34.39	9.0%
Denholme	49.96	45.00	11.0%
Harden	64.92	58.00	11.9%
Haworth etc	46.56	44.52	4.6%
Ilkley	55.12	54.33	1.5%
Keighley	74.57	52.50	42.0%
Menston	56.00	54.00	3.7%
Oxenhope	52.72	40.00	31.8%
Sandy Lane	17.98	18.40	-2.3%
Shipley	40.22	35.00	14.9%
Silsden	38.15	28.70	32.9%
Steeton/ Eastburn	51.10	48.46	5.4%
Wilsden	63.49	54.01	17.6%
Wrose	16.49	15.50	6.4%

 

To be actioned by: Director of Finance

 

 

7.                 ALLOCATION OF THE SCHOOLS' BUDGET 2024-25

 

Resolved –

 

(1)           That the proposals for the allocation of the 2024/25 Dedicated Schools Grant, as set out in Document “AM” be approved and accepted.

 

(2)           That the total amount of £759.852m to be appropriated in respect of all schools covered by the Bradford Scheme for the Local Management of Schools, so as to establish the Individual Schools Budget for 2024/25 be approved.

 

(3)           That the forecasted High needs Block financial position as set out in the report be noted and that Council raise with central Government the need for additional future funding for this area.

 

To be actioned by: Director of Finance

 

 

8.                 THE CAPITAL INVESTMENT PLAN 2024-25 ONWARDS

 

Resolved –

  

(1)           That the contents of Document “AN” and the information contained within be noted whilst considering the recommendations to make to Council on the CIP for 2024-25.

 

(2)           That the updated Capital Plan for 2024-28, be approved; (Appendix A). Commitments against reserve schemes and contingencies can only be made after a business case has been assessed by Project Appraisal Group and approved by Executive.

 

(3)           That it be agreed that the Council undertakes a review of the capital programme.

 

(4)           The 2024-25 MRP Policy set out in Appendix 2 to Document “AN” be approved.

 

(5)           That the Capital Strategy (including Prudential Indicators), set out at Appendix 3 to Document “AN”, be approved.

 

(6)           That the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts policy (section 8) be approved. That authority be delegated to the Section 151 officer to have the option to adjust this strategy and fund transformation projects from capital receipts to ensure that the Council achieves the most advantageous financial position that derives from proposals that are not yet agreed by Government.

 

To be actioned by: Director of Finance

 

 

9.                 2024-25 BUDGET PROPOSALS AND FORECAST RESERVES- S151 OFFICER ASSESSMENT

 

Resolved –

  

(1)           That Members have regard to Document “AP” in setting the budget, and in particular note the conclusions that provided that :

 

·       the current and planned actions are successfully concluded ie that the emerging financial strategy is agreed and implemented in full;

 

·       the Government supports the Council with a “minded to” Capitalisation Direction and will agree to do so in future years;

 

·       the recommendations in Document “AP” are agreed and actioned in full;

 

·       then, in light of a positive response from Government, the overall estimates are sufficiently robust for the Council to set a balanced budget for 2024/25.

 

(2)           That Members agree:

 

·       that the level of general reserves is inadequate at £33m and that reserves need to replenished

 

·       that there is accordingly no planned use of reserves to support the 2024/25 budget;

 

·       to required implementation in full of the emerging financial strategy ie that the Council:

 

·       identifies an estimated £40m of revenue savings for 2025/26;

·       identifies assets to be sold to generate capital receipts;

·       undertakes a review of the capital programme;

·       considers increasing income;

·       operates expenditure control panels as set out in the report from 1 April 2024;

·       undertakes a full review of financial management and finances of the Council;

·       invests in core functions necessary and subject to business cases;

 

·       any non delivery of planned 2024/25 revenue savings will need to be absorbed within existing cash limited Departmental budgets.

(3)           That Members note:

 

·       the assessment of the current financial position of the Council;

 

·       that this assessment is the result of emerging and recent work.  The situation will change and the estimated financial position and solutions will require continual development and refinement and will likewise vary as the year progresses;

 

·       the s151 officer is not minded to issue a s114 notice at this point working on the basis that the above assumptions will be supported and seen through on time and in full;

 

·       given the extremely challenging financial situation the Council finds itself in, which it has in recent months started to address, if the recommendations are not agreed, or if the assumptions are not delivered as assumed then very serious consideration will be given to the issuing of a s114 notice

 

·       that the 2024/25 savings are being reviewed for deliverability;

 

·       as with all budgets there is the potential for amendments to be proposed/agreed which could change the overall package of proposals. In that respect, it should be highlighted that this statement would have to be amended if a decision was proposed that leads to the Council’s reserves reducing below their recommended General Fund balance level. In addition, any other amendments would be considered against the scale of the overall budget and depending upon the extent and nature, may result in a revised statement.

 

To be actioned by: Director of Finance