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Full Council minutes

Committee minutes · Full Council · Wed 11 Feb 2026 · Hastings Borough Council

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It approved funding for a full-time Play Development Officer and a full-time Social Inclusion/Anti-Poverty Officer, with the grade and salary for each still to be agreed. p7p8

The report states that a balanced budget for 2026/27 and 2027/28 is expected, with a small surplus of £440,000 in 2026/27 and £1.5 million in 2027/28. p8

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  • p7Approve £2,365,000 revenue and capital over 2027/27-2027/28 for improvements to changing rooms, MUGA, playgrounds and local sports assets. k. Approve £90,000 revenue over 2026/27-2027/28 to fund the employment of a full-time, play development officer for Hastings, (grade and salary to be agreed). l. Approve £109,554 revenue over 2026/27-2027/28 to fund the employment of a full-time social inclusion/anti-poverty officer (grade and salary to be agreed). m. Approve £565,000 revenue and capital over 2026/27-2027/28 to support Hastings Town of Culture bid. n. Approve £225,000 revenue and capital over 2026/27-2027/28 for the fitting out of Ashdown Community Centre. (ii) Approve a 2.99% increase in the Borough Council's part of the Council Tax (Appendix C – to be provided/updated for full Council). (iii) Approve the detailed recommendations in Appendix C, which relate to the setting of Council Tax in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Act 1992 (Appendix C – to be provided/updated for full Council). (iv) Approve the Capital Programme 2026/27 to 2028/29 (Appendix E). (v) Approve the proposed use of Reserves (Appendix J) and that the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, be authorised to transfer funds between earmarked reserves as deemed appropriate throughout the length of the medium-term financial planning period. (vi) Approve that the budget be amended as necessary to reflect the final grant figures including Disabled Facility Grants - once received. (vii) Approve the existing Council Tax Support Scheme, adopting the existing scheme allowing for any future minor wording amendments to reflect legislative changes and prescribed requirements under the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (Prescribed Requirements) (England)(Amendment) Regulations 2023. With Delegated Authority be given to the Chief Finance Officer in line with prior years practice, to make changes to the approved scheme during 2026/27.
  • p8(viii) Approve the additional growth Items detailed in Appendix K. (ix) Approval is given to delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance to formulate and implement in full, Government grant, discount or relief schemes so long as they are as a minimum, revenue cost neutral to the Council. (x) Approve the updated Reserves Policy for 2026/27. (xi) Approve funding for the employment of a full time Play Development Officer, grade and salary to be agreed. (xii) Approve funding for the employment of a full time Social Inclusion/Anit-Poverty Officer, grade and salary to be agreed. Reasons: 1. The Council has a statutory responsibility to set a balanced Budget and Council Tax in advance of the start of the new financial year. 2. The report identifies that a balanced budget in 2026/27 and in 2027/28 will be achieved with a small surplus expected of £440k in 2026/27 and £1.5m in 2027/28. 3. The level of grant funding, Council Tax increases and income from fees and charges is insufficient to meet the annual increases in costs e.g. inflation, pay increases, demand pressures, in particular the costs of meeting our statutory homelessness costs. However, changes in the Government funding formula has seen a positive impact on the financial position for the Council. 4. The Council is only able to increase Council Tax by a maximum of 2.99% without a referendum. 5. The Council remains exposed to a much greater degree of volatility in terms of its income from Non-Domestic Rates and expenditure in terms of Council Tax Support claims – the cost falling directly on the Council and the preceptors. 6. The Council needs to manage its Capital Financing requirements carefully to avoid unnecessary and costly interest charges. Therefore, it has reviewed and reprofiled the Capital Programme accordingly, and the council will need to continue to maximise any potential Capital receipts. (The Chair declared the meeting closed at 7.25pm)

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