Agenda and decisions

To consider the Minutes of the previous meeting.

That the Minutes of the meeting held on the 4 November, 2025 be agreed as

a correct record.

That the contents of the update report be noted.

(i)              That the first draft savings proposals as set out in Appendix A and

Appendix B to the report be noted.

(ii)             That the revised Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) funding gap

(Appendix C) be noted.

(iii)           That the commencement date of the Budget Consultation period as mid-

November to mid-December 2025 be noted.

(iv)           That the first draft savings proposals be referred to to the Finance,

Assets and Performance Scrutiny Committee for their views (Appendix A and Appendix B).

(v)             That the refreshed Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) (Appendix

D) be referred to the Finance, Assets and Performance Scrutiny

Committee for their views.

(vi)           That the Mid-Year Capital Estimates for 2025/26 be approved.

(vii)          That the proposed setting of Council Tax at 1.99 per cent for 2026/2027

be noted.

(i)              That the Draft Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2026-2030 for an

eight-week public consultation be approved.

(ii)             That the Service Director- Regulatory Services in consultation with the

Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing be authorised to agree the final version for publication following the public consultation stage.

(i)              That the progress made with the schemes in Newcastle as part of the

Newcastle Town Deal be noted.

(ii)             That the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio

Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, and Portfolio Holder for One Council, People and Partnerships, progress the necessary legal agreements to enable continued delivery of projects.

That the contents of the attached report and appendices and continue to monitor and challenge the Council’s service and financial performance for this period be noted.

That the Forward Plan be received and noted.

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following reports, because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972.