Agenda and decisions

To receive any apologies for absence.

At this point in the meeting, Members and co-opted members are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary interest, or other registerable interest, they might have in respect of business on this agenda, if they have not already done so in advance on the Register of Interests. The disclosure must include the nature of the interest.

An interest must also be disclosed in the meeting when it becomes apparent to the member during the meeting.

(1)     Members must consider their interests, and act according to the following:

(2)     Disclosable pecuniary interests relate to the Member concerned or their spouse/partner.

(3)     Members in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on, or which might affect, budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applies to them. A failure to comply with these requirements is a criminal offence under section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

To approve and sign the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 2 December 2025.          

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so. Members of the public may speak on agenda items or on matters within the remit of the Executive.

Please note that our registration deadlines are set as two working days before the meeting, in order to facilitate the management of public participation at our meetings. The deadline for registering at this meeting is 5.00pm on Friday, 23 January 2026.       

To register to speak please visit www.york.gov.uk/AttendCouncilMeetings to fill in an online registration form.  If you have any questions about the registration form or the meeting, please contact Democratic Services. Contact details can be found at the foot of this agenda.

Webcasting of Public Meetings

Please note that, subject to available resources, this meeting will be webcast including any registered public speakers who have given their permission. The meeting can be viewed live and on demand at www.york.gov.uk/webcasts

To receive details of those items that are listed on the Forward Plan for the next two Executive meetings.

To receive a report from the Director of Finance which seeks Executive approval to implement the Procurement Strategy to allow the council’s procurement priorities to continue to be provided and improved on.

Resolved – That Executive approves the proposed Procurement Strategy, and for this to be implemented and acted upon.

Reason: To reflect the additional transparency and compliance requirements in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023.

To receive a report from the Director of Finance setting out the projected financial position and the latest performance information for the period covering 1 April 2025 to 31 December 2025.

Resolved – That Executive

a)   Notes the finance and performance information.

b)   Notes and supports the need to undertake mitigation action identified within the report.

Reason: To ensure expenditure is kept within the approved budget.

In relation to acceptance of the funding from the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, Executive:

i)              Accepts funding from the Authority, delegating authority to the Chief Strategy Officer to progress the below, in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing, Planning and Safer Communities or the Executive Member for Climate Change and the Environment:

a) £421k for the Carbon Negative Challenge Fund

b) £154.5k for the Mayors Renewal Fund (in addition to the £216k funds agreed at Monitor 2)

ii)             Delegates the Director of City Development in consultation with the Director of Finance, to negotiate and agree the final year 2 Trailblazers Financial receipt, Grant Funding Terms and delivery programme.

In relation to acceptance of other external funding Executive accepts the following funding, delegating authority to the Chief Strategy Officer in consultation with the Executive Member of Climate and the Environment:

a) Accepts £149k from Innovate UK to extend the Retrofit One-Stop-Shop for York (ROSSY)

b) Accepts £100k from the Heat Network Delivery Unit at the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero to undertake techno-economic feasibility for a York Heat Network.

Reason: To secure funding to progress programmes of work related to each funding stream to enable activity that will support a more prosperous, affordable, accessible and equal city.

To receive a report from the Director of Finance setting out the projected outturn position for 2025/26 including any under/overspends and adjustments, along with requests to re-profile budgets to/from current and future years.

Resolved – That Executive

a)   Recommends to Full Council the adjustments resulting in a decrease in the 2025/26 budget of £23.432m as detailed in the report.

b)   Approves the allocation of £40k from contingency to fund a Changing Places Toilet at SEND Central Family Hubs.

c)    Approves the purchase of £162k property to support the Rough Sleeping Programme funded from grant.

d)   Notes the 2025/26 revised budget of £139.034m as set out in paragraph 10 and Table 1 of the report.

e)   Notes the restated capital programme for 2025/26 – 2029/30 as set out in Annex 1 of the report.

Reason: To enable the effective management and monitoring of the Council’s capital programme.

To receive a report from the Director of Finance providing an update on treasury management activity together with the latest update of prudential indicators which are included at Annex A to the report.

Resolved – That Executive notes

a)   The 2025/26 Treasury Management activity for the period ending 30 November 2025.

b)   The Prudential Indicators outlined in Annex A of the report (updated where applicable) and notes the compliance with all indicators.

Reason: To ensure the continued effective operation and performance of the Council’s Treasury Management function and ensure that all Council treasury activity is prudent, affordable and sustainable and complies with policies set.

To receive a report from the Director of Finance which presents the financial strategy 2026/27 to 2030/31, including detailed revenue budget proposals for 2026/27, and asks Members to recommend to Council approval of the proposals. 

Resolved – That Executive recommends to Council approval of the budget proposals as outlined in this report. In particular:

a)   The net revenue expenditure requirement of £187.009m.

b)   A council tax requirement of £127.181m.

c)    The revenue growth proposals as outlined in paragraphs 75 to 77 of the report.

d)   The 2026/27 revenue savings proposals as outlined in annex 2 of the report.

e)   The fees and charges proposals as outlined in annex 3 of the report.

f)     The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 2026/27 budget set out in annex 5 of the report.

g)   The Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) proposals outlined from paragraph 168 of the report.

h)   The Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Policy set out in annex 7 of the report, including delegation to the Director of Finance to determine the costs that can be charged to the transformation programme.

Reason: To ensure a legally balanced budget is set.

In addition, that Executive

i)     Approves the average rent increase of 4.8% to be applied to all rents for 2026/27.

Reason: To ensure the ongoing financial stability of the HRA and allow work on improving the quality of the council’s affordable housing to continue.

To receive a report from the Director of Finance setting out the capital programme for 2026/27 to 2029/30, and in particular, proposals to continue the Council’s approach to prioritise investment in the economy, housing, transport and to invest to save, including energy efficiency.

Resolved – That Executive recommends that Council:

a)   Agrees to the revised capital programme of £382.998m that reflects a net overall increase of £42.180m (as set out in table 2 and in Annex 1 of the report. Key elements of this include:

-       New schemes funded by prudential borrowing totalling £0.785m as set out in table 3 of the report;

-       Extension of prudential borrowing funded Rolling Programme schemes totalling £1.125m as set out in table 4 of the report;

-       Extension of externally funded Rolling Programme schemes totalling £37.950m as set out in table 7 of the report;

-       An increase in HRA funded schemes totalling £2.320m funded from a combination HRA balances/capital receipts as set out in table 8 of the report;

b)   Notes the total increase in Council borrowing as a result of new schemes being recommended for approval is £0.179m the details of which are considered within this report and the financial strategy report.

c)    Approves the full restated programme as summarised in Annex 2 totalling £382.998m covering financial years 2026/27 to 2029/30 as set out in table 13 and Annex 2 of the report.

d)   Recommends that officers undertake a review of the capital programme with a view to seek to reduce the fund future years within the current agreed funding levels.

Reason: To ensure a legal budget is set and that the capital programme is fully funded.

To receive a report from the Director of Finance providing a high level overview of how capital expenditure and capital financing contribute to the provision of services, along with an overview of how associated risk is managed.

Resolved – That Executive recommends to Full Council approval of the capital and investment strategy at annex A of the report.

Reason: To meet our statutory obligation to comply with the Prudential Code 2017.

To receive a report from the Director of Finance which seeks the recommendation of Executive to Full Council for the approval of the Treasury Management Strategy and Prudential Indicators for the 2026/27 financial year.

Resolved – That Executive recommends that Council, in accordance with the Local Government Act 2003 (revised), approves:

a)   The proposed Treasury Management Strategy for 2026/27, including the Annual Investment Strategy and the Minimum Revenue Provision policy statement.

b)   The prudential indicators for 2026/27to 2029/30 in the main body of the report.

c)    The specified and non-specified investments schedule (Annex B of the report).

d)   The scheme of delegation and the role of the Section 151 officer (Annex D of the report).

Reason: To ensure the continued effective operation and performance of the Council’s Treasury Management function and ensure that all Council treasury activity is prudent, affordable and sustainable and complies with policies set.

Any other business which the Chair considers urgent under the Local Government Act 1972.