On behalf of the Chair, there will be an announcement about the arrangements in case of fire or other events that might require the meeting room or building’s evacuation.

On behalf of the Chair, there was an announcement about the arrangements in case of fire or other events that might require the meeting room or building’s evacuation.

If any receive;-

All cabinet members in attendance.

Members are invited to disclose any interests in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting. Members may still disclose an interest in an item at any time prior to the consideration of the matter.

There were no disclosures of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 28^th January 2026 and to authorise the Chair to sign them.

The minutes of the meetings held on 28^th January 2026, were agreed as a correct record and the Chair signed them.

Report title: Comments of Overview and Scrutiny Board on the Council's Budget 2026/27

Presented by: Councillor Laurance Garrard, Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Board

At its meeting on 4th February 2026, the Overview and Scrutiny Board scrutinised the Council’s proposed Budget for 2026/27.

As the Board made recommendations and comments for Cabinet to consider and respond to, under the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, a report must be submitted to Cabinet. These recommendations and comments are shown above and Cabinet is required to give a response to each of these as well as indicate whether it wishes to change or continue with the proposed Budget.

1.         That Officers explore aligning the Improvement and Transformation Plan with the Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)

Response: The plan was already aligned with the budget in the background. Following Overview & Scrutiny comments, the alignment has now been made explicit in the latest Cabinet report.

2.         That Officers undertake alternative modelling on the impact of reducing street trading licence fees.

            Response: Officers need further time for modelling.

A formal written response will be returned to Overview & Scrutiny Board once work is completed

3.         That Officers review the wording within the Discretionary Fees and Charges section to ensure it reflects a compassionate approach to sensitive issues

            Response: Wording has already been amended to reflect a compassionate approach, noting, the fee is not payable by bereaved residents. The council will claim costs from the Children’s Fund for burials.

4.         That the Board be provided with information on the cost implications of extending 30 minutes free parking across all areas of Havering

            Response: A pilot in Hornchurch was implemented just before Christmas. Only two months of data currently available; more months are required. Work is ongoing with finance officers to produce reliable modelling and assumptions.

5.         That Officers confirm to the Board the value of the shortfall created by the National Insurance increase

            Response: Officers responded during the meeting. A written follow?up will also be provided to the Overview &Scrutiny Board

6.         That Officers explore a pilot scheme delivering a single, coordinated bulky waste collection within a defined geographical area given sufficient bulky waste demand exists

            Response: Officers have taken this issue away for further investigation on feasibility and implementation.

7.         That Officers consider the feasibility and potential benefits of introducing individually licensed fly tipping collectors

            Response: This issue is still under consideration; work is ongoing

8.         That Officers explore opportunities to enhance communications with residents regarding Green Flag status and achievements within local parks.

            Response: Officers noted that this recommendation doesn’t have clear budget implications. Communications is already strong regarding Green Flag park status (e.g., photo shoots and publicity).

Additional interpretation: The Overview & Scrutiny Board may have intended a perception survey linked to the Parks Strategy and anti?social behaviour work.

Overall Conclusion

None of the recommendations listed require budget changes.

Officers have either completed actions, are in progress, or will provide follow?up information in  ...  view the full decision text for item 8.

Report attached.

Exempt Appendix A to this Report is not available for public inspection as it contains or relates to exempt information within the meaning of Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

This report is in the exempt part of the agenda because it refers to information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report title: 2026/27 Council Budget Report and 2026-2030 Medium Term Financial Strategy

Presented by: Councillor Chris Wilkins, Cabinet Member for Finance

Summary:

Cabinet:

1.         Noted the requirements of Section 106 of the LGA 1992 Act as set out in Section 1 of this report

2.         Noted the Medium-Term Financial Position and the Budget setting process of the Council as set out in Section 3 of this report

3.         Noted the key assumptions and risks to the 2026/27 budget as set out in Appendix A of this report

4.         Noted that the medium term financial strategy presented in this report still leaves a financial gap of £82.3m in 2028/29 even after the full impact of the fair funding review grant increases and a 4.99% Council tax increase for the next three years have been applied

5.         Noted the latest revenue monitoring position as set out in section 3 of this report;

6.         Noted the savings proposals as set out in Section 4.10 and Appendix C of this report, approved by Cabinet in November 2025. These savings reduces the Council’s budget gap by £23m from 2026/27 to 2028/29.

7.         Agreed the proposed Fees and Charges schedule as set out in paragraph 4.11 and Appendix D and for officers to proceed with implementation of the proposed fees and charges, subject to consultation where required.

8.         Agreed the proposed 2.99% increase in core Council Tax for 2026/27 and the proposed additional 2% Council tax increase for the Adult Social Care Precept as set out in paragraph 4.12, in line with the Referendum Limit approved by Government also referred to in paragraph 4.12,;

9.         Agreed the proposed Council Band D basic amount of Council Tax for 2026/27 of £1,914.15 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its council tax excluding the GLA precept for the year (as set out in section 4.13 of this report

10.       Agreed the proposed Council Tax requirement for 2026/27 to be set at £174.421m as set out Appendix E of the report, which is an increase from £164.361m in 2025/26.

11.       Agreed the budgets proposed in this report and as set out in Appendix F

12.       Noted the Schools budget and DSG as set out in Appendix G of this report

13.       Noted the S25 Statement of Robustness as set out in Appendix H of this report and the Council’s financial position of requiring Exceptional Financial Support in 2027/28 and 2028/29 on the current forecasts set out in the Medium-Term Financial Plan.

14.       Agreed the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2026/27 as set out in Appendix I to this report (unchanged from 2025/26).

15.       Agreed Council Tax discounts for early payment to be given at a rate of 1.5% as set out in Appendix J of this report.

16.       Agreed to direct officers to disregard War Pension income in the assessment of Housing Benefit as detailed in see Section 11 and Appendix J and authorises  ...  view the full decision text for item 5.

Report attached.

Report title: Treasury Management Strategy Statement and annual investment strategy 2026/27

Presented by: Councillor Chris Wilkins, Cabinet Member for Finance

Summary:

Cabinet:

1.         Agreed to recommend to Council for consideration and approval the 2026/27 Treasury Management Strategy Statement & Annual Investment Strategy

2.         Agreed to recommend to Council for consideration and approval the revised prudential and treasury indicators set out in Appendix 2 and 3

3.         Agreed to recommend to Council for consideration and approval the operational and authorised borrowing limits set out in tables 5 & 6 of appendix 2 noting the rise in limits to £1,568.2m and £1,638.2m respectively in 2028/29. The increase is as a result of increased borrowing required to finance the planned capital expenidture and EFS.

4.         Noted the impact the capitalisation direction has on the prudential and treasury indicators, increasing the Capital Financing Requirement to £1,498.2m by the 31st March 2029 (set out in table 4 of Appendix 2). This in turn leads to capital financing costs charged to revenue as a result of the EFS increasing from £0.8m per year in 2024/25 to £27.3m in 2028/29.

5.         Noted the non-compliance to the Prudential code in relation to affordability and sustainability (section 3.3.4) as a direct result of the Exceptional Financial Support required and the compounding of the interest and repayment costs required.

Report title: Five Year Capital Programme and Strategy Report 2026/27 - 2030/31

Presented by: Councillor Chris Wilkins, Cabinet Member for Finance

Summary:

Cabinet:

1.         Agreed to recommend to Council for consideration and approval the 2026/27 Capital programme of £391m and £1,050m over the full five-year period from 2026/27 to 2030/31.

2.         Agreed to recommend to Council for consideration and approval the new capital projects being added to the capital programme for 2026/27 as set out in section 2.3 of this report.

3.         Noted any additional capital needs over and above what is specified in the capital programme for the relevant year will require separate business cases and be agreed by the Strategic Director of Resources (S151 Officer), Capital Strategy manager and Council Members as required and appropriate before being agreed by full Council.

4.         Approved that the Strategic Director of Resources (S151 Officer) be authorised to allocate funding from the Capital Contingency included within the draft Capital Programme.

5.         Noted that externally funded schemes can be added to the capital programme up to £500k as and when funding is confirmed.

6.         Approved the capital strategy contained within this report noting its impact on both the capital programme and the financial implications for setting the revenue budget for 2026/27 to 2030/31.

7.         Approved the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement (section 9 of this report) which determines the amount of money set aside each year for the repayment of debt

8.         Agreed that the Strategic Director of Resources be authorised to re-profile capital budgets mid-year based on the updated forecasts provided by services and reported to the Executive Leadership Team as part of the capital monitoring process. This will assist in producing more accurate information for treasury management purposes.