Agenda and decisions

To confirm and sign the minutes of 26 January 2026.

To consider and recommend to Council the approval of the Final Business Plan 2026-27.

AGREED to recommend to Council the approval of the Business Plan 2026/27.

To consider and approve the revised General Fund Budget and Capital Programme for 2025/26. To consider and recommend to Council:

·       the General Fund Budget Estimates 2026/27 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2026/27 to 2030/31

·       the Council Tax levels for 2026/27

·       the Capital Programme 2026/27-2028/29 and

·       the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Capital Strategy and Annual Treasury Investment Strategy for 2026/27.

AGREED that:

(i)            The revised estimates for 2025/26 as set out in Section 6 and Appendix A showing an estimated surplus of £107k which will be transferred to the Budget Equalisation Reserve be approved,

and to recommend to Council that:

(ii)          the General Fund revenue budget for 2026/27 as set out in Section 7 and Appendix A be approved,

(iii)         the Medium-Term Financial Strategy as outlined in the report and Appendix B be adopted,

(iv)         the Capital Programme and funding statement as set out in Appendix D be approved,

(v)          the adoption of the additional Business Rates Relief measures as detailed in Section 5 using Discretionary Relief Powers be approved

(vi)         the expenses detailed in Section 10 be approved to be treated as general expenses for 2026/27,

(vii)        the Port Health levy for 2026/27 be set as shown in Section 11

(viii)       the current working age Council Tax Support Scheme be adopted with effect from 1 April 2026 as set out in Section 13, with appropriate changes to the prescribed pensioner scheme as determined by regulations,

(ix)         the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement (including amending the MRP calculation to be based on the ‘Annuity method’ from 2025/26 onwards), Treasury Investment Strategy, Prudential and Treasury Indicators for 2026/27 and Capital Strategy 2026/27 as set out in Section 14 and Appendix E be approved,

(x)          the Band D Council Tax level for Fenland District Council services for 2026/27 be set at £253.35, a reduction on the current year.

To recommend to Council the approval and adoption of the updated Waste Strategy for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Waste Partnership.

AGREED to recommend to Council:

·         that the revised Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Joint Waste Strategy be approved, subject to any final drafting amendments to be made by the Director responsible for Environmental Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Recycling & Refuse Collection.

·         that the updated Fenland Recycling Plan be approved,

and to note that that the development and approval of a shared waste strategy for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough fulfils a Business Plan objective for 2025/26.

To present Interim Planning Guidance Notes to assist the Council in managing development effectively while the new Local Plan is being prepared.

AGREED to:

·         Revoke the 2015 Developer Contributions Supplementary Planning Document, the 2014 Resource Use and Renewable Energy SPD, the 2004 Nene Waterfront Development Brief and the 2015 Interim Guidance on Policy LP4 Part B

·         Approve the publication of an Interim Planning Guidance Note on Planning Obligations

·         Approve the publication of an Interim Planning Guidance Note on Best and Most Versatile Agricultural Land.

·         Approve the publication of an Interim Planning Guidance Note on Houses in Multiple Occupation, and to

·         Delegate authority to the Head of Planning, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holders, to make minor updates to the Interim Planning Guidance Notes as required, ensuring they remain up to date and fit for purpose.

This report relates to the Fenland Transport Economic Assessment project including Wisbech to March Rail.  

AGREED to:

·         Subject to the final confirmation from CPCA, confirm the acceptance of £500,000 between 2026 and 2028 from CPCA for FDC to deliver the Fenland Transport Economic Assessment Project.

·         Confirm the establishment of the Project Board to oversee the business case project, confirm the board’s remit, including its terms of reference and membership.

·         Note the procurement exercise to select a contractor to deliver the Fenland Transport Economic Assessment project and give approval for delegated authority to the Portfolio Holder for Transport and the S151 Officer to award the contract.

·         Subject to the final confirmation from CPCA, third party funding has been approved for this work. A Grant Funding Agreement between CPCA and FDC is required. Delegate approval to the Portfolio Holder for Finance and S151 Officer to sign the agreement on behalf of FDC and complete all other documentation necessary to bring this arrangement into effect.

To report on progress regarding the Fenland Inspire! project in respect of play area equipment.

AGREED:

·         To note that the deadline for committing the Pride in Place Impact Fund that is funding open space and play area improvements should be committed by no later than 31 March 2027

·         To note that work to replace Westmead play area is underway and is outside of the Pride in Place Impact Fund play area budget

·         That the Portfolio Holder for Finance Inspire! – Play Equipment immediately contacts all FDC members to request ideas of specific locations where the funding should be spent. There are significant constraints set by Government on how this grant money may be spent, FDC members suggesting that money in their area should be spent on schemes other than play areas should carefully check that any such alternative spending falls within the Government’s criteria. Schemes generally must also be deliverable relatively quickly to satisfy the Government's timing criteria for spend to be completed.

·         That, in the interest of fairness across the district, an indicative split of spend shall be that £250,000 shall be spent in each of the four towns, whilst £500,000 shall be spent in the parished areas outside the boundaries of the four Fenland towns. It is appreciated that this precise split will not be able to be achieved because of the discreet individual cost of each selected scheme, but this split is an initial guide to assist in creating a fair allocation across the district.

·         That proposals will be submitted to Cabinet in March 2026 for approval to progress.

To update Cabinet regarding progress of the Manor Leisure Centre redevelopment project. 

AGREED:

·         to note the report and progress of the project

·         to note the redevelopment project scheme details and the expectation of a firm cost for the redevelopment project to be presented to Cabinet for a construct or do not construct decision in June 2026, for a start on site in late July/early August.

·         to note the significant financial pressures that the Council faces and pays close attention to Section 3 and the financial assessment section of this report in Section 12.

·         to note The Council is working with Sport England to secure supportive funding that will offset design improvements required by Sports England that have enhanced initial designs.

·         that Cabinet authorises, in advance of Cabinet’s June 2026 decision regarding the construction project, the Monitoring Officer to prepare all requisite legal documentation required to ensure that the Council will have received the necessary legal advice, completed all necessary procurement documentation and prepared all necessary legal documentation and will be in a position to move forwards into contract for the main Development Management Agreement of the leisure centre project in a prompt and efficient manner, following Cabinet’s decision in June, if that decision is to proceed with the redevelopment.

For information purposes.

To confirm and sign the confidential minutes of 26 January 2026.