Agenda

Capital Strategy Report 2026-27

Executive Summary

This report sets out the Council’s Capital Strategy for the year 2026/27. It sets out the Council’s approach to the deployment of capital resources in meeting the Council’s overall aims and objectives while providing the strategic framework for the effective management and monitoring of the capital programme.

Options considered

This report must be prepared to ensure the Council complies with the CIPFA Treasury Management and Prudential Codes.

Consultation(s)

Section 151 Officer

Recommendations

To recommend to Full Council that the Capital Strategy 2026/27 is approved.

Reasons for recommendations

The Council is required to approve a Capital Strategy to demonstrate compliance with the Codes and establishes the strategic framework for the management of the capital programme.

Background papers

CIPFA Prudential Code (Treasury Management in the Public Services: Code of Practice 2021 Edition).

CIPFA Prudential Code (Capital Finance in Local Authorities: Code of Practice 2021 Edition).

Wards affected

All

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr. Lucy Shires

Contact Officer

James Moore/Claire Waplington

Technical Accountant/Chief Technical Accountant

Treasury Management Strategy Report 2026/27

Executive Summary

This report sets out the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy for the year 2026/27. It sets out details of the Council’s Treasury Management activities and presents a strategy for the prudent investment of the Council’s resources. It also sets out the Council’s approach to the deployment of capital resources in meeting the Council’s overall aims and objectives.  

Options considered

No other options considered. It is a requirement that the Treasury Management Strategy report must be approved by full Council each year in advance of the new financial year to ensure the Council is compliant with the CIPFA Treasury Management, CIPFA Prudential Codes and guidance issued by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG).

Consultation(s)

Portfolio Holder

Section 151 Officer

This report has been prepared with the assistance of Link Treasury Services, the Council’s Treasury Management advisors.

Recommendations

To recommend to Full Council that the Treasury Management Strategy 2026/27 is approved.

Reasons for recommendations

Approval by Full Council demonstrates compliance with the Prudential Codes to ensure.

·        A flexible investment strategy enabling the Council to respond to changing market conditions.

·        Ensure compliance with CIPFA and MHCLG guidance.

·        Confirming capital resources available for delivery of the Council’s capital programme.

It is a requirement that any proposed changes to the prudential indicators are approved by Full Council.

Background papers

The Council’s Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26.

CIPFA Prudential Code (Treasury Management in the Public Services: Code of Practice 2021 Edition).

CIPFA Prudential Code (Capital Finance in Local Authorities: Code of Practice 2021 Edition).

Wards affected

All

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr. Lucy Shires

Contact Officer

James Moore/Claire Waplington

Technical Accountant/Chief Technical Accountant

Non-Domestic (Business) Rates Policy 2026-27

Executive Summary

The Non-Domestic (Business) Rates Policy 2026-27 has been revised to reflect the changes to schemes announced by government and includes guidelines as to how the schemes are to be implemented and the financial implications on the authority.

Options considered.

The policy is discretionary, so members can decide not to agree to the recommendations.

Consultation(s)

The Government expects local authorities to use their discretionary relief powers to grant these reliefs.

The Supporting Small Business Relief, Hardship Relief, Film Studios Relief, Flood Relief, Electric Vehicle Charging Points and Electric Vehicle Only Forecourts and Retail Hospitality and Leisure Relief up to 31/03/26. All of these (except the Hardship Policy) will be compensated in full for our loss of rates income. This compensation will be paid by section 31 grant and calculated based on the returns that the council makes under the rates retention scheme.

The Council’s Discretionary Rate Relief Policy has been revised to reflect these changes.

Recommendations

1. It is agreed by Full Council that the Revenues Manager continues to have delegated authority to make decisions up to the NNDC cost value of £4k as indicated in Appendix A.

2. It is agreed by Full Council that the Revenues Manager continues to have delegated authority to make Hardship Relief decisions up to the NNDC cost value of £4k as indicated in Appendix C.

3. It is agreed by Full Council that the Rate Relief Policy is revised as indicated in Appendix A, B and C.

Reasons for recommendations

The new policy will enable the Supporting Small Business Relief, Hardship Relief, Film Studios Relief, Flood Relief, Electric Vehicle Charging Points and Electric Vehicle Only Forecourts and Retail Hospitality and Leisure Relief up to 31/03/26 to be awarded discretionary reliefs.

Background papers

1. In the Budget on 26 November 2025 the Chancellor announced the Government would replace the 40% Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief with lower business rate multipliers, introduce a 2026 Supporting Small Business Scheme plus extend the previous 2023 scheme by one year, introduce Electric Vehicle Charging Points and Electric Vehicle Only Forecourts Relief.

2. In the Budget on 30 October 2024 the Chancellor announced the Government would extend the award of Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Relief but that it will reduce the relief from 75% to 40% for properties up to a cash limit of £110,000 per business for the 2025/26 financial year.

3. In the Budget on 6 March 2024 the Chancellor announced the Government would introduce Film Studios relief of 40% until 2034 for properties from the 2024/25 financial year subject to subsidy control rules.

4. In the Budget on 17 November 2022 the Chancellor announced a new Supporting Small Business (SSB) Relief scheme which will cap bill increases at £600 per year for any businesses that had a Rateable Value (RV) increase from 1 April 2023 caused by the revaluation and consequently lost Small Business Rates Relief or Rural Rate Relief.

5. Under section 49 of the Local Government Act 1988  ...  view the full agenda text for item 10.

Draft Revenue Budget for 2026-27

Executive Summary

This report presents the latest iteration of the budget for 2026/27. It is intended to present the position as we currently know it and it will need to be updated as more information becomes available e.g. the impact of the final Local Government Finance Settlement for 2026/27.

Options considered.

No other options have been considered as it is a legal requirement to calculate “the expenditure which the authority estimates it will incur in the forthcoming year in performing its functions” and then subtract “the sums which it estimates will be payable for the year into its general fund”. This is required to set a balanced budget before 11 March 2026.

Consultation(s)

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee will have the opportunity to review this report at its meeting on 11 February 2026.

Budget consultation is taking place on the Council’s website currently for anyone to share their views. Consultation with Business Rates payers is also being undertaken. The results of both these consultations will be included in the report being presented to Full Council on 18 February 2026.

Recommendations

1. That Cabinet consider the proposed balanced budget including movement in reserves and recommended approval to full Council.

2. To approve the creation of an £0.75m Ear Marked Reserve to mitigate the Revenue costs of Local Government Reorganisation.

3. To approve the use of the Communities reserve to fund a revenue budget of £4,000 per Member to allow the award of small local grants.

4. That an alternative option for balancing the budget should be agreed to replace costs or savings not taken forward if there are any.

5. That Cabinet agree that any additional funding announced as part of the final Local Government Settlement announcement be transferred to reserves.

6. That Cabinet decide which proposed new capital bids should be recommended to full Council for inclusion in the Capital Programme.

Reasons for recommendations

To enable the Council to set a balanced budget.

Background papers

2025/26 Budget report presented to Full Council on 19 February 2025.

Wards affected

All

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Lucy Shires

Contact Officer

Don McCallum

Director of Resources and s151 Officer

Don.McCallum@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Lease renewal: Foreshore at Happisburgh 

Executive Summary

The Council’s existing 21?year peppercorn lease for the foreshore at Happisburgh expired on 9 February 2024.

This lease provides the Council with the necessary rights to undertake coastal protection, drainage and water management works under the Coast Protection Act 1949 and associated legislation. Renewal of the lease is essential to ensure continued access and operational capability in an area of coastline that remains highly vulnerable to erosion and flood risk.

It is proposed that the Council renews the lease on similar peppercorn terms for a further 21?year period commencing 10 February 2024. This renewal will secure the Council’s ability to deliver statutory coastal protection functions, maintain long?term coastal management activities, and support the resilience of the local community and infrastructure.

Approval of the lease renewal represents a low?cost, practical and strategically important step in sustaining the Council’s coastal management responsibilities.

Options considered

An option was considered not to renew the lease, however this was rejected due to benefit the lease provides.

Consultation(s)

Coastal Management

Cllr Luke Patterson

Assistant Director Sustainable Growth

Recommendations

That Cabinet resolves to agree:

·        A lease renewal for 21 years

·        Delegate approval to the Asset Strategy Manager to agree the exact terms of the lease.

Reasons for recommendations

Ensuring the Council can continue to manage and maintain the Happisburgh foreshore

Background papers

N/A

Wards affected

Happisburgh

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Harry Blathwayt

Cllr L Shires

Contact Officer

Renata Garfoot.  Asset Strategy Manager

Renata.Garfoot@North-Norfolk.Gov.UK

Neatishead Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan

Executive Summary

This report seeks approval to adopt the Neatishead and Hall Road, Barton Turf Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan in line with national policy and best practice. Both the Appraisal and Management Plan were authored by The Broads Authority, who subsequently adopted them in May 2025.

Options considered

1. To adopt the document
2. To not adopt the document, not considered to be appropriate considering the extensive public involvement via consultation, and the document having already been adopted by The Broads Authority.

Consultation(s)

The Draft Neatishead Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan was made available for public consultation across a period between 2 September and 14 October 2024. Organisations such as North Norfolk District Council Historic England and Norfolk County Council were consulted, along with residents of the conservation area and the parish councils. A public drop-in session was held at the New Victory Hall in Neatishead on Saturday 14 September and this was well attended.

Recommendations

This report asks that Cabinet:

1.     Notes the content of the Neatishead and Hall Road, Barton Turf Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan, and

2.     Approves the adoption of the Neatishead and Hall Road, Barton Turf Conservation Area Appraisal and Management for statutory planning purposes and for the Appraisal document to become a material consideration in the planning process.

Reasons for recommendations

To enable the appraisal document to provide planning guidance for the District.

Background papers

Neatishead and Hall Road, Barton Turf Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan 2025

Wards affected

All Wards

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Andrew Brown

Contact Officer

Alannah Hogarth, Senior Conservation & Design Officer, Alannah.hogarth@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Delegated Decisions November to December 2025

Executive Summary

This report details the decisions taken under delegated powers from November to December 2025.

Options considered

Not applicable – the recording and reporting of delegated decisions is a statutory requirement.

Consultation(s)

Consultation is not required as this report and accompanying appendix is for information only. No decision is required, and the outcome cannot be changed as it is historic, factual information.

Recommendations

To receive and note the report and the register of decisions taken under delegated powers.

Reasons for recommendations

The Constitution: Chapter 6, Part 2, details the functions which are delegated to officers. In addition, it requires that  any exercise of such powers should be reported to the next meeting of Council, Cabinet or working party (as appropriate).

The law requires the Council to record executive and non-executive decisions taken by officers under delegated powers and to publish them on the Council’s website.

These requirements apply to decisions that would have been taken by Council or the Cabinet if delegated powers had not been given to an officer either -

• under an express delegation granted at a meeting of Cabinet, Council or a Committee.
• Or under a general delegation (where responsibility is delegated in the Constitution)

Background papers

Signed decision forms

Wards affected

All Wards

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr T Adams, Leader

Contact Officer

Emma Denny, Democratic Services Manager

Emma.denny@north-norfolk.gov.uk