Council to consider 2026/27 budget this week

West Berkshire Council is set to agree its budget for 2026/27 later this week with spending plans proposed which will see the Council focus on delivering services residents continue to be proud of.

The budget has recently been through the Resources and Place Scrutiny Committee where it was reviewed by members prior to going on to Executive. It's set to be considered and voted on by all 43 councillors when full Council meets on Thursday evening (26 February). 

From April the Council will be spending £210.9m delivering the services that residents rely on every day. In addition to this, another £46 million will be spent on infrastructure, such as buildings and roads, and major equipment - areas that will provide benefits to the community for many years.

Among the key areas of spend next year are:

• £84m on adult social care and £50m on children's services - protecting vulnerable adults and children and boosting services already recognised as Good by the Care Quality Commission and OFSTED respectively
• £13m to be spent on our roads - something which is important to residents, and further strengthens an area in which West Berkshire is one of only four councils in the south-east to be assessed as 'green' by the Government for its road maintenance. This includes a £1.6m investment by the Council on top of the national funding provided for road maintenance
• £20m on bin collections, recycling, and waste management - building on a strong track record with residents' recycling habits putting the Council in the top 25% nationally
• Delivering a £9m school improvement programme to build on already strong performance with 95% schools rated 'Good' or 'Outstanding'

Specific projects set to be delivered next year include:

• A brand-new play park at Shaw House for families to enjoy, and newly dressed rooms that show how the House was lived in during bygone eras. This will be delivered for residents using money received through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund
• The creation of more emergency accommodation by repurposing a former care home in Hungerford
• Introducing more EV charging points across the district
• A new 3G pitch for the Faraday Road ground in Newbury
• Introducing three new pop-up libraries - bringing the total to six across the district. These are thanks to funding from the local town and parish councils
• Improvements to our schools with projects at Falkland Primary School and Brookfields Schools

At the same time, the Council will continue to look for ways to support those who need it most. Recent initiatives include an exception to paying Council Tax to give young people leaving care the best start as begin their adult lives and the Low Income Family Tracker scheme identifying residents who may be eligible for unclaimed benefits - putting money back in those residents' pockets. This programme has already identified at least 12 families who can apply for benefits - making a real difference to those households. Council Tax, although it will increase, won't go beyond the level the Government has assumed when calculating each council's share of funding.

West Berkshire Council has asked the Government for Exceptional Financial Support borrowing facility of up to £30 million for the 2026/27 financial year ahead to support the quality of our services for our residents. This request was approved yesterday (Tuesday 24 February) with another 34 councils across the country also receiving this. This borrowing request is supported by additional focus on the Council's in-year financial position, and the Council will seek to reduce this ask wherever possible. In addition, the Council actively applies for central Government funding to deliver projects wherever it can at little or no cost to residents.

Speaking about the budget Councillor Iain Cottingham, Executive Member for Finance, said:

"Even with continued reductions in Government funding, this budget will keep delivering for local people. We've shown time and again that we can provide strong services, and we'll continue putting your money where it makes the biggest difference.

"Our high national ratings for highways, social care, and recycling show just how well we're performing compared with other councils. We'll keep protecting the services that residents rely on every day. While the financial challenges are no secret, we're managing them carefully - borrowing sensibly, improving efficiency, and continuing to strengthen our services."

The budget is set to be approved at a meeting of full Council, starting at 5.30pm on Thursday 26 February. You can read the budget reports and find more details about the meeting on our website. The meeting is open to the public to attend at the Council offices in Market Street in Newbury and to watch live and on-demand on our YouTube channel.