Decision details

To set out the Council’s budget proposals for 2026-27 for recommendation to Council.

Cabinet NOTED the following comments made in advance of considering the main report on the Budget & Council Tax 2026-27:

Councillor Conneely, as Chair, was invited to introduce the report from the Scrutiny Budget Scrutiny Task Group in relation to their review of the budget setting proposals for 2026-27, which had been included as Appendix D to the Budget and Council Tax report. In introducing the report, Councillor Conneely began by thanking all members of the Budget Scrutiny Task Group along with everyone else who had participated in the evidence sessions as part of the scrutiny process.  In welcoming the Government’s reintroduction of multi-year funding settlements, which it was hoped would strengthen the ability for the Council to develop a longer term planning approach, the impact of the broader thematic nature of the budget proposals was also recognised in support of a more strategic approach and in breaking down departmental silos with the role of scrutiny also seen as key in continuing to monitor how these were implemented along with their impact on residents to ensure no challenges arose that would require a change in strategy

Although supportive of the recent changes introduced in relation to the Local Government Funding regime, the Task Group had recognised the number of significant financial risks and pressures that continued to be faced by the Council and across local government as a whole, including rising demand for social care and the temporary accommodation crisis.  It was felt these challenges had been further compounded by the increasing role of privatisation and private equity in publicly commissioned services, particularly social care, which the Task Group had felt continued to undermine quality and drive cost inflation highlighting the need for meaningful reform of commissioning frameworks.

In terms of specific areas of focus, Cabinet was advised that the Task Group had been particularly encouraged by the work being undertaken to address the challenges in relation to supported exempt accommodation, as a means of delivering value for money whilst enhancing the quality of support being provided and in ensuring the private sector was not taking advantage of the market.  In addition, the Task Group had been keen to recognise and commend the work undertaken in relation to Children’s Services to invest in early intervention and reduce the reliance on agency staff, with it hoped this approach would be adopted more widely as best practice.

In concluding, whilst recognising the work still to be done in delivering the proposals, Councillor Conneely once again thanked all those involved for their participation in the Task Group and commended the recommendations made by the Budget Scrutiny Task Group to Cabinet for consideration as part of the budget setting process.

Having welcomed and supported the challenge, comments and approach taken by the Budget Scrutiny Task Group Cabinet RESOLVED:

(1)       To recommend to Full Council an overall 4.99% increase in the Council’s element of Council Tax for 2026/27, with 2% as a precept for Adult Social Care and a 2.99% general increase.

(2)       To recommend to Full Council the General Fund revenue budget for 2026/27, as summarised in Appendices A and B of the report.

(3)       To recommend to Full Council the savings proposals for 2026/27 as set out in Appendix C (i) of the report.

(4)       To note the Equalities Impact Assessments on the budget proposals, as set out in Appendices C (ii) and C (iii) of the report.

(5)       To note the report from the Budget Scrutiny Task Group as set out in Appendix D of the report.

(6)       To recommend to Full Council the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget and business plan for 2026/27, as set out in section 12 and appendix P of the report.

(7)       To approve the HRA rents for council dwellings, tenant service charges and garages as set out in section 12 of the report.

(8)       To approve the rents set under the Housing General Fund for Brent Housing PFI and traveller’s site pitches and to note the rents for Hillside dwellings as set out in section 12 of the report.

(9)       To note the Dedicated Schools Grant, as set out in section 13 of the report.

(10)    To recommend to Full Council the changes to the existing Capital Programme in relation to additions of new schemes and reprofiling, as set out in section 14 and Appendix E of the report, and note the Capital Pipeline Schemes as detailed in Appendix F of the report.

(11)    To recommend to Full Council the use of £2.9m of unrestricted right to buy receipts for capital works to improve HRA housing and enfranchisement (renewal of leaseholds approaching expiry).

(12)    To recommend to Full Council the Capital Strategy, the Investment Strategy, the Treasury Management Strategy and the Minimum Revenue Provision Statement as set out in Appendices G, H, I and J of the report.

(13)    To recommend to Full Council the Reserves Strategy and schedule of reserves, as set out in Appendices K (i) and K (ii) of the report.

(14)    To approve, and where relevant agree to recommend to Full Council the Fees and Charges Policy and Schedule of Fees and Charges, as set out in Appendices L (i) and L (ii) of the report.

(15)    To note the results of the budget consultation, as set out in section 11 and detailed in Appendix M of the report.

(16)    To note the legal advice from the Director of Law, as set out in Appendix N of the report.

(17)    To approve the new Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) allocations as set out in section 14 of the report, which include an uplift of up to £4.7m to £11.2m for the College of North West London, £0.2m for a new pedestrian crossing at the junction of Willesden Lane, Cavendish Road and The Avenue and £1.8m for Carlton Vale Boulevard in South Kilburn.

To also note and approve the recommendations identified for consideration by Full Council as detailed in section 2.18 – 2.38 of the report.

Eligible for call-in: No (report and recommendations referred to Council)