West Northamptonshire Council sets a balanced budget
27 February 2026
West Northamptonshire Council has agreed a balanced budget for 2026/27, protecting essential services and supporting the most vulnerable despite facing one of the most challenging financial positions since the authority was formed.
At their meeting on Thursday 26 February, councillors approved the final revenue budget and Housing Revenue Account and set the Council Tax for the year ahead.
Like local authorities across the country, WNC continues to face rising costs and growing demand for services, particularly in adult social care and children’s services. These pressures have made setting a balanced budget increasingly challenging. This year, the Council began the budget process with an anticipated £50 million shortfall for 2026/27 and undertook an early and detailed review of its finances. This follows £115m of budget savings to date since the authority was formed in 2021.Through the 2026-27 budget process a further £29m of efficiencies have been identified to contribute towards close the gap taking the total savings identified since 2021 to £144m.
Alongside this work, the Council invited residents, businesses and community groups to share their views through a six-week public consultation. More than 3,000 responses were received, the highest level of engagement on a budget consultation to date. The engagement was further strengthened through the Council’s first online budget ‘Question Time’.
Feedback from residents supported by some additional resources has helped shape the Council’s final net revenue budget of £1.02 billion (£464.3m excluding the Dedicated Schools Grant).
The agreed budget includes several key changes from the draft Budget that was consulted upon, including a reduction in the proposed garden waste charge and changes to the car parking proposals. There has also been a reduction in the proposed Council Tax increase from 4.99 per cent to 4.95 per cent which is below the Government’s threshold and represents an average increase on a Band D property of £1.78 a week, or £92.42 a year. This generates extra funding of around £16.6m – with 2% of the increase going towards funding adult social care.
“This has been one of the most demanding budget processes this Council has faced which required urgent, honest action, and the result of facing that reality head-on.Councillor John Slope, Cabinet Member for Finance at WNC
“Crucially, we did not do this in isolation with more than 3,000 residents and businesses giving their views and they told us what mattered to them, and we responded with tangible changes: a lower council tax increase, a reduced garden waste charge, and revised car parking proposals. That is listening in action.
“This budget gives West Northamptonshire a stable platform for the year ahead and a clear foundation for long-term financial recovery. It was not an easy set of decisions, but they were the right ones.
"This is a budget grounded in reality, which prioritises residents who rely on us the most, protects frontline services, strengthens safeguarding, and invests in the future of our communities.Councillor Mark Arnull, Leader of WNC
“Our administration is committed to putting the people of West Northamptonshire first and this budget does just that. I want to thank all officers and members involved in the preparation of this budget and all residents for giving their views on our toughest budget yet.”
The approved budget also includes investment of £163 million through the Council’s capital programme between 2026/27 and 2030/31, aimed at strengthening infrastructure, supporting economic growth and improving community facilities.
In addition, £82.5 million will be invested next year through the Housing Revenue Account capital programme, supporting new homes, estate improvements, heating upgrades and disabled adaptations. By 2031, the Council will have delivered £364.4 million in housing investment.