Our draft budget for 2027 sets out how we plan to pay for council services from April 2027. We need to close a gap of £20.2 million, and we want to know which services matter most to you before any final decisions are made. Tell us what you think by 4 December 2026.
Why there’s a gap
We plan to spend £309.4 million on day-to-day services in 2027/28, up from £295.9 million this year. Almost 60p in every £1 goes on care and support for adults and children. The cost of that care, and of emergency housing for homeless families, is rising much faster than our income from council tax, business rates and government grants. If we froze council tax and made no savings, we would be £20.2 million short.
How we propose to close it
| Proposal | Amount in 2027/28 |
|---|---|
| Council tax increase of 4.99% (Band D from £2,118.44 to £2,224.15 a year) | £8.0 million |
| Fewer senior managers, shared back-office services and giving up three office buildings | £2.9 million |
| Helping more people to live independently at home for longer | £1.9 million |
| Buying 60 homes for temporary accommodation instead of using hotels | £1.3 million |
| New income from advertising, events and commercial waste collections | £0.5 million |
| Use of reserves, while longer-term savings take effect | £5.6 million |
| Total | £20.2 million |
The draft budget also puts more money into priorities, and this is already counted in the gap: £2.2 million more for waste and recycling, mainly for weekly food waste collections from January; £1.2 million more for road and pavement repairs, paid for by energy savings from our new LED street lights; and £0.3 million to open the winter shelter a month earlier.
What would the council tax increase mean for me?
Here’s what a 4.99% increase would mean for a year’s bill in Bands A to D, before any discounts:
| Band | 2026/27 | 2027/28 (proposed) | Increase a year |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | £1,412.30 | £1,482.77 | £70.47 |
| B | £1,647.68 | £1,729.89 | £82.21 |
| C | £1,883.06 | £1,977.02 | £93.96 |
| D | £2,118.44 | £2,224.15 | £105.71 |
If you live alone, you’ll still get a 25% single person discount. If you’re on a low income, you may be able to get Council Tax Support. See discounts and support.
Tell us your priorities
We’d like to know:
- Which three council services matter most to you and your household?
- Do you support a council tax increase of 4.99% to protect services?
- Which of the proposals above do you support, and which concern you?
- Do you have other ideas for saving money or raising income?
How to respond
- Leave a comment at the bottom of this page. We check comments before they’re published, usually within two working days.
- Email budget@larkhaven.example.
- Pick up a paper copy at City Hall or any of our six libraries, and hand it in at any library or the City Hall customer service desk.
- Come to the public meeting on Thursday 12 November at 18:30 in the Council Chamber at City Hall.
What happens next
The Finance and Resources Committee will discuss the proposals in public on 12 November. We’ll publish a summary of responses in January 2027, and Full Council will set the final budget and council tax for 2027/28 in February 2027. Read the full draft budget on our Budget 2027 page.
Siân Morgan
Please protect the libraries. Sunday opening at Central has been brilliant for us: it’s warm, it’s free and the kids love story time. I’d rather pay the extra 4.99% than see it cut.
Ömer Yıldız
Another 4.99% on top of everything else is a lot for pensioners on fixed incomes. And “back-office savings” is very vague. How many senior managers are actually going?
Larkhaven City Council Council response
Thank you, Ömer. The £2.9 million includes reducing the number of senior manager posts from 41 to 33 and giving up three leased office buildings, with staff moving into City Hall. If you’re on a low income you may be able to get Council Tax Support, and the 25% single person discount will continue. You’ll find details on our council tax discounts and support page, or you can call us on 01632 960 000.
Chloé Durand
I agree with Ömer that we need more detail. I care for my dad, and “helping more people live independently” worries me. Does it mean fewer home visits, or better support? Those are very different things.
Jamal Bakr
Three ideas for saving money or raising it:
– solar panels on every council building and school roof
– sponsorship for Quay Lights and the Winter Market
– charge developers more for pre-application planning advice
Hélène Marchetti
Fix the potholes first 🙏 The extra £1.2 million for roads is welcome, but parts of Northbank have been patched and re-patched for years. Proper resurfacing would save money in the long run.