Buckinghamshire Council has approved a balanced budget for the year ahead, despite what it describes as growing financial pressure from national government funding changes.
At a full council meeting on Wednesday, February 25, members backed the budget, although leaders warned that the Government’s Fair Funding Review will see £44.5 million diverted away from Buckinghamshire to other areas.
Council leader Steven Broadbent said the authority is losing grant funding and retained business rates at a time when demand for statutory services continues to rise. He added that prudent budgeting and efficiency savings have helped the council balance the books.
Since becoming a unitary authority in 2020, the council says it will have delivered total savings of £296 million, with further reductions planned over the next three years.
Council tax will rise by 2.99 per cent from April 2026, alongside a 2 per cent increase in the Adult Social Care precept — a total rise of 4.99 per cent, or around £1.86 a week for an average Band D property.
The council says it will continue to prioritise essential services including roads, weekly bin collections, education and social care, while maintaining its focus on value for money.
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