The Executive of North Northamptonshire Council is scheduled to meet on 16 December 2025 to discuss the council's budget, medium-term financial plan, and capital programme, as well as updates on efficiency reviews and strategic risks. The meeting will also cover the Housing Revenue Account and various policy updates. It is important to note that this is a summary of what is scheduled to be discussed at the meeting, based on publicly available documents. We do not know for certain whether the topics will be discussed, or what decisions will be made.

Budget 2026-27, Medium-Term Financial Plan and Capital Programme

The Executive will consider the draft revenue budget for 2026-27, the indicative medium-term financial plan, and the capital programme for 2026 to 2030, as detailed in Appendix A of the Draft Budget 2026-27 Medium-Term Financial Plan and Capital Programme 2026 to 2030. This draft budget supports a wide range of services, including care for vulnerable adults and children, education, waste management, transport, economic development and housing. The draft budget proposals support the key commitments contained within the council's Corporate Plan, which has four thematic policy areas:

• Family
• Community
• Prosperity
• Smarter, Faster, Fairer public services

The Draft Budget 2026-27 Medium-Term Financial Plan and Capital Programme 2026 to 2030 assumes a net spend requirement of £431.274m (excluding the Dedicated Schools Grant¹). It includes further investment of circa £47.0m to protect vital services and invest in service change and improvement, which allows for demand and cost increases in services, most notably Adult Social Care (£17.7m) and Children's Services (£12.2m). Cost pressures and service investment are, in part, offset by savings, efficiencies and income generation of £21.3m, which includes the continuation of savings already included as part of the 2026-27 medium term financial plan and which remain deliverable, with the remainder being met through improved business rates income, council tax income and government grants.

The Draft Budget 2026-27 Medium-Term Financial Plan and Capital Programme 2026 to 2030 also assumes an increase in council tax consisting of 2.99% for the core council tax and 2% for the Adult Social Care precept, which results in a new Band D equivalent council tax of £1,918.23, an average weekly increase of £1.75 (based on Band D equivalent). The Executive will also discuss maintaining the Local Council Tax Support Scheme at 25%.

Housing Revenue Account Draft Budget 2026-27 and Medium-Term Financial Plan Proposals

The Executive will discuss the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) draft budget for 2026-27 and medium-term financial plan proposals. The Housing Revenue Account Draft Budget 2026-27 and Medium-Term Financial Plan Proposals sets out the proposals regarding rent increases for 2026/27. The report also notes that the government introduced a rent setting formula which covered a 10-year period (2026/27 to 2035/36). The rent setting formula is based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for September (of the previous financial year) + 1%. The Tenant Assurance Group has been consulted on the proposed 4.8% rent increase and the 2026-27 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget.

2026/27 Budget Scrutiny Panel - Interim Observations and Recommendations

The Executive will receive interim feedback and recommendations from the 2026/27 Budget Scrutiny Panel, appointed by the Corporate Scrutiny Committee. The 2026/27 Budget Scrutiny Panel - Interim Observations and Recommendations report sets out the findings and recommendations of the panel, which met four times between 29 October and 24 November. The Panel's work was to consider items that would be incorporated into the draft budget and was concluded before the outcome of the Local Government Settlement was known. The scrutiny activity undertaken has been on a targeted risk-based approach which has examined the areas of key risk and challenge for demand led services in the 2026/27 budget rather than a wider review of all budget lines as has been the case previously.

Efficiency Review Update

The Executive will receive an update on the efficiency review across the council. The Efficiency Review Update report notes that within 2025/26 there is a savings plan of £28.643m, of which 93% is expected to be delivered by the year end. From working carried out as part of the efficiency review and budget setting process, savings of £21.239m have been proposed for 2026/27 and have been incorporated into the budget.

Corporate Strategic Risk Register

The Executive will receive an update on the council's strategic risk register. The Corporate Strategic Risk Register details the strategic risks faced by the council in relation to achieving its corporate priorities. The register also notes the current mitigation action being taken to control these risks and reflects the current, residual risk score. The content of the Strategic Risk Register entries has been reviewed and updated by Corporate Leadership Team (CLT).

Capital Programme Update 2025/26

The Executive will be asked to approve changes to the capital programme, as well as note other changes. The Capital Programme Update 202526 report requests approval for the following changes into the capital programme:

• Castle Theatre Lighting, £163k in 2025/26, funded from Capital Receipts.

The report also notes the following changes to the capital programme, following approval by Directorate Capital Boards / Departmental Management Team meetings, Chief Finance Officer (Section 151 Officer) and Strategic Capital Board (where applicable):

• Rothwell Sports Facilities, £89k, S106 contributions
• Irchester Primary School - S106 Minor Works, £266k, S106 contributions
• Family Hubs, £104k, Government Grant
• Stoke Albany Play Area, £37.6k, S106 contributions
• Corby Woodlands Improvements, £101k, Grant
• Rothwell Library S106, £28k, S106 contributions
• Wollaston Library S106, £32k, S106 contributions
• Weldon Village CoE Primary S106, £80k, S106 contributions

The report also notes the re-prioritisation and reprofiling of budgets across financial years in relation to the Northamptonshire Childrens Trust office accommodation and condition works budgets.