The Economy, Arts, Sports, and Public Realm Policy and Accountability Committee is scheduled to discuss the council's revenue budget and medium-term financial strategy for 2026/27, alongside updates on the local plan review and cultural activities. The committee will also receive an update on the delivery of cultural initiatives and consider the financial implications for the upcoming year.

2026/27 Revenue Budget and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)

A significant portion of the meeting is expected to focus on the preparation and proposals for the 2026/27 revenue budget, financial resilience, and the potential impacts of these proposals. The report outlines the council's revenue budget for 2026/27, including key assumptions, new investment proposals, and expected efficiencies. It also provides an update on the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), assessing the adequacy of reserves to ensure long-term sustainability and strong financial governance.

The council faces ongoing financial challenges, with demand-led pressures in areas such as Adult Social Care, Children's Services, and Homelessness. The report notes that for the first time in many years, the government has confirmed a multi-year settlement from 2026/27 to 2028/29. Hammersmith and Fulham is eligible for transitional funding relief over these three years.

The overall objectives for the 2026/27 revenue budget proposals include protecting the delivery of core services, ensuring the borough's safety, supporting prosperity, promoting an exceptional and efficient council, and maintaining strong financial governance and resilience. A balanced budget for 2026/27 is proposed, including £9.5 million in efficiencies. The budget will allow for the continued delivery of services, building on the council's record of prudential financial management and increasing reserves.

A proposed increase in Council Tax of 2.99%, along with the additional social care precept, is expected to generate an additional £4.4 million annually. This is considered essential funding to ensure continuing financial resilience, meet the challenges of increasing demand and inflation, and balance the impact on local taxpayers. The report details proposed savings across various departments, with £2.8 million relevant to this committee, including £2.3 million directly attributable to services within its remit. These savings are intended to be delivered through service transformation, reconfiguration, and increased income generation.

The report also addresses proposed changes to fees and charges. For non-statutory fees, a standard uplift of 3.8% is recommended for most services, with specific exceptions detailed in Appendix 4 of the report. The committee is invited to consider these budget proposals and make recommendations to the Cabinet.

Local Plan Update

The committee is scheduled to receive an update on the progress of the Local Plan review. The first draft of the Local Plan, known as the Regulation 18 version, was open for public consultation from 29 October to 10 December 2025. A total of 235 consultees submitted 667 representations, with a significant number of comments specifically addressing Uxbridge Road. The council will now consider these responses when preparing the next iteration of the Local Plan (Regulation 19). A consultation report summarising the responses and how they have been considered will be published alongside the Local Plan. The next stage of the Local Plan process will be subject to a Cabinet decision.

The report highlights the need for a new Local Plan due to the borough's changing landscape and growing population, which requires a strategy for accommodating new development and addressing the needs for housing, employment, leisure, and retail. Key priorities include allocating strategic sites for housing and finding new ways to deliver affordable housing.

Feedback from the consultation raised several key issues, including the regeneration of Uxbridge Road, transport and infrastructure concerns (such as Hammersmith Bridge and EV charging), heritage and conservation, housing targets, employment land, and environmental and climate resilience. The report outlines the next steps, which include further engagement on Uxbridge Road regeneration, reviewing policies, drafting the Regulation 19 Local Plan, strengthening the evidence base for flood risk and tall buildings, and a further consultation in July/August 2026.

Culture Update

This report is set to provide the committee with an update on the delivery of activities by the Council and the Cultural Compact in support of the borough's Cultural Strategy, 'Where Culture Connects'. The strategy was adopted in October 2023, and the Cultural Compact was established as its delivery board. The Compact is described as the borough's principal stakeholder partnership for culture and the visitor economy, with three sub-groups focusing on Destination, Creativity, and Inclusion.

The report details activities undertaken since the last update, covering initiatives within the 'Destination' strand, such as the 'Visit H&F' marketing campaign and support for community and town centre Christmas lighting. It notes a positive overall trend in visitor footfall, although visitor spend declined. Under the 'Creative Pathways' strand, the report mentions a submission to Arts Council England for a Place Partnership programme and the Council's King's Coronation Youth Fund, which invested £400,000 in cultural activity for young people. Libraries are highlighted for delivering robotics workshops, creative writing sessions, and exploring a Civic Innovation Lab.

The 'Heritage & Inclusion' section covers VE Day 80th Anniversary activities, an exhibition of artist Clive Cobb's work, an Irish Heritage Trail project, and celebrations for 120 Years of Hammersmith Library. It also details Black History Month activities and an exhibition of the borough's Pre-Raphaelite art collection. Other activities mentioned include professional author visits in libraries, learning programmes, health and wellbeing initiatives, public artworks, and the borough's role as a filming location. The report concludes by summarising the strong contribution of cultural activities to the borough's economy and community well-being.

Minutes of Previous Meeting

The committee will be asked to approve the minutes of the previous meeting. The minutes indicate that a question was raised regarding the closure of Hammersmith Bridge and its impact on congestion, with officers stating there was no specific evidence of added congestion, only displacement, and that analysis was held by TfL.