The Finance, Policy and Resources Committee is scheduled to consider a range of important financial and strategic matters, including proposals for the future of Richmond Town Centre and an update on cost of living support. The committee will also review the council's end-of-year performance for the Richmond Corporate Plan 2025/26 and discuss the capital and revenue outturn for the past financial year.

Richmond Town Centre: Activating Our Vision

A significant portion of the meeting is expected to be dedicated to the Richmond Town Centre: Activating Our Vision report¹. This report outlines proposals for the next phase of projects and investment aimed at revitalising the town centre. The vision seeks to create more inclusive and welcoming public spaces, improve access and connectivity, diversify the use of high street and riverside areas, and strengthen Richmond's identity. Four key projects are proposed for further development and investment: public realm improvements for Whittaker Square & Avenue, the George Street transformation, the creation of a Little Green play space, and a town centre Wayfinding strategy. The report details how an investment of £1.5m, previously agreed, will be proportioned and notes that future funding commitments will be required to realise the full vision.

Cost of Living Support Update and Proposals for the Crisis and Resilience Fund

The committee will receive an update on the council's ongoing support for residents struggling with the high cost of living. This includes noting the final spend from the Household Support Fund² and considering proposals for the allocation of the first year of the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF)³. This new fund, provided by the Department for Work and Pensions, replaces the Household Support Fund and Discretionary Housing Payments and aims to support low-income households experiencing financial shocks while investing in longer-term financial resilience. The report details proposed allocations across four strands: Crisis Payments, Housing Payments, Resilience Services, and Community Coordination. Additionally, the committee will consider proposals for a consultation to build flexibility into the Council Tax Reduction scheme⁴ and note the development of a borough-wide anti-poverty strategy⁵.

Richmond Corporate Plan 2025/26 End-year Performance Report

The committee will review the end-year performance of the Richmond Corporate Plan (RCP) 2025/26⁶. This report provides an update on progress against RCP actions and key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to the committee's corporate priorities. It highlights areas of improving performance, such as the lowest crime rate in London and increased advice offered through Citizens Advice Richmond⁷, as well as areas of underperformance, including customer satisfaction with telephone services and the number of resettled refugee families.

Revenue and Capital Outturn 2025/26

A report on the council's outturn figures for revenue and capital budget management for the financial year 2025/26 will be presented. This will inform members of the council's financial position, including the resulting position on reserves. The report details an overall revenue outturn of a £2.661m net overspend against a total approved budget, largely attributed to demand pressures in housing the homeless and children looked after. It also outlines the capital programme expenditure of £66.899m. The report includes details on movements in various earmarked reserves, such as the Financial Resilience Reserve⁸ and the Refugee and Homelessness Support Reserve⁹.

Additional Budget Requests

The committee will consider additional budget requests for 2026/27, to be funded from the central contingency budget or other specified sources. These include a request for highway maintenance programme funding and the carry-forward of revenue budgets from 2025/26 to 2026/27 for various projects.

Committee Work Programme

Finally, the committee will review its work programme¹⁰, noting upcoming matters for consideration in future meetings, including updates on the Transformation Programme, the Accommodation BID proposal, and the Capital Programme Review.