The Wandsworth Council Cabinet met on Monday 12 October 2026 to discuss a range of significant financial and service-related matters. Key decisions included the approval of the Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2026/27, which involves substantial council tax increases and spending cuts, and the approval of a new approach to waste and street cleansing services.

Medium Term Financial Strategy and Spending Review

The Cabinet approved the Council's Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2026/27, which includes significant spending review policy intentions. This strategy aims to address a structural budget gap driven by reduced government funding, rising demand for services, inflation, and the need to maintain adequate reserves. Key decisions within the Spending Review include:

• Revenue Budget Variations: Approval of positive revenue budget variations of £75,000 in the General Fund and £175,000 in the Housing Revenue Account from 2027/28 onwards to fund the creation of an Executive Director of Housing post.
• Wandsworth Grants Fund: Suspension of the Wandsworth Grants Fund for four years.
• Borough of Sanctuary Programme: Ending the Borough of Sanctuary programme, including its associated grants fund, and disbanding the Wandsworth Migration Board.
• Spending Review Delivery Fund: Allocation of £29 million of available reserve balances to a Spending Review Delivery Fund to finance one-off invest to save initiatives. Authority was delegated to the Chief Executive and Executive Director of Finance, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make consequential decisions for the Spending Review Implementation Programme.
• Sustainable Communities Act: Subject to resident support, a proposal will be submitted under the Sustainable Communities Act¹ to the government, seeking amendments to funding allocation, transitional arrangements, and the treatment of new locally raised income. Resident consultation showed 92.4% support for submitting a proposal.

Update of the General Fund Capital Programme

The Cabinet approved additions and deletions to the General Fund Capital Programme arising from the Spending Review. This includes a commitment to the refurbishment of Wandsworth Town Hall, with necessary delegations to officers to proceed. The Cabinet recommended that the Council adopt the capital programme set out in Appendix B and approve the updated Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy in Appendix C. The revised programme sees additions of £3.0 million and removals or reductions of £77.9 million, reducing the Council's borrowing requirement by £33.7 million.

Waste & Street Cleansing Services Investment

Significant investment was approved for waste and street cleansing services. This includes:

• Jet Washing Vehicles: Provision of two additional jet washing vehicles and crews for a five-day washing programme at a cost of £277,000 per annum.
• Street Sweeping: Increasing street sweeping frequency from twice weekly to daily on selected high footfall streets, costing £150,000 per annum.
• Fly-Tipping Prevention: Investment in a fly-tipping removal stencil (one-off cost of £35,000) and the development of a multi-year strategy to improve prevention, removal, and enforcement.
• Recycling Contamination: Targeted investment to reduce recycling contamination, including AI scanners, at a one-off cost of £40,000 and £40,000 per annum for licenses and communication.
• Fox Proof Food Caddies: A trial of fox-proof food caddies at a cost of £35,000.
• Staff Recruitment: Recruitment of an additional Contract Monitoring Officer, an additional Waste Enforcement Officer, a new Waste Enforcement Manager (totaling £180,000 per annum), and a second Assistant Director of Waste, Street Cleansing and Enforcement (£120,000 per annum).
• Bulky Waste Service Adjustments: Reintroducing charges for bulky waste collections at £30 per collection, with a limit of 100 slots per day. This is projected to generate £800,000 per annum, offsetting the costs of the new investments.

Review of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme

The Cabinet supported taking forward Option 3 for consultation regarding the Council Tax Reduction Scheme. This option aims to balance scheme reform, affordability for residents, and the Council's financial sustainability. It involves phasing in changes over four years, extending support to some low-income working households, and ensuring all working-age households contribute something towards their Council Tax. The estimated annual cost of this scheme is £11.7 million in 2027/28, reducing to £7.1 million by 2030/31.

Investing in Dedicated Police Officers and an Integrated Enforcement Team

The Cabinet approved the strategic vision for a policing and Integrated Enforcement Team (IET) model. Authority was delegated to the Assistant Chief Executive to enter into a Section 92 agreement with MOPAC for 25 dedicated Wandsworth police officers (22 Police Constables and 3 Sergeants). This initiative includes additional positive General Fund revenue budget variations of £300,000 in 2026/27 and £4.9 million in 2027/28 for officers, equipment, transport, and core IET staffing.

Wandsworth Libraries Future Delivery Model Options

The Cabinet noted the options appraisal and agreed with the proposed strategy to tender the management and delivery of Wandsworth's library service. Authority was delegated to the Executive Director of Environment to develop the service specification, agree the procurement strategy, and commence procurement. A further report will be presented to the Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet for contract award approval.

Culture and Leisure Future Concession Scheme

Approval was given for the introduction of a new Culture and Leisure Concession Scheme from 1 January 2027. This scheme will provide targeted, affordable access to leisure for eligible residents on a financially sustainable basis. Key policy design elements include eligibility criteria, service scope, concession pricing, and managed transition arrangements from the current Access for All scheme, which will end on 31 December 2026. Subject to revenue savings approval, officers will also develop a targeted water safety initiative for Wandsworth children and young people, including free swimming lessons for those unable to swim 25 metres.

Progressing a Lane Rental Scheme for the London Borough of Wandsworth

The Cabinet approved the continued development and implementation of a Lane Rental Scheme. This will involve commencing stakeholder and statutory consultation, with authority delegated to the Executive Director of Environment to make minor amendments and submit the final application. The scheme is targeted to commence in April 2027, with charging from May 2027, and is expected to generate an estimated annual net financial benefit of £200,000 in 2027/28, rising to £400,000 per annum thereafter.

Hire E-Bikes Fair Use Charter

The Hire E-Bikes Fair Use Charter was approved, along with delegation to the Executive Director of Growth and Place to make necessary amendments. Support was given to increase the number of e-bike parking bays, and a dedicated Council enforcement team will be established to support compliance with the Charter. The Executive Director of Growth and Place was instructed to consider formally tendering for hire e-bike services.

Putney High Street Updates

The Cabinet approved the relocation of the pedestrian crossing on Putney Bridge, subject to TfL's agreement. They also approved commencing statutory consultation on bus stops P & Q on Lower Richmond Road and making permanent traffic orders to remove the Putney High Street bus lane and introduce double yellow lines in specific areas to enable an additional traffic lane. A General Fund capital budget variation of £450,000 in 2026/27 was approved to fund these works.

Housing Revenue Account Business Plan Update

The Cabinet approved the revised Housing Revenue Account capital programme cash flows and the revised Council Rent policy. The HRA business plan confirmed its viability despite pressures from building safety, damp and mould, inflation, repairs costs, and regulatory requirements. The four-year capital programme totals £662.980 million, with increased investment in existing stock and reliance on borrowing.

Ten Year Plus One Leasing Model

The Cabinet noted that the Executive Director will exercise delegated authority to approve Temporary Accommodation (TA) units to be leased for a minimum period of 10 years and one day, where financially beneficial to the Council. Schemes will undergo robust financial viability assessments by an internal Governance Board.

Allocation Policy Review - Consultation

The Cabinet supported proposed amendments to the Allocation Policy, aiming to reduce households in temporary accommodation, lower associated costs, strengthen borough residency, introduce greater choice, and ensure compliance with the latest Code of Guidance. A positive revenue budget variation of £300,000 in 2027/28, funded from the Service Transformation Reserve, was approved.

Reablement Services

Cabinet approved the reconfiguration of the Council's reablement services to move to a fully commissioned service model. This aims to protect a core preventative service, improve reliability and consistency, strengthen oversight, and support residents in regaining independence. This move is expected to deliver an estimated annual saving of £1.150 million, subject to final rates and transition costs. Affected staff will be consulted and supported through the transition.

Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report

Cabinet noted and received the Safeguarding Adults Board Annual Report 2025/26, acknowledging the positive assurance regarding the Council's safeguarding adults arrangements and partnership effectiveness.

Recommendations from Overview and Scrutiny Committees

The Cabinet noted the report on recommendations from Overview and Scrutiny Committees.