Cardiff Council's Cabinet met on Thursday 8 January 2026 to discuss the upcoming budget and a new UK Government initiative. The meeting approved the launch of the 2026/27 budget consultation, which will seek public input on priorities, and agreed to submit a bid for the Pride in Place programme, focusing on the Ely and Caerau areas.

2026/27 Budget Modelling and Consultation Requirements

The Cabinet noted the updated budget position for 2026/27, which shows an estimated budget gap of just over £22 million. This is an improvement from previous projections, largely due to a more positive settlement from the Welsh Government, which has provided a 4.2% uplift in funding. Councillor Chris Weaver, Cabinet Member for Finance, Modernisation & Performance, expressed satisfaction that the budget could be balanced without cuts to frontline services, attributing this to nearly £40 million in identified efficiencies and savings in back-office operations.

The formal budget consultation will run from 8 January 2026 until 1 February 2026. The consultation document will seek guidance on the public's priorities for Cardiff, with schools and education, supporting vulnerable children and families, and supporting vulnerable adults and older people identified as key priorities from the Ask Cardiff survey. Councillor Weaver encouraged residents to participate in the consultation, noting it is a shorter process this year due to the absence of frontline service cuts.

Concerns were raised by Councillor Rodney Goodway regarding the brevity of the consultation, suggesting it might be a missed opportunity to gather more diverse public feedback on other services like street cleaning or pothole repairs. Councillor Weaver acknowledged that while the consultation focuses on key priorities identified in the Ask Cardiff survey, there is an opportunity for the public to suggest other priorities, and a question regarding potential council tax increases for further service improvements is included. Councillor Lancaster also questioned the quality of data from a shorter consultation and whether the proposed funding increase for schools would be sufficient to address deficit budgets. Councillor Weaver confirmed that while schools face challenges, no part of the budget is balanced by cutting school funding, and the 5.9% increase, including in-year funding, is significant.

The Cabinet agreed to the recommendations to note the updated budget position, agree the consultation approach, and formally launch it. They also noted that the Chief Executive would handle any staffing implications arising from efficiency savings.

Pride in Place Programme

The Cabinet agreed to approve the proposed approach to the Pride in Place programme for Cardiff. This UK Government initiative offers up to £20 million over 10 years to support communities most in need. Cardiff's proposal is to submit a bid for the Ely and Caerau areas, identified as having the highest concentrations of deprivation in the city based on the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) 2025.

Councillor Lee Bridgeman, Cabinet Member for Housing & Communities, highlighted the opportunity this funding presents to support local priorities, improve neighbourhoods, and empower residents. Councillor Russell Goodway, Cabinet Member for Investment & Development, declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item due to having written a letter of support for the scheme as a ward member.

Councillor Rodney Goodway raised concerns about the programme bypassing devolution and the fact that only one community can be selected, meaning other deprived areas, such as Trowbridge, would miss out. Councillor Bridgeman explained that the UK Government guidance requires focusing on one contiguous area and that the council's regeneration strategy would be used to support other deprived areas. He also noted that the council had explored the possibility of a wider area but was constrained by population limits and the need for a single contiguous area.

Councillor John Lancaster inquired about how the success of the project would be measured, particularly regarding the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation (WIMD) rankings. Councillor Bridgeman stated that success would be judged by making people's lives better within the communities and providing access to decent services and improved facilities. He also pointed out that WIMD is a relative measure and that improvements in other communities in Wales could affect the ranking.

The Cabinet approved the recommendation to delegate authority to the Director of Economic Development to complete and submit the Pride in Place programme proforma to the UK Government. Councillors Peter Bradbury and Russell Goodway re-declared their interests and left the meeting for this item.