The Cabinet of Greenwich Council met on Wednesday 28 January 2026 to discuss key financial and service delivery matters. Decisions were made regarding the Council Tax base for the upcoming financial year, a significant overhaul of youth services, and a transformation plan for the borough's adventure play centres.

Council Tax Base 2026/27

The Cabinet recommended to the full Council the Council Tax base for 2026/27, setting it at 92,059.75 for the whole authority area. An additional tax base of 100.08 was agreed for the Gloucester Circus Garden Square area. The council also agreed to continue with a 100% council tax premium on second homes and long-term empty dwellings, with varying rates for properties empty for 5-10 years (200%) and over 10 years (300%). Discounts for care leavers and foster carers were also agreed to continue. The tax base for the Environment Agency's flood defence levy apportionment was noted as 9,316.76 for the Southern Region and 82,742.99 for the Thames Region. The calculation of the tax base is a statutory requirement and is a factor in determining the council's planned income from council tax for the following financial year. The council tax itself will be set at a full council meeting in late February 2026.

Re-imagining Young Greenwich and the Proposed New Service Model

The Cabinet approved a new integrated service model for children, young people, and their families, to be known as 'NextGen Greenwich'. This model, developed through extensive consultation with young people, families, professionals, and voluntary organisations, places youth voice, equity, and prevention at its core. It comprises three key elements: 'NextGen Youth', featuring four Royal Borough of Greenwich (RBG) owned Community Youth Hubs; 'NextGen SHAW' (School-aged Health and Wellbeing), a new service led by Specialist Community Public Health Nurses; and 'NextGen Communities', a new RBG Youth Grant Programme. The model also includes a strengthened youth voice function with two new Young Advisor roles and a Youth Voice Apprentice. The Cabinet noted the proposed progression of work, including procurement and grant processes, to implement the new model by October 2026. The consultation process, which ran from March to October 2025, involved online surveys, focus groups, and market engagement sessions, directly shaping the proposed model. The decision aligns with the Council's missions to ensure children and young people reach their full potential, that services are designed around resident needs, and that the voluntary and community sector is strengthened.

Transforming Youth Play - Adventure Play Centres

The Cabinet approved a plan to transform the borough's five Adventure Play Centres (APCs). Following public consultation, the proposals include:

• Coldharbour APC: To become a new Community Hub, with a youth offer, subject to further stakeholder and community engagement. £1.5 million has been earmarked for this redevelopment.
• Glyndon APC: To become an unstaffed facility, with expressions of interest from voluntary sector organisations to potentially take over management to be explored further.
• Meridian APC: To be redeveloped into a new, fourth RBG-owned Community Youth Hub, subject to a Cabinet decision on the proposed Youth Offer.
• Plumstead APC: To remain unchanged, continuing its current operational format as a supervised play centre due to its high usage and lack of suitable alternative nearby locations.
• Woolwich APC: The current site will be decommissioned due to its location next to a main road and associated traffic pollution. The Multi-Use Games Area (MUGA) will be relocated and become an unstaffed facility, with investment and refurbishment options to be explored at alternative nearby sites, such as Clockhouse Community Centre.

Authority was delegated to relevant Directors to further investigate the future modelling of Meridian, Glyndon, Woolwich, and Plumstead APCs, and to consult on the future of Coldharbour APC in relation to the proposed Community Hub Model. The decision aims to create more modern, inclusive, safe, and accessible play and activity spaces, reaching more children and young people, and building stronger links with youth services, while also addressing financial sustainability and the condition of existing facilities. The consultation revealed strong support for supervised provision from current users, while younger people and non-users were more receptive to investment and modernisation. The proposals aim to balance these views with financial constraints and the responsibility to provide safe, high-quality services.

Declarations of Interest

Members were reminded to declare any personal or financial interests in items on the agenda. The minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 December 2025 were confirmed as an accurate record.