The Cabinet meeting on Monday 23rd February 2026 focused heavily on the Council's financial position and future investments, with key decisions made regarding the budget and council tax for the upcoming year. The Council approved a balanced budget for the fourth consecutive year, freezing the main element of council tax while implementing a 2% increase for the adult social care precept. Significant capital investment was also approved, with over £52 million added to the capital programme for projects across various services, funded through a mix of grants, developer contributions, reserves, and borrowing.

Budget and Council Tax Setting 2026/27

Councillor Angela Ireland, Cabinet Member for Finance, presented the budget and council tax setting report for 2026/27. The Council has balanced its budget for the fourth year in a row and has frozen the main element of council tax for the fourth consecutive year, ensuring Wandsworth residents continue to pay the lowest council tax in Britain. This was achieved through sound financial management, resulting in high reserves and low debt. While acknowledging the impact of the Local Government Finance Settlement, which disadvantages Wandsworth, the Council's financial strategy allows for this freeze. An increase of 2% was recommended for the adult social care precept to protect critical services. The report detailed the General Fund budget requirement, proposed use of reserves, and the calculation of council tax amounts, with the average Band D bill increasing by 3.1% overall due to the GLA precept. The Cabinet recommended the Council approve these proposals, including a freeze on the Council's main element of council tax and a 2% increase for the adult social care precept.

Proposed Additions to the Capital Programme

Councillor Ireland also presented the proposed additions to the General Fund Capital Programme. The Council is committed to investing in its communities as part of a decade of renewal, and this paper outlined proposed additions totalling £52.3 million for 2026/27 and future years. This investment will be funded through grants, developer contributions, reserves, and borrowing. Key areas of investment include £19.5 million for a new family and community building at Portswood Place as part of the Alton Estate regeneration, £12.5 million for leisure facilities including new 3G pitches, and £8 million for highway and public realm improvements. The Council announced a total investment of £470.6 million across the borough over the next six years.

Treasury Management Policy 2026/27

Councillor Ireland presented the updated Treasury Management Policy Statement for 2026/27. The Council has a strong track record in treasury management, independently verified as one of the best in the country. Currently, the Council has no external debt, and this is expected to continue in the short term. All borrowing is for capital investment in the borough's infrastructure, public facilities, and housing stock. The report reviewed treasury management activities for 2025/26 and proposed the borrowing limit and operational boundary for 2026/27, as well as the Minimum Revenue Provision policy. The Council's cash balances are projected to remain healthy, and the average rate of return on investments is expected to be around 4.48% for the year.

Schools Maintenance Capital Programme 2026/27

Councillor Judi Gasser, Cabinet Member for Children's Services, presented the Schools Maintenance Capital Programme for 2026/27. It was proposed to add capital schemes totalling £2.401 million to the General Fund Capital Programme, primarily funded by the Department for Education's School Condition Allocation (SCA), with a smaller contribution from schools. The programme focuses on major maintenance in community schools, with prioritisation based on health and safety, safeguarding, and urgent needs. The majority of the proposed works involve roof replacements and repairs, and perimeter fencing.

Revenue Budget Monitoring Q3 2025/26

Councillor Ireland provided an update on the Council's revenue budget forecast for 2025/26. The Council is projecting an overspend of £5.594 million (2.3%) against the approved budget. The main pressures are in Adult Social Care within the Health OSC, and in Environment OSC, partly offset by a release of the inflation contingency. The Housing OSC faces a significant overspend, primarily due to increased demand for temporary accommodation. Children's Services is forecasting a break-even position despite pressures in areas like children in care and SEND. The Environment OSC has an overspend projected due to increased waste disposal costs and the London Borough of Culture programme, while Transport OSC is near breakeven. Finance OSC has a net forecast overspend due to pressures in the Coroner's Service and Revenues, offset by underspends in Treasury investments.

Biodiversity Action Plan

Councillor Paul White, Cabinet Member for Environment, presented the Biodiversity Action Plan. The plan, developed with residents and stakeholders, aims to reverse the decline of biodiversity and create a greener and fairer Wandsworth. It focuses on maximising biodiversity benefits from green infrastructure, ensuring wildlife and conservation reach all communities, and providing more access to clean air, fresh water, green spaces, and thriving ecosystems. The plan builds on previous achievements, including the creation of new habitats and investment in habitat management. The Cabinet was asked to approve the plan.

Balham Forum Interim Report

Councillor Simon Hogg, Leader of the Council, presented the interim report on the Balham Forum. This engagement initiative aims to understand residents' views on Balham's town centre and shape place-based improvements. Key themes emerging from the engagement include the street scene, community safety, support for the homeless, and the provision of community and cultural spaces. The report recommended the launch of a Neighbourhood Wardens pilot in Balham, funded by the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (NCIL) pot, and noted ongoing work on CCTV, library improvements, and managing delivery drivers.

Schools Finance Allocation 2026/27

Councillor Judi Gasser presented the report on Wandsworth Schools Finance Allocation for 2026/27. Despite national challenges in school funding, Wandsworth schools are in a strong financial position due to collective support and careful planning, with only a small percentage of schools in deficit compared to national averages. The report detailed the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) allocation, including increases to the Schools Block and Early Years Block, while noting pressures on the High Needs Block. The Schools Forum had agreed to move 20% closer to the National Funding Formula rates, impacting primary and secondary school funding differently.

Report by the Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Task and Finish Group

Councillor Judi Gasser presented the report from the Task and Finish Group on the prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). The group engaged with over 355 stakeholders, including survivors, young people, and professionals, identifying five key themes: the need for consistent and early education on healthy relationships, the isolating nature of online spaces for young people, the value of community belonging through accessible activities, the fragmentation of prevention services, and the unequal experiences of prevention based on protected characteristics. The report recommended enhancing VAWG prevention in schools through co-produced interventions, ensuring a robust systems approach across agencies, and maintaining engagement with survivors, particularly seldom-heard communities.

Wandsworth Highways Maintenance Programme 2026/27

Councillor Jenny Yates, Cabinet Member for Transport, presented the proposed annual Highway Maintenance Programme for 2026/27. This programme represents the largest highway maintenance programme ever undertaken in the borough, with an investment of £10.25 million. The programme will focus on footway and carriageway renewals across the borough, funded by developer contributions, external grants, and council resources. The report detailed the prioritisation of works based on condition surveys, safety risks, and whole-life cost considerations.

Local Government Finance Settlement

Councillor Angela Ireland presented the report on the Local Government Finance Settlement. The provisional settlement for 2026-2029 is a multi-year settlement that redistributes resources towards boroughs with higher deprivation and weaker tax bases, which disadvantages Wandsworth. Despite lobbying efforts, Wandsworth is protected with only a 95% funding guarantee, representing a 5% cash cut. The Council is confident in its ability to manage this through its transformation programme, aiming for £45 million in savings without reducing frontline services. The report also detailed changes to grant funding and the business rates retention system.

Adoption of the Wandsworth Local Plan Partial Review

Councillor Aydin Dikerdem, Cabinet Member for Housing, presented the report on the adoption of the Wandsworth Local Plan Partial Review. This review, which has been a key manifesto commitment, aims to ensure private sites deliver maximum public good, particularly affordable housing. The Council successfully negotiated changes with the planning inspector, allowing for a higher proportion of social housing within the 35% affordable housing fast-track. While the proposal for a 45% affordable housing fast-track was not approved, the Council secured agreement on a 70/30 split for social and intermediate housing, and financial contributions for smaller sites. The report highlighted the Council's ambition to ask for as much as possible and its commitment to ensuring affordable products are genuinely affordable.

The meeting concluded with the Leader of the Council, Councillor Simon Hogg, thanking Cabinet members and officers for their service, highlighting the characteristic set of papers that demonstrated sound financial management, value for money, protection of green spaces and biodiversity, and support for vulnerable residents.