Budget Consultation 2026-27

Welcome

Every year, we set a budget to decide how we spend public money—and we want to make sure it reflects what matters most to you.

This budget is about more than numbers. It’s about people. It’s about investing in the things that matter—supporting communities, protecting our environment, and building a county where everyone feels welcome and is proud to call it home.

Costs are rising, demand for services is growing, and we don’t yet know how much funding we will get from Government following a change in funding formula called the Fair Funding Review. It is likely that we’ll see areas of the country with higher levels of deprivation getting more money than they did previously and other areas, like Gloucestershire, probably getting less. That means we’ve had to make careful choices— balancing the need to deliver essential services with opportunities to invest where it will have the greatest impact.

Government assumes we will increase council tax and the adult social care precept to the maximum allowed. This will mean a £1.61 weekly increase for a band D property and will raise an additional £26.1 million next year to support delivery of services. Despite this increase the council still expects to have one of the lowest council tax levels of any county council. Even then, it’s not enough to meet the pressures we face or deliver the things Gloucestershire needs. I know times are tough and, as Leader of the Council, I take no joy in asking more of residents, but we have a legal duty to keep people safe, well, and supported—and to improve life chances for everyone.

We are also looking inward — cutting duplication and tackling inefficiencies. Every pound must go further, and we’re building efficiency into everything we do to allow us to invest in the things that matter most to you.

Here’s what we’re planning to invest in next year:

• An additional £15 million to improve roads and drainage.

• A further £80 million for school maintenance and £21.1 million towards the new special school in Gloucester.

• £6.35 million towards the cost of three new adult care homes and £500k to establish a virtual Adult Social Care Academy.

• An additional £3.9 million to refurbish household recycling centres and £445k to protect nature.

• A new annual community prevention grant scheme to support people to stay independent for longer and to help reduce health inequalities.

• £2.5 million towards new front line fire and rescue vehicles, training facilities, and upgrades to fire stations.

To make this possible, we have identified £25.7 million of savings next year and are also reviewing our fees and charges - proposing to make the necessary increases to support our investment plans. We’re also tackling an issue that’s long overdue—parking charges. For years, the cost of parking has been subsidised by wider council funds, meaning all taxpayers have been covering the gap. Charges haven’t been properly reviewed since 2013 and bringing them in line with today’s prices is a necessary step to make the system fairer and ensure those who use these services are covering the true cost of delivering them.

Please take a few minutes to tell us what you think of our proposed budget. Your views matter and whilst we may not be able to fund everything you’d like us to in the next year, telling us what you think will help us to make better, more informed decisions and shape a fairer future for everyone. Your feedback will help us make the right choices for Gloucestershire.

Thank you for being part of this conversation.

Cllr Lisa Spivey
Leader of Gloucestershire County Council

Take Survey

We want to hear from you!

Here’s how you can share your views:

• Online: Fill out our questionnaire
• Hard copy: Request a paper version or ask for materials in other formats or languages, please contact communications@gloucestershire.gov.uk or telephone 01452-427554.

Consultation period: 4 December 2025 to 9 January 2026.

What happens next?

The council’s Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee will consider each area of the proposed budget at an all-day session on 8 January.

At its meeting on 28 January, the Cabinet will carefully consider the results of the public consultation, any recommendations from the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee and feedback from unions and other stakeholders before making final decisions on the budget it proposes the council sets for 2026/27.

At a meeting of the county council (all 55 county councillors) on 18 February 2026, the budget proposed by the Cabinet will be debated and voted on.

A summary of the themes from the consultation will be published along with the other budget related information ahead of the Cabinet meeting on 28 January 2026.

Thank you for helping us build a stronger, fairer Gloucestershire. Your views guide our decisions and help us create a county where everyone can thrive.

Along with increasing costs and demand for services growing, we don’t yet know how much funding we will get from Government following a change in funding formula called the Fair Funding Review. It is likely that we’ll see areas of the country with higher levels of deprivation getting more money than they did previously and other areas, like Gloucestershire, probably getting less. That means we’ve had to make careful choices— balancing the need to deliver essential services with opportunities to invest where it will have the greatest impact.

Before setting our spending plans for 2026/27, we want to know what you think about our proposed budget so final decisions can be informed by your views.

Privacy Notice

We process the personal data that we collect for a number of different purposes. This privacy statement gives a general overview of how we use personal data.

As we offer a diverse range of services, the notice is layered, with general information supported by service specific privacy notices. These provide more detailed information about how we handle your information for specific council services, including who we will share your information with and why.

For further information, please visit www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/privacy-notices/gloucestershire-county-council-general-privacy-statement.