Calderdale Council has an approved budget for the financial year 2026-27 following the Budget Council meeting on Monday 23 February 2026.
The budget reflects the Cabinet’s priorities of keeping people safe, investing in Calderdale’s towns and places and moving to a more sustainable financial position.
The Council has more certainty about how much funding it will receive from the government after receiving a provisional three-year settlement at the end of last year.
This has provided more stability for local government finances and enables better long-term planning.
Cllr Scott Patient, Calderdale Council’s Deputy Leader, said:
“The three-year settlement has enabled us to plan ahead so that we can make the very best use of all of the money which is available to us for the benefit of the borough.
“And this is a sensible budget, allowing us to maintain a sound financial position, whilst also investing some money in those areas which we know our residents care about the most, such as our highways network.
“It is a budget that, for the first time in many years, begins to provide hope again that we really can make Calderdale a better place.”
The Council continues to prioritise support for those who need it most, with over 70% of the total budget now spent on adults’ and children’s health and social care.
Nationally and locally, demand for these services, for SEND and for those tackling homelessness has continued to rise. High inflation has increased costs across all services, adding additional pressure to the Council’s budget.
The Council has prioritised investment in services for people with the most complex needs, so that residents across Calderdale are able to live good lives and achieve their potential, this includes:
- for people who are experiencing domestic abuse;
- for people who want to live independently in their own home for longer, by expanding the Occupational Therapy team;
- for people with disabilities, by improving assessments to make sure they have the right support at the right time and
- in the teams which keep our buildings safe for the people who live, work or visit them.
The Council has also increased funding to those services which are important to residents and local businesses across the borough:
- an additional £4 million per year will be spent on long term repairs to our roads and infrastructure;
- with investment in the enforcement teams which tackle fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour which can blight communities and
- by building on the success of the Year of Culture, by investing in CultureDale, to put on events for residents and visitors to enjoy and support our creative sector.
The Council is legally required to set a balanced budget each year.
Based on the Council’s current financial forecast, the local authority is required to make savings of £6.9 million in 2026/27.
To protect and maintain vital public services, the Cabinet’s budget proposals include an increase in Council Tax of 4.99%.
These increases are expected of the Council by the Government when it calculates how much funding the local authority will receive within the financial settlement.
This includes a Council Tax increase of 2.99% in line with the limit set by Government and an additional 2% Social Care Precept to help fund and protect social care services to vulnerable adults and children.
The Council will make savings by reducing administrative costs, managing vacancies, increasing income through charges and rents and making changes to the way some services are delivered to improve efficiency.
To view the webcast from Budget Council, please visit https://calderdale.public-i.tv/core/portal/webcast_interactive/1066479/start_time/1247000(external link)