Calderdale Council is marking the start of the budget setting process, with a report being considered by Cabinet assessing financial resilience, as well as the opportunities and risks related to changes in the way local government is being financed.
At the next meeting of the Council’s Cabinet, members will consider a revised medium term financial plan for 2026/27 to 2028/29. The plan is updated annually and represents the starting point for developing the Cabinet’s budget proposals for the next financial year.
The plan forecasts the resources that might be available to deliver the Council’s priorities over the next three financial years and highlights the issues, risks and challenges that will also need to be considered.
It plays a key role in enabling the Council to set a balanced budget at the annual Budget Council meeting.
The Council continues to face ongoing financial challenges, with rising costs in key areas including children’s and adults’ social care, special education needs (SEN), highways and waste management.
Although budgets were increased in these areas, actual costs have been higher than expected. Savings agreed for 2024/25 and 2025/26 have been delivered effectively, but further efficiencies will be required. These will be reviewed in the next stages of budget preparation alongside assessing spend and demand assumptions with latest economic factors and national policies changes.
The report also outlines the upcoming changes in the way that councils are funded and how this will impact Calderdale. This includes a multi-year funding settlement, giving three years of financial certainty and a new method for distributing money to councils.
The Chancellor’s Autumn Budget Statement is scheduled to take place in late November and the provisional Local Government Financial Settlement announcement is expected to be received in December. The Council’s financial position may change once the settlements have been published and the Cabinet budget proposals in February 2026 will be adapted accordingly.
The Leader of Calderdale Council, Cllr Jane Scullion, said:
“Despite many ongoing challenges, we continue our commitment to making Calderdale a better place. An important part of this is ensuring we balance the books and deliver services in the best and most affordable way.
“The medium term financial plan marks the start of the budget setting process, with financial forecasts helping us make informed decisions.
“Whilst we’re seeing the positive impacts of prudent savings as part of previous budget decisions, as well as optimism about upcoming funding announcements from central Government, we also continue to face a number of challenges. We’re determined to meet these head on and carefully manage the budget so that we can continue to deliver for local people.”
The report updating on medium term financial plan 2026/27 to 2028/29 will be discussed at the meeting of Calderdale Council’s Cabinet on Monday 6 October at Halifax Town Hall from 4pm. The meeting will also be streamed online at https://calderdale.public-i.tv/core/portal/home(external link)