Wiltshire Council approves £567m budget for vital services in 2026/27
The authority is focussing on wellbeing despite financial challenges
Wiltshire Council has approved its budget for the 2026/27 fiscal year, allocating £567 million to support essential services that benefit residents, communities, and businesses.
The budget was confirmed at Full Council earlier this week, incorporating amendments based on public feedback and rigorous scrutiny.
Among the approved changes, the Purton and Lower Compton household recycling centres will remain operational.
This comes as Hills Waste Solutions, the council's contractor, offered revised costs enabling a contract extension while efforts continue to develop a new recycling facility in the northern region of the county.
To maintain grant funding for community transport, allocations were adjusted following concerns from residents, councillors, and community partners.
Ensuring the continuity of these services is crucial for supporting vulnerable residents and bolstering community resilience.
Additional amendments include introducing a lane rental scheme enabling the council to charge utility companies for roadwork on main roads.
Meanwhile, funding previously earmarked for the Melksham Bypass project has been redirected to support highway investments. Planned changes to the Parish Emergency Assistance Scheme will be delayed, while the proposed Empty Homes Council Tax Premium saving was removed due to feasibility issues.
The council also approved a 2.99% general Council Tax increase and a 2% Adult Social Care levy, raising £20.5 million for essential services. The Band D rate for 2026/27 will be £1,981.15, equating to a £1.81 increase per week.
Despite financial challenges, the budget includes a net £40 million increase in spending compared to 2025/26, with major allocations directed toward adult services (£224m), families and children (£79m), waste services and environment (£62m), highways and transport (£44m), and education and skills (£41m).
Ian Thorn, Leader of Wiltshire Council, expressed gratitude for the cross-party collaboration in developing the budget. Thorn said, "We're delighted that this budget has been approved by Full Council. It's an ambitious, sustainable budget that helps to safeguard vital services despite the financial challenges we face."
In identifying £27.6 million in new savings and clarifying £5.3 million agreed upon earlier, the council has focused on service redesign, automation, improved asset use, inflation-aligned fee increases, and strengthened procurement processes.
The £260 million capital programme for 2026/27 covers various projects, including road resurfacing, warm home grants, leisure facility updates, bypass development, infrastructure improvements, social housing, and school modernisation.
To read the budget papers and view the meeting replay, visit the Wiltshire Council website.