RBWM
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RBWM Sets a Balanced Budget for 2026/27 with Major Investment in Key Services
4 Mar 2026
The Royal Borough has agreed a balanced budget for 2026/27, following approval at Full Council on Tuesday 3 March. Despite facing an unprecedented £49 million budget gap, the Liberal Democrat administration has delivered a financial plan that stabilises the council’s position while investing in the services residents value most.
Through £6 million in savings achieved via service transformation, coupled with continued government support, the council has been able to protect essential services and reverse years of underfunding. To close the remaining gap, the council will use government permission to increase council tax by 7.49% from April 2026—approximately £2 a week for a Band D household. Even with this rise, council tax bills in the Royal Borough will remain the lowest in Berkshire and well below the national average. Additional protection is built in for the most vulnerable residents, shielding them from any increases above the standard level.
A further £14 million will be invested to strengthen frontline services and meet rising demand, including:
- Adult Social Care: £3.35m to support independent living
- Children’s Services: £5.62m to meet increasing pressures in placements and safeguarding
- Housing & Temporary Accommodation: £1.88m to modernise services amid rising demand
- Maintenance & Community Spaces: £1.17m to improve parks, car parks, buildings and other long‑neglected assets
Cllr Amy Tisi, Lead Member for Children’s Services, said:
“Despite the pressures, we have continued to deliver improvement across Children’s Services. We’ve opened a brand‑new children’s home, safely reunited families, stabilised our workforce, and seen Ofsted confirm that children in our care receive strong, effective and child‑centred support. This budget invests further in wellbeing, inclusion and the right accommodation. We have a plan, and we are getting things done.”
Cllr Mark Wilson, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Leisure and Performance, added:
“This budget shows real progress towards our long‑term vision for the Borough. From new long‑term leases and major playpark refurbishments to renewed energy systems at Windsor Leisure Centre and multi‑million‑pound investment in sports facilities, we are fixing the mess and getting things done. We’re reversing years of managed decline with £1.5m added back into maintenance budgets, new contracts with tougher standards, and investment in cleaner, greener, safer neighbourhoods.”
This budget represents a major step forward in restoring financial stability while delivering the well‑maintained communities, strong services, and modern infrastructure that residents expect and deserve.
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