Council Business
Gloucestershire county council budget consultation 2026/27
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.
Published: 11 December 2025
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 proud to call home.
Costs are rising, demand for services is growing, and we don’t yet know how much funding we will receive from Government following changes to the funding formula under the Fair Funding Review. Areas with higher levels of deprivation are likely to receive more funding, while areas like Gloucestershire may receive 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. For a Band D property, this means an increase of £1.61 per week, raising an additional £26.1 million next year to support services. Even with this increase, Gloucestershire is expected to remain among the lowest council tax levels of any county council.
We know times are tough, and we 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.
Here’s what we’re planning to invest in next year:
- £15 million to improve roads and drainage
- £80 million for school maintenance and £21.1 million for a new special school in Gloucester
- £6.35 million for three new adult care homes and £500k for a virtual Adult Social Care Academy
- £3.9 million to refurbish household recycling centres and £445k to protect nature
- A new annual community prevention grant scheme to help people stay independent and reduce health inequalities
- £2.5 million for new fire and rescue vehicles, training facilities, and station upgrades
To make this possible, we’ve identified £25.7 million in savings and are reviewing fees and charges, including parking charges, which haven’t been updated since 2013.
We want your views. Please take a few minutes to tell us what you think of our proposed budget. Your feedback will help us make better, more informed decisions and shape a fairer future for everyone.
Please also share this consultation with your networks—the more voices we hear, the better decisions we can make for Gloucestershire.
What happens next?
- 8 January: Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee reviews the proposed budget
- 28 January: Cabinet considers consultation results and stakeholder feedback
- 18 February: Full council debates and votes on the final budget
A summary of consultation themes will be published ahead of the Cabinet meeting on 28 January.
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.