Our budget
All councils are required by law to set a balanced budget each year. Work is currently underway to balance the council revenue and capital budget for the year ahead.
Over the coming months, we will also be asking your views on some of the proposals being put forward for changing the way the council works and delivers services in the borough to become a more efficient organisation. These surveys will be listed on this page once they are live.
What is the budget?
Revenue and capital budget
The revenue budget covers annual income and spending from the day to day running of the council.
The capital budget includes income and spending which provides service or economic benefits, often over a longer period.
What’s covered?
The council budget covers funding for services, fees and charges, Council Tax rates, and spending. Some elements are ring-fenced for specific areas, such as the Designated Schools Grant (DSG) and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).
Services provided by the council are wide ranging, including waste collection, council housing, schools, social care, roads and highways, parks, and libraries.
Finance updates
The Corporate Improvement Scrutiny Committee has now reviewed the council’s draft budget proposals for 2026/27. The proposals include savings of £15.45m for 2026/27, and a total of £37.15m up to 2028/29. It also includes identified savings from Slough Children First.
As outlined in the Medium‑Term Financial Strategy, the council expects to no longer require Exceptional Financial Support by the end of 2028/29, demonstrating clear progress toward long‑term financial recovery. Key proposals include savings in adult social care (£2.31m), improvements to business rates collection (£4.43m), and a transformation programme for housing and temporary accommodation (£850k).
Cabinet will propose increasing Council Tax by 4.99% for 2026/27, subject to approval at Council, scheduled for 26 February.
Next steps in the process include:
- Continued review through Cabinet on 16 February – Agenda for Cabinet on Monday, 16th February, 2026, 6.30 pm.
- Final decision at Full Council on 26 February – Agenda for Council on Thursday, 26th February, 2026, 7.00 pm
Closed consultations and engagement
Council Tax Support Scheme 2026/27 Consultation
Council Tax Support (CTS) is a discount that helps people to pay their Council Tax. By law, we must review , each year , how much we spend on CTS. We are considering changing the amount of CTS some people get. . We want your views on the proposed changes and any impact they would have on your household. If we made these changes in their entirety, the Council Tax Support scheme annual expenditure would reduce by £872,000 in 2026/27 . ...
Our Budget 2026-27
Slough Borough Council is facing a financial gap of at least £20.5 million next year. Most local authorities are experiencing cost pressures at the moment and Slough has additional challenges it has faced in recent years. Despite these pressures, we have a legal responsibility to set a balanced budget. That means we need to make some difficult decisions about what we spend. As well as savings, we are also looking at other funding, staffing and income generation...
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