CUMBERLAND Council’s budget for 2026/27 is set to be agreed at a meeting in Carlisle next week.
Members of the full council are due to meet at the city’s Civic Centre on Tuesday (March 3) where they will consider the recommendations laid out in the report – Budget 2026/27 and Medium-Term Financial Plan.
It proposes council tax hike of 4.99 per cent which includes a 2.99 per cent increase in core council tax and two per cent increase in the adult social care precept.
Speaking at last week’s meeting of the executive committee Catherine Bell, the council’s chief finance officer, told members that concerns were raised by Martin Birch, the director of children and family wellbeing, over the increased demand placed on the council and how it could impact on the budget.
She confirmed that these risks were identified within the budget report, and that further work would be done to assess whether recommendations needed to be brought forward to ensure the final budget remained robust and sustainable. She added: “I will update executive promptly.”
It is recommended that members approve the proposed 2026/27 budget which includes the approval of the General Fund Net Service Expenditure Budget for 2026/27 of £381.691million and approve the General Fund Budget Requirement for 2026/27 of £370.902million.
The report states that it would also approve the capital programme 2025/30 of £776,740,227 which includes £281,045,236 profiled for 2026/27.
According to the report the council was using exceptional financial support from the Government and, for 2025/26, the Government approved up to £23.439million of capitalisation in principle.
It adds: “However, only £11.605million is now forecast to be required and the council is therefore requesting that the remaining £11.834million be carried forward into 2026/27.”
During the meeting of the executive councillor Joseph Ghayouba (Bransty, Labour), the chairman of the business and resources overview and scrutiny committee, said he would like the committee to be more involved in the budget process next year.
He added: “We have also expressed concern, obviously, prior to Catherine’s announcement this morning, around the recurring growth in demand in children’s services, which, we need to try and get to grips with, but we do appreciate that it is a statutory service that we have to meet and provide.”
Cllr Ghayouba said members were a little concerned around the wider transformation programme and added: “I think that next year is key because there have been some savings, some efficiencies, but not anywhere near, I think it’s fair to say where we would have liked it to be.”
According to the report the budget has been developed through detailed assessment of service pressures, demand trends, inflation, workforce challenges, and policy risks.
It adds: “It reflects the outcomes of the Council’s Star Chamber process, scrutiny review, and public consultation.
“The 2026/27 budget is balanced, but the MTFP identifies substantial budget gaps from 2027/28, driven by reduced grant funding, inflation, demographic change, rising capital financing costs, and the tapering of transitional support.
“Addressing these gaps will require full delivery of the savings programme,
significant operational change, and strengthened financial resilience.
“The capital programme for 2026/30 totals £776.7million, supporting major investment in infrastructure, regeneration, education provision, and essential assets.
“While this programme attracts significant external funding, it also increases the council’s underlying need to borrow, with associated revenue implications.”
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