West Northamptonshire Council Draft Budget 2026 to 2027 Consultation

Overview

Give us your views on the Council’s Budget proposals for the 2026 to 2027 financial year.

Each year West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) plans for the money it will have available and how it should be spent on delivering services in line with the priorities and objectives set out in its Corporate Plan. The Council’s Cabinet approved plans to consult the public on WNC’s draft 2026 to 2027 budget proposals on Monday, 22 December 2025.

Our plans and budget proposals make sure that resources are prioritised and allocated to support the most vulnerable in our local community in the most cost-effective way possible.

Please take a look at our budget pages for detailed information about our budget proposals.

Our main proposals

Despite the financial challenges, we are on course to set a balanced budget for 2026 to 2027 through careful and early review.

Key headlines for the 2026 to 2027 draft budget include:

Providing a balanced draft budget that uses the best information we have right now. This makes sure we have enough money to properly fund all of our expected and known expenses within the base budget.
Making sure our legal duties can be met, even with higher demand and increased costs for essential services.
Maximising service efficiencies in order to maintain and protect services as much as possible with proposed savings totalling £146m since 2021.
Fees and Charges reviewed and increased where appropriate, where residents and businesses have a choice about whether they wish to use that service or not.
£64.2m of additional base budget growth which reflects the increased demand for services encountered in this financial year and expected to continue into next year.

What is a base budget? What is a base budget?

A base budget refers to the level of resources that covers the essential, and ongoing costs of running the local government. It includes daily operational costs, expenses such as staff salaries, maintenance, utilities, and other necessary services. The base budget makes sure that all known and expected costs are funded appropriately, providing a stable position to operate well.

Take me to the survey

Housing Revenue Account Budget

The Council has also published a draft Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget for 2026 to 2027. The HRA is a ring-fenced account which records the cost of managing the Council’s housing stock.

Within the HRA, there are proposals to invest £78.6m in social housing during the next financial year, which will form part of a total five-year capital programme amounting to £359.6m.

The Council is considering a 4.8% increase in average rents from 1 April 2026, which aligns with the Government’s Rent Standard. This would mean an average increase of £5.51 per week. Service charges and garage rents would also see a 4.8% increase. These adjustments are essential to ensure we can continue maintaining and providing quality housing.

Have your say

Your views on all our draft budget proposals are really important to us.

This consultation provides further details of the budget proposals. You do not have to answer all the questions or give us your feedback on every section. It is split into sections so that people can give their views on what they want to. Please note that you need to answer the ‘About You’ section to be able to submit your response.

Answer this consultation by accessing the 'Have your say' link below. Alternatively, you can send your comments in by email or post.

Email address: haveyoursay@westnorthants.gov.uk

Postal address:

Budget Consultation Response
West Northamptonshire Council
One Angel Square (Service Yard)
Angel Street
Northampton
NN1 1ED

You can also access this questionnaire online free of charge at any West Northamptonshire Council managed library. Please visit our website or telephone 0300 126 7000 to check opening times.

More information: If you are feeding back on behalf of a group More information: If you are feeding back on behalf of a group

If you are holding a group discussion to provide your joint feedback you can submit your response either by completing the online Group Facilitator’s Feedback form or by downloading this PDF version to print. Any printed forms will need to be scanned and emailed or posted back to the council using the address details above before the closing date.

If you have any queries, comments, or would like a copy of this questionnaire in another format you can contact us by email, or post using the detail above, or telephone 0300 126 7000.

All consultation feedback will be analysed and considered to help councillors make a final decision on the budget at WNC’s Full Council meeting on Thursday 26 February 2026.

More information: Making a representation at Full Council More information: Making a representation at Full Council

Anyone wishing to submit a statement in this public meeting must contact Democratic Services by 12pm on Thursday, 19 February 2026.

You can do this by email, or by post (to Democratic Services), or in person at:

West Northamptonshire Council
One Angel Square (Service Yard)
Angel Street
Northampton
NN1 1ED

Up to three members of the public are permitted to speak for up to three minutes each on any agenda item, although this may be extended at the Chair’s discretion.

The deadline for completing this questionnaire is midnight Tuesday 3 February 2026.

Your feedback will be part of a report with other people’s feedback, so you will not be personally identified.

For information about how consultation and engagement responses are managed, please see the consultation and engagement privacy notice.

Thank you for helping us by completing this consultation.

Have your say, and take the survey

Interests

Consultations
Council tax
Councillors and democracy
Finance
Your council

Overview

Read more about our key financial challenges Read more about our key financial challenges