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Gloucester council approves revised 2025–26 budget reset amid financial recovery work
Summary
The council unanimously approved a budget reset that raises the 2025–26 net budget requirement by £2.8m to correct opening balances and underpin an emergency financial support bid; councillors also noted treasury, council tax support and licensing papers and agreed constitutional procedure changes.
Gloucester City Council voted unanimously on 28 January to approve a revised 2025–26 budget that corrects previous accounting positions and provides an accurate opening position for the council’s recovery plan.
Councillor Declan Wilson, who moved the budget reset, described the changes as a “necessary and responsible step in stabilising this council’s finances and restoring confidence in our financial governance.” He told the chamber the revision increases the net budget requirement by £2.8 million, a figure he characterised as an honest correction based on closed accounts and improved controls. The motion was linked to the council’s request for emergency financial support from central government.
Leader Councillor Hilton and other members described historic factors contributing to the situation, including a 2021 cyber attack, the ending of multiple years of unaudited accounts, and a national crisis in local government auditing. Councillors noted work brought in from external advisors and auditors, including the Local Government Association and external audit support, to reconcile accounts back to 2021 and provide a firmer basis for budgeting.
The meeting also took or noted several other financial and governance items: a treasury management mid‑year update showing short‑term investments and a longer‑term holding with CCLA; adoption of the council tax support scheme for 2026–27 (maintaining up to 100% support for eligible working‑age households); and approval for amendments to the Licensing Act 2003 statement (including a further targeted consultation on improved safety measures for the nighttime economy). Constitutional amendments to council procedure — including a set deadline for notice of motion and changes to question‑time allocations — were approved.
Votes at a glance
- Revised budget 2025–26 (reset to reflect closed accounts): moved by Councillor Declan Wilson; outcome: carried (unanimous). - Treasury management mid‑year report: noted (unanimous). - Local council tax support scheme 2026–27: adopted (unanimous). - Licensing Act 2003 statement of licensing policy: adopted, with an accepted amendment requiring further consultation on safety measures (carried). - Constitutional changes (procedural rules, notice deadlines, question time): adopted (carried).
What happens next
Officers and audit bodies will continue work to finalise the 2024–25 accounts and to support the council’s emergency financial support submission. The council’s audit and governance committee will take detailed follow‑up on treasury, budgetary and governance matters and a further licensing consultation will be carried out before finalising the amended licensing policy.
