Budget Planning 2025-2028

Overview

All local authorities are required to set an annual budget which balances the money spent on services with income generated and funding received. On 27 February 2025, Budget Council approved a budget of £190.62m that will fund vital support and services across the borough. It will be necessary to spend the largest proportion on meeting the growing social care needs of vulnerable adults and children and providing temporary housing for the increasing number of homeless households. 

A total of 37% will be spent on adult social care, supporting almost 2,000 adults and their carers with things like help at home, mental health support and community day services. A further 24% will be spent on children’s services, including supporting over 1,000 children in need and almost 2,000 young people with education, health and care plans. In addition, 6% will be spent on temporary accommodation for around 1,000 homeless families and individuals. In total, 67% of the council’s budget will be spent on these services that the council has a legal duty to deliver. 

Alongside this, the council continues to deliver for all residents and communities. It is building new homes at sites across the borough, delivering a new leisure centre in Kingston and investing in digital technology to make services more accessible. Over 6,000 street lights are being upgraded with energy efficient and cost effective LED bulbs, investment in parks and green spaces is improving these areas for all, and high quality recycling and waste services are delivered across the borough, with over 800,000 collections completed each month. 

The majority of the council’s income is made up of what it receives from council tax and the proportion of business rates it is allowed to keep. With the extreme financial pressures facing local government, to continue to deliver the essential services and support people rely on, the council has agreed a council tax increase of 2.99%, along with a 2% increase in the adult social care precept.

More information about this can be found by viewing our budget page on the council’s website.

Share your views

We are keen to hear your views on how we plan our finances over the next three years, from 2025 to 2028.

Use the online form below to share your views about how you think we should plan our budget and set priorities for the longer term. 

How to get in touch with us

If you have any questions please get in touch with us via email engagement@kingston.gov.uk or call our customer contact centre on 020 8547 5000 and ask for someone from the Engagement team to call you back.

Why your views matter

We will continue to listen to your feedback and provide opportunities for you to have your say as we deliver on this year’s budget and continue to move forward with longer term budget setting over the coming months.