All West Northamptonshire Council services set cut targets as £50 million major shortfall forecast for next financial year

Cabinet members and senior officers have undergone “rigorous” budget scrutiny sessions, known as Star Chambers, in a bid to slash the huge shortfall in the 2026/2027 budget.

According to WNC, the sessions have “intensely reviewed” spending across all services, to make sure all cost cutting avenues are explored.

The sessions have identified around £16 million of efficiencies and savings, which the council says can be made while protecting frontline services “as far as possible”. A further £4 million of savings have been identified from the pension for the next financial year.

Despite the identified savings, council leader Mark Arnull said “difficult choices would still be needed in the months ahead”.

Cllr Arnull said: "Closing such a significant funding gap in next year’s budget is a huge task but we’re firmly focused on achieving this and have made an encouraging start.

"The £20 million of savings and efficiencies we have identified so far through the recent Star Chambers sessions reflects the close and effective working between our administration and senior officers in leaving no stone unturned to tackle our financial pressures.

"All services across the council have been set targets to reduce their spend for the year ahead and staff are rising to the challenge. Alongside our work with staff to identify savings and efficiencies we will also be looking at other things, such as how we can be more consistent in our approach to fees and charges for discretionary services.”

The council says the £50 million shortfall is down to its “level of funding not keeping pace with its growing population and the continued rise in demand for services supporting the most vulnerable residents, such as children’s and adults social care, temporary housing for homelessness and SEND school transport”.

Councillor John Slope, Cabinet Member for Finance at WNC: “We know this is our council’s most difficult budget yet and we need to be realistic that this work alone may not be enough to balance the books. We also face uncertainty as we continue to await the outcome of the Government’s Fair Funding consultation, which will give us more clarity on the future funding we will receive.

"We are hopeful that the Fairer Funding will recognise that we have faced twice the national increase in population since 2014, when the grant formulas were last reviewed, even higher increases in the over 65s and pockets of high deprivation. There is a direct link between these statistics and our demand, and we hope that the final allocations reflect this.

"In the meantime we will continue to drive forward our work within the council to find whatever we can to bridge the funding gap whilst ensuring we keep essential services protected for our residents.”

WNC will present its draft budget proposals for 2026/2027 at its cabinet meeting on Monday December 22, which will then be followed by a six-week public consultation. Feedback will then go into the final budget proposals presented to cabinet in February 2026, followed by full council for final approval.