Kingston Council Faces £3.26m General Fund Overspend, Schools Budget Also Under Pressure

5 October 2025

Kingston Council is grappling with a projected £3.26m overspend in its general fund, according to a recent report presented to the Corporate and Resources Committee. The overspend is attributed to pressures in adult social care, corporate services, place, residents and communities, and children's services. The issue was a key point of discussion at the meeting held on Tuesday, 30 September 2025.

The Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report, presented to the committee, highlighted the forecast financial position for 2025/26. While the general fund faces challenges, the schools budget is also under pressure, forecasting a £10.46m overspend.

Savings plans for 2025/26 are being monitored, with £5.81m of savings forecast to be delivered. However, the report noted that £0.68m in savings are flagged as undeliverable, with the majority relating to Children's services, which have £0.5m of savings marked as undeliverable and remain under review. The saving flagged by Adults as undeliverable is mitigated by an overachievement of the Mental health and Learning disabilities (MH/LD) high cost packages saving. In addition to this, there are £1.93m savings marked as Amber, meaning that there could be an in year budget pressure due to the delayed timing of implementation. The largest of these is related to Parking income (£0.80m). The specific reasons for the delay in implementing these savings are not provided in the report.

Sue Cuerden, Executive Director of Corporate Services & S151 Officer, presented the Revenue Capital Budget Monitoring Report as at Month 4 31 July 2025 to the committee.

The Corporate and Resources Committee, chaired by Councillor Andreas Kirsch, Councillor Anita Schaper, and Councillor Richard Thorpe, addressed these financial challenges and other key performance areas during the meeting. Councillors Rowena Bass, Lorraine Dunstone, Patrick Hall, Amir Ali Khan, Kamala Kugan, Ian Manders, Mike Massimi, Thay Thayalan, Olly Wehring and Andrew Wooldridge were also in attendance.

Councils Involved

Kingston upon Thames

Meetings Involved

the Corporate and Resources Committee of Kingston upon Thames Council on 30 September 2025

People Involved

Councillor Andreas Kirsch Leader of the Council, Portfolio Holder for Heritage and Culture Liberal Democrat Chessington South and Malden Rushett Ward

Councillor Anita Schaper Portfolio Holder for Communities, Commissioning and Customer Contact and Co-Chair - Corporate and Resources Committee Liberal Democrat Berrylands Ward

Richard Thorpe Portfolio Holder for Finance, Assets and Governance and Co-Chair - Corporate and Resources Committee Liberal Democrat Motspur Park and Old Malden East Ward

Councillor Rowena Bass Leader of the Conservative Group Conservative Coombe Hill Ward

Councillor Lorraine Dunstone Chair - South of the Borough Neighbourhood Committee Liberal Democrat Hook and Chessington North Ward

Patrick Hall Chair of Pension Fund Panel Liberal Democrat Tudor Ward

Councillor Amir Ali Khan Liberal Democrat Alexandra Ward

Kamala Kugan Opposition Spokesperson for Corporate and Resources Kingston Independent Residents Group Coombe Vale Ward

Councillor Ian Manders Liberal Democrat Alexandra Ward

Councillor Mike Massimi Liberal Democrat Old Malden Ward

Councillor Thay Thayalan Liberal Democrat Tolworth Ward

Councillor Olly Wehring Chair - Kingston and North Kingston Neighbourhood Committee Liberal Democrat Norbiton Ward

Councillor Andrew Wooldridge Liberal Democrat Tolworth Ward

Topics

Kingston Council Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report for 2025/26 Mental health and Learning disabilities (MH/LD) high cost packages Executive Director of Corporate Services & S151 Officer Sue Cuerden Councillor Andreas Kirsch Councillor Anita Schaper Councillor Richard Thorpe Parking income