Waltham Forest Council's Budget Scrutiny Committee met on 25 November 2025, to discuss the council's reserve strategy and proposed fee changes for the 2026/27 financial year.
The committee reviewed the council's approach to managing its finances, including the Reserves Summary 2025-26 and the Reserves Strategy document. The council defines reserves as funds set aside for specific purposes or to cushion against unexpected financial pressures.
The meeting also addressed proposed changes to fees and charges for council services for the 2026/27 financial year, detailed in the fees and charges 2026-27 document and appendix 1 fees and charges 2026-27. The specific details of the proposed changes can be found in the appendix. The committee also considered the EqIA screener template 2026-27 to assess the potential impact of these changes on different groups; the key findings are available in the linked document.
Members of the public are welcome to participate in scrutiny meetings. According to the agenda, they may speak for three minutes on a topic related to the Committee's work, and fifteen minutes in total is allowed for public speaking, at the discretion of the Chair. If you would like to speak, please contact Democratic Services (details above) by 12 noon on the day before the meeting.