Barnet Council has approved its budget for the upcoming year, following a robust debate that saw opposition councillors present an alternative financial model. The council convened on Thursday, March 5, 2026, to discuss significant financial matters.
The primary focus of the meeting was the Business Planning 2026-2031 (Medium Term Financial Strategy) and 2026/27 Budget & Opposition Illustrative Model to Accompany a Budget Amendment.
This comprehensive report outlined the council's financial plans for the next five years, detailing revenue budgets, savings, income generation proposals, and service pressures. Accompanying appendices provided a detailed breakdown, alongside a council tax resolution.
During the debate, opposition councillors presented their own illustrative model, highlighting concerns about a projected annual deficit of over £200 million by the end of the five-year plan, a cumulative shortfall of £750 million. They argued that the administration's budget relied heavily on borrowing and did not adequately address the escalating deficit, warning of potential service cuts if government funding for borrowing were to cease.
Councillor Zinkin, the leader of the opposition, claimed that the administration's budget raises cancer tax demands further savings and still leaves a huge financial gap ahead
and mentioned a near five percent cancer tax increase at a time when families face unbearable rents rising mortgages soaring food and energy bills.
In response, the council's leader, Barry Rawlings, defended the administration's budget, emphasizing its focus on strengthening financial resilience and delivering quality services while keeping council tax lower than neighbouring councils. He highlighted achievements such as pothole repairs, playground upgrades, and increased tree planting, stating that the budget was a plan for ambition and transformation, not despair.
The administration's approach is characterized by prediction, prevention and productivity,
aiming to transform this council
by using predictive analytics, a data lake and taking a more grown-up approach.
This contrasts with the opposition's model, which the administration described as a back of a fag packet budget
and traveling in his inner dad's army saying we're doomed, we're all doomed.
The administration claims the opposition's approach lacks vision and a real plan for the future, and would lead to a vicious spiral
of debt.
Councillor Simon Radford, Cabinet Member for Financial Sustainability, detailed the administration's approach to financial management, focusing on improved forecasting, efficient cash management, and a commitment to truth in budgeting. He stressed the increasing demand for services due to an aging population and complex health needs. Councillor Alison Moore stated that adult social care had an overspend of 20 million pounds two years ago and is within budget in the 2025/26 year.
She also noted the challenges of a growing older population increasingly living to 90 or beyond and many aging in poor health and an increasing number of younger adults with learning disabilities mental health and complex needs.
Councillor Paul Edwards mentioned that in the 20 years between 2000 and 2004 and 2024 those living beyond the age of 100 in the UK has more than doubled from over 8,000 to 17,000
and questioned what this would mean for local government when the baby boomers start to live beyond 100.
The council leader stated that the administration has strengthened our financial resilience
and gone from two years from a trust caused overspend of 23 million to being within budget.
They also mentioned their plan to help deal with growing demand is investing in prevention and being the most efficient tech enabled innovators in local government and we will continue our relentless hunt for saving.
Councillor Radford elaborated on this, stating their approach involves prediction, prevention and productivity,
using predictive analytics, a data lake and taking a more grown-up approach to transforming this council.
They also aim to free up some of our time and concentrating our resources
by deploying technology by deploying AI and other things so that we free up their time to be able to get out there in our communities doing the preventative work that eventually will save this council money.
If the government were to turn off the emergency borrowing tap,
the council's Section 151 officer would be compelled to issue a section 114 notice. This would necessitate the stop all non-essential spending immediately,
leading to consequences such as libraries closed, street cleaning abandoned, children centers gone - everything that makes Barnet a decent place to live slashed overnight.
The full details of the council's financial plans can be found in the Business Planning 2026-2031 Medium Term Financial Strategy and its accompanying appendices, including Appendix A - Medium Term Financial Strategy MTFS, Appendix B 2026-27 Council Tax Resolution, Appendix C Detailed Revenue Budgets Savings and Income Generation Pressures and Council Tax Summar, and Appendix D Breakdown of service pressures.
