Hammersmith and Fulham Council's Cabinet has reviewed the revenue budget for 2025-26, noting a significant reduction in financial pressures on both the general fund and the housing revenue account. This positive development was attributed to the council's ruthless financially efficient approach
to budget management, which involves utilising the latest technology to cut waste and finding innovative ways to achieve more with less.
During the meeting on Monday, April 13, 2026, Councillor Rowan Ree, Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, presented the findings based on data from month 10, as detailed in the Revenue Budget Review 2025-26 - Month 10.
Councillor Stephen Cowan highlighted the council's strong financial standing, noting that the independent review we had from the cross-party review from the peer review said we had excellent finances, but also so did the district auditor. Sorry, the external auditor.
This affirmation from independent and external auditors underscores the council's commitment to financial prudence.
In wider financial context, Councillor Cowan referenced the international situation and increased defence spending, which will place strain on public services. He emphasised the council's ongoing strategy to maintain financial prudence. This strategy includes leveraging technology to cut waste, a method that has already contributed to record savings of £156 million during the council's term. While specific projected savings from these technological initiatives are not detailed, the council continues to explore and implement new revenue streams, such as the upcoming civic campus, which is projected to generate at least £5 million in annual revenue.
The meeting agenda and associated public reports can be found on the council's democracy portal: Agenda frontsheet 13th-Apr-2026 19.00 Cabinet and Public reports pack 13th-Apr-2026 19.00 Cabinet.
